One Direction Still Slaps: A Dual Review of Lights Up/Nice to Meet Ya

By Lara Harvey

On the evening of October 10th, just hours before Fall Break was upon us, my roommate Aarushi delivered some great news: Harry Styles was dropping a new song when the clock struck midnight. We were up late cleaning our room and packing our bags for our long weekends, but all of that could wait. We needed to stop everything and listen.

A love of One Direction is what first bonded Aarushi and I, as well as our other roommate Ella and our friends outside the triple. They were an important factor in the lives of many girls our age. Though my boyband phase has shifted into a love of indie and alt-rock music, I can gladly report that some of the boys’ solo projects have evolved in alignment with my taste.

Back to Harry. The clock struck midnight, and we all sat on the floor peering over shoulders to get a peek at the music video that dropped with it. Two for the price of one! Thank you, Harry.

Twelve hours later, shortly after leaving Ithaca to return home with my mom, I was informed that Niall Horan also recently released a new single. My mom gloated about her being more in the know about One Direction than I was since she heard Niall’s song first. She told me how good it was, and though she supported my fangirling and 1D obsession in middle school, she’s the type to tell me if she thought the song was trash.

So we put it on, sat back, and jammed to Niall’s song. And then Harry’s. And then Niall’s again. To be honest, it’s kind of embarrassing how much we listened to those two songs on our ride back to New Jersey. But, if you really wanna know what I think about these songs, here’s my take:

Lights Up - Harry Styles

First of all, the AESTHETICS! Since One Direction split (sensitive subject, I know), Harry has developed a very aestheticized image as a creative. For his first album, which was self titled, he played with millennial pinks, blazing sunsets, and soft lighting mixed with his incredible floral suits. The songs on Harry Styles range from dreamy acoustic numbers to more raunchy rock pieces. This single proposes a new era for Harry, specifically one with dancey hits, harsh lighting, and - yes, I am aware of how incredible this is - glitter.

The song begins with a simple guitar strum and a slow, quiet synth that fades in and builds up until the beat kicks in. Harry begins singing in a falsetto that is soft yet powerful, and the drums keep you moving. It has a spark to it. He sings a verse of apologies and questions. The verse repeats itself, and ends with, “It’d be so sweet if things just stayed the same,” where a beautifully harmonized chorus comes in with a couple la-di-da’s. 

Then comes the second section of the song, an ethereal moment that feels like taking a deep breath. When Harry sings, “Lights up and they know who you are, know who you are...do you know who you are?”, it feels like slow motion, molasses. This is a break that throws the listener off and makes them think they are dreaming, just up until the little piano riff at the end that launches into the chorus.

A choral “Shine!” repeats itself throughout this section, while Harry repeats a few lines: “Step into the light / shine bright sometimes / I’m not ever going back.” The layers of instrumental progressively get louder, with the tambourine pushing you to sway along. The belting, the riffs, the intensity...Harry did good on this one.

Then the verse repeats again, but the “la-di-da’s” repeat along with it until we hear Harry’s voice echo a hollow pre-chorus that fades into blackness. It ends ominously: Do you know who you are?

Overall, this song surprised me. It’s a new vibe for Harry, a new beginning. I’m ready to dance my way to HS2, whenever it comes out.

Nice to Meet Ya - Niall Horan

Though Harry threw a curveball with “Lights Up,” I was even more shocked when I heard Niall’s new single. It opens with quick-paced piano notes and Niall humming, which turns into a clap-along hook that sounds like a pickup line. Niall is inviting the listener to go on a journey with him in order to find this mysterious girl he is singing about.

After the initial flirty lyrics, the music picks up a bit with drums, guitar, and more. It feels like a big chase scene in a movie, which is exactly what Niall is hoping to achieve with this song. The disappearance of this girl is driving him crazy, as he can’t get enough of her, and he’s on a mission to take her out. The execution of this song is great because the energy of it matches the lyrics so well.

Niall chants: “Nice to meet ya / What’s your name? / Let me treat you / to a drink.” In the music video, we see Niall performing these lines in real time, standing in his best suit near a beautiful girl who disappears the next morning. It’s exciting seeing Niall be more adult and forward with his music. This song is mature and sexy without going too far.

Upon first listen, I could hardly believe this was a song by Niall. It reminds me of “Unbelievable” by EMF, or just about any song by The Black Keys. It has a fun rock vibe that is exciting and draws you in. This is definitely a twist in Niall’s career in comparison to his more folk-style album Flicker.