18

The questions of the day are:  Why haven't I posted in weeks and why am I just posting about this topic now?  I unfortunately can't really answer either of them.

Remember when I said how I was really hoping I would like One Direction's new album more than Midnight Memories?  That hasn't quite happened...

Yes, the album is very good, and yes, their sound has evolved a lot in the past year, but there's something missing with this album that was present with their third record.  For one thing, this album doesn't have the edge they were saying it was going to.  I heard months ago that this was going to be a very edgy album, something along the lines of Midnight Memories.

Here's the track list:

1. Steal My Girl
2. Ready To Run
3. Where Do Broken Hearts Go
4. 18
5. Girl Almighty
6. Fool's Gold
7. Night Changes
8. No Control
9. Fireproof
10. Spaces
11. Stockholm Syndrome
12. Clouds
13. Change Your Ticket *
14. Illusion *
15. Once in a Lifetime *
16. Act My Age *

* Deluxe tracks

'FOUR' Deluxe Tracks

The boys have made it clear that this album connects the most with them since they contributed to most of the writings - yes, that means they're written from personal experiences.  "Fool's Gold" is supposedly about Harry Styles' ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift.  Call them even because she has some songs about him, too.

But apart from growing socially, musically the boys have shown growth from a boy band to a man band with the album.  "Fireproof" is a soft-rock tune that, according to Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone, can be compared to Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" with "Christine McVie-style keyboards."

"18" is my favorite track.  Co-written by Ed Sheeran, the song starts off with an acoustic, like most of the tunes Sheeran has written for the boys.  Then with the second chorus comes a wave of percussion and what could be a group of string instruments.

"Night Changes" was the second single released for the album.  The ballad's music video was directed by Ben Winston, who also directed the videos for "Story of My Life" and "Best Song Ever," their highest peaking song at number two on the Billboard charts.

[Source:  YouTube]

Listening to the whole album shines a light on the evident '70s and '80s rock-influenced tracks.  Out of 5 stars, I'll give the record 3 1/2.  They worked extremely hard on this album and it is clear in the lyrics and the compositions, but I still wish they had tracks like "Little Black Dress" and "Little White Lies" on this album.

Illusion

One Direction's fourth album FOUR was released at 11 PM last night.  I don't know if I've ever said this, but I have to have the actual CD - I don't buy albums on iTunes.  I won't have the CD until Friday (don't worry, my mom already bought it), so to hold me over until then, I bought the deluxe tracks on iTunes last night.

They have had better deluxe tracks.

All of their deluxe albums thus far have had some of my favorite One Direction songs on them - "Nobody Compares," "Does He Know," etc...

My favorite album of theirs is Midnight Memories.  I loved the edge they had with that album, but they still had some stuff that sounded like a mature continuation of Take Me Home, like "Best Song Ever," and some stuff that sounded like current British folk rock, like "Through the Dark."  I'm hoping this album as a whole can live up to the edgy potential it should.

I have not listened to the songs yet because I'm waiting for Friday when I have the CD in my possession.  From what I have heard, though (ie "Steal My Girl," "Night Changes," and "Fireproof"), the album put together isn't bad.

"Illusion" on the deluxe version is my favorite deluxe track - I love it.  The opening measures sound like "Little White Lies" from their third album.  "Act My Age" is very fitting for the only Irishman in the group, Niall Horan, with the Irish kick to it.  The song doesn't have as quite an edgy sound as a Dropkick Murphys song, though.

"Change Your Ticket" sounds like a song by The Script.... or a very pop-y song by The 1975.  That one is my second favorite deluxe track.  And "Once in a Lifetime" reminds me something but I can't remember.  That one's my least favorite on the deluxe album, but I'll listen to it over and over anyway because I know every word to every single One Direction song and there's no way I'm stopping now.

I've been listening to the deluxe tracks since I started this post.  As I continue to listen, they're not terrible at all.  And from what I have heard from the album, I'm pretty excited to listen to the rest of it.  When there was just Up All Night out, I loved it.  Then when Take Me Home was released, that one became my favorite and then the same thing happened with Midnight Memories.  I just hope the same thing happens with FOUR.

Better Than Words

I have been a fan of One Direction for two and a half years and was never able to get a hold of tickets for any concert.  But that finally changed when tickets for their Where We Are Tour went on sale back in December.  After losing so many sets of tickets, my dad was finally able to get four tickets to see One Direction at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Now, I'm not used to nose bleed seats.  Every concert I have ever been to I have been close.  For example, I was fourth row to see Bryan Adams, 15 feet from Justin Bieber, and 20 feet from the Jonas Brothers.  I guess you could say my dad spoils me.

