The past year proved to be momentous for the biggest boy band in the world, One Direction, and 2014 is projected to be an even bigger year for them with estimates that they will become billionaires.
Formed by Simon Cowell four years ago and featured on the hit British television show, The X-Factor, this British/Irish boy band includes Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik. The band has released 3 albums, all of which have been instant hits with their countless fans around the globe. Notably, its whirlwind rise to fame has allowed 1D to surpass the success in America of their previous counterpart, The Beatles. 1D has been constantly praised for staying humble and grounded; they haven’t let the fame get to their heads and negatively affect them, unlike some other young celebrities.
Highlights of 2013:
1. ‘Take Me Home Tour’ (February-November with 130+ shows in the UK, Europe, U.S., Mexico, Canada, Australia, and Japan)
2. Release of documentary movie, This Is Us (August with premiers in London, New York, & Tokyo)
3. Midnight Memories album leak (November & when officially released, hit US Billboard 200 at number 1)
4. One Direction named 2nd most charitable celebrities of 2013
5. The breakup between band member Harry Styles and Taylor Swift was most searched breakup in the U.S.
6. Band member Zayn Malik got engaged to his girl friend Perrie Edwards (from girl group Little Mix) (August)
7. Band member Liam Payne hailed as a hero after saving his childhood friend’s life after a freak accident that led to a fire on his balcony (September)
8. Awards (AMAs, MTV Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and many others)
9. Band member, Louis Tomlinson. was signed on as a special player for his hometown soccer team, the Doncaster Rovers.
10. The boys visited schools and hospitals in Ghana for Comic Relief (charity) and released a cover of “One Way or Another” (Teenage Kicks) as a Red Nose Day Comic Relief Charity Single (February)
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mCEZzzQ3o
11. The boys were on SNL for a second time as a musical guest with host Paul Rudd (December).
Currently, 1D taking short break and spending quality time with family and friends, but its success doesn’t seem to slowing down. The boys will be releasing a new book this year, and there are speculations of the band making another movie. In early April, 1D will launch its ‘Where We Are Stadium Tour,’ which will be even bigger in capacity visit more countries than their last tour.
Written by Avanti Patel’15
