Boy bands have been all the rage for generations. The Monkees. The Jackson Five. The Beatles. Menudo. New Kids on the Block. N’Sync. Take That. The Backstreet Boys. The Wanted. The Jonas Brother.
I never went to a boy band concert and screamed and cried the entire time, but I get it, I really do. In less than four years, the boy band, One Direction, has accomplished so much.
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I recently watched One Direction: This Is Us and saw how excited fans get when these five guys – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik – visited their cities for a concert. This documentary showed how this band was formed, interviews with the group, and clips from their world tour.
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These five boys all tried out individually for X Factor in Britain, and none of them made it through, but Simon Cowell pulled these five boys apart from those individual male singer who didn’t make it through, put them together and formed this generations most popular and beloved boy band, “One Direction”.
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They seem like humble, down-to-earth guys, and yet they are fully aware of the pandemonium they are creating.
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Thankfully, they seem to come from really great, supportive and humble families who realize that one day this crazy ride will end and they will be there to support their children.
They must have some great handlers that direct their moves – from guest starring on Sesame Street to participating in an anti-bullying campaign.
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Their most recent controversy showing Zayn and Louis smoking, and then the incident involving Louis using the shortened “n” word in the same video showing them smoking, all of this just goes to show that they are still “boys” trying to find their way in this world as “young men.”
Are they role models? Yes. Should they be more discreet with what they film and ultimately post on the internet for the world to see? Yes. I think their handlers should maybe reign in the guys, but ultimately, they are considered adults… Young adults, but adults nonetheless.
I admit it, I do like their music. And they are cute. And watching their journey from tearful young contestants on a reality singing show to the formation a boy band was fun. I can’t wait to see what the rest of their journey brings!
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Have a great day!
** Update: I have been informed that Kool & the Gang was in no way a boy band. So for whatever it’s worth, sorry if I offended Kool & the Gang fans by grouping them in under the term of “boy band.”