While they did perform over 20 songs, the majority of them were overpowered by drums, heavy bass-lines and thousands of screaming girls and fans, to the point where the songs were unintelligible, and the biggest concern was safety, and trying to not get stepped upon, pushed or shoved, in the plethora of die-hard fans.
Despite their lengthy set-list, they failed to perform one of their better songs, “One Thing.” The only standout performance from their newer songs was their latest single “Drag Me Down” due to its funky groove and infectious beat. Also, another major factor that led to their disappointing set was the lack of Zayn Malik in the band. Malik was able to hit the high notes and falsettos effortlessly, and his fellow band-mates struggled when they were left to sing the same vocal parts themselves. His absence was apparent, and clearly became the “elephant in the room.”
The Verdict
Overall, One Direction sounds a lot better on their audio recordings, CDs and mp3s or on the radio than they did in the live concert setting last night at a venue the size of MetLife Stadium. They came across as wannabe Backstreet Boys or ‘N Sync, yet there is no comparison. Their voices were puny in concert, which is something you don’t expect from a group of that caliber. In fact, Taylor Swift’s recent performance at the same arena was leaps and bounds better. Their MetLife Stadium concert earned 2 out of 5 stars.
