In a poignant turn of events, One Direction has seen a resurgence on the music charts following the untimely death of member Liam Payne. Payne passed away at the age of 31 after a tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16. This heartbreaking news has reignited interest in the band’s music, leading to a remarkable revival of their albums and singles.
All of One Direction’s albums have re-entered the charts, with their 2013 release Midnight Memories leading the way. This album, which is the group’s third studio effort, has climbed back to significant positions. In the singles category, two of their beloved tracks have made a strong return to the Top 10: “Night Changes,” now at No. 6, with an impressive 28,206 sales driven mainly by 3,397,595 streams in the UK, and “Story Of My Life,” at No. 9, garnering 24,370 sales largely from 3,144,043 streams. These songs experienced staggering week-on-week consumption increases of 896.2% and 804.8%, respectively.
In addition, the classic hit “What Makes You Beautiful” has also made a comeback, landing at No. 23. Despite chart regulations limiting artists to three singles on the list at once, raw data suggests that One Direction could have had as many as eight tracks charting simultaneously, highlighting the overwhelming affection fans still hold for their music.
Looking at their albums, Midnight Memories returned at No. 13 with 5,690 units sold, reflecting a remarkable 516.9% week-on-week increase. Other albums such as Made In The AM (2015) and Four (2014) also saw significant jumps, landing at No. 21 and No. 22, respectively, with increases of 431.9% and 488.5%. Even Take Me Home (2012) made its way to No. 25 with a 280.4% rise. Interestingly, Up All Night, their debut album, which previously did not reach No. 1, now sits at No. 38 with a staggering increase of 704.2%.
Additionally, Liam Payne’s solo work has also found its way back into the charts. His debut album, LP1, reappeared at No. 62 with 2,444 sales, up 459.3%. In the singles realm, his collaboration with Quavo on “Strip That Down” sits at No. 41, just ahead of “For You” with Rita Ora at No. 43. Notably, Payne’s recent single “Teardrops,” released earlier this year, has charted at No. 85 following his passing.
This resurgence not only reflects the band’s lasting impact on the music industry but also serves as a heartfelt tribute to Liam Payne’s legacy, resonating deeply with fans across
the globe.
