X Factor UK Headlines for 05/14/17

Harry Styles’ debut album is out. Liam Payne’s debut single is coming next Friday.

Stormzy “All Over Me” (featuring Little Mix) [Official Single Cover]
Mixers are enjoying a real prolific year with the promotion of Little Mix‘s fourth studio album “Glory Days”, which arrived on November 18th.
There are some exciting things coming, first of all, the girls are expecting to release “Power” as their next official single sometime in May in time to celebrate 2017 Gay World Pride, but there’s something more.
The girls have joined forces with English grime and hip-hop artist Stormzy on a brand new single called “All Over Me“, which is expected to be released on June 27th.
This becomes his first proper since just a few months after releasing his debut album “Gang Signs & Prayer”.
Read more: Ultimate Music

Niall Horan, debut solo album | “On the Loose” (Live Premiere)
After ZAYN’s impact with his debut album “Mind of Mind“, another One Direction member is working on a solo stuff and the world is ready.
Niall Horan has been working in the studio with hitmaker Wayne Hector on his solo debut project which is expected to be released later this year via Capitol Records and Universal Music (via HitsDailyDouble).
According to The Sun, Niall has recently teamed up with Greg Kurstin.
Read more: Ultimate Music

Liam Payne “Strip That Down” (featuring Quavo) | Available on May 19th!
The debut solo single by English singer and songwriter Liam Payne, known as the former member of One Direction is finally coming and we must be ready.
The song is called “Strip That Down” and it includes the guest collaboration of Quavo, member of American hip-hop trio Migos. It’s expected to be released on digital retailers and streaming services on May 19th.
Read more: Ultimate Music

London’s Capital FM announced perfomers for their Summertime Ball. The list inludes X Factor’s Niall Horan, Little Mix, Louisa Johnson, James Arthur, Olly Murs and 5 After Midnight!

Harry Styles Opens Up, Slightly, About Going Solo With a Rock Edge
After being in a boy band, Harry Styles was a blank slate.

Speaking recently about recording his debut solo album — which has, for years, felt like a foregone conclusion, given his status as the most breezily winning member of One Direction — the floppy-haired 23-year-old Mr. Styles said: “When we started, I didn’t know what it was going to sound like, or what I wanted it to sound like.”

Where he landed, while not entirely predictable, considering the beat-driven pop sounds of the day, was close to home: “Pink Floyd, Beatles, Stones, Fleetwood — all the stuff I grew up listening to,” Mr. Styles said. And as unlikely as that may sound, it’s true: His self-titled LP is a paean to classic rock and its English progeny (Oasis, Blur), built around fingerpicked acoustic guitars, McCartneyesque jangle and lyrics about one-night stands with devilish women.
Read more: NY Times

WHAT A STYLISH DEBUT Harry Styles’ self-titled solo album is a bold and brave move entirely inspired by old-school rock classics
Harry’s new album features his chart-topping hit Sign of the Times and is a powerful debut for former 1D star
HARRY STYLES today releases his self-titled solo album – a bid to become a genuine music force for decades to come.

And in this world of computer-generated dance tracks dominating the charts, it’s a bold and brave move because this is entirely inspired by old-school rock classics.

The ten tracks are a bold mission statement from the 23-year-old who seems to be saying: I am a real musician and don’t care if you play my song on the radio.

It’s an impressive and powerful debut and here is my track-by-track review.
Read more: The Sun

Harry Styles’ Solo Album: A Track-by-Track Breakdown
Harry Styles’ solo album might be the most anticipated debut this side of the millennium. Following years as the bullseye in the global behemoth that was One Direction, the singer is taking center stage with a self-titled effort that’s a classic cocktail of psychedelia, Britpop, and balladry. If it was a color, it would be the baby blue of Jimi Hendrix’s Fender Stratocaster or the soft pink of Mick Jagger’s suit when he performed on “Top Of The Pops” in 1971. It’s rock and it’s roll, but it’s also soft and sensitive. Produced by Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Fun.) it’s a record that could force the position of mainstream radio by ushering in a reprise of proper music — ensembles, verse-chorus-verse, rich instrumentation, or, basically, Adele’s bag of tricks.

