Boybands. The pinnacle of the music industry. The epitome of nostalgia. Your favorite feel-good-drive-with-the-windows-down music. And to be honest, there’s no reason in beating around the bush here:
I, Tanvi, admit that I have been an avid boyband lover since I was four years old.
Look, I know there are a lot of things you could say about this. Trust me, I’ve heard a good portion of them. From “being stuck in the 2000s” to being flat-out laughed at, boybands are a big part of my music taste.
My first MP3 player (if anyone actually remembers what that is) had “Up All Night” downloaded and that was the start of my obsession. Nonstop, I would listen to 5 British boys hop country to country touring some of my favorite songs of all time. However… this was the 2010s. To set the tone for this unforgettable era, I thought the Justice mustache necklaces were peak fashion.
But being a One Direction fan was a world in and of itself. From dolls to toothbrushes to perfume, even if you weren’t a fan; it was pretty hard to escape the inevitable. Here are my top 10 moments that would absolutely drive someone insane:
- Liam’s Fear of spoons
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One Direction (Youtube 2012) - X-factor video diaries
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One Direction (Youtube 2012) - Frat boy era
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@nanal678 (Twitter 2020) This honestly speaks for itself!
- This specific moment from TLLS
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The Late Late Show with James Corden (Youtube 2016) The sheer tension…
- the archived envelope
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@goldcalumth (Twitter 2020) The absolute chokehold this had on us
- Vas Happening?
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@choosezaynbr (Twitter 2020) - The Adventurous Adventures of 1D
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Mark Parsons (Youtube 2013) This was peak comedy and honestly.. it still is.
- merch. anything and everything.
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@emowandaaa (Twitter 2020) - this intro.
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One Direction (Youtube 2014) Personally, I do know this by heart!
- The san siro show
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Chelsea Baatsen (Youtube 2021)
If you know, you know. Especially the 10-year anniversary.
The first time I ever mentioned being a fan, the immediate reaction I was faced with was, “Of course, you’re just another one of those boy-crazy girls.” It was hard for me to understand why people had such an aversion to the band. But over time, it became easier to see why.
Now, I didn’t just see this through the lens of a growing teenager, but also when watching interviews One Direction were in. They’ve been asked numerous times what they think about the fandom being primarily young girls, but time and time again they mention that fangirls are the driving force of the industry. Without constant support, no artist would be able to achieve their aspirations.
Even though looking back I found many cringe edits or countless magazines in my room, I am thankful for the experiences I shared with those I connected with in the community. Music has always provided a safe space for me to express myself and I have made lifelong friends because of it.
All of this is to say there have been some crazy moments in the fandom and I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. Years after their announcement of hiatus, their songs still get nominations and are recognized worldwide. I love their solo music and cannot wait to see what’s to come. (Niall I’m waiting on that new album!)