X Factor’s age limit is down to 14 again.
STYLES THE STARMAN We give the world’s FIRST review of Harry Styles’ debut solo single Sign of the Times — an epic, David Bowie-esque rock ballad
One Direction star wows with ‘deeply personal’ song
FIVE minutes and 40 seconds.
That’s how long it takes former ONE DIRECTION heart-throb HARRY STYLES to establish himself as the world’s most exciting new music star.
His debut single Sign of the Times is a soaring, epic rock ballad that sounds like a cross between DAVID BOWIE and LANA DEL REY (as weird as that sounds).
It goes against the current trend of non-distinguishable dance tracks — the length alone would make it commercial suicide for any other artist.
Its main instrument is the piano, which Harry has been studiously playing in private for years.
Read more: The Sun
HARRY’S NEW DIRECTION Dramatic pictures show Harry Styles dangling in mid-air during new music video shoot… as we reveal secrets of debut single
Styles is preparing for the biggest pop launch of the decade with the release of hugely anticipated Sign of the Times
IT’S been 479 days since Britain’s most successful ever boy band One Direction took their final bow.
But now the group’s breakout star Harry Styles is preparing for the biggest pop launch of the decade with the release of hugely anticipated debut single Sign of the Times.
And these incredible pictures show the 23-year-old intends to make his entrance in the most dramatic of fashions.
Floppy haired heartthrob Harry is winched from a helicopter above remote farmland shoreline in a secret location in Scotland earlier this week.
In fact, everything has been secret about this project…until now.
Read more: The Sun
‘Glad you’re doing your own thing’: Liam Payne and Niall Horan congratulate 1D bandmate Harry Styles as he sends fans wild with solo debut… but critics aren’t as impressed
One Direction went on an extended hiatus last year in order to pursue other projects.
But Liam Payne and Niall Horan proved they were still supportive of their bandmate Harry Styles on Friday as they congratulated him on the release of his new single.
The singers, both 23, immediately took to Twitter after Harry’s single Sign Of The Times made its debut on BBC Radio 1 – sending fans wild, but leaving critics slightly underwhelmed.
Read more: Daily Mail
Sign of All Times: Harry Styles’ New Single Is 50 Years of British Rock History In One Song (Critic’s Take)
It’s not like we weren’t warned. Rumors had long swirled about the sound of former One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles’ upcoming solo career taking inspiration from ’70s rock staples Queen and David Bowie, and Styles’ own fashion statements of recent years certainly telegraphed his interest in being considered part of the British rock continuum. But still, it can’t help but be a little shocking to hear Harry’s solo debut “Sign of the Times” for the first time, to hear that thudding piano intro give way to soaring guitar and dramatically sighing vocals. It’s strangely disconcerting in how familiar it all feels.
Throughout the song’s nearly six-minute run time, the memories of British rock history shoot off like fireworks — spanning from late-period Beatles to Bowie to Listen Without Prejudice-era George Michael to Suede to Robbie Williams and even early Coldplay. It doesn’t sound like a tribute to (or rip off of) any of these artists — it just sounds like someone who’s grown up studying at the feet of all these titans and now wants to try his hand at joining their ranks. And to Styles’ considerable credit, he basically succeeds: “Sign of the Times” is as lighter-waving, arm-swaying, random-mate-hugging a power ballad as they come, sounding — as many have pointed out on Twitter on this somewhat apocalyptic-seeming of Fridays — like the appropriate montage soundtrack for the end of the world.
Read more: Billboard
One Direction’s Boy Band Revival, Five Years Later: Revisiting How ‘Up All Night’ Made History
During this week five years ago, One Direction made history.
Their debut album, Up All Night, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on March 31, 2012, a few months after being released in the group’s native U.K. By topping the U.S. albums tally in its first week, Up All Night made 1D the first British group to debut at the pinnacle with its first release.
At the time, One Direction was a promising new act but unknown to many of the Directioners who would be filling up stadiums in their honor on upcoming tours. But what their chart-topping achievement did do was indicate that 1D was beginning to revive the best-selling boy band and the pandemonium that goes hand-in-hand with that concept.
