Printable version of thread

Five years ago today (July 23), five ordinary teenagers were grouped together at the boot camp stages of The X Factor.

Little did One Direction know at that point that they'd go on to become a pop culture phenomenon, selling millions of records and headlining stadiums the world over.

To mark the fifth anniversary of their inception, Digital Spy has undertaken the task of ranking all of their singles to date from worst to best.

14. 'Gotta Be You'
Released: November 11, 2011
UK chart peak: No.3
After the insane break out success of 'What Makes You Beautiful', its follow-up 'Gotta Be You' felt a bit damp in comparison. The five-piece gave good cheeky, heartthrob in their debut music video, so this came across too sentimental and soppy for a group who were becoming known for their cheeky behaviour.

13. 'More Than This'
Released: May 25, 2012
UK chart peak: No.86
By the time One Direction released 'More Than This' from their debut album, they had already became household names the world over. If anything, this release was to capitalise on the 1D phenomenon in its international infancy, helping to keep momentum over the summer while the guys recorded their second collection (as well as push the accompanying tour DVD). That's not to say it isn't a formidable ballad, and as this live music video shows, Zayn's runs for the final chorus always managed to send the fans into a frenzy.

12. 'Steal My Girl'
Released: September 29, 2014
UK chart peak: No.3
By 2014 expectations for a One Direction lead single were incredibly high, and although 'Steal My Girl' has an infuriatingly catchy chorus laced with kitsch '70s piano lines, it didn't have enough ridiculously bonkers flair as its accompanying music video suggests. That being said, it still introduced its parent album Four relatively well, and always gets a huge reaction at their headline shows.

11. 'Live While We're Young'
Released: September 28, 2012
UK chart peak: No.3
This was the moment One Direction really had to justify the hype and prove that they weren't just another disposable boyband who disappear after one album. While 'Live While We're Young' just misses out on the Top 10 in our ranking, upon its release it broke and set a whole raft of world records. As soon as it was available to pre-order on iTunes that summer it became the fastest-selling pre-order single in history and topping advance sales charts in 40 countries. Then as the music video premiered on Vevo the next month it broke Justin Bieber's record for the most views during its first 24 hours of being online. Adding to that, its No.3 debut on the Hot 100 became the highest ever bow by a UK group in the chart's history.

10. 'Little Things'
Released: December 3, 2012
Chart peak: No.1
Initially a reject from Ed Sheeran's debut album +, the red-headed troubadour allowed One Direction take this acoustic ballad to the top of the charts instead. It is probably the most simple, stripped-back and intimate in the group's discography, allowing the five-piece to showcase their individual vocals tones and melt hearts at the same time.

9. 'One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)'
Released: February 17, 2013
Chart peak: No.1
As is the right of passage for all pop groups, One Direction's shot at a charity single for Comic Relief became the biggest in the organisation's history. The boyband took Blondie's classic hit 'One Way Or Another' and turned it into a teen-rock blowout, managing to wedge in a genius 'Teenage Kicks' middle eight. The accompanying music video was also directed by the band themselves, and included a particular famous face... David Cameron has never looked so awkward.

8. 'Midnight Memories'
Released: March 9, 2014
UK chart peak: No.39
As One Direction's profile sky-rocketed, so did the size of the venues they were headlining. 'Midnight Memories' was timed to coincide with their milestone shows at Wembley Stadium, bringing in ramped up guitars, foot-stomping drums and a massive chorus to fill up the bigger stages they were now playing. It's a crime this never achieved more success on the chart as it's one of the band's most energetic anthems.

7. 'Story of My Life'
Released: October 25, 2013
UK chart peak: No.2
'Story Of My Life' feels like the moment One Direction matured more into a refined, folky soundscape, stepping ever so slightly away from the set boyband formula for balladry. The changed served them well with the track becoming the second biggest-selling of their career in the US so far shifting over 2.5 million downloads. What's more, it's the only single One Direction have released where all five of them are credited as co-writers.

6. 'Best Song Ever'
Released: July 22, 2013
UK chart peak: No.2
'Best Song Ever' came just at the height of One Direction mania. As well as leading their third album Midnight Memories, it was also the official soundtrack for their record-breaking film This Is Us. Naturally that was depicted in the accompanying music video, which is by far their best. Zayn Malik as Veronica was genius, and all five of them proved that behind the puppy dogs eyes and considered coos they can all hold down a bit of comedic acting.

5. 'You & I'
Released: April 15, 2014
UK chart peak: No.19
Quite possibly the most underrated single in their back catalogue, 'You & I' really came into its own at One Direction's massive stadium show in the summer of 2014. It's a soaring, wistful ballad with twinges of the soft-rock formula and Zayn's angelic top notes for the finale. Although the song didn't make the impact it should have on the charts, the accompanying visual did walk away with the British Artist Video of The Year prize at the 2015 Brit Awards.

4. 'One Thing'
Released: January 6, 2012
UK chart peak: No.9
This track was originally two different songs according to its writer Carl Falk, who revealed it was his co-writer Savan Kotecha who suggested they merge them together to create 'One Thing'. And good job too because the 1D boys have admitted on more than one occasion that this is one of their favourite songs they've recorded.

3. 'Night Changes'
Released: November 14, 2014
UK chart peak: No.7
When 'Night Changes' first emerged it didn't really make an impact on the casual music fan, but after a few listens and it quietly proved itself to be one of the group's most substantial ballads. Its soft sway, smooth harmonies and melancholic chorus leans towards Fleetwood Mac, while its contemplative lyric is sentimental without being overblown. On a more poignant note for fans, it will now the final One Direction single to be released with the full original line-up. That is unless Zayn comes back one day.

2. 'What Makes You Beautiful'
Released: September 11, 2011
UK chart peak: No.1
It's the chart hit that started it all. One Direction's debut single was directly inspired by the '90s boybands of yesteryear, if not with a more updated and clever approach to the formula. Its clever concept of the subject's unrecognised beauty appealed to their teen girl following, while its catchy melody meant that everyone else found themselves humming along too. And with its total UK sales standing at 950k as of November 2014, any day now it will become the band's first ever million-selling hit in their homeland.

1. 'Kiss You'
Released: January 7, 2013
UK chart peak: No.9
While their debut hit nodded back to the boybands of the '90s, 'Kiss You' goes back further to the '60s with its twinges of Beach Boys-styled pop. The guitars are chewier, the beats are bouncier and the chorus is catchier than anything they've ever done. It may not have been one of their biggest hits on the charts, but 'Kiss You' always manages to cause a teen-screaming riot at their live shows, its anthemic chorus having threatened to blow the roof off more than a few hundred venues over the years.