When One Direction cast aside their farewell and they turned toward solo careers, everyone turned their gaze from the stage to the screen as to what would happen next. Five members, one of the biggest boy bands in history, and five very different solo paths.
Now, a comparison of Harry Styles versus the rest of One Direction remains at the center of pop culture debates. Even as all four members have managed to forge individual careers, Harry’s ascent has been so meteoric that it has altered the way the band’s legacy is remembered.
Harry Styles arrived from One Direction ready to establish himself as the breakout star. Even at the height of the band’s fame, he was the most exposed member, one of the most fashionable members, framed by the media as the “rockstar” prototype. In 2017, he signed on as an indie solo singer. His work was purposely free of pop and took on soft rock and conventional British styles.
From there he grew into something larger than his former boy band life. And albums like Fine Line and Harry’s House proved he’s not just a good musician, but a global pop-cultural persona. Grammy wins, stadium tours, film roles and fashion identity would make Harry less a former–boyband member and more a solitary icon.
In contrast, the other four musicians took fewer, more fragmented paths. Zayn Malik, who left the band in 2015, started out as Harry’s leading rival. His 2016 debut album Mind of Mine was a commercial success, widely acclaimed for its R&B influences and a contrast to One Direction's sound. But Zayn’s career has been defined by lengthy breaks, not much touring and a messy relationship with fame.
Niall Horan followed the more traditional singer-songwriter path. His music, mostly made up of acoustic and folk songs, guaranteed him chart success and a dedicated fan base. Niall’s strength has less to do with spectacle than solidifying things. Without being the focus of headlines, he has built a career rooted in musicianship and relatability.
Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne have experienced arguably both the most difficult transitions. Louis leaned into indie and alternative pop and instead leaned into authenticity, leaning into real stories which held up against current music trends. Liam, meanwhile, had written for a commercial pop and club-ready record but his work has failed to establish a clear artistic identity, often obscured by struggles of a personal basis and inconsistent critical reception.
What truly separates Harry from the rest isn’t success, is the cultural domination. Harry Styles has done more than to fill the music landscape: He rose to the status of a living emblem of contemporary celebrity: fluid fashion, subtly ambiguous sexuality, a brand that makes him stand out. The rest of One Direction did not fail, but they are nowhere near where their ex-bandmate is.
Each member achieved success in their own way, but Harry Styles became a phenomenon. In the unofficial contest that followed One Direction’s breakup, Harry not only was ahead but he changed the finish line altogether.