All 91 One Direction songs, ranked
Ten years ago, five young lads were cut from a singing competition. After their shaky auditions of varying degrees of nervousness, it seemed evident that Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan wouldn’t end up being the Justin Bieber clones Simon Cowell was looking for when he put every cute, flippy-haired boy through to the next round. But instead of going home and trying again next year, they were morphed into a different mold — why not put these cute, flippy-haired boys together?
The rest is history — and by history I mean their every movement from that moment on was chronicled by a fandom of dedicated Directioners. As the first big boy band of the social media age, they were accessible in a way those kinds of stars had never been before. Every post, picture, interview and gesture was dissected and analyzed along with the music, building a deep lore that’s just as essential as the songs.
Not that One Direction even needed that mythos to enhance their music — the songs were already excellent. Often described as an “edgier” boy band, they evolved from standard pop fare to interpolating the signifiers of classic rock, but excelled at both. There was never a sense of elitism from One Direction — even when their music moved toward electric guitars, it didn’t feel like it was to win over the people who wouldn’t think to look to a boy band for some of the last decade’s best rock music. That’s because the regard One Direction held for their audience was higher than that. Their sound wasn’t about legitimizing themselves in order to be really taken seriously as artists, because the millions of young women who made them megastars were already doing that.
To celebrate their tenth anniversary, I’ve ranked every single song in One Direction’s catalog, which is one of the most consistent discographies in recent pop memory, and included an MVP for each track to recognize the standout member or moment on that particular cut. But even from the missteps to the highlights to the nonsensical, every 1D moment is essential to their myth-making.
91. “Little Things,” Take Me Home
In 2012, Ed Sheeran was already on his way to mega pop stardom on the back of his degrading love songs, so he sent 1D the latest backhanded DM he cooked up. It essentially amounts to, “Hey girl, you know all those things you hate about yourself? Well, I notice them too, and despite them all I still think you’re a person.”
MVP: The eagle-eyed fans who noticed Harry didn’t sing a line about weight when performing this song live. Did he realize how much his part sucks? We can choose to believe.
90. “I Want,” Up All Night
It seems like this song was sitting on a shelf waiting for some nondescript act to come along and record it, because nothing about it aligns with One Direction’s image or what made them great. A mean-spirited tune about a superficial material girl set to a mocking melody out of a Disney musical feels completely out of place in their catalog.
MVP: Harry for humbling himself with a surprise performance of “I Want” live in 2014, long after this song had been removed from regular setlists. Never forget your roots.
89. “Stole My Heart,” Up All Night
88. “Save You Tonight,” Up All Night
87. “Everything About You,” Up All Night
I’m lumping these three together with a short statement: the 2011 synths on Up All Night aged like milk. But what’s interesting is they’re buried at the end of the record behind the career-making singles that better established the boys’ sound. It was clear from the start that 1D weren’t trend-chasers.
86. “I Want to Write You a Song,” Made in the A.M.
Here’s another saccharine acoustic dud that might as well be ghostwritten by Ed Sheeran. In fact, this song is so corny that I’m blaming Sheeran for it anyway. But I’ll take the free boat if the offer still stands.
MVP: The pen whose scribbling sounds drown out a lot of this bad song.
85. “Taken,” Up All Night
At least when 1D stole from Beyoncé, they copied a song no one likes anyway.
MVP: Toby Gad, who co-wrote both “Taken” and “If I Were a Boy.”
84. “Love You Goodbye,” Made in the A.M.
Disclaimer: if you ride for Made in the A.M., you might not like this list. It’s not a bad record, but 1D’s play toward adult contemporary lost them a lot of the unbridled energy that made their music so fun, and Zayn’s absence is glaring. “Love You Goodbye” is just a forgettable, dreary bust — one of the many moments on the album that sounds like they’re ready to move on.
MVP: Harry for keeping a straight face while belting the question, “Why you wearing that to walk out of my life?”
83. “Once in a Lifetime,” Four (The Ultimate Edition)
82. “Moments,” Up All Night (Yearbook Edition)
81. “Half a Heart,” Midnight Memories (The Ultimate Edition)
80. “More Than This,” Up All Night
If you ride for their ballads you might not like this list either.
