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2. Everyone Else in the Room Can See It

Episode 2 of 8

The story of a perfect debut single and the start of a global fan movement

A year after their X Factor formation, One Direction were yet to release any music but their fandom was growing everyday. With teenage girls already staying out overnight in the hopes of meeting the boys, maybe they could have released any song as their debut. But they didn’t. What Makes You Beautiful was a near perfect pop song - it was an antidote to the beige ballads crowding the charts at the time, and a calling card to teenage girls all around the world.

WMYB instantly defined One Direction’s career. In this chapter, hear the story of the woman whose hair flip and insecurities inspired it.

Featuring interviews with song writer and X Factor vocal coach, Savan Kotecha, Radio 1 presenter Matt Edmondson, music journalist Michael Cragg, Radio 1 presenter/Directioner Danni Diston and journalist/Directioner Haajrah Gilani.

Archive in this episode:
Scott Mills with One Direction, Radio 1, 10 August 2011.
Steve Wright with One Direction, Radio 2, 31 August 2011.

Presenter: Maddie Grace Jepson
Producer: Gráinne Morrison
Written by Gráinne Morrison
Assistant Producer: Zayna Shaikh
Technical Producer: Ant Danbury
±«Óătv Audio Editor: Andy Worrell
Commissioning producers: Jonathan O’Sullivan, Sarah Gosling
Commissioner for ±«Óătv Music: Will Wilkin

Available now

15 minutes

Music Played

  • Everything Everything

    Cold Reactor

    • BMG.

Broadcast

  • Fri 12 Jan 2024 02:20