Despite the red herring of lead single ‘Sign Of The Times’ (it clocks in at just under six minutes in length), the album is a short shrift 40 minutes and contains ten songs that are largely about women. Unlike Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake before him, there’s a deepened millennial sensibility to being a leading man. Harry is a sensitive soul; A post-Drake phenomenon; A serious pop performer with enviable vocal chops and a gifted ability to convey a song’s emotional heft. He oozes class, ease and a sense of import without thrusting forth from the hips, or wreaking of a self-satisfied sense of boyband emancipation. Both respectful of his past and nervous for his future, “Harry Styles,” the album, looks both ways.
Read more: Variety

Review: Harry Styles Is a True Rock Star on Superb Solo Debut
For his debut, the One Direction heartthrob invokes an intimately emotional Seventies soft-rock vibe
Harry Styles doesn’t just want to be a rock star – he wants to be the rock star. And on his superb solo debut, the One Direction heartthrob claims his turf as a true rock & roll prince, a sunshine superman, a cosmic dancer in touch with his introspective acoustic side as well as his glam flash. He avoids the celebrity-guest debutante ball he could have thrown himself – instead, he goes for a intimately emotional Seventies soft-rock vibe. No club-hopping or bottles popping – it’s the after-hours balladry of a 23-year-old star wondering why he spends so much time in lonely hotel rooms staring at his phone. Harry digs so deep into classic California mellow gold, you might suspect his enigmatic new tattoos that say “Jackson” and “Arlo” refer to Browne and Guthrie.
Res more: Rolling Stone

Harry Styles Is Already His Own Rock Star on His Debut Album: Critic’s Take
If you’ve read about Harry Styles’ slow trickle of solo material over the last month — in this publication as elsewhere — you’ve been confronted with the names of just about every major figure in British rock history. David Bowie! Mick Jagger! Elton John! Liam Gallagher! Eric Carmen! OK, that last one isn’t British (or all that major), but he shows the range of historical rock personages needed to make contextual sense out of the beast that is Solo Harry.

The biggest relief, then, of listening to Styles H’s post-1D debut LP is that, on the whole, it doesn’t really remind you of anyone. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t obvious influences — it’s a rock album made in 2017 that isn’t by Merzbow, of course there are obvious influences. But the overall impression of hearing Harry Styles isn’t “Oh, he made a Bowie album!” or “Oh, he made a Stones album!” or anything like that. It’s “Oh, he made a Harry Styles album.”
Read more: Billboard

Harry Styles Isn’t Following The Pop Star Playbook
Unlike most of his contemporaries, newly solo One Direction star Harry Styles is performing a retro rock earnestness. But is that what listeners are looking for?
Even before news broke that the British boy band and global pop music behemoth One Direction would disband, people were speculating about who might become the “Justin Timberlake” of the group — that is, which of the five performers, all of whom are now working on solo music, would successfully transcend from group member into standalone star. Zayn Malik was the first to jump ship, in 2016, and he re-emerged with a sexed-up, EDM-tinged persona — a peer to Justin Bieber — and the hit single “Pillowtalk,” which quickly shot to No. 1 in both the US and the UK, setting the stage for his debut album Mind of Mine to do the same. But his former bandmate Harry Styles, whose self-titled album debuts May 12, is constructing a very different image and sound for himself: a retro rock authenticity, not unlike Lady Gaga in her last album outing, Joanne — a white earnestness that sidesteps the macho swagger of urban cool.

Though Styles started out as the long-haired heartthrob of One Direction — notorious for dating women older than him, the object of virginity fan fiction, and the alleged subject of Taylor Swift songs — his Bowie-esque lead single, “Sign of the Times,” is very different from Malik’s directly pop exploitation of his sexuality as a source of cool. Rather, the bombastic piano rock ballad is an indirect allusion to the contemporary political zeitgeist. He urges, through melancholy, yearning vocals, “Just stop your crying, it’s a sign of the times.” The use of falsetto, the piano, the emphasis on melody, all make it sound like ’70s rock, but in a post-’80s ballad mode. This retro style also defines the song he recently performed on SNL, “Ever Since New York,” which has an Eagles-esque, Californian ’70s soft-rock feel. In a transatlantic pop mishmash of British and American rock traditions, Styles is attempting to fuse long-haired Jackson Browne sensitivity with hot pink rock visuals.
Read more: Buzzfeed

‘It was pretty chill’: Harry Styles reveals he enjoyed writing his debut album in a ‘bubble’ in Jamaica because it stopped ‘anyone else influencing it’
His highly-anticipated solo album debuted Friday.
And now, Harry Styles has opened up about why he chose to travel all the way to Jamaica to write the ten-track piece.
Speaking with Nova’s Smallzy, the One Direction star revealed he chose the location because he wanted to get away from life’s ‘distractions’ and to stop ‘anyone else influencing it’.
Read more: Daily Mail

HARRY STYLE Chart-topper Harry Styles on how his new album was ‘therapy’, the future of One Direction and his sexuality
In a special edition of Bizarre, the 1D superstar tells all from his critically acclaimed new album to his dating life, and talks Mick Jagger, Simon Cowell and Adele
HARRY STYLES is hurtling towards chart domination in the UK and US this week with his critically acclaimed debut album.