79. “Act My Age,” Four (The Ultimate Edition)
This Celtic-inspired romp leans so far into it’s “When I’m Sixty-Four” shtick that it’s deep in novelty territory, but it lives on in meme-dom.
MVP: Niall holds nothing back on the self-burn: “When I’m fat and old / And my kids think I’m a joke.”
78. “Alive,” Midnight Memories (The Ultimate Edition)
A song in which Liam is so horny he has to see a doctor about it.
MVP: Liam’s mom for encouraging him to speak to a therapist.
77. “Long Way Down,” Made in the A.M.
All the metaphors here amount to some form of “we had something and now it’s gone,” except I’m still not quite sure what “built a cathedral, but we never prayed” is supposed to mean.
MVP: I’ll give Liam and Louis some credit for trying to mature their songwriting, even if it doesn’t exactly work on this one.
76. “I Should Have Kissed You,” Up All Night (The Souvenir Edition)
Another disclaimer: there were three One Direction songs I had never heard before when I started making this list. Apparently, there’s a second deluxe version in addition to Up All Night (Yearbook Edition) called Up All Night (The Souvenir Edition). So, I haven’t had a chance to blast these songs in my car for seven years straight. That said, I already forgot this song.
MVP: Australia, Mexico, the Philippines, Japan, Italy and Germany — where The Souvenir Edition was available.
75. “Right Now,” Midnight Memories
One Direction have better songs in the “it’s so hard to be away from you while I’m busy being a massive star” genre.
MVP: As you’ll see, I love a Zayn high note.
74. “Never Enough,” Made in the A.M.
This goofy, grunt-laden cut is sort of charming until I think about how it sounds like Pentatonix. It was time for 1D to close up shop when they started doing harmony gimmicks.
MVP: Liam adapts to the throwback vibe of this song surprisingly well.
73. “Another World,” Up All Night (The Souvenir Edition)
This scattered, abrasive bonus track featuring heavy guitars is just the type of song they eventually got so much better at making.
MVP: You can practically hear a glass breaking as Zayn’s falsetto enters: “EEEEEVERY DAAAYYY.”
72. “Stand Up,” Up All Night (Yearbook Edition)
Hold your tears because Niall simply can’t handle it: “It hurts me to think that you’ve ever cried,” he professes. I guess that’s sweet?
MVP: Niall for saying this is his least favorite One Direction song.
71. “Does He Know?” Midnight Memories (The Ultimate Edition)
The titular question is, “Does he know you can move it like that?” Well, considering the boys also said, “He knows about you in every way,” including “your favorite band, the way that you dance,” it seems like he probably does know.
MVP: This girl who has multiple guys throwing themselves at her just for being an amazing dancer.
70. “18,” Four
Another Sheeran-penned sleeper in which the boys pine for a girl they’ve loved since all the way back when they were just 18 years old. Or in Harry’s case, two years before this song came out.
MVP: The iconically loud Directioner who asked Niall the question on everyone’s mind: “WHAT THE FUCK IS A CHONCE?”
69. “Little White Lies,” Midnight Memories
The pulsing drums and exquisite chorus drop on this song mask lyrics that are just straight up predatory. Cringe-inducing lines like, “You say it’s getting late / And you don’t know if you can stay / But you don’t tell the truth / No, you like playing games,” tarnish what could’ve been a standout.
MVP: This car’s passenger seat.
68. “Change Your Ticket,” Four (The Ultimate Edition)
The 1975’s Matty Healy called this “a bad 1975 song,” and accused the boys of lifting from his band’s single “Girls.” The similarity is definitely striking, but now I just wonder what a 1D spin on “People” would sound like.
MVP: Harry Styles’s cardboard cutout.
67. “End of the Day,” Made in the A.M.
The ambition of smashing three songs into one is admirable, but it ultimately doesn’t quite come together. It gets a point in its favor, though, for being home to the single most confounding 1D lyric: “My priest thinks it’s the devil / My mom thinks it’s the flu / But girl, it’s only you.”
