One Direction shows newfound maturity

Lauren Gorla

The popular boy-band One Direction released its newest single, “Story Of My Life,” yesterday at midnight and appears to be moving in a new, more mature direction that has fans scrambling for more.

“Story Of My Life” is just one of four singles to come early from the band’s newest album, “Midnight Memories.”  The lead track on the new album “Best Song Ever” was released earlier this summer and contrasts the mellow angle

The boys, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, croon their way to our heart with the story of unrequited love and their classic harmonies in “Story Of My Life.”

Although many young girls around the world are huge fans of these five boys, this new song is one that could turn even the biggest One Direction hater into a listener.  With its acoustic undertones and on-point harmonies, there is mass appeal for listeners of all ages.

The song also shows a greater sense of maturity compared to the songs One Direction was putting out in their first album two years ago.

Styles hooks listeners with the first line “Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain/ I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days.”

In comparison, songs from the first album definitely showed the stumbling immaturity of a band in its very beginning stages.  “Stole My Heart” from the “Up All Night” album is more about seeing a hot girl across a crowded club than legitimately falling in love: “Under the lights tonight/ You turned around, and you stole my heart.”

Having been compared to songs from folk band Mumford & Sons, “Story of My Life” shows promise of an album with more emotional lyrics and greater vocal skill, matching the maturity the boys are gaining as they grow up from teenagers to adults.