But as he emerges to greet me — dressed head to toe in black — from the back of a trailer parked behind the venue of his first ever solo show in North London, it’s clear he is in a reflective mood.

Security have just ordered us not to move more than two metres from the modest caravan — where his band members are chilling after sound check — to avoid the ­hundreds of fans gathered nearby.

It’s for their own safety, of course. Who knows the reaction if they knew just a fence and four guards stand between them and the new prince of rock ’n’ roll?

The ONE DIRECTION superstar shrugs it off — this level of hysteria has become a commonplace part of his day-to-day life.
Read more: The Sun

‘Someone is wearing Hazza’s shirt!’ Eagle-eyed fans spot Harry Styles’ rumoured new flame Tess Ward wearing his top… as ‘romance’ leaves Directioners divided
Their new romance is sending the grapevine into overdrive.
And Harry Styles’ enormous fan base is determined to get to the bottom of his rumoured romance with Naked Diet chef Tess Ward, as eagle-eyed fans noticed the stunner sporting the same £535 Gucci shirt as the 1D star.
The hunk, 23, has reportedly enjoyed a string of dates with the health food-focused beauty, 27, and many fans deemed the clothes share confirmation of the love, while other die-hard fans were disgruntled at the star’s new relationship status.
Read more: Daily Mail

All Shook Up! Harry Styles thrills fans as he channels Elvis in a pink suit while debuting new single Carolina… after it’s revealed he ‘is dating Naked Diet chef Tess Ward’
He shot to fame as one fifth of boyband One Direction and is now enjoying his own solo success after releasing his debut single Sign Of The Times.
And Harry Styles looked every inch the pop pin-up on Tuesday when he stopped by The Today Show for its Concert Series outside the Rockfeller Center in New York. seemingly channeling the late Elvis Presley in a pink suit.
Much like the superstar, the singer, 23, caused a female fan frenzy, bringing in huge crowds of screaming girls he performed his latest release – the bluesy Carolina – for the first time.
Read more: Daily Mail

He’s got unusual Style(s): Harry looks like he’s stolen his look from a classic laundry bag as he steps out in wacky red bespoke checked suit and Gucci HEELS
He has become known for his bold fashion choices of late.
And Harry Styles certainly made a statement as he arrived at the BBC Radio 1 studios in London on Friday – appearing to have borrowed his look from a classic laundry bag.
The 23-year-old commanded attention in a red bespoke checked suit, which he teamed with a pair of Gucci heeled loafers.
Read more: Daily Mail

A Sign of the Times to come? Harry Styles leaves fans utterly confused by hinting he is ‘set to become a dad’ in teasing lyrics for new track Kiwi… as close pal James Corden jokes he’s having the singer’s baby
His solo career has already seen him soaring to success.
But while fans of Harry Styles have gone crazy for his debut self-titled album, one track in particular has left them utterly confused thanks to its teasing lyrics.
The former One Direction star, 23, cryptically hints at being told he is going to become a dad in his new track Kiwi.
Read more: Daily Mail

Living in Styles! Singer Harry buys £6.9m luxurious New York apartment – complete with 71-foot indoor pool and a private spa
He has found huge success recently – with his debut solo single shooting to the top of the charts ahead of the release of his first major film, Dunkirk.
And after months of hard work, Harry Styles has now reportedly treated himself to a luxurious apartment in New York City, worth a whopping £6.9million ($8.71 million).
The singer, 23, is thought to have purchased a lavish pad in the city’s Tribeca area, complete with 71-foot indoor pool, private spa and a gym.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘I haven’t seen it’: Harry Styles reveals he hasn’t watched his new film Dunkirk but ‘would have been excited’ had he not ‘been involved in it’
He recently saw the stunning results of his debut album, watching it rocket straight to the top of the charts.
But when it comes to his film career Harry Styles, 23, isn’t as keen to check out his debut acting role in Dunkirk.
Speaking with Nova’s Smallzy, the One Direction alum revealed he hadn’t seen his new film, but would have been excited to had he not ‘been involved in it.’
Read more: Daily Mail

