Remember when One Direction released their last album with Zayn Malik?
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesFans didn’t know it, but One Direction released their final album featuring all five members in November 2014.
With the plate, tilted Four – a possible foreshadowing of what was to come – Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan And Zayn Malik dropped a twelve-song record (with four bonus tracks) that ultimately marked the end of an era for the boy band.
Each member of the group had a writing credit on the album, which gave them a chance to show off their more mature sound. The high energy X factor Tunes were a thing of the past as the boys now sang about real romances, some of which were more public than others. Perhaps the most unforgettable song from this record is ‘Stockholm Syndrome’, which Horan still plays despite the band members having their own solo careers.
Look back with Us as we break down the success of Four and how it changed things for One Direction fans forever.
What happened:
One Direction was formed in Great Britain in 2010 The X factor and although they didn’t win the singing competition, the boys became a worldwide phenomenon. Their debut album, Up all nightwas released in 2011 with a string of pop hits, including ‘What Makes You Beautiful’.
When it came to their second album, Take me homethe boy band didn’t really start experimenting with sound, but their slight maturity was reflected in the matching outfits (and dance moves) that were kept in the past. Although “Live While We’re Young” was the big pop hit on the album, the boys showed they could go in a different direction (no pun intended) with songs like “Little Things.”
Musical superstars. Pop boy band One Direction became one of the biggest groups of the 2010s after its five members – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik – met as contestants on the reality TV series The X Factor in 2010 . singers became a group with judge Simon Cowell […]
The group’s third album, Midnight memoriesbecame their biggest change from their normal pop sound when it was released in 2013. With more rock influences and Horan on guitar, One Direction proved they were more than just a boy band when they sang about their personal ‘Midnight Memories’ and women who wear a ‘little black dress’.
The biggest change, however, came with Four in 2014, fans didn’t know it at the time. The album era started with a song called “Fireproof” as the lead single. The album received mixed reviews, with critics praising the group for finding their most mature sound. Things changed dramatically for One Direction in the months that followed when Malik announced his departure from the group in March 2015.
The remaining four members released another album, Made in the morning in 2015, before the band went on an indefinite hiatus.
Why it was a big deal:
At the time of its release, Four didn’t seem like a big deal, even though some fans claim it’s the best One Direction album. The meaning of the songs and their significance became more impactful after Malik left the group. At first the title didn’t seem to matter; they didn’t need anything catchy, because their fourth album would be just as successful as their last three.
This album also contains the song ‘You & I’, with a note that only Malik can hit. No, seriously, Styles tried to get on stage after Malik left the band and his face said it all at that moment.
The number four has since become ingrained in the One Direction fandom, as some have speculated that the title was a hint at what was to come within the group.
What people said:
It was previously stated that One Direction fans consider Four to be the band’s best album of all time. However, critics felt differently at the time of its release. Rolling stone gave the album only three out of five stars, admitting that the record “shows growth mainly through the music.”
In a separate review Billboard called the album One Direction’s “awkward phase”, explaining that both their traditional pop and more mature songs melded into one. They also noted that the group missed the mark with their ballads and Us respectfully disagree.
What happened next:
Well, Malik left the band. In March 2015, a statement on One Direction’s Facebook page changed the group’s course forever. Styles, Tomlinson, Horan and Payne were determined to stay together – but only for one more album.
Since splitting from One Direction in 2016, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have had varying degrees of success in the music industry. All five original members have embarked on solo careers, with Malik becoming the first to do so after abruptly leaving the boy band in March 2015. Then he signed […]
Their last performance as One Direction took place on December 31, 2015.
Where they are now:
Malik was the first to start his solo career and has since released four full-length albums. Styles followed with his debut solo song in 2017. Since then, he has released three albums. Horan has also launched a solo career with three records to his name and Tomlinson has released two albums.
Payne released one full-length album in 2019, prior to his death in October 2024. The singer fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina, killing him at the age of 31. Following an investigation into his death, his death was not ruled a suicide.
