It is with a heavy heart that I declare this my final Cat’s Collection of the 2024-25 academic year. I know my four devoted fans (hello Dede and Poppy) will be absolutely devastated, but the time has come. As I embark on my semester abroad, leaving the lush pines of Emory University behind, I will not be continuing my column until next fall. I heard Sweden has, like, super bad internet or something.
Nevertheless, I want to emphasize that this is goodbye for now, not forever. While I will miss watching students in the Dobbs Common Table skim Cat’s Collection in hot pursuit of the crossword, I know another writer anxiously awaits my departure. In the words of Gabriella in “High School Musical 2” (2007), “I’ve gotta go my own way.”
But what kind of person would I be to leave without a proper parting gift? As always, this gift takes the form of a curated playlist, this time including only One Direction tracks. While the tragic passing of former bandmate Liam Payne imbues their music with a steady sorrow, the band’s legacy persists. So without further ado, I offer eight of my favorite One Direction songs — one for every month of my column missed. If anyone knows about taking a quick hiatus, it’s them.
1. ‘Diana’ (2013)
Although presented under a deceptively peppy accompaniment, “Diana” speaks directly to young girls struggling with mental health. The band recognizes that “Diana” — a stand-in title for all women — isn’t herself and offers their aid. In the chorus, the group implores, “Diana, let me be the one to / Light a fire inside those eyes.” While this track is primarily in the service of “Diana,” the boy band falls into the familiar as romance bubbles beneath the surface. “We all need somethin' / This can't be over now / If I could hold ya / Swear I'd never put you down,” Harry Styles belts in the bridge, promising more than a shoulder to cry on. While this may be a cliché move for the 2010s heartthrobs, it doesn’t detract from the empathetic energy of the track. Due to its loving lyrics and sonic power, “Diana” is the perfect pick-me-up for a not-so-perfect day.
2. ‘Right Now’ (2013)
One of my favorite One Direction deep-cuts, “Right Now” is an exemplary display of male vulnerability. On the chorus, vocal powerhouse Zayn Malik admits, “Right now I wish you were here with me (Ooh) / 'Cause right now, everything is new to me (Ooh).” The lyrics oscillate between depictions of bright lights and rambunctious crows to moments of silence, contemplation and desire for those held most dearly. But even as the sounds of solitude persist, the group pushes positivity. “And we won't be going home / For so long, for so long, but I know,” Styles sings. “Right Now” is a refreshing break from the slew of confident, quippy and flirtatious tracks released by the boy band. In this brief glimpse behind the curtain, One Direction truly shines.
3. ‘Change Your Ticket’ (2014)
While One Direction never shied away from teasing or amorous innuendos, “Change Your Ticket” is a full-throttle steam show. The track starts with a bang as Styles sings, “Watchin’ you get dressed messes with my head / Take that bag off your shoulder.” The lyrics leave absolutely nothing up for interpretation while leaving plenty to the imagination. Although the term was not yet invented, “Change Your Ticket” illustrates the playful pining of a sultry “situationship” — a relationship that is never defined, but all-encompassing. “And you say, ‘It's hard to keep a secret’ / Girl, don't leave me all alone in this hotel,” Niall Horan sings, further enhancing the seductive track with nods toward secrecy. The pleading culminates in the chorus as the group sings, “You should probably stay, probably stay a couple more days / Come on, let me change your ticket home, oh-oh.” While this song was slightly more enjoyable when I was 14 and blissfully unaware of the action at hand, it nonetheless remains one of my favorite One Direction hits.
4. ‘If I Could Fly’ (2015)
“If I Could Fly” is One Direction’s standout ballad. It is both soft and powerful, candid and coy, intimate and expansive. Styles opens the song with a desperate admission, “If I could fly / I'd be coming right back home to you.” Payne follows with a command, “Pay attention, I hope that you listen / 'Cause I let my guard down.” The vulnerability intensifies with a melodic chorus, culminating in a forceful bridge. “I can feel your heart inside of mine (I feel it, I feel it) / I've been going out of my mind (I feel it, I feel it) / Know that I'm just wasting time (And I) / Hope that you don't run from me,” the group implores. While this track is lyrically poignant, the harmonies are the dagger. As the band members sing of desperation, loneliness and dissatisfaction, they are accompanied by the voices of their companions, echoing their sentiments. “If I Could Fly” is a testament to the appeal of One Direction not as a pretty boy band, but as a powerful musical group capable of evoking emotional connection.