‘I wish I’d known’: Harry Styles admits he was unaware of former bandmate Zayn Malik’s eating disorder and regrets not being able to help him
Earlier this year, his former bandmate confessed to battling with anxiety and an eating disorder.
And now Harry Styles has admitted he regrets not being able to help Zayn Malik with his mental health issues.
The singer, 23, confessed he had been unaware of Zayn’s ordeal, but if he had known he would have reached out to his friend to try and offer a helping hand.
Read more: Daily Mail

Wrong direction: Harry Styles says he is a Remainer as Brexit ‘symbolises the opposite of the world I would like to be in’ after launch of his debut solo album
One Direction Star Harry Styles has revealed he is a Remainer and will vote ‘for whoever is against Brexit’ at the General Election.
Styles, whose debut solo album was released on Friday, said his new material was heavily influenced by the ‘state of the world at the moment.’
The 23-year-old, who is worth an estimated £40m, said he opposed Brexit as it ‘symbolises the opposite of the world I would like to be in.’
Read more: Daily Mail

Liam Payne Poses Shirtless for ‘Rollacoaster’ Magazine, Talks Trump Kicking 1D Out of Hotel
Harry’s not the only one who leaves his shirt on the floor for photo shoots. Fellow former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne also dropped top for a cover story in Rollacoaster magazine, in which the 23-year-old talked about his one weird encounter with President Trump, and his dad’s reaction when 1D crashed and burned in the X Factor finals years ago.

The Trump story — which, surprisingly, the President has not tweeted about to date — is the long-whispered-about story of him kicking the band out of one of his hotels. “You wouldn’t believe it,” Payne attests. “It was about [meeting] his daughter. He phoned up our manager and we were asleep. He said, ‘Well, wake them up,’ and I was like, ‘no,’ and then he wouldn’t let us use the underground garage. Obviously in New York we can’t really go outside. New York is ruthless for us. So he was like, ‘OK, then I don’t want you in my hotel.’ So we had to leave.”
Read more: Billboard

‘They have produced something special’: Liam Payne has ‘collaborated with Ed Sheeran on first solo single in a bid to reach a wider audience than One Direction fans’
His solo career has been put on the back burner in recent weeks, after he welcomed his first child with girlfriend Cheryl in March.
However Liam Payne is set to return to the music scene with a bang, as he has reportedly co-written his debut single with hitmaker Ed Sheeran.
According to The Sun, the 23-year-old jetted straight to the UK from his recording studio in LA after hearing Ed, 26, had written a song for him – which he hopes will reach a wider audience beyond beloved One Direction fans.
Read more: Daily Mail

Lucky Cheryl! Shirtless Liam Payne flaunts his abs in a sultry strip tease in extended teaser ahead of his debut solo single release
He’s been keeping fans eagerly waiting for the release of his first solo single and Liam Payne has shared an extended teaser on his Instagram of his new video.
The 23-year-old has fittingly chosen the name Strip That Down for his debut hit, as in a preview for the song, as he performs a sultry striptease for the camera.
Flashing his rippling six pack, Liam shows off his extensive tattoo collection dotted all over his bulging muscles.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘He’s a mini version of ME, with Cheryl’s eyes’: Liam Payne claims baby son Bear looks like him during meet or greet with fans… as he shares title and release date of his debut solo single
His new-born son has been fiercely protected from media scrutiny in the weeks following his birth.
But while it may be some time before Liam Payne shares a face-on photo of son Bear – his first child with girlfriend Cheryl – the One Direction star gave fans an indication of what he looks like during a recent meet or greet.
Making an appearance at B96 Radio in Chicago, the 23-year old spoke candidly in front of a select audience about young Bear’s features – and the inspiration behind his rather unique name.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘I wasn’t going to fight her about it’: Liam Payne reveals he wasn’t sure about son Bear’s unique moniker but ‘let Cheryl choose it as she’s done all the work’
They’ve divided opinion about their baby’s name, Bear.
But Liam Payne has now admitted that even he needed convincing about the unusual moniker, saying Cheryl had the final say.
According to The Sun, Liam, 23, said in the US: ‘I’m into more traditional names, the Mrs . . . she’s more into more unique, original names that people will remember.
Read more: Daily Mail

