The boys of One Direction hit the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sept. 16 as a stop on their Where We Are Tour. As expected, the screams were louder than what was thought to be humanly possible, and the amount of tears shed were just short of filling the entire stadium. I will admit some of those tears were shamelessly contributed by yours truly.
Before the boys made us dance all night to the best songs ever, the openers were the up-and-coming punky Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer (aka 5SOS). Known for their hit “She Looks So Perfect,” the boys are a hybrid of a classic Warped Tour band with One Direction’s heartthrob appeal. Unlike One Direction, 5SOS plays its own instruments. The band members also have lyrics that some parents might see as a bit risqué, including the description of a girl wearing her American Apparel underwear with her ripped skinny jeans lying on the floor.
After a video introducing each of the charming British boys, it was time for One Direction to take the stage. With catchy songs and great looks, it’s hard not to fall in love with One Direction, regardless of your age. What they lack in dance moves, they make up for in fun and a bit of parkour. Leaping over skate park-like railings and running down their stretch runway, it felt as if the boys were just having a blast and sharing it with us. Niall Horan took on the role as host, while Liam Payne and Harry Styles waved to practically every person in the stadium. Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik certainly lack the stage presence of the other three — but Zayn makes up for it with some of the stronger vocals in the group, and Louis’ smile is so sweet, you just can’t help but love him.
The boys did not make any outfit changes from their black and white ensembles. However, Harry rocked three different hair styles — from the bandana look, to free flow, to the classic mun (man-bun). Between songs, they would take time to tell stories, like how Liam hurt his arm in Las Vegas the weekend before. They played nearly all of the songs from the recent Midnight Memories album and, of course, “What Makes You Beautiful.” One of the most memorable and refreshing things about the show was how thankful the boys truly were to their fans. They rightfully attributed their successes to the love and support of their fandom. One Direction will release its fourth album, appropriately titled FOUR, on Nov. 17.
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Allison Field is a guest columnist from KAMP Radio.
