Top 10 Greatest One Direction Songs of All Time

The emotionally mature mid-tempo ballad from Midnight Memories showcased a new artistic depth that proved the band could transcend teen pop. Hitting #2 in the UK and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became their most critically praised single and has accumulated over 2.5 billion streams — their most-played track on Spotify.

The lead single from their film This Is Us peaked at #2 in the UK and #2 on the Hot 100, bringing infectious stadium-rock energy to their catalogue. Its music video — a comedy sketch featuring the boys in disguise as record executives — demonstrated a playful self-awareness that endeared them further to fans.

The first single released after Zayn's departure proved naysayers wrong by debuting at #1 in 85 countries simultaneously and breaking the record for the biggest one-week sales on the US iTunes store at the time. Its raw rock sound and powerful NASA-filmed music video signalled a bold new direction for the four-piece.

The energetic second single from Up All Night reached the top 10 in 18 countries and became the song that truly broke them in the United States, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 during their first American promotional push. Its propulsive energy made it their defining early-era live anthem.

The sweeping, orchestral ballad from Four is widely considered the most musically sophisticated song in their catalogue, with Liam Payne's emotional lead vocal delivering a performance far beyond typical pop radio fare. It reached #4 in the UK and #12 on the Hot 100, demonstrating mainstream crossover appeal with genuine artistry.

Written by Ed Sheeran and Fiona Bevan, this intimate acoustic ballad about loving someone's imperfections debuted at #1 in the UK and stayed there for three weeks. Its vulnerability — and the fact that it was performed at their first ever Madison Square Garden concert — gave it an outsized emotional significance for the fandom.

The Clash-inspired punk-pop anthem debuted at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its first week — the highest-ever US chart debut for a British group at the time. Its carefree energy captured the spirit of teenage rebellion and became the soundtrack to every summer party of 2012.

The co-written Taylor Swift response track from Made in the A.M. reached the top 5 in 17 countries and became one of their most emotionally resonant final-era singles. Its lush production and nostalgic lyrics gave the song an elegiac quality that felt, in retrospect, like a perfect farewell.

A fan-favourite deep cut from Midnight Memories that never got a proper single release yet accumulated over a billion streams purely through word of mouth. Its emotionally raw lyrics about supporting someone through mental health struggles earned it a devoted following and became especially significant following Liam Payne's passing in 2024.

The emotionally mature mid-tempo ballad from Midnight Memories showcased a new artistic depth that proved the band could transcend teen pop. Hitting #2 in the UK and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became their most critically praised single and has accumulated over 2.5 billion streams — their most-played track on Spotify.

The lead single from their film This Is Us peaked at #2 in the UK and #2 on the Hot 100, bringing infectious stadium-rock energy to their catalogue. Its music video — a comedy sketch featuring the boys in disguise as record executives — demonstrated a playful self-awareness that endeared them further to fans.

The first single released after Zayn's departure proved naysayers wrong by debuting at #1 in 85 countries simultaneously and breaking the record for the biggest one-week sales on the US iTunes store at the time. Its raw rock sound and powerful NASA-filmed music video signalled a bold new direction for the four-piece.

The energetic second single from Up All Night reached the top 10 in 18 countries and became the song that truly broke them in the United States, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 during their first American promotional push. Its propulsive energy made it their defining early-era live anthem.

The sweeping, orchestral ballad from Four is widely considered the most musically sophisticated song in their catalogue, with Liam Payne's emotional lead vocal delivering a performance far beyond typical pop radio fare. It reached #4 in the UK and #12 on the Hot 100, demonstrating mainstream crossover appeal with genuine artistry.

Written by Ed Sheeran and Fiona Bevan, this intimate acoustic ballad about loving someone's imperfections debuted at #1 in the UK and stayed there for three weeks. Its vulnerability — and the fact that it was performed at their first ever Madison Square Garden concert — gave it an outsized emotional significance for the fandom.

The Clash-inspired punk-pop anthem debuted at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its first week — the highest-ever US chart debut for a British group at the time. Its carefree energy captured the spirit of teenage rebellion and became the soundtrack to every summer party of 2012.

The co-written Taylor Swift response track from Made in the A.M. reached the top 5 in 17 countries and became one of their most emotionally resonant final-era singles. Its lush production and nostalgic lyrics gave the song an elegiac quality that felt, in retrospect, like a perfect farewell.

A fan-favourite deep cut from Midnight Memories that never got a proper single release yet accumulated over a billion streams purely through word of mouth. Its emotionally raw lyrics about supporting someone through mental health struggles earned it a devoted following and became especially significant following Liam Payne's passing in 2024.