Why Louis Tomlinson Is One Direction Unsung Solo Star

As the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, Bulletin board has reviewed the 25 greatest pop stars of the past 25 years. Below, we take a deeper look at his solo career Louis Tomlinson — one of the members of our No. 22 pop stars, One Direction — and how his songwriting, originally honed in 1D, helped him grow into one of the group's most powerful artists.

When One Direction officially went on hiatus in 2015, Zayn Malik left My mind in 2016, Harry Styles' self-titled LP dropped in 2017, and Niall Horan followed with Flicker later that year and Liam Payne First time The EP arrived in 2018. Louis Tomlinson, however, was slow to release a full-length – and entered a period of healing and self-discovery that saw him realize his potential as one of 1D's most self-realized artists, even if not necessarily more stars

Even before going solo, Tomlinson showed he was destined for breakthrough success while in One Direction. Longtime Directioners know that Tomlinson wrote more One Direction songs than any other member, penning long-running hits like “Perfect,” “History” and “Fool's Gold” and proving his mettle as a songwriter who understands lyrical wit and creates the indescribably catchy choruses. necessary to produce ready hits in the arena. Aside from his musical abilities, Tomlinson's sense of humor and friendship with other members of 1D also ensured that his fans had a soft spot for him.

However, when he went it alone, the road was slippery at first. He teamed up with Steve Aoki for his first solo release 'Just Hold On' in December 2016 and just three days before its release, Tomlinson's mother died of leukemia. He even took the stage to perform the song The X Factorthe first public evidence of the star's power and dedication to his musical craft.

Tomlinson's resilience in the face of adversity continued as he navigated the music industry. The star signed to Epic Records in 2017 and released a couple of singles – including 'Miss You' and 'Back to You' featuring Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals. While the infectious hooks on both tracks could have easily cemented Tomlinson as a pop mainstay, the two singles didn't perform as well on the charts: “Just Hold On” peaked at No. 52 Billboard Hot 100 and “Back to You” peaked at No. 40, while “Miss You” missed the chart entirely. Ultimately, a full-length album never materialized with Epic Records.

Tomlinson soon got back on his feet, as he always does, and signed to Arista Records in 2019 – where he honed his talent as a songwriter, this time feeling comfortable enough to tackle more vulnerable subjects in his music. His first release under the label was “Two of Us”, a tribute to his late mother. “I know you'll be looking down/ I swear I'll make you proud/ I'll live a life for both of us,” she sings on the chorus, giving a glimpse into what would soon become a musical career full of honesty and vulnerability.

Unfortunately, shortly after its release, another hardship struck Tomlinson's life when his 18-year-old sister Fizzy died of an accidental overdose. Both the release of “Two of Us” and the tragedy that followed showed just how close-knit Tomlinson's fan community is, as they showered him with online love and support in the months that followed.

After spending a lot of time recuperating, he announced in August of that year that his debut solo album was on the way—and soon after, he released a follow-up single, the rock, drumline-based “Kill My Mind.” Tomlinson admitted he has finally found his stride. “I'm really proud and relieved to finally find my place, find my lane musically,” he said. Radio Breakfas hitsthen, suggesting a moment of relief in the midst of a tumultuous few years.

Tomlinson's debut solo album, Wallsarrived in January 2020 and while he hit the Billboard 200's top 10, met mixed reviews by critics, who suggested that the heart he wanted to portray wasn't quite there. His growth outside of commercial success has proven otherwise, as in recent years he has been building a solid identity not only as an artist, but also as a human being. While some of the other One Direction members are still finding their feet with their solo sounds to this day, Tomlinson has strongly evolved into an instrumental-focused pop-rock artist whose lyrics transcend the emotions you'd expect from a former band member. .

And soon, all the hard work – both personally and musically – finally paid off. Faith in the Futurehis second solo album 2022, debuted at No.1 on the Official UK Albums Chart. In the United States, Faith in the Future debuted at No. 2 on Bulletin board'small album-sales”>Top Selling Albums chart, and at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200, his highest-charting set to date in both respects. The success of the album, as well as his sold-out live shows on the accompanying tour, not only showed the Directioner's dedication to Tomlinson, but also made it clear that he had a host of new fans along the way.

Tomlinson's self-awareness was evident on the album's lead single, “Bigger Than Me.” “When someone told me I'd change/ I was scared, I don't know why/ 'Cause the world out there does too, I realized/ It's bigger than me,” he sings – showing that the key to solo success is all together being the himself and to give up the pressure of fame.

While Tomlinson has yet to achieve the major chart hits that his 1D mates achieved virtually immediately – and has focused more on his 28-clothing line over the past two years – he's proven that he doesn't need traditional pop success to have a bright future in front of him. With two more albums and tours continuing to establish his identity and expand his craft, it wouldn't be shocking to see him make the leap to arenas in the not too distant future. Louis' solo career may not have gotten off to the perfect start, but it may end up being perfect for him in the long run.