MVP: Louis really kills it on this bridge. On paper a line like, “When the city’s sleeping / You and I can stay awake and keep on dreaming” reads as a throwaway lyric, but the affecting sense of joy in his voice brings it to life.
66. “Something Great,” Midnight Memories
In this song about longing for fantasy to turn into real love, “Is it too much to ask for something great?” is genuinely a touching sentiment. Unfortunately, it’s paired with rolling percussion and “oh-oh-oh” backing vocals that come off generic and oddly Christmassy.
MVP: Gary Lightbody (the Snow Patrol guy) who co-wrote this and was getting a lot of “deep cut on a blockbuster pop album” work at the time.
65. “Irresistible,” Take Me Home (Target Deluxe Edition)
One Direction would like to tell you that there’s even more they love about you beyond your lips (“so kissable”), your kiss (“unmissable”), your fingertips (“so touchable”) and your eyes (“irresistible”). Specifically, they love “all the things and other things that make you who you are” — an evergreen reminder to never settle for someone who just loves some of the things and other things.
MVP: Though 1D’s sentimental acoustic numbers aren’t their brightest spot, Harry often shines as the best crooner of the bunch.
64. “Summer Love,” Take Me Home
63. “I Wish,” Up All Night
These two don’t have too much in common sonically, but they’re both enjoyable album cuts that get lost in the shuffle among songs that outshine.
62. “One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks),” single
The boys mash up Blondie and the Undertones on this charity single, yielding a pretty fun result.
MVP: Debbie Harry.
61. “Over Again,” Take Me Home
Sheeran’s back, and this time he brought his rapping. But there are so many absurd and hilarious one-liners packed in this song that I can’t even be mad at it: “running over thoughts that make my feet hurt,” “hole in the middle of my heart like a Polo,” “I can make your tears fall down like the showers that are British.” It’s one of 1D’s clunkiest and most bizarre tracks but that’s what keeps me coming back to it.
MVP: Harry and Louis channel their inner Twista with the speed of those second verse bars.
60. “Don’t Forget Where You Belong,” Midnight Memories
Being an international sensation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The boys learned there’s one thing perfume revenue and kudos from Martin Scorsese can’t buy: the comfort of home.
MVP: There’s something so special about a Zayn Malik ad-lib: “DON’T FORGET IT,” he echoes on the outro.
59. “Live While We’re Young,” Take Me Home
Take Me Home’s hit rate on songs that could be music cues in a teen movie is remarkably high, but the attempt on its lead single leans a bit contrived and corporate. By that I mean both the track and music video are more evocative of a Target commercial.
MVP: The parents who were offended by their children’s school choir performing this song, finding the phrase “get some” inappropriate, for inspiring a legendary Louis tweet.
58. “Why Don’t We Go There,” Midnight Memories (The Ultimate Edition)
I’d like to use this opportunity to point out a small gripe: this bonus track directly precedes another song with a question in the title, but only the latter, “Does He Know?,” gets a question mark. Boys, if you ever get back together and need an editor, I can send you my résumé.
MVP: The moments where Niall just goes all out are always memorable.
57. “Na Na Na,” Up All Night (The Souvenir Edition)
No one loves a “na na na” like One Direction, and with good reason. This catchy deep cut serves as an early version of the type of sound the boys would perfect on later releases, but it would’ve been a fun inclusion on the standard edition of Up All Night.
MVP: This TikTok.
56. “Fool’s Gold,” Four
The boys are trying to save face after getting played by pretending they were privy to this girl’s motives the whole time. “Yeah, I let you use me from the day that we first met / … But I don’t regret falling for your fool’s gold,” they sing with all the conviction of the kid who gets tagged “it” and is like, “Oh, I actually wasn’t even playing.”
MVP: Zayn shoots this love that’s all for show right back down to Earth with a confession: “I know your love’s not real / That’s not the way it feels,” he nearly whimpers in the song’s most heartbreakingly real moment.
55. “C’mon, C’mon,” Take Me Home
This is one of those songs where it’s really unfortunate that Harry retired his shoulder thrust — this beat is begging for it.
