Four years ago, America was hit with a giant British wave. I would like to believe that I was at the front of that wave. It was, One Direction. Like any 14-year-old girl, I was memorized by Harry’s curls, charmed by Liam, laughing at Louis, captured by Zayn’s mysteriousness, and falling in love with Niall’s laugh. I was obsessed. I was a Directioner, and proud of it. I watched these five boys from X-Factor (UK) grow up and become superstars. The reason I am proud of this total and complete fandom is because it defines a generation. The comparison is rough, but for lack of a better term I will use it: they were the Beatles of our time. The reactions of fans all over the world allowed these boys to go down in history.
As I grew older and the boys got more popular I started to lose my craze. It is a natural cycle of being a fan. Still, I stayed loyal and listened to their new music and was always interested when they had some big news. Then, earlier this year, Zayn left the group and that is when I knew the break was in our near future. Every boyband has a formula.
As much as fans do not like to admit it, they do. It is a perfect equation for the perfect result; fame and fortune. The One Direction wave has finally crashed. The fan base is still strong, and the boys still have long to go before they leave the limelight. Their hiatus was announced earlier in the year and now it has begun. Full of promises to return, the boys said their farewells on stage at their last tour performance on October 31, 2015.
This is a moment of one door closing and another opening. This is important because it is a phase ending. It is especially present in music and fashion. Waves are infinite so don’t be discouraged because it will be back. One Direction is long from gone, but this is a defining moment for any fan out there that a part of them has grown up and moved. It is the cycle of fame and it is a beautiful thing. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