Payne in the neck! Liam ‘christens’ Niall Horan with bling by putting his favourite gold chain around pals neck after 1D boys poke fun at his jewellery choices
His One Direction pals have previously given him stick for his chunky gold chains.
But it looks as if Liam Payne may have won round Niall Horan after ‘christening’ him with his favourite gold bling.
Niall, dressed in a Peaky Blinders inspired granddad top and flat cap combo grinned as Liam bestowed the chunky statement chain around his neck and posted the comical moment on Twitter on Sunday.
Read more: Daily Mail

‘I’m single at the moment’: One Direction’s Niall Horan, 23, says he’s in ‘no rush’ to get into a relationship due to his ‘flat out’ work schedule
He’s the One Direction member beloved by fans for his cheeky charm.
And Niall Horan undoubtedly won over his legion of female fans even further when he revealed on Friday he is ‘single at the moment.’
The 23-year-old spoke with Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa about the spicy lyrics of his new single ‘Slow Hands’ and how he’s too ‘flat out’ for a relationship.
Read more: Daily Mail

Zayn’s bosses want star to perform on tour
ZAYN Malik’s team are desperate for him to go on tour to stop his career being overshadowed by his old One Direction pals.
Sources say the chances of Zayn headlining a world tour are still only 50/50 due to his “crippling stage fright”.

The news comes just one day after former best mate and now chart rival Harry Styles launched his self titled debut album with a secret gig in London.

The pop hunk is likely to hit the No.1 spot on Friday – with predicted sales of 55,000.

That’s around the same amount Kasabian sold to finally knock Ed Sheeran off the top last week.

I can reveal Harry pre-sold nearly 22,000 copies of the album, giving him a huge start in this week’s chart race.

But while his career is going from strength to strength, aids close to Zayn are worried he will be left behind.

His team are said to be protective of the former 1D star’s mental state when it comes to performing.

However, some members of his team are concerned about the effect not being able to sing live will have on his career.

Zayn has been in therapy sessions to overcome his anxiety and public appearance terror.
Read more: Daily Star

‘I’ll never accept you’re gone’: George Shelley pays tribute to sister Harriet, 21, who died after being hit by car in tragic accident
George Shelley has paid tribute to his sister Harriet, who died in a tragic car accident last week.
The former Union J member broke his silence on Saturday in an emotional Instagram post, writing: ‘I’ll never accept you’re gone’.
Harriet, 21, was left in intensive care after suffering serious head injuries in a car accident on April 28 and died at hospital Southmead Hospital in Bristol a week later.
Read more: Daily Mail

Portugal win Eurovision for the first time as Britain’s former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones wows crowds and earns the UK its best result since 2011
Portugal have won the Eurovision Song Contest, while former X Factor Lucie Jones came 15th in the United Kingdom’s best performance since 2011.
Salvador Sobral who sung Amar Pelos Dois, received 785 points from the jury and public votes.
Former X Factor singer Lucie Jones received 111 points and narrowly missed out on finishing on the left hand side of the leaderboard.
Read more: Daily Mail

Battle of the pop princesses: Mariah Carey is ‘being lined up to replace Nicole Scherzinger on The X Factor UK this year’
She’s one of the original pop divas with a huge catalogue of hits.
And X Factor producers are reportedly lining up superstar Mariah Carey to replace Nicole Scherzinger on the judging panel when the ITV singing competition returns this autumn.
According to The Mirror, the former Pussycat Dolls singer – a fan favourite for her wacky sayings and loud personality – has been stalling signing her new contract, while Mariah is said to be ‘really keen’.
Read more: Daily Mail


The Official Charts
Singles
1 Luis Fonsi – Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber)
.
10 Harry Styles – Sign of the Times
25 Niall Horan – Slow Hands
27 Little Mix – No More Sad Songs
34 ZAYN – Still Got Time (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)
42 Little Mix – Touch
66 Louisa Johnson – Best Behaviour
70 James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
74 Harry Styles – Sweet Creature
87 Little Mix – Shoutout to my Ex
94 Zayn & Taylor Swift – I Don’t Wanna Live Forever

Albums
1 Kasabian – For Crying Out Loud
.
13 Little Mix – Glory Days
28 James Arthur – Back From the Edge

About Mateja Praznik 1060 Articles
I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover. I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.