One Direction’s much anticipated, fifth album ‘Made In The A.M.’ has finally been released! Leading up to the release of this album, One Direction teased listeners by releasing a song a day and so far they’ve received incredibly responses from both the public and the fans.
Let’s have a taste of the remainder of the songs in this album.
- Hey Angel
Although many of us expected this to be an overly emotional song by the lyrics that Styles kept tweeting and simply by the title, Hey Angel turned out to be the “Clouds” of this album as Styles put it. Hey Angel is very anthemic with a great beat, “I come alive when I hear your voice, it’s a beautiful sound, it’s a beautiful noise.” gives a 90s style vibe and is comparable to Oasis.
- Drag Me Down
This UK chart topper was the first single released that had everyone pumped and absolutely eager for the album. The police style riffs of this song makes one hyped with the packed energy, full of euphoria and ready to take on the world. Nobody can bring us down after all. The single was followed by a music video of the boys’ heading to space.
- Perfect
Perfect is the deal breaker! It was the second single released, speaking of all the antics these boys get up to while on tour, “If you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms/If you like having secret little rendezvous/If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn’t do/Baby you’re perfect.” It’s a smooth drift, peaking during the chorus and creating a polished ride. Sophie Muller ended up directing the music video for this song, a wonderful representation of the boys’ lives behind the scenes in black and white.
- Infinity
Infinity is much of a ballad which builds up gradually over the chorus, giving a Coldplay vibe. It’s a heartbreaking but a serenading type of song with a variety of synthesizers and burst of vocals that are heavy with emotion. “How many nights does it take to count the stars?/That’s the time it would take to fix my heart.” The lyrics are enough to make one cry along with the beautiful harmonising the boys’ do.
- End Of The Day
Louis described the song as a “Hook that’s really simple but it just sticks in your head.” It’s a great tune to listen to, much like Perfect but it begins with a slow and beautiful melody and then rolls into this massive bop your head kind of chorus which is sung like a chant. A memorable lyric from the chorus : “All I know at the end of the day, is you want what you want and you say what you say and you follow your heart/ even though it’ll break/ sometimes.” It sure is a tune that sticks in your head.
- If I Could Fly
Here’s where everything turns into an emotional roller-coaster. Styles co-wrote this song with Johan Carlsson and it is very much a ballad crafted from the piano. If you’ve listened to “Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart” by Ariana Grande which Styles wrote, you can imagine what If I Could Fly might sound like. The song has so much meaning behind its lyrics, a love story on its very own. Loving someone so much that they are only for the other’s eyes. “I’m missing half of me when we’re apart, and now you know me/for your eyes only.” It’s slow and poignant and raw from start to finish. During the bridge, each of the boys’ vocals are very refined and clear but it’s Louis’ vocals that are distinctive and easy to catch, and Harry has a small high note.
- Long Way Down
It’s about “mourning a relationship,” as Liam accounted. “About wanting a relationship that didn’t work out in the end.” It’s not very emotionally moving like If I Could Fly but it has the hindrance of loss and grief “we had it all yeah/ but we walked away.” Liam also spoke about how he found the concept of the lyrics rising and falling along with the music interesting. The song figuratively portrays the relationship by lyrics like “built a cathedral but we never prayed.” And “we had a mountain, we took it for granted.” Niall sounds grainy as he carries the chorus which adds a little bit of flavour to the song.
- Never Enough
Basically Act My Age 2.0. It’s a very fun song to listen and dance to with all the grunting and trumpets. Its Niall’s favourite because it’s “spot on” for him, “I don’t need my love, you can take it, you can take it/ I don’t need my heart, you can break it, you can break it.” Liam sings awfully well, he does some very high pitched “C’mons” that will have you gasping in surprise because it’s that good.
- Olivia
Liam gave us an 8 second snippet of this song on Snapchat sometime last week. It’s a musically soothing song to listen to with the added strings – that were recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studio according to Harry – and the instrumentals in general. It has an old school feel which is something Harry loves and the reason the song is one of his favourites. The lyrics depict the song to be a fun/pun song “I love you, I love you, I love you/I love/love /love/ Olivia.” In this case that Harry clearly states that it doesn’t have to be about a girl but more about a “place or a feeling.”
- What A Feeling
A Fleetwood Mac influence, bordering on an old school feel. What A Feeling has great vibes and harmonies, not to forget the beautiful lyrics. It’s the type of song that’s appropriate during a late evening where you can sway while moving your head from side to side, or the soft background music – “What a feeling to be right here beside you now, holding you in my arms.” – while you have dinner at a pier restaurant. Somehow this song can most certainly be associated with city lights, night sky and the calm waves of the ocean.
- Love You Goodbye
Although the title of this song might make you choke on your tears, there’s nothing sad about this song. It’s more about “that moment after a breakup when you have to see your ex again.” Louis explains which the lyrics “If tomorrow you won’t be mine, won’t you give it to me one last time/ Oh baby, let me love you goodbye.” and turns out it’s one of his favourites. Warning, Louis has an absolutely killer high note during the bridge; it’s going to leave you completely breathless because no, you did not see that coming.
- I Want To Write You A Song
Remember Strong and Half a Heart? The structure of the lyrics is very similar to that of Strong and Half a Heart and the music is beautiful. It’s like a cheesy, romantic, super cute love song which neatly melts with the strings. It makes you feel all warm like the lyrics “I want to lend you my coat, one that’s soft as your cheek.”
- History
Niall explains the track is about the relationship between them and the fans over the last five years. Given the lyrics, “You and me got a whole lot of history/So don’t let it go/We could make some more, we can live forever”, it’s a perky, happy, clap along song that speaks in a positive light regarding the future. It’s a good thing history didn’t turn out to be a sad ballad or everyone would be needing a whole lot of tissues. The chorus is certainly catchy and you’ll find yourself bobbing your head along. In general it’s very amiable of the boys’ to write a song for their fans, that’s a whole lot of gratitude right there from both sides.
- Temporary Fix
And here we have No Control 2.0! Round of applause for Niall Horan this time? The song speaks of coming to the rescue of a girl who’s having a not too good a time at the bar and then offering to be a temporary fix for her. Inspired by a “grungy night out”, thanks Niall. The chorus is much hyped and wow, it’s a wild ride from the bar and then the backseat of a car.
- Walking In The Wind
“Goodbyes are bittersweet but it’s not the end/I’ll see your face again.” Harry says it’s inspired by Paul Simon’s Graceland but overall Harry has grown as both a wonderful songwriter because the verses are just so very pretty.
- Wolves
A fun, upbeat track and according to Liam is about those dudes in clubs referred to as wolves who come over to give your lady a once over but you ain’t going down without a fight. “In the middle of the night when the wolves come out.” Niall carries the pre-chorus in a clean swipe, flowing right into the chorus which has an upbeat tune, and it’ll make you want to bop right along.
- A.M
This is one of the beautiful, bop along, droning songs in the album right in line with What A Feeling . The chorus makes you feel like you’re having a really good time, like a camp-fire song. “We’re just swimming ‘round in our glasses and talking out of our asses.” It’s about staying up late with your friends and having nonsensical conversations. Niall says something along the lines of remembering things at 6 in the morning rather than 2 am because you’re rather sobered up by then, thus the “All my favourite conversations, always made in the AM.”
Perhaps you’ve got a general feel of the album now? We can all come to the conclusion that this album has lived up to it’s name and will do well to quench everyone’s thirst during One Direction’s hiatus beginning March next year.
You can pre-order the album on iTunes here if you already haven’t that is.