MVP: I would just like to offer some comfort to the girl the boys initially took to this party who couldn’t dance and went home early. You’re valid.
54. “Infinity,” Made in the A.M.
This Coldplay-lite epic drags in places, but is tied together with a great lyric: “How many nights would it take to count the stars? / That’s the time it would take to fix my heart.”
MVP: The fans who assisted in Harry’s high notes when he lost his voice.
53. “Home,” Perfect EP
The Larry-shipper anthem actually works better as a love letter to the Directioners who look to 1D’s catalog for comfort. It’s a sweet message that they’ll always be there to come back to.
MVP: Louis and Liam get the credit for writing this heartfelt number.
52. “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” Take Me Home (Target Deluxe Edition)
It’s one of their sappiest love songs, but I can’t help but swoon when listening to this deep cut. A One Direction harmony just hits different.
MVP: Niall for being the one of the five who could best pull off the lyric, “I’m just the underdog who finally got the girl.”
51. “What a Feeling,” Made in the A.M.
This “Little Lies”-influenced track, which was deemed the superior 1D song by Rolling Stone readers, is solid but lacking some of the boys’ flair. While One Direction were constantly borrowing from classic rock, often blatantly so, they could usually energize it with the goofiness, sincerity and pure enthusiasm that made them a beloved boy band. “What a Feeling” errs on self-seriousness and commitment to a pitch-perfect Fleetwood Mac imitation, which is impressive, but not necessarily an excellent song. See also: Harry’s solo career.
MVP: Christine McVie.
50. “Story of My Life,” Midnight Memories
Anytime I tell a guy I love One Direction, this is the song they admit they like. It confused me at first but then I remembered the lyrics “I give her hope / I spend her love / Until she’s broke inside” and it all made sense.
MVP: In the music video about looking back at childhood photos, Zayn and his sister win for this adorable recreation.
49. “Spaces,” Four
It’s hard not to assess this song in the context of Zayn leaving the band. “Who’s gonna be the first to say goodbye?” the boys ask, reflective of the anxieties that all they had built together would eventually come crashing down.
MVP: Looking back, it was Liam who asked the most compelling question. “Who’s gonna be the first one to compromise?” he wondered.
48. “If I Could Fly,” Made in the A.M.
Harry co-wrote this vulnerable piano ballad, but the highlight is the verse where all four boys trade off lyrics — a great example of the cohesion that existed between them.
MVP: Harry made arenas feel intimate when he performed “If I Could Fly” on his solo tour, just him and a guitar in the center of the building, with fans providing backup vocals.
47. “You & I,” Midnight Memories
For this music video, the boys ventured into uncanny valley for some TikTok-worthy transitions. At least they all can pull off a grey sweater.
MVP: A certain isolated high note has 2.8 million views on YouTube.
46. “Change My Mind,” Take Me Home
This will they-won’t they song has the boys offering to swivel back around like Grandpa Simpson if this potential love interest just says the word.
MVP: I could listen to Zayn say the word “toward” for hours.
45. “Still the One,” Take Me Home (Yearbook Edition)
This is the most excited anyone’s ever been to call themselves stupid.
MVP: Can’t help but respect Niall for being straight about what he’s looking for: “Girl, just tell me what I wanna hear.”
44. “Gotta Be You,” Up All Night
The dramatic strings, Liam saying “anointed,” the random synths, music video fits straight out of a Kohl’s back to school ad — this early single is ridiculous in a way only 1D could pull off.
MVP: Some choice lyric changes by Harry while performing this song live: “wrong size shoe,” “big brown poo,” “Scooby-Doo,” “I love chicken soup.”
43. “Up All Night,” Up All Night
Every pop act is allowed a harmless, bordering on Kidz Bop-y, stick of bubblegum about partying all night long.
MVP: Katy Perry, who really was on replay in 2011.
42. “Rock Me,” Take Me Home
Hey kids, spelling is fun, and so is “Rock Me.” But 1D have a superior spelling song — more on that later.
MVP: Harry does his best to convince us that he peaked in summer ’09 at age 15.
