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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course Comment By David T. Farr More Content Now MailTribune.com By David T. Farr More Content Now Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 7:15 AM By David T. Farr More Content Now Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 7:15 AM » Social News Is Zayn Malik really leaving One Direction? If so, why? My life will never be the same. Is this news really that hard to comprehend? One Direction is a boy band. Most boy bands disband by the time their pubescence is over, only to regroup years later (sometimes, when the money runs out). Several former boy bands come to mind: New Edition, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys all returned years after their peaks to try to recapture “the moment.” One Direction seemed a little different than the others. All five members auditioned for Britain’s “X-Factor” as solo artists. That was, until Simon Cowell decided to group them together to compete on the reality TV talent showcase. He comprised the solo talents of Zayn, Niall, Harry, Louis and Liam and gave them the name One Direction. The guys were game, obviously, as this was Cowell’s creation and anything he touched became huge. Cowell can easily be accredited for the likes of a number of stars, including Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry. It was a dream come true for all parties involved. One Direction is perhaps the most manufactured boy band of all time. Here were five guys who didn’t know each other, could barely sing in front of an audience and had no idea how grueling the music industry can be. Yet, they came together to prove just about everyone wrong. The music could speak for itself. Several of the band’s songs were not only instant hits, but they were good. I found myself liking a few of them, including what I believe to be their best outing, “The Story Of My Life.” A few other tracks got stuck in my head, too, such as “Best Day Ever,” “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Live While You’re Young.” Malik, like most boy-banders, had a role to play. He played a bigger part than some critics are willing to admit. He could actually sing very well. His vocal strong points are best illustrated on the singles “Little Things” and current charting hit “Night Changes.” Malik’s departure will make the band a vocal quartet, since there are no plans to replace him. I think that’s the best move. However, I hope Malik doesn’t try to do things on his own too soon. He’s no Justin Timberlake. Timberlake, from NSync, was the boy-band exception. NSync was only a starting point for the star who went on to conquer the entertainment business not seen since the ’80s. David T. Farr is a Sturgis, Michigan, Journal correspondent. Email him at [email protected]. By David T. Farr More Content Now MailTribune.com By David T. Farr More Content Now Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 7:15 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501