Read more: Billboard
‘If you don’t like it, don’t look’: Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson threatens to block followers as she lashes out at hurtful trolls in feisty Instagram post
She shared a sweet video of her and boyfriend Chris Clark dancing to her Instagram earlier this week.
However the romantic post was somewhat tainted on Friday by a string of negative comments from trolls – which Jesy Nelson fiercely hit back at.
The Little Mix crooner, 25, took to the comments section of the post to lash out at haters – which saw her threaten to block anyone who continuously writes hateful things.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘Well damn… I’m a dad!’ The X Factor star Kieran Alleyne, 21, announces he is a father after ex-girlfriend Sophie Johnson gives birth to a baby boy
He had a rocky road to fatherhood when he split with his pregnant girlfriend just weeks before she was due to give birth to their child.
But former X Factor star Kieran Alleyne shared his delight at becoming a father at the tender age of 21 when he tweeted the news of his son’s arrival to fans on Friday.
The 5 After Midnight star announced: ‘Well damn… I’m a dad’ and added a surprised emoji to his tweet.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘My little bundle of joy!’ The X Factor star Kieran Alleyne, 21, reveals the name of his newborn son as he shares sweet first photo on social media
He announced on Friday that he has become a father at the tender age of 21.
And it appears Kieran Alleyne is already smitten with his newborn as he treated fans to the first photo of his son on Instagram on Saturday.
In the black and white snap, the X Factor star can be seen doting on his baby while cradling him in his arms.
Read more: Daily Mail
James Arthur wins £1,600 after betting on Grand National namesake One For Arthur… as he claims that Zayn Malik has been listening to his music and ‘basically wants to be me’
He may already be a chart-topping artist, but James Arthur could not conceal his delight when he won £1,600 after having a flutter on the Grand National.
The 29-year-old singer revealed he had put a £100 bet on his namesake One For Arthur with odds of 16/1, tweeting: ‘Couldn’t resist backing this guy. #grandnational’.
After the horse successfully took the top prize at Aintree, he excitedly wrote: ‘ONE FOR ARTHUR!!!!!!!’
Read more: Daily Mail
‘Wow you got legs’: X Factor winner Sam Bailey, 39, shows some serious skin in TINY hot pants as she posts string of racy flashback photos
She won the X Factor in 2013 in the Overs category, aged 36.
But Sam Bailey left her fans gobsmacked when she shared a string of racy flashback snaps on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old songstress put on a daring leggy display in mini high-waisted shorts at a concert when she was younger.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘She had a black eye and bruising everywhere, but made the X Factor final’: Sharon Osbourne speaks out on the ’10 years of physical and mental abuse Mel B suffered at hands of estranged husband Stephen Belafonte’
Sharon Osbourne has opened up about former X Factor colleague Mel B for the first time.
The talent show judge, 64, gave her account of what happened between the former Spice Girl, 41, and her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte.
Speaking on US chat show The Talk on Friday, Sharon opened up about the talent show finale three years ago, when Mel B missed a day of filming after she was hospitalised.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘Producers believe it’s time to give youth a chance again’: X Factor bosses lower audition age limit to 14 once again… in a bid to find the next Liam Payne
His first appearance on the X Factor at the tender age of 14 has netted him a place in boyband sensation One Direction, a £50m fortune and a popstar girlfriend.
Now X Factor bosses will once again lower the audition age limit to 14 in a bid to find the next Liam Payne.
A source confirmed the news to Mail Online , saying: ‘The X Factor has had a long history of teenage contestants really shining on the show.
Read more: Daily Mail
The Official Charts
Singles
1 Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
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17 Little Mix – No More Sad Songs
24 ZAYN – Still Got Time (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)
30 Little Mix – Touch
51 Louisa Johnson – Best Behaviour
58 Zayn & Taylor Swift – I Don’t Wanna Live Forever
64 James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
75 Little Mix – Shout Out To My Ex
94 James Arthur – Safe Inside
Albums
1 Ed Sheeran – Divide
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15 Little Mix – Glory Days
27 James Arthur – Back From the Edge
51 Olly Murs – 24 HRS
65 Little Mix – Get Weird
