Following Liam Payne’s tragic death in Argentina, One Direction’s five albums have all made a comeback to the UK charts. “Midnight Memories,” the band’s third album, is at the top of the charts, re-entering at number 13 following an astounding 517% increase in sales and streaming, according to the Official Charts Company.
The album’s return coincided with three One Direction’s hits returning to the Top 40. Payne’s final solo single, “Teardrops,” which peaked at number 85 on the chart, perfectly captured the love and support that fans showed for him following his untimely passing.
Liam Payne died on October 16 at the age of 31 after he fell from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony on the third level. He leaves behind Bear, his seven-year-old kid, whom he shares with Cheryl, his former partner. His family, friends, and fellow musicians have showered his life with honors since his passing, underscoring the significant influence he had on everyone in his vicinity.
“Absolutely devastated” by the passing, Niall Horan said, expressing his sadness and calling Payne “the brightest person in any room.” Kate Cassidy, Payne’s girlfriend, expressed her sincere feelings by saying that he will always be her “guardian angel” and disclosing their impending marriage.
“Liam will always live in our hearts,” said Payne’s family in a statement expressing their grief. His brave, humorous, and kind spirit will live on in our memories. As a tribute to Payne’s legacy, fans have also held vigils and helped his songs return to the top of the charts.
‘Midnight Memories’ is currently at number 13, ‘Made in the AM’ is at number 21, ‘Four’ is at number 22, ‘Take Me Home’ is at number 25, and ‘Up All Night’ is at number 38 in the charts. Payne’s album ‘LP1’ is also at number 62.
Right now, One Direction’s singles “Night Changes” is at number six, “Story Of My Life” is at number nine, and “What Makes You Beautiful” is at number twenty-three. Meanwhile, Payne’s songs “For You” featuring Rita Ora and “Strip That Down” starring Quavo are at number 43 and 41, respectively, while “Teardrops” makes its debut at number 85.
The band’s song “Night Changes,” wasn’t their biggest success when it was first released, but amassed a sizable fan base over time. As evidence of its ongoing appeal to fans, it became the first One Direction song to reach one billion Spotify plays in 2022.
“Night Changes” is one of the band’s more mature songs and came out on November 12, 2014, as the second single from the album ‘Four’. Its lyrics, set against the backdrop of a troubled love tale, ponder the passing of time and the loss of innocence.
Harry Styles sings the lead vocal in the chorus, capturing the heart of the song with lines about growing older and the passing of time. Given Payne’s recent death, the song’s themes of sorrow and impermanence have struck a chord with fans.
Following the incident, the hotel where Payne was staying at the time of his death was raided by Argentine authorities. As they looked into what happened to him, they confiscated a number of materials, including computer hard drives and hotel security footage.
Multiple traumas and “internal and external hemorrhage” were the causes of Payne’s death, according to an initial post-mortem examination. However, officials in Argentina clarified that they had not shared such information when confusion arose when US media reported that toxicology results showed he had a mixture of illegal narcotics in his system.
Geoff, Payne’s father, is currently in Buenos Aires, waiting for his son’s body to be released so it may be returned to the UK.
As he deals with the “heartbreaking loss” of his bandmate, Zayn Malik, a former member of One Direction, has chosen to postpone his next US tour.
Former ‘X Factor’ judge Nicole Scherzinger, who helped launch One Direction in 2010, said she was very grateful for Payne. In an Instagram post, she emphasized their deep chats and mutual love of music, saying she would “forever cherish and treasure” the times they spent together.
Together with Payne and Kelly Rowland, Scherzinger had recently taped a Netflix talent show called ‘Building The Band’. However, the production’s future is currently uncertain due to his passing.
