Friday July 17 proved to be a turning point for Vancouver Directioners as One Direction played their best and most energized Vancouver concert to date. It opened with a bang with “Clouds,” a song off their newest album Four, which left us with excitement nothing short of hysteria.
What truly set this concert apart from 1D’s previous visit in 2013 was the memorable fan interactions and genuine energy that the group brought to the stage. During the second half of the show, a young teen notified Harry Styles that she was celebrating her birthday with 1D that night. Harry, over the roar of screaming fans, mistakenly mistook her name for Jodie and after realizing her real name, nicknamed her “Chloe not Jodie.”
After some playful banter, Harry got over 54,500 people to sing this “Chloe not Jodie” a very “Happy Birthday.” It is moments like this which show that behind the marketing, the advertising, and the multi-million dollar paycheques lie four lads who genuinely love performing and are grateful for all the success that their fans have brought them.
As Niall Horan said before the group performed “Don’t Forget Where You Belong,” “This is absolutely amazing. When I was writing this one, I was thinking about you guys and what we’ve achieved and what you guys have done for us over the last five years. This one is for you!”
One Direction’s love towards their fans combined with their ability to never take things seriously (hence the never-ending dancing and rap battles during and between songs) have kept the group humble and sane in an abyss of fans and fame.
Memorable musical moments throughout the concert included performances like “Little Things” and “Best Song Ever.” Both of these used the massive space of BC Place to the utmost advantage. During “Little Things,” all the stadium lights were shut off except the spotlight on the four boys. This light with lights from the fans made the arena light up like the night sky. “Best Song Ever” closed the concert nicely by having a fan favourite fill the massive arena, allowing the fans and 1D to party it up one last time.
While it can be argued by some that missing Zayn Malik’s vocals was a huge blow to the group, his absence did not diminish 1D from delivering an entertaining, interactive performance without a dull moment. Really, they’ve proved that the one thing that keeps One Direction afloat and continuing to move in a singular direction is the full experience they deliver, including the quirky, playful personalities, the inside jokes, and the fan interaction during their shows.
If you are a fan of laughs, catchy tunes, and a good time, check out the One Direction performance the next time they come to town.
