The Sun: 1D Live: One Direction Special
9:48 AMVera
'We've worked really hard to make this our biggest and best tour yet. Without you guys we would not be here so as always we send you our love and a huge thank you'
FROM the opening bars of Queen-style rock anthem MIDNIGHT MEMORIES, One Direction proved they’re now a true stadium act.
With the band’s effortless chemistry, a natural engagement with the 30,000-strong crowd, strong vocals and a set list that moved seamlessly from ballads to upbeat pop, the lads achieved the near perfect outdoor gig.
Their latest album was written very much with their first stadium tour in mind, giving Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall and Zayn the right material to fill such a large outdoor venue.
It was clearly an emotional night — Liam openly cried and I even caught the usually happy-go-lucky Harry getting teary at one point.
It’s little wonder. Just four years ago they were teenage lads with stars in their eyes auditioning as solo artists for The X Factor. Now they’re selling out stadiums in South America.
The fact they haven’t forgotten their roots couldn’t have been any clearer in their performance of DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU BELONG — a song written by Niall and McFly about the need to keep their feet on the ground.
There are moments when 1D happily acknowledge they are a boy band, even though they are at great pains to avoid dance routines. The exception is their famous rowing dance from LIVE WHILE WE’RE YOUNG, which sparks one of the biggest cheers of the night.
Zayn focuses on belting out his lead vocal to great effect. Liam, who has grown significantly in confidence, takes the lead on THROUGH THE DARK.
It’s Harry’s turn to take centre stage on HAPPILY — the Mumford & Sons-style folk rock tune he wrote for their latest album.
LITTLE THINGS, the Ed Sheeran-penned track that saw the band first taken seriously, sees all five lads sit down at the head of the stage.
They say this is their moment to “slow jam”, with Niall even strumming on his guitar.
Louis and Liam share knowing glances as the crowd sings along to every word. I can tell what they’re thinking: “Is this really happening?”
The band have always put a lot of importance on communication with their fans during a break from the music in each gig — and the Where We Are tour is no exception.
As Liam announced “Louis has gone for a wee”, the band introduce short video clips featuring questions from fans. This is when I realise quite how young some fans are as one asks: If you could mix two animals together to make one animal what would it be?
(Just in case you’re wondering, Harry went for a tiger and a fish, while Batman fan Liam chose a bat and a shark.)
Another local on the big screen — a teenage ballet dancer — challenges the lads to perform their best dance moves.
Game for a laugh, Liam and Niall start to pirouette. Liam ends up on the floor stretching after attempting to do the splits.
Harry and Zayn stand static — the band’s two cool kids don’t dance at any cost.
1D have cleverly constructed a series of new videos to accompany the songs.
The most striking is the promo for BETTER THAN WORDS which uses mobile phone emoticons — an understood language for most 1D fans — in place of lyrics.
Three quarters in and the audience is in a frenzy that has the potential to be dangerous.
More than 1,000 girls are plucked from the crowd during the 100-minute set.
Harry tells the crowd: “There’s a feeling you get when you come out on stage — especially on the first night — you’re just pumped on adrenaline.”
But then he warns: “Please be careful. Don’t push anyone. If you’re in the front take a step back.”
During ALIVE, while Niall pulls out his electric guitar, Harry is on his knees hugging girls in the front row. He adorns himself with the Colombian flag as the band perform DIANA.
First single WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL is given a rockier edge as the last song in the main set. Louis tells the crowd: “This has been the perfect way to start the tour.”
The lads put on new threads for the start of an extended encore, which is kicked off by fan favourite and new EP YOU AND I.
It’s the ultimate stadium ballad and the massive reaction from the crowd and emotional lyrics about love spark a mini-breakdown from Liam who is in tears.
Zayn tells the crowd afterwards: “I’m not going to lie, when we were singing You And I, Liam was crying.”
STORY OF MY LIFE is equally heartfelt but there’s a huge finish with BEST SONG EVER — an irresistible new pop classic.
FROM the opening bars of Queen-style rock anthem MIDNIGHT MEMORIES, One Direction proved they’re now a true stadium act.
With the band’s effortless chemistry, a natural engagement with the 30,000-strong crowd, strong vocals and a set list that moved seamlessly from ballads to upbeat pop, the lads achieved the near perfect outdoor gig.
Their latest album was written very much with their first stadium tour in mind, giving Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall and Zayn the right material to fill such a large outdoor venue.
It was clearly an emotional night — Liam openly cried and I even caught the usually happy-go-lucky Harry getting teary at one point.
It’s little wonder. Just four years ago they were teenage lads with stars in their eyes auditioning as solo artists for The X Factor. Now they’re selling out stadiums in South America.
The fact they haven’t forgotten their roots couldn’t have been any clearer in their performance of DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU BELONG — a song written by Niall and McFly about the need to keep their feet on the ground.
There are moments when 1D happily acknowledge they are a boy band, even though they are at great pains to avoid dance routines. The exception is their famous rowing dance from LIVE WHILE WE’RE YOUNG, which sparks one of the biggest cheers of the night.
Zayn focuses on belting out his lead vocal to great effect. Liam, who has grown significantly in confidence, takes the lead on THROUGH THE DARK.
It’s Harry’s turn to take centre stage on HAPPILY — the Mumford & Sons-style folk rock tune he wrote for their latest album.
LITTLE THINGS, the Ed Sheeran-penned track that saw the band first taken seriously, sees all five lads sit down at the head of the stage.
They say this is their moment to “slow jam”, with Niall even strumming on his guitar.
Louis and Liam share knowing glances as the crowd sings along to every word. I can tell what they’re thinking: “Is this really happening?”
The band have always put a lot of importance on communication with their fans during a break from the music in each gig — and the Where We Are tour is no exception.
As Liam announced “Louis has gone for a wee”, the band introduce short video clips featuring questions from fans. This is when I realise quite how young some fans are as one asks: If you could mix two animals together to make one animal what would it be?
(Just in case you’re wondering, Harry went for a tiger and a fish, while Batman fan Liam chose a bat and a shark.)
Another local on the big screen — a teenage ballet dancer — challenges the lads to perform their best dance moves.
Game for a laugh, Liam and Niall start to pirouette. Liam ends up on the floor stretching after attempting to do the splits.
Harry and Zayn stand static — the band’s two cool kids don’t dance at any cost.
1D have cleverly constructed a series of new videos to accompany the songs.
The most striking is the promo for BETTER THAN WORDS which uses mobile phone emoticons — an understood language for most 1D fans — in place of lyrics.
Three quarters in and the audience is in a frenzy that has the potential to be dangerous.
More than 1,000 girls are plucked from the crowd during the 100-minute set.
Harry tells the crowd: “There’s a feeling you get when you come out on stage — especially on the first night — you’re just pumped on adrenaline.”
But then he warns: “Please be careful. Don’t push anyone. If you’re in the front take a step back.”
During ALIVE, while Niall pulls out his electric guitar, Harry is on his knees hugging girls in the front row. He adorns himself with the Colombian flag as the band perform DIANA.
First single WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL is given a rockier edge as the last song in the main set. Louis tells the crowd: “This has been the perfect way to start the tour.”
The lads put on new threads for the start of an extended encore, which is kicked off by fan favourite and new EP YOU AND I.
It’s the ultimate stadium ballad and the massive reaction from the crowd and emotional lyrics about love spark a mini-breakdown from Liam who is in tears.
Zayn tells the crowd afterwards: “I’m not going to lie, when we were singing You And I, Liam was crying.”
STORY OF MY LIFE is equally heartfelt but there’s a huge finish with BEST SONG EVER — an irresistible new pop classic.
0 reacties