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“ was almost like a pyramid scheme in the way that one girl would infiltrate your school and attach you to the fandom, and then you would attach people, too,” says Grace McGinnis, 21. The end of X Factor was just the beginning for the guys, with their efforts at building a sustainable fanbase quickly being validated by their popularity spreading like wildfire among a demographic of immensely dedicated young women. At the time, it cost around 33 pence to vote via phone. “They were such ‘normal’ lads, the type of guys you’d go to school with,” says Rhiannon Johnston, 22, who used to spend all of her pocket money voting for One Direction on X Factor. Video diaries uploaded during and after the show gave fans a glimpse into the off-stage personalities of the English-Irish boys they were spending hours cheering on. One Direction spent each week of its X Factor stint perfecting its harmony as a group, while also building and connecting with a loyal fan base that would be ready and willing to support them when their on-screen journey came to an end.
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This was all made possible by the group’s fervent international fanbase, characterized by its rabid devotion and accelerated by the rise of social media and music streaming, ultimately rivaling the fandom of any other boy band in history.Īs we approach the ten year anniversary of One Direction’s formation - with a new anniversary-celebrating 1D website launching next Thursday - Billboard is revisiting the groundbreaking career of one of the most successful boy bands in history, helped by the memories of the die-hard fans who were there for it all. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, six Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, four Video Music Awards, 28 Teen Choice Awards, two Saturday Night Live appearances, billions of streams - and that’s not even considering the solo success each member found, following Malik’s departure in 2015 and the rest of the group’s official hiatus in 2016. Over 300 shows played across four sold out world tours, four No. It’s been so lovely.The 30 Best Boy Band Albums of the Past 30 Years: Staff Picks We spent so much time together that I didn’t know where the f**k I fit in by the time it finished. And I think we all needed that after spending so much time together - just to figure out our own selves as people because we all know what we are in the band. He added, “It’s been nice to open up the channels of communication again because we hadn’t spoken for a while. I’m starting to think it’s gonna happen at some point. “But, you know, it still seems very hopeful in that department. I always put it down to music language because everyone’s releasing at the moment with like two years worth of promo,” the singer said. I can’t promise any reunion plans because it just isn’t it right now. “Obviously, we know it’s a very big anniversary and we definitely want to do something. Love J-14? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars.īut while speaking to People Magazine on May 6, 2020, Liam said he “couldn’t promise anything.” Since they decided to go their separate ways, there’s not a day that’s gone by that fans haven’t longed for them to make a comeback, so this brand new website is seriously a dream come true! In honor of the exciting announcement, J-14 went ahead and rounded up everything the boys have ever said about the possibility of them reuniting over the years, so get excited, people! Scroll through our gallery to see what each member of One Direction has said about the band’s comeback. He’s great, he’s really, really great,” the singer said, noting that he’d love for all the boys “to get in a room at some point.” We’d love that too! In fact, in June 2021 during an Instagram Live, Liam revealed that he and Harry had a “lovely” phone conversation. “I spoke to him and it was a really lovely catch up actually, and I’ve got a lot of love for the man. Just let us out.'”ĭespite their busy schedules, the boys are still close. “But, you can’t get inside the brain of a fan and now I completely get it, but at the time, you’re like, ‘You’re our age. “I struggled with the idea of, ‘Why won’t you just let us out?'” the singer recalled on People, Just People. Months later, in March 2021, Niall reflected on his time in the band and what it was like dealing with fans at the height of 1D’s fame. I’m hoping we’ve got a lot more to come from us.” “I think we just need a proper catch up actually,” he said during a December 2020 interview with CapitalFM. “It was nice to catch up for the ten year anniversary. A few months after the epic 1D milestone, Liam said he’s hoping for more One Direction coming soon.