With four multi-platinum albums, four world tours, and millions of dedicated, somewhat insane fans, One Direction is arguably the most famous boy band in history. Their success has ranged from music to perfumes, and their popularity is larger than their salaries. One Direction has recently released a new album, Made in the A.M., and directioners across the globe have made it number one in several countries in just one week.

The members of One Direction, including Zayn Malik, who left the band earlier this year, began their fame on a singing competition in the U.K. called “X Factor.” All five members, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan, were voted off after week one of “Bootcamp,” but they were called back onto the show to form a group. Soon, this group would be known as One Direction, and they soared through the competition.

One Direction’s fan base began to grow, starting with a few hundred fans in England who promoted the band on social media, to a few thousand. The boys did not win the X Factor competition; in fact, the group came in third place. Simon Cowell, who soon signed One Direction to his label, saw an unusual talent in these boys and had a feeling that One Direction Infection would be an international epidemic. He was right. Soon the boys released their first single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” which became number one in dozens of countries. The fan base stretched to North America and Australia, and soon the entire world was One Direction crazy.

Coming to an end of their “On the Road Again” tour this fall, One Direction has announced they will be taking a one year hiatus to pursue individual goals and escape their crazy touring schedule. Directioners everywhere were saved from this apocalypse by the release of One Direction’s new album, “Made in the A.M.” This album has seventeen songs expressing their maturity and talent. This album is much more real, with the majority of the songs being written by the band members themselves. It is not what one would expect from a boy band: it is much more grown up. Each song on this album has a specific meaning, making the album even more impressive.

“History” is written for the fans, saying “this is not the end,” and “we can be the greatest team that the world has ever seen.”

“Perfect” is said to have been written for Taylor Swift, as it says, “if you’re looking for someone to write your break-up songs about, baby, I’m perfect,” but that is up for interpretation.

Songs such as “If I Could Fly,” “I Want to Write You a Song,” “Infinity,” and “Olivia” are all intricate love songs, beating out some of the most romantic lyrics of our time.

“Made in the A.M.” is intense, and it is apparent a lot of time and effort went into making the album very special. Whether this is the last we hear from One Direction or not, this album is a fantastic way to leave the public eye for a while. One Direction’s legacy will live on — even if their musical career comes to an end.