That was unfortunately not the case last night.  We were section 335, row 24 - there were 26 rows in section 335.

But that didn't stop me from going crazy.

5 Seconds of Summer opened for the boys and they were great.  They also went on at like 7:00 on the dot.

1. Eighteen
2. Heartbreak Girl
3. Don't Stop
4. Teenage Dream (Katy Perry cover)
5. Amnesia
6. Beside You
7. What I Like About You (Romantics cover)
8. Good Girls
9. She Looks So Perfect

I actually lost my voice before One Direction even went on stage from screaming so much during 5SOS' performance.

 Calum

Ashton

Ashton talking...to me

I also spent $75 on merchandise.  I bought a 5 Seconds of Summer shirt and a One Direction tour shirt.

 Front

Back

Okay, Harry looks absolutely fabulous in the big picture on the shirt... not that he ever looks bad, because he doesn't.  I'm just saying.

And now for the main event.

One Direction was, like their song, "Better Than Words."

Now, you're going to think I'm insane because there is no way you already thought that of me.  When One Direction came out at the beginning of the show, when I saw Harry, my legs started shaking, I started crying, and I was hyperventilating.  It got to the point where my friend kept asking if I was okay.

They performed nineteen songs:

1. Midnight Memories (Midnight Memories)
2. Little Black Dress (Midnight Memories)
3. Kiss You (Take Me Home)
4. Why Don't We Go There? (Midnight Memories)
5. Rock Me (Take Me Home)
6. Don't Forget Where You Belong (Midnight Memories)
7. Live While We're Young (Take Me Home)
8. C'mon, C'mon (Take Me Home)
9. Right Now (Midnight Memories)
10. Through the Dark (Midnight Memories)
11. Happily (Midnight Memories)
12. Little Things (Take Me Home)
13. Moments (Up All Night)
14. Strong (Midnight Memories)
15. Better Than Words (Midnight Memories)
16. Alive (Midnight Memories)
17. One Thing (Up All Night)
18. Diana (Midnight Memories)
19. What Makes You Beautiful (Up All Night)

And four encore:

1. You & I (Midnight Memories)
2. Story of My Life (Midnight Memories)
3. Little White Lies (Midnight Memories)
4. Best Song Ever (Midnight Memories)

Harry does this thing at the beginning of "Better Than Words" where he flicks his head back and spits water into the air.  I DIDN'T GET IT ON VIDEO so here's one from YouTube:

All five of them sounded perfect.  You would expect me to say that because I am a huge fan, but I really mean it.  Liam and Zayn had beautiful harmonies during "Moments," too.

Here are some of my pictures.  Videos may be posted on a later date, they just take forever to upload onto Blogger.

 Harry

 Louis

 Niall

 Liam

 Niall and Louis

 Harry

 Louis

 Harry, Niall, Louis

 Niall and Harry

 Harry

Zayn

You & I

I can't believe it has taken me a week to discuss One Direction's "You & I" music video.

It's amaZAYN, phenomeNIALL, BrilLIAM, fabuLOUIS, and extraordinHARRY.  Yes, I just did that.

The video takes place on a mile long pier with a pretty grey color scheme, although the five boys brighten up the screen with their gorgeous faces.

It starts with Niall, singing his solo.  Liam follows Niall, but instead of just having Liam come up on the screen, Ben Winston, being the excellent director that he is, morphs each member into the next.  Niall looks down and becomes Liam as he looks up.  Liam moves his hand down in front of his face and becomes Harry.  Harry turns around and becomes Zayn (this part gives me goosebumps because the music changes and I think it is the best morph done in the whole video).  Zayn turns to the side and becomes Louis.  And Louis places his hand directly in front of his face to go back to Harry.

But there has been a lot of talk that One Direction has "plagiarized" Australian company Oh Yeah Wow's "freeze frame effect," which they claim they created.

I think if anyone created the "freeze frame" it would be the J. Geils Band.

That's my sense of humor.

But really, the idea of freeze framing has been around for a long time.  Nice try!

Yes, plagiarism is an issue we need to watch out for these days since the creation of computers and the internet, but I don't think I see plagiarism here, I see this as imitation.  Isn't imitation the finest form of flattery?

Leave my Brits alone.

[Source:  YouTube]

Images

It's easy to believe that people create images of themselves based on their physical appearance.  Do singers create an image by the songs they perform?  They do in fact build images by how they appear in videos and on stage, but the songs themselves - are they a factor?