41. “Hey Angel,” Made in the A.M.
1D take on U2 in this stadium rock jam that has never been performed in a stadium.
MVP: Harry again with some of his most gorgeous vocals.
40. “Same Mistakes,” Up All Night
The melody composition really stands out on “Same Mistakes” — the way each line leads into the next in a cyclical motion mirrors the feeling of repetition described in the song. It’s a subtle, but clever touch.
MVP: It sounds like Zayn was put into a booth and told to just ad-lib as much as possible, and thankfully not a single one got cut.
39. “A.M.,” Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition)
Long gone are the days of “same old shh but a different day,” for One Direction have uttered their first cuss word. On a tender, stripped down bonus track about spending late nights “talking out of our asses” that sounds like what someone would play for the last few people lingering after a house party, it feels earned.
MVP: Of course, with the first cuss came a cheeky Harry moment.
38. “Perfect,” Made in the A.M.
You may know this as “The One With the Taylor Swift Reference.” For context, one time Harry Styles and Taylor Swift went to Central Park together for candid photos with a baby that wasn’t theirs, and thus a canon of mythology was established over the course of several albums. “Perfect” isn’t necessarily all about Taylor, but Harry sums up their courtship with one line: “If you’re looking for someone to write your breakup songs about / Baby, I’m perfect.”
MVP: The fox sweater.
37. “She’s Not Afraid,” Take Me Home (Yearbook Edition)
This girl can sit through Hereditary no problem, but her commitment issues keep her up at night — it’s a little more relatable than I’d like to divulge.
MVP: Every once in a while, 1D bring up some anonymous “friends” who express concerns over them or their love interest pursuing this relationship. Good looking out.
36. “Through the Dark,” Midnight Memories
The boys lend a hand to someone going through a rough time in a track that’s not necessarily romantic, but still one of the sweetest in their catalog. It’s a song hopeful for better days ahead that acknowledges it’s OK to not yet be able to envision that future yourself.
MVP: Zayn’s verse best shows he cares. “I’d never let you fall or break your heart / And if you wanna cry or fall apart / I’ll be there to hold you,” he reassures.
35. “History,” Made in the A.M.
The now-foursome says thanks for the memories in this nostalgic farewell track and its accompanying music video that looks back on how they got there: the fans that supported them every step of the way.
MVP: Louis for singing “this is not the end” so convincingly that five years later we still believe it.
34. “Happily,” Midnight Memories
What did 1D have that the bands of the Mumford & Sons era lacked? An unabashed, joyous spirit.
MVP: In one of his earliest credits as a primary songwriter, Harry penned one of 1D’s catchiest choruses.
33. “Wolves,” Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition)
Jealousy is front and center on this piano-pop jam, as the boys prepare to square up with any guy checking out their girl. Possessive? A touch, but have you seen this girl? Her “beauty could start a war” — and by war they mean staring down random dudes at a bar.
MVP: This Genius commenter who thinks that “war” lyric is a reference to Helen of Troy.
32. “Drag Me Down,” Made in the A.M.
It’s the first single we heard from the boys as a foursome, and also serves as Harry’s audition to be the solo star. The song keeps building until a high note that probably would’ve been for Zayn, and Harry hits it to prove he’s got the chops (other than in Carpool Karaoke).
MVP: Thus, Harry takes it here.
31. “Tell Me a Lie,” Up All Night
Fellow Simon Cowell alum Kelly Clarkson co-wrote this debut album cut about preferring to be personally insulted than to hear someone’s leaving you for another guy. It’s only considerate to let someone down so easy.
MVP: Zayn’s very adamant about wanting to be called a “screwed up mess” — alright, man, if that’s what you want.
30. “Olivia,” Made in the A.M.
Is Olivia even a person? Is Olivia an emotion? Is she a place? Here’s my wild guess: she doesn’t exist and the name Olivia just sounds like “I love ya” so it was used for the wordplay. It’s a crazy theory, I know.
MVP: Paul McCartney’s influence is felt throughout this “Penny Lane”-inspired ditty.
