One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer have officially taken over the world of pop music. They’re both talented, cute, and capable of stealing the hearts of teens all over the globe.
Is 5 Seconds of Summer really trying to steal One Direction’s limelight? Is One Direction truly better than 5 Seconds of Summer?
Comparisons between the two boy bands and rivalry amongst the fandoms is everlasting. Let’s compare the two groups and let the battle of the boy bands commence…
It’s officially One Direction vs 5 Seconds of Summer!
Instrument Playing
5SOS is popular for playing their own instruments and not relying on a band to do their backing. Luke Hemmings leads the way on vocals and Michael, Calum, and Ashton all chip in with the singing. The One Direction boys however, all take part in lending their vocals with not one single member stealing the show for too long. Niall and Liam are the only members who play an instrument (the guitar) but that doesn’t compare to 5SOS who are constantly rocking on their guitars and drums.
Band or Boy Band?
As far as instruments go, 5SOS are extremely talented. This is what separates the Australian sweethearts from the One Direction heartthrobs. 5SOS are a band who each play their own instruments and sing. One Direction, on the other hand are a boy band, they all get their fair share of singing and do not play instruments on the regular.
Similar Style & Sound
There’s so much overlap in 5SOS and One Direction’s sound and style that they could seamlessly switch songs and few would be the wiser. Listen to 5SOS’s Amnesia and compare it to One Direction’s Story of My Life, you’ll find both the hook and the timbre of the songs to be almost identical. Would you say the Australian foursome are copying One Direction? The famous mash up of Kiss You by One Direction and She Looks So Perfect by 5SOS proves just how similar the two bands’ sound is.
Harry Styles and Ashton Irwin
Ok seriously now, are Harry and Ashton twins? From the hair, to the eyes, it’s fair to say that the two heartthrobs look alike way too much. Just look at their matching cute curls and dreamy dimples!
Number One Albums
One Direction’s Up All Night and 5SOS’ debut album both scored in the charts, reaching number 1, internationally. No one can argue against the fact that One Direction are worth a whole lot more than 5 Seconds of Summer. But remember that 5SOS only released their debut album last year which means that their journey has only just begun. Could 5SOS override One Directions’ earnings and popularity?
Pop vs. Rock
5SOS take inspiration from pop rock bands like Green Day while One Direction are the male equivalent of the Spice Girls – pure, bubble-gum pop. Although their newest album, Four features a lot of rock, it’s still fair to say that 1D will always be considered a pop boy band and as long as 5SOS continue to strum on their guitars and wear punky outfits, they remain a pop rock band.
Song Writing Skills
You would have noticed that 5SOS’ songs are a little more meaningful as compared to One Directions’. This is because each and every member of 5SOS contribute in the writing of their songs and they include a lot of their personal experiences. Louis and Liam are the only 1D members to put pen to paper when it comes to lyrics. Does that make the Australian lads more talented? Ouch!
Friends Before Fame?
As we all know, One Direction formed on The X Factor by auditioning separately. Louis, Liam, Zayn, Harry and Niall didn’t know each other before being put together by Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell in 2010. Luke, Calum, Ashton and Michael on the other hand, were friends a long time before they rose to fame.
While Directioners and the 5SOS family continue to spat, what they might fail to notice is that the two groups themselves have formed a sort of camaraderie. Reports show that Harry Styles and the rest of One Direction actually have part ownership of 5SOS! The two groups have even joked about the constant comparisons saying that the only similarities they share are “the same genitals.” True that.
Are 5 Seconds of Summer replacing One Direction as the worlds’ biggest and most bankable boy band? Or will the two always be distinct? Have your say in the comments box…
