As an 11-year-old girl in 2014, boy bands were basically my whole life. The sound of the music, the look of the band members, and the vibe they gave out completely rattled my impressionable brain. Not a day went by during the 2010s where I wasn’t listening to boy band music. Looking back, I can definitely say that although a bit obsessive, I still appreciate these bands today. Let’s travel back and take a look at some of the most popular boy bands from the 2010s (and some of my personal favorites).
One Direction
One Direction has always and will always be my absolute favorite boy band. Formed in 2010, the band consisted of five boys from Europe: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik. Also known as 1D, the band was formed after each boy had been a contestant on the hit show, The X Factor. Simon Cowell signed the boys to his record label and they quickly took off.
Their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful” launched them into international fame. This hit reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. One Direction began becoming increasingly popular as they released their first album, Up All Night, but they didn’t stop there. In total, One Direction released five studio albums, each one grabbing a hold of their fans.
However, the world was shocked when member, Zayn Malik, announced that he would be leaving One Direction in 2015. Although the band continued on without him, they quickly announced they were going on a break in 2016. They never returned, unfortunately. Despite the disappointment this has caused, One Direction has released some incredible hits and each former member has their own solo career. This mends some of the hearts of One Direction fans, myself included.
5 Seconds of Summer
Much like One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) was another popular boy band formed in 2011. Based in Sydney, Australia, these four boys, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood, and Ashton Irwin, began as YouTube celebrities. Coincidentally, they got their start by opening up for One Direction on their Take Me Home Tour. In 2014, the band released “She Looks So Perfect” which topped the charts in four different countries.
In 2016, 5SOS announced that they would be taking a break from touring to focus on their next studio album. Fans waited patiently to see what would happen, especially since the 1D scandal. Unlike One Direction, 5SOS is still a band today. They have released 7 studio albums, the most recent one being in 2022, entitled 5SOS5.
This band encapsulates the feeling of the 2010s but has developed so much since then. They continue to put out music that fans love, all while continuing to live their adult lives. Some members have gotten married, and are even preparing to welcome children!
The Wanted
The Wanted, another British-Irish boy band, was formed in 2009. Through mass auditions, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Skyes, and the late Tom Parker were chosen. They released their debut album, The Wanted, in 2010. Although successful, their hits did not reach the US until 2012 when “Glad You Came” was released. If you don’t know The Wanted, you will definitely know them after hearing this song.
They followed up this hit with “Chasing the Sun” and “I Found You,” two songs that reached number 1 on the charts in the US. Just when things started to look up for them, they announced they would be taking a hiatus in 2014. The band confessed later on that the reason for this hiatus was because of how popular One Direction was getting. They didn’t want to compete and simply wanted to release music when the time was right.
In 2021, The Wanted announced that there would be a reunion to release a greatest hits album. Although this was exciting for fans, the reasoning behind it was quite sad. Band member Tom Parker was diagnosed with brain cancer. The band decided to come back together in support of him. Unfortunately, Parker passed in 2022. The rest of the band members donated all proceeds of this new album to The Brain Tumor Charity in his honor.
The End of an Era
Although a sad ending for two of the three bands, the legacy left behind will never be forgotten. The era of boy bands was such a transformative time and left a mark on the music industry. I personally still continue to listen to said music, as it reminds me of the joy of being a pre-teen.
Do you see any of your favorite bands on this list? If not, who would you add?