29. “Best Song Ever,” Midnight Memories
For people who were enraged by the fact that a boy band beloved by young girls merely existed, I recall this song title being a real point of contention — as if the boys didn’t realize how dumb and funny it is to name their song “Best Song Ever” and that’s not exactly why they did it. This anger was only exacerbated by the interpolation of some “Baba O’Reilly” chords for a song about dancing with a dentist’s daughter. Well, did The Who ever dress in drag, cut-off short shorts or a fat suit to play their own movie marketing team? I didn’t think so.
MVP: Special shoutout to Zayn’s falsetto on the last chorus and Harry’s “WE DANCED, WE DANCED / IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIIIIIS,” but Georgia Rose goes down in history for telling Niall to get lost when he was hitting on her.
28. “Magic,” Take Me Home (Target Deluxe Edition)
Take Me Home’s Target-exclusive edition, featuring three additional tracks on top of the four on the first deluxe edition, is currently listed on Discogs for $60. The opportunity to listen to “Magic” at any time? Priceless.
MVP: Target.
27. “Better Than Words,” Midnight Memories
What’s better than words? How about the declarations of love immortalized in romantic classics such as Drake’s “Best I Ever Had,” Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie.” One Direction put together a playlist of songs that definitely have anything in common to show you how much they care, because words just don’t say it all. (It took me longer than I’d care to admit to understand the gimmick of this song.)
MVP: With “Everytime We Touch,” “How Deep is Your Love?” and “God Only Knows,” Liam gets the best songs to namecheck.
26. “Midnight Memories,” Midnight Memories
The boys play hair-metal dress-up on Midnight Memories — literally — and the pure, silly fun of it all is on full display in the title track. Plus, what’s more rock ’n’ roll than self-censoring cuss words?
MVP: No one commits to a harmony like Liam Payne, even when he’s singing placeholder lyrics about KFC.
25. “Girl Almighty,” Four
From comparing a girl’s aura to a fleet of ambulances to possibly using worship as a metaphor for oral sex, these lyrics are completely baffling and I love them dearly. Having no idea what it all means is just part of the ride.
MVP: My college friends who once made a March Madness-style bracket of One Direction songs with me, in which “Girl Almighty” emerged victorious. The fact that it’s no. 25 on this list and I still think it was a pretty good winner shows how deep 1D’s discography is.
24. “Strong,” Midnight Memories
The boys find someone who makes them a better person, and announce it with some delicious indignation: “Is that so wrong?” they ask the loaded question. “Is it so wrong that you make me strong?”
MVP: Around this time Louis was emerging as the 1D member most involved in the songwriting process, and “Strong” is one of his best compositions.
23. “Ready to Run,” Four
Pop songs about running away are sacred. With its youthful, “now’s our time” tone, nondescript city to escape and a classic 1D boat metaphor, One Direction’s is a worthy addition to the canon.
MVP: My steering wheel, which has had to endure me playing that pre-chorus drum breakdown on it countless times.
22. “Illusion,” Four (The Ultimate Edition)
A bellow of “TELL ME YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE” is just an incredible way to open a song. The boys use all the puns and wordplay about magic they can think of to assure someone that this love is a real thing. It’s all set to an infectious melody in a chorus that’s just a complete blast.
MVP: Liam for convincing fans Niall wrote this bonus track about his ex-girlfriend.
21. “Walking in the Wind,” Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition)
This Harry-penned bonus track is emblematic of some of the best songwriting One Direction ever offered. “Walking in the Wind” captures the nuances of a loss — rumored to be inspired by everything from a breakup to a familial death to Zayn leaving the band — that came with no hard feelings, but was still a loss. Moments like the twinge of sadness in Louis’s voice as he realizes this person is absent from the party he’s attending, are met with a reminder that there are far worse things to be left with than great memories. It’s a poignant ode to an amicable goodbye, the sorrow that lingers and the long-lasting gratitude for time spent with a person who was worth it, even if it had to come to an end.
MVP: In addition to writing the song, Harry delivers its sweetest sentiment: “The fact that we can sit right here and say goodbye / Means we’ve already won / The necessity for apologies between you and me / Baby, there is none.”
