Yesterday I wrote about Fifth Harmony being important. While I strongly believe that, I also believe that One Direction is just as important.
If you’re on this page, you probably know who the band is. Harry, Niall, Liam, Louis, and formerly Zayn. They were put together on The X Factor, and after losing, their popularity only went up. Since then, they’ve been touring the world, singing songs from their four great, fantastic albums, as well as Drag Me Down.
Now, in the Fifth Harmony article I wrote here, I said that boy bands tend to be more popular than girl bands. This is true, but just because this happens, doesn’t make these boy bands bad like some people think. There should be more emphasis on girl bands out there, but the current and future boy bands shouldn’t be knocked down because of that.
A friendly reminder: feminism is not about girls being better, it’s about girls being equal. I think a lot of people forget that.
Back to One Direction.
Whether you think so or not, this band has saved a lot of people. And I mean this word literally. A lot of their fans (Directioners) have struggled/are struggling with some really difficult things. There are family issues, school problems, friendship malfunctions.
It’s hard to have a constant sometimes, and One Direction, other than the loss of Zayn, has been constant for over five years. A constant, to me, is important to have. You need something in your life that isn’t changing, and sometimes your family and friends don’t fit the spot. It’s the perfect thing for a band to fill.
On top of that, One Direction as a whole is hilarious to watch; definitely their old videos. If you’re feeling upset or sad or angry, watching them can make you feel a whole lot better. People need to laugh in their lives, and One Direction gives them the chance to.
Their songs are also comforting to listen to. I think Little Things will forever be my favorite with that, because it goes towards raising self-esteem. One Direction has always been out to make girls feel important – even though they’re not girls. I think that’s a beautiful thing, because girls deserve to feel that way. A lot of times, we don’t.
Plus, their concerts are absolutely wonderful. They’re a safe place, where you know everyone around you feels the same way as you. At school a lot of kids tend not to like them, and it can be hard fitting in sometimes. When you’re at their shows, it’s like an entirely different world. To me, it feels a lot like home.
Even though girl bands need more exposure, One Direction deserves the spotlight they have. They do a lot for the fans, and their music isn’t something that should be forgotten. Yes, it can be cheesy sometimes, but those lyrics can make someone happy again. And if something can make someone smile when they’re feeling low, it shouldn’t be judged.