One Direction – One Thing

It’s like they’ve re-released What Makes You Beautiful.

Tim: Let’s be honest – Gonna Be You was a bit disappointing, all ballady and stuff. This, less so.

Tom: Just before we discuss the song: What are One Direction’s stylists thinking? One seems to be a proto-Jake Thackray impersonator; the rest are all in fancy shirts and suits, but… well, they look like they’re wearing their dads’ outfits. It may have worked for the stars of Inception; I’m not sure it works for them.

Tim: Well, maybe, but if we’re being honest, most of the vast number of normally-clothes-obessed teenage girls who make up their fans couldn’t care less about what they’re wearing; in fact, they’d probably be very happy if they weren’t wearing anything other than a pair of swimming shorts.

Tom: That said, I buy my t-shirts in bulk online, and I’ve worn the same hoodie for about a decade now, so what do I know?

Tim: Well, enough of the sartorial chit-chat, onto the music. And my word, it’s like they’ve re-released What Makes You Beautiful. Let’s make a list:

  1. First verse and bridge split up and sung by different members as soloists? Check.
  2. Second verse sung as a series of rotating duets? Check.
  3. Middle eight consisting of a fair amount of clapping? Check.
  4. And then drawing to a close with one of them gently singing the first half of the chorus? Check.
  5. Final section with Zayn doing a little bit of harmonising above the others? Check.
  6. Finish the song by cutting off most off the instrumentation while they sing the end of the chorus? Check.

Tom: They know what their fans like. Or, at least, their songwriters do.

Tim: The exact same three songwriters, would you believe it.

Tom: Well, yes, I would believe it.

Tim: Fair enough. But it doesn’t stop there. Let’s take a look at the video:

  1. Driving round in a large vehicle for a good portion of the video? Check.
  2. Lots of group hugging and laughing to show that they’re all mates in real life as well? Check.
  3. Occasional shot of Niall clutching a guitar to give the impressions they’re actual musicians? Check.

Formulaic? Oh, bloody hell yes. Good? Oh, bloody hell yes.