20. “Last First Kiss,” Take Me Home
It starts with Liam sending some “r u thinking abt me haha” texts and the teenage theatrics just escalate from there. There’s nothing quite like being 16 and thinking your crush is your forever soulmate.
MVP: Harry and Zayn for some exquisite vocals catapulting into the chorus.
19. “Steal My Girl,” Four
One Direction made a Journey song that’s maybe better than any Journey song.
MVP: Danny DeVito.
18. “Loved You First,” Take Me Home (Yearbook Edition)
The Take Me Home bonus tracks are elite. This one in particular is premium power-pop with an addictive, shout-along chorus warranted by something as consequential as a kiss — on the mouth.
MVP: Zayn for specifying the location of that smooch.
17. “Temporary Fix,” Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition)
This is one of the moments on Made in the A.M. where One Direction effectively took a step forward while retaining their trademark charm. This raucous one-night stand anthem is brazen and sexy in a way they had never been before — sexuality was always something they referenced coyly — but still within the rowdy, guitar-driven sound they did best. And with Harry’s steamy recount of a hookup in the backseat of a cab, a thousand fanfics were born.
MVP: Even with that titillating Harry verse, “Temporary Fix” is all Niall. Apart from being a primary songwriter on the track, he comes in hot right out of the gates, setting the tone for a great ride of a song that never lets up.
16. “Back for You,” Take Me Home
Take Me Home is the best pop-punk album of the 2010s.
MVP: Louis for understanding the assignment and providing his best mall-punk voice: “Right back for yuh-ewww.” No wonder his ’00s throwback single “Miss You” is one of the best post-1D offerings among the boys’ solo careers so far.
15. “They Don’t Know About Us,” Take Me Home
A recurring villain in the 1D-verse is the looming figure only known as “they” or “people.” As in, the bitter, jealous, anonymous people who doubt that you and 1D Boy should be together. “They’s” biggest role comes on this sophomore album cut. With all of the assurance of them looking you straight in the eye, the boys tell you they know “they” just don’t understand the love you share, but of course that doesn’t matter. As prominent a character “they” may be, they always lose to the star of the show — you.
MVP: On 1D’s most boy band-y song — the type of lovesick, dramatic tune you’d expect of such a group — Liam sets the bar. “People say we shouldn’t be together / Too young to know about forever,” he addresses the rumors. “But I say they don’t know / What they’re talk-talk-talking about.”
14. “Night Changes,” Four
This wistful single is perfect for reflective occasions like anniversaries, graduations and reminiscing on when 1D were still together.
MVP: The results are in and it’s confirmed that Zayn in the “Night Changes” video is the most beautiful a human being has ever looked.
13. “Fireproof,” Four
This melodic, twangy ditty is deceptively simple for a fan favorite. That’s because the magic of One Direction is when they tell you, “Nobody saves me, baby, the way you do,” you believe them.
MVP: Mitski took a perfect 1D song and made it a perfect Mitski song.
12. “Heart Attack,” Take Me Home
Top three “ow!” moments: 3. “It’s (ow!) giving me a heart attack,” 2. The last “ow!” right when the music cuts, 1. “And I’m like — ow!”
MVP: Liam for dropping a single “YEA-UH” like we wouldn’t notice.
11. “One Thing,” Up All Night
Here’s the song that established 1D’s biggest flex — being specific about being really vague. They really love what makes you unique, but don’t clarify further. You get to dream up yourself what that one thing may be.
MVP: Prolific songwriters Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk and Savan Kotecha really steered the boys in the right direction on those early singles.
10. “Nobody Compares,” Take Me Home (Yearbook Edition)
What did I say about the Take Me Home bonus tracks? A drum kick crashes into an exceptional pop chorus of deliriously sugary lines like, “All of my friends say it’s not really worth it / But even if that’s true / No one in the world could stop me from not moving on.” On an album full of standouts, I can almost understand how “Nobody Compares” got buried on the deluxe edition, but I also want to live in the world where this was a smash hit.
