Formation
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In 2010, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles auditioned for the X Factor's 7th series as solo acts. When each of the boys were about to be eliminated, guest judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested that they become a group act, they took this last chance to continue in the show, and joined forces without even knowing each other. They had never imagined how much this decision could change their lives forever.
X Factor
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From the moment they first sang an acoustic version of the song "Torn", they were gaining popularity in the UK, especially from the teenage girl population. With the help of their mentor, Simon Cowell, they managed to place third in the competition. However, this was not the end of One Direction. They were about to become big. Very big.
Up All Night
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After signing a record deal with former X Factor mentor, Simon Cowell, at Syco Records, the band came out with their debut single, What Makes You Beautiful, in September 2011, which was an outrageously huge hit, quickly becoming #1 in the UK. Their other singles, Gotta Be You and One Thing were also in the UK Singles Chart top ten. Their first album was released in 2011, and later released globally in 2012. Little did they know that this was the beginning of huge fame.
World Domination
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One Direction won countless awards for their singles, album, and altogether songs as a band in only the first year of their career. They embarked on a UK Up All NIght tour, adding shows in the U.S. and Australia. They gained the support of millions of teenage girls across the globe. After fans started a "bring 1D to ____" campaign to bring one direction to their own country, they added some shows in a wide variety of places. Later in the summer Olympics of 2012 in London, they performed "What Makes You Beautiful" for the Closing Ceremony, and performed a sold out concert in Madison Square Garden, every performer's dream. There was no doubt that One Direction was the biggest band on the planet.
Take Me Home
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The first taste of One Direction's new album, a single called "Live While We're Young" was released in September 2012, was in the top ten charts of almost every country on the globe. The second single, Little Things, was also a huge hit, girls just loved hearing that these European lads actually loved everything they were insecure about. The album, Take Me Home, was released in November 2012 and sold 540,000 copies in only the first week of being released in the U.S. They continued to win numerous awards for their past music, while adding a new album and new singles into the mix, being nominated at probably every single awards show for the past few years. The band set sail on a world tour for the album, Take Me Home, in late February of 2013, and ended in November 2013, with a schedule of over 120 shows.
Charity Work
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The boys not only have angelic voices and extremely successful careers, but they also do a ton of charity work for various organizations. From visiting sick children in London, to hospitals in Ghana, One Direction undoubtedly give back to the world. They greatly support the British charity, Comic Relief, and did a cover of Blondie's "One Way Or Another" mixed with "Teenage Kicks" by the Undertones, in which all proceeds from the song go to Comic Relief. They also did promos for Red Nose Day in Ghana, asking people to donate 5 pounds to the fund, which is enough for one vaccine to save a child's life.