One Direction fans have learned over the past years (the hard way) that the days are dull and the nights are full of drama. Time zones are the real kicker, making it absolutely impossible for the news to reach every single fan the moment something is released. From twitcams to song leaks, to Twitter fights, each One Direction fan has lived through at least one time where they woke up from a well-rested night sleep to find that all hell broke lose. Wiping their drowsy, sleepy eyes, abrupt confusion clouds the minds of every fan, giving them a heart attack in the first moments of their day. Thumbs have never scrolled so quickly through Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter, trying to find the root that has caused comments from people in all caps, complete with thousands of exclamation points. It is like waking up to a war zone, complete and utter chaos clearly evident through every single post. And then the newest root of the problem is exposed: a new single is released.
After the shocking, yet not shocking departure of Zayn Malik in the spring, One Direction fans have been waiting to hear what the music will be like without all of the earth-shattering high notes and perfectly perfected riffs. And now, music is released for the world to hear, with of course, a bit of drama lingering in the background. About two weeks ago, Zayn released a picture of him signing a contract for his solo career with RCA Records. This spurred an extremely controversial debate after he tweeted a few sentences explaining why he really left the band. “I guess I never explained why I left,” he wrote. “It was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who I really am! #realmusic.” What a stab in the back. And then, One Direction drops their single two weeks later out of nowhere, with no promo and surprisingly, no leaks. Coincidence? I think not. Shots fired, Zayn.
The boys are moving on without you and it seems like they are doing better than ever. Although Zayn's powerhouse voice hit the highest notes in each of their previous songs, Harry has now taken over, and it has the fans freaking out. First the scream in "Midnight Memories" and now the high notes in "Drag Me Down"? Nothing can stop that boy.
Within the first hour, "Drag Me Down" was named #1 in 73 countries according to iTunes. ALL WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR. Completely different from their last album, this new single leaves fans shaking in anticipation for the new album (which is already complete, according to Liam). The repeated phrase "nobody can drag me down" creates the assumption that this song reflects the events in the past year, from media outbursts, to Zayn leaving, to baby daddy drama and the remaining strength of the four boys to continue their journey as a band. The song itself is very catchy and the beat makes the tune easy to dance to. Yet, there is just something more to be desired. There is no high point, no "beat dropping" moment where you feel like just losing control while screaming and dancing. With that in mind, though, who knows if they will add something to the song when it is performed live? Surely that will give the thousands of fans yet another heart attack.
Harry's striking solo begins the song with the words, "I've got a fire for a heart, I'm not scared of the dark, you've never seen it look so easy." You're already swooning over the chill of his voice, and then Louis' solo comes and it feels like heavenly angels are singing to you from above. In swoops Liam, stronger than ever, carrying the weight of the chorus on his shoulders. He's been killing it ever since the start of their career on the X-Factor, and his dedication to his job is shown through the emotion portrayed through his voice. Niall takes control of the chorus, as he should, and finally the spotlight shines on him. His manly, rocky, rough voice (maybe it's the chest hair that he has that makes him feel a bit manlier) combined with the heavy guitar in the background, creates pure bliss in your ears. It's a major change from Harry's deep, yet angelic voice in the beginning, but the two combined makes one hell of a song. And then Niall continues on the next verse, clearly dominating the entire song and leaving the rest of the three minutes a blur. During the last seconds of the song, however, you are awakened by the sound of Harry's giggle. It's life changing.
Props to you, Louis, for writing this fantastic song that has lifted our souls. Props to you, Liam, for releasing this song in the wee hours of the morning because you couldn't wait anymore. Props to you, Harry, for finally showcasing your talented vocal range to the world. And, props to you, Niall, for showing that you can take control and dominate any verse that comes your way (and for being the hottest member of the band).