MVP: Niall’s earnest enough to inject some real charm into an immature line like, “You’re so pretty when you cry.”
9. “Stockholm Syndrome,” Four
This song has gotten new life as a Harry Styles live show staple, but its best form is still all five boys trading sultry lines regarding the pleasures of being “tied down.” The smirks and winks are practically audible.
MVP: The Wattpad writers Harry was definitely browsing when he wrote this fanfic fodder “about a nympho.”
8. “Clouds,” Four
You’ve heard 1D take on classic rock acts from Def Leppard to Journey to Fleetwood Mac, but are you aware they also took a stab at a Phoenix song? Their sole venture into indie rock soundscapes just so happened to be a home run.
MVP: If he hadn’t been told to stop, Harry could’ve probably held “CLOOOUUUUDS” for ten more minutes.
7. “I Would,” Take Me Home
When people talk about One Direction now, it’s often in praise of the way they matured over the course of their five-year existence. What’s forgotten is how well they pulled off juvenile, high school crush anthems as well. This girl’s boyfriend has a car, tattoos and would certainly kick any of their asses if he heard who they’ve been pining for. What’s a non-threatening boy to do? Offer the one thing he lacks — some L-O-V-E.
MVP: Louis for reasons specified in this tweet.
6. “What Makes You Beautiful,” Up All Night
It’s easy to say 1D just got better and better from where it all started, because they did. But it was the lightning in a bottle of a debut single that poised this boy band for world domination. Even when bordering on confessing attraction to a girl because of her low self-esteem, they manage to come from a place that just feels so positive it’s hard to argue what their intentions were. “What Makes You Beautiful” sold fans on a band that was just as devoted to them.
MVP: From the hair flips to the cowbells to the “na na nas,” this song is filled with iconic moments. But I’m awarding this one to Blink-182, who predicted the very beach a boy band music video would be shot at 12 years early.
5. “Kiss You,” Take Me Home
One Direction’s best single that accompanied their best music video was the lead from their sophomore record, which is maybe their best album. It’s when they were hitting all the right boy band notes with youthful, infectious charisma while starting to explore the sounds that made them feel novel. It’s all on display on the delightfully rambunctious “Kiss You,” with a ’50s guitar lick and a pledge to the first act of a budding romance.
MVP: The spitfire verses come so quick you might miss some details, but Niall makes sure you hear him mention “chinny-chin-chins” loud and clear.
4. “No Control,” Four
It’s a revered fan favorite for a reason.
MVP: Louis wasn’t commonly front-and-center on choruses, but here he takes the reins and shines.
3. “Diana,” Midnight Memories
One Direction were so good at making you feel like they were singing to you directly that even a song with a namecheck is among their most intimate. Their whole trick was making sure their subject could be anyone, but naming her was a heat check from 30 feet out. Swish.
MVP: Zayn’s chorus here contains a classic 1D bar about being with you without being with you: “You’ve been lonely, you don’t even know me / But I can feel you crying.”
2. “Little Black Dress,” Midnight Memories
This showstopper is some of the best work ’70s power-pop could offer since Big Star themselves. Featuring gang vocals throughout, it’s the only 1D song without any solos, representative of the way five voices could turn into a fist-pumping, sold-out crowd.
MVP: Louis for attempting to perform this song solo sans his fellow gang vocalists. The screaming crowd fills the void.
1. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” Four
When that intro starts to build, it’s clear that an epic chorus is on its way. Still, the pay off is even more satisfying than anticipated. There’s a brief moment where the music cuts out while the boys all sing the last line of the verse: “How to fix up a heart that I let down,” they shout when that promised chorus blasts into focus. It’s one of those details of state-of-the-art pop craftsmanship that make pop music feel so urgent and alive. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” is an encapsulation of what keeps us coming back to the euphoria of perfect pop and that one boy band that made us feel like the only person in the world.
MVP: I’d like to wrap up this list by saying something about how each 1D member is an MVP in his own way, but I also need to shoutout Teddy Geiger. The two 1D songs she has a writing credit on are the top two songs on this list. And yes, each 1D member is an MVP in his own way.
