One Direction: Official Top 20 biggest songs ever in UK revealed

14 June 2023

 

Can you believe it's been more than seven years since One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus? Since then, all five band members – Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan – have launched successful solo careers, continuing the group's legacy as a global pop phenomenon.

 

Looking back, it's incredible to witness just how much 1D packed in during their initial six-year run. They released five albums – Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014) and Made in the A.M. (2015) – embarked on four headline tours, and racked up 28 Top 75 singles in the UK. Four of those singles, beginning with their 2011 debut What Makes You Beautiful, made it to Number 1.

 

As Niall heads for another Number 1 with – this time on the Official Albums Chart, with his third solo effort The Show – we're taking the opportunity to unveil the era-defining boyband's Official Top 20 biggest songs in the UK.

 

Warning: you will end up wanting to revisit their gleaming back catalogue after reading this.

 

5. Drag Me Down

Released: 2015

UK chart units: 1.18m

UK streams: 108m

Official Singles Chart peak: 1

Released in July 2015, Made in the A.M.'s lead single was the band's first without Zayn, who had departed that March. One of the band's rockiest singles, it became their fourth Number 1 in the UK, confirming that One Direction were very much still viable as a four-piece.

 

4. Little Things

Released: 2012

UK chart units: 1.25m

UK streams: 83m

Official Singles Chart peak: 1

Co-written by Ed Sheeran, this folky ballad became One Direction's second Number 1 hit when it was released as Take Me Home's second single. Its sensitive and empathetic lyrics about embracing your flaws have made it a firm and enduring favourite with the band's fans.

 

3. History

Released: 2015

UK chart units: 1.3m

UK streams: 110m

Official Singles Chart peak: 6

Co-written by Liam and Louis, this singalong bop is – sob! – the group's final single to date. The wistful music video features clips from the band's many highlights over the years, encouraging fans to take a look back as they braced themselves for the upcoming hiatus.

 

2. Story of My Life

Released: 2013

UK chart units: 1.43m

UK streams: 111m

Official Singles Chart peak: 2

All five band members had a hand in writing this folktronica tune, which was released as the second single from Midnight Memories. One of 1D's best-known songs, it's since been covered by everyone from The Offspring to Natalie Imbruglia.

 

1. What Makes You Beautiful

Released: 2012

UK chart units: 1.94m

UK streams: 116m

Official Singles Chart peak: 2

Na, na-na-na, na-na-na, na, na, na! The group's ebullient debut single was an instant classic that debuted at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart. It remains such a crowd-pleaser that Harry included it in his setlist for his first two solo tours.

 

One Direction's Official Top 20 biggest songs in the UK:

POS TITLE ARTIST YEAR PEAK

1 WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL ONE DIRECTION 2011 1

2 STORY OF MY LIFE ONE DIRECTION 2013 2

3 HISTORY ONE DIRECTION 2015 6

4 LITTLE THINGS ONE DIRECTION 2012 1

5 DRAG ME DOWN ONE DIRECTION 2015 1

6 STEAL MY GIRL ONE DIRECTION 2014 3

7 NIGHT CHANGES ONE DIRECTION 2014 7

8 BEST SONG EVER ONE DIRECTION 2013 2

9 PERFECT ONE DIRECTION 2015 2

10 KISS YOU ONE DIRECTION 2012 9

11 LIVE WHILE WE'RE YOUNG ONE DIRECTION 2012 3

12 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (TEENAGE KICKS) ONE DIRECTION 2013 1

13 YOU & I ONE DIRECTION 2013 19

14 ONE THING ONE DIRECTION 2012 9

15 18 ONE DIRECTION 2014 45

16 MIDNIGHT MEMORIES ONE DIRECTION 2013 39

17 THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT US ONE DIRECTION 2012

18 GOTTA BE YOU ONE DIRECTION 2011 3

19 OLIVIA ONE DIRECTION 2015 72

20 NO CONTROL ONE DIRECTION 2014

©2023 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/o...revealed__7226/

An awful top 3 but pleased that 'Little Things' is still so high here as one of that song's few defenders x ('Night Changes' should be higher too)

 

Lol at 'Gotta Be You' being outdone by a couple of album tracks.

Love 80% of 1D's output but their worst singles are too high. To me, 'Story Of My Life', 'Perfect', 'Little Things' and 'Steal My Girl' are a bit over-rated. WMYB is still a worthy #1 but I wish 'Drag Me Down' and 'Best Song Ever' were higher, and of course the gorgeous 'Night Changes' :wub:

 

'Gotta Be You' is their worst single by a LONG way so I'm not surprised to see random album tracks appear higher.

 

Also, love seeing 'No Control' sneak in, that's one of my absolute favourite 1D album tracks!

As a casual 1D fan, I must say Gotta Be You is so underrated. Never understood why it wasn't bigger.

Edited June 16, 20232 yr by Rob