I'll start with Miley Cyrus.  She has created the image of being rebellious and daring by defying previously molded behavior that was sculpted by no, not her, but us.  She was a "Disney" star, and while I love Disney and absolutely everything they offer, Miley knew that the only way she could break away from what made her famous (Hannah Montana) was to be everything they didn't want her to be.  "We Can't Stop" is a badass song.  The lyrics are scandalous and the video is even worse, but it's still a good and popular song.  But take away the physical aspects of everything and just listen to it.  It's still scandalous, right?  And the way the song sounds molds an image of what Miley should look like based solely on how the song was written. 

Now I'll talk about One Direction.  They always sing about girls and falling in love and falling out of love.  "What Makes You Beautiful" is the perfect example of being in love with a girl.  He throughout the song tells her that she lights up his life and how flipping her hair makes him overwhelmed.  Does the song make them look like romantics and great to go out with?  It sure sounds like it, right?  The mushy lyrics develop an image for the boys that they are sweet teenagers, and that is the image they created for themselves.

Midnight Memories

I bought One Direction's new album, Midnight Memories, yesterday and I have to say, it is different, yet very good.

Actually, I kind of want to change what I said.  It is different, but I have seen that every new release of theirs sounds different than the one before.  The only thing, is that this one sounds extremely different.

Here's the track list:

1. Best Song Ever
2. Story Of My Life
3. Diana
4. Midnight Memories
5. You & I
6. Don't Forget Where You Belong
7. Strong
8. Happily
9. Right Now
10. Little Black Dress
11. Through The Dark
12. Something Great
13. Little White Lies
14. Better Than Words
15. Why Don't We Go There*
16. Does He Know?*
17. Alive*
18. Half A Heart*

*Deluxe version

If you listen to Up All Night and then listen to this album, you will be amazed as to how the boys have matured; lyrically and musically.  Even the jump from Up All Night to Take Me Home was a pretty great one.

Louis's solos make me want to cry.  Zayn's high notes make me want to scream.  This whole album makes me want to go crazy.  Play this album on the highest volume your device allows!!!!

"Midnight Memories" is very rock 'n roll (actually a majority of the album sounds very rock 'n roll), "Little White Lies" has a BASS DROP, and "You & I" sounds a little like "Change My Mind" from Take Me Home.  This whole album has me very impressed.  Amazing job my little British and Irish lads!

You can of course purchase the album wherever CDs are sold.  

Story of My Life

So I had a different post in mind for today, but after watching the new One Direction video, I felt it necessary to speak of that.

The song is called "Story of My Life" and is off their third and upcoming album Midnight Memories.  The song is amazing, but the music video makes it incredible.

The boys each recreate a favorite picture of theirs, but it is so touching to the point where I actually cried.  Did I overreact?  Probably, but watch the video for yourself and see what happens.

It was directed by Ben Winston, the guy who does all of One Direction's music videos, so he must be a pretty fantastic dude.  Just sayin'.  Well, here it is:

[Source:  YouTube]

Best Song Ever

There is a new One Direction song out and even though they will be releasing a third album in the near future, their sound is not changing - usually singers change their sound a little bit by now.  The music video, which was released earlier today, is a promo for their movie This Is Us which will hit theaters at the end of August.  I have to say that I am never disappointed with One Direction's music videos.  This one is just as funny and creative as the others.

The song talks about how they each danced with a girl to "the best song ever," but he can't seem to remember the words.  To him, though, remembering the words doesn't matter because he "won't forget her."

Take Me Home

Directioners are said to be psychotic fans who sit on tumblr all day and all night writing fan-fiction and reblogging pictures of the five Brits. It's all accurate. I am, and I will probably lose some viewers for this, a hardcore Directioner. I spend my time constantly tweeting to Harry, Louis, Zayn, Liam, and Niall while waiting for them to acknowledge my existence. Starting weeks ago, I made sure my mom knew exactly which album to get me and I chose the standard album because I love the cover. The band's sophomore album has the same sound as their first release, Up All Night, although the lyrics sound a little more mature. In other words, some parts of some of the songs are naughty and to be honest, I'm not really complaining. The album contains singles "Live While We're Young" and "Little Things" and their next single "Kiss You". The standard CD contains 13 tracks, the deluxe 17, and the Target exclusive 18. You probably think I am saying this album is great because I love One Direction, but I wouldn't tell you it's amazing if I didn't think so. Loving them doesn't mean the album has to be good, but this release really is.