I was genuinely shocked because you hear about this group being the biggest boyband in the world and stadium tours etc and you would think over 5 years you would expect something of good quality but he was absolutely awful and it really was like one of those shite X Factor auditions which make the highlights for comedy value.

Its obvious they hate each other,Harry has made zero effort to engage for the last three years,watch the solo careers slide into oblivion

I was very skeptical of their talent level for years, but I actually think in the last year or two they've proved they're decent performers.

Whatever may be wrong with Syco's factory, they DO have a good training program. Little Mix, again who were very rough at times on the show, by a few years later also came off as well rehearsed and executed during their actual shows.

Not convinced any of these people (in either group) can actually songwrite or would perform well as a solo artist, but that's not the point. For what they're claiming to be--boy and girl bands--they've done well.

Syco's going to have a real challenge bringing 4th Impact anywhere near this level if they try though. Those girls relied on coming off as cute too much and actually can't sing. Alien actually was much better (they weren't great in the solo parts but were surprisingly good in the harmony bits).

I think this is definitely it for them, the whole 'going on a break' just sounds false and was probably just said to break it lightly so their fans didn't have complete breakdowns... They are definitely a brand, a bit cultish to be honest.

Apparently Harry and Louis really don't get on and haven't for a while and Zayn left because he doesn't like their music. I imagine a few of them might get back together in so many years if their solo careers don't take off but if I was a fan I wouldn't believe this taking a break nonsense.

Talent wise... No comment. All as I know is that they weren't good enough to get to through on the X Factor as solo artists. But I will say I don't dislike them as much as I did when they first came about.

Do they get much creative input, or is it mostly a case of doing what the label tells them?

Isn't that why the one with the odd Z name which I haven't bothered to learn left?

Also I imagine that the one with the crazy hair, Harry right? I'm guessing he's probably got most of the media attention, because I recall articles about how he *****s a lot of models and actresses, and that bigger media profile very well might result in him starting to dictate a bigger share, or better perks, or more decisionmaking. And then the others wouldn't be able to stand him anymore or being trapped inside Simon's crappy money printing factory.

They do what they are told. Only a very few artists have creative control over their careers - the label is paying for everything up front and it if all bombs it's the label that loses the money, so the label is in charge. It's the same in movies and television which are controlled by producers. I always laugh at actors saying they wrote the script, chose all their own clothes, worked very hard to get the project off the ground - they do exactly what they are required to do by the producers and director and if they don't they don't get the part. They are last in and first out on a production which is years in the prep and months in post. Music is the same. The artists are the brand and do the marketing and appearances, but 90% of them are the products of a company. There is no shame in that. I hand it to 1D for making so much money and being so successful, but it is 95% the machine and 5% luck, they are not the Beatles or Adele.

Difficult to say, some will tell you that syco would never allow that, but Little Mix scrapped a whole album last year because they were not happy with it, lost a years worth of touring and such and came back with what has been their best selling album of the lot. (they also tell a story of how they refused to sing a poor song choice when they were on the X Factor and got something more to their liking, which we have been told never happens too of course)

So it is obvious that despite appearances, the acts do have plenty of input if they want to. Whether 1D do that is open to question.

Adele calls the shots because she went to a smaller label and MADE them big following her terms.

1D did a lot for Syco, and I'm sure gained leverage over time. But I'm sure it wasn't equal amongst all of them, and that can't have been good.

They have absolutely no musical credibility whatsoever
None of them can write music or play an instrument to performance level
They are the typical manufactured boy band.
Their first song Saturday night was appalling.

There have been a few exceptions over the years, Take That being one with Gary Barlow as the musical talent

That may be true in the pop world, but the music I listen to, the artists have creative freedom, some of them even have their own labels.

I predict that once they have split Harry is going to crash and burn , he already believes his own hype

That's lovely, but the pop world isn't able to follow that model just because it works elsewhere (presumably on a far smaller scale).

Yeah, I think he basically said he was sick of it and that they were just a bunch of puppets, forced to sing songs he hated to young teen girls and that he had little to no creative freedom to write anything more mature.

Trouble is though, would he even be able to? One D didn't get to where they are on the strength of their writing like many less commercial bands, so they are unproven in that respect. With the x-factor, it's more about having the right look, image and relying on exposure from the show, as well as being able to hold a note, all important things of course, but the real creative element- the writing, is not needed at all to succeed on the show. These labels know that, so they keep them on a tight leash. They sing songs proven hit makers have written or they're out.

I didn't say it was a model the pop world should/ could adopt, I was just pointing out the differences and that there are indeed lots of less commercial artists with creative freedom. Of course, this system works great in the pop world for bands like One D, and makes them and especially their labels, lots of money.

Women buy songs with their hormones.

They are talentless , just some guys from the street.

I LOL'd at the good song writer comments.

Watch out Lennon and Mcartney !

I never like boybands anyway but I could at least appreciate the like of Take That, East 17, Backstreet Boys as to why they sold so many records .... they did have some decent songs....but these clowns, honestly. It's the twitter/sheep follower affect I think, a modern day phenomenon.

Did you see them on Alan Carr. . totally dull bunch. They couldn't even do a dance off like Little Mix did, They had to use silly stunt doubles

Totally agree with 1st point but think none of them can sing their just a easy target money making boyband who were probably in it just for the money. Think splitting them up is good as hopefully they may try to be sucsessful on their own cant see any of them making it though and think they will land nowhere like most XF acts do. What the heck Harry had on ive no idea what message he was trying to get across apart from look at me& he looked the biggest idiot out of all of them with the others not far behind him. I think the end of them was coming slowly when Zayn left. They will be people who will never be seen again when they spilt is my prediction. Glad im not the only person that doesn't like them and think they are rubbish and cant sing. if you want someone who can sing just look at people such as SuBo from BGT. that girl can sing well for her age. I was like everyone else when she walked on the stage thinking oh what have we got here someone awful and then it shut me up when she sang and my judgment of her changed. she should have won her series and she was possibly one of the most robbed contestants on BGT to date

BIB I almost feel sorry for you and how you deal with them I have no idea whatsoever

Decided to watch a bit of catch up of the British Music Awards, which I found thoroughly depressing.

I sat through the 1D song to see if I had been unfair. Nope, awful song and mediocre singing.

Thought Little Mix were way better in that vein!

Agree with you about little mix....ive always disliked them and thought they're jut really for the pre-pubescent girls etc.....although they still are I suppose but I think their singing and performance skills ep when they were with fleur east greatly outweighed those of 1D!

I've actually downloaded my very first little mix song this week..

I think harry styles and liam will try for solo careers whereas the other two will be forgotten very quickly....

Knew nothing about them at the beginning, haven't watched X Factor for about 5 years. But heard their last couple of singles, saw them on a couple of shows, they seem to have blossomed!

They have looked as miserable as sin for about 4 years now. I think their "break" will be similar to the "break" ABBA and Destiny's Child are currently on.