5. ‘Why Don’t We Go There’ (2013)
Starting with evocative electric guitar strumming, “Why Don't We Go There” sets a fiery tone from the get-go. Although the song never truly defines what “there” is and I don’t want to make assumptions, this track is nothing short of seductive in its unapologetic positive energy. The verses make various allusions to the destination, but it’s more about the journey. “I know you want, know you wanna take it slow / Think about all the places we could go,” Styles sings. With constant guitar riffs and dominant percussion, this track never falters. But the clear highlight of “Why Don’t We Go There” is Horan’s performance on the bridge. “Hey, I don't want you to be the one that got away / I wanna get addicted to you, yeah,” he belts, almost growling in his desperation. Above all else, “Why Don't We Go There” is harmless fun. It’s the perfect track for a sunny day with the windows down and the speakers 12 notches too loud.
6. ‘She’s Not Afraid’ (2012)
Perhaps my ultimate favorite One Direction song, “She’s Not Afraid” stands out for many reasons. First, I appreciate how each member gets space to shine on this song — even the often left-behind voices of Louis Tomlinson and Horan. “She walks in and the room just lights up / But she don’t want anyone to know / That I’m the only one that gets to take her home, oh-woah,” Tomlinson sings in the first verse. The second stand-out feature of this track is its narrative. While the Wattpad fanfictions that ran rampant in 2014 no longer retain their popularity, this song is like a time capsule, embodying the essence of the untouchable Y/N. The love interest isn’t like other girls — she doesn’t want to be loved. In fact, she’s afraid of it. “She's not afraid of running wild / How come she's so afraid of falling in love?” Malik muses. The final fascinating feature of this track is the quintessential One Direction energy. The song is rambunctious, enlivened by the infectious electric guitar, drumming and the boy band’s harmonies. When I’m feeling down and crave a walk with nostalgia, I always turn to “She’s Not Afraid.”
7. ‘Night Changes’ (2014)
As one of One Direction’s most popular songs, “Night Changes” has withstood the test of time. Reflecting on the inevitability of growth and change, this track resonated during the turbulent years of puberty and continues to resonate just as powerfully in my early 20s. After Payne’s passing, this track spiked on the Billboard Global 200 chart, still comforting fans 10 years after its release. “(Ooh) We're only gettin' older, baby / (Ooh) And I've been thinkin' about it lately,” Styles sings in the chorus. Throughout the track, the group laments the passage of time and the inevitable loss of innocence, reckoning with the unchangeable ephemerality of life. Nevertheless, the group retains positivity, encouraging listeners to look toward what they have, not what they’ve lost. “(Ooh) But there's nothin' to be afraid of / (Ah-ah-ah) Even when the night changes / (Ooh) It will never change me and you,” Styles sings. In an ever-changing, often tumultuous world, “Night Changes” remains a timeless anthem of resilience and connection.
8. ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ (2014)
In returning to the true subject of this installation — me — I must finish this playlist with an ode to my future home in Sweden. Nevertheless, I am not including “Stockholm Syndrome” solely due to its timely title. It really is a banger. “Who's that shadow holding me hostage? I've been here for days / Who's this whisper telling me that I'm never gonna get away?” Styles begins. With an interesting adaptation of the psychological phenomenon in which hostages form emotional bonds with their captors, One Direction bemoans the trappings of an all-encompassing lover. “Oh, baby, you got me tied down / Oh, baby, I'll never leave if you keep holding me this way (Oh-oh-oh),” the group sings. So, here’s to Sweden, “Stockholm Syndrome” and returning to the loving arms of Cat’s Collection — assuming all goes according to plan.
