ZAYN

Late last week an event occurred that was so traumatizing and dramatic it shook the globe to its very core. A star that once burned bright dulled and vanished before our very eyes. The glue keeping everyone’s sanity intact departed without a trace. One-fifth of a worldwide phenomenon left four others stranded and alone.

In other words, Zayn Malik announced he was leaving One Direction.

The announcement of Zayn’s departure from the band was presented to the public via a Facebook post on One Direction’s page. The short message seemed like a rather disappointing and underwhelming medium, considering it presented information that would destroy every fan’s day.

“My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined,” Malik wrote in the post. “But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.”

Even though there were (and are, currently) four other members of the band, Zayn always seemed like more than one-fifth of One Direction. He was the yin to everyone’s yang, the calm and collected member who talked least in interviews and carried with him an air of mystery. Zayn never needed to try to be the center of attention because people were staring at him regardless. He was the cool factor that kept the band together.

Every boy band has at least one notorious bad boy. In New Kids on the Block it was Donnie Wahlberg; in the Backstreet Boys it was A.J. McLean; in Five Seconds of Summer it is seemingly every member (those scamps!). In One Direction, it was Zayn.

Zayn Malik’s entire image — tattoos, coiffed dark hair, occasionally a cigarette tucked behind his ear — screams bad boy. Zayn’s very existence in the band made people swoon. While the other members have struggled throughout the past five years to find their true sense of style, Zayn always seemed to know just how to look effortlessly amazing.

Without Zayn, there’s no telling what will happen to One Direction. He was an important piece of their well-crafted boy-band puzzle. Not only that, Zayn also had arguably the most impressive vocals out of anyone in the group. The other four band members now have to both make up for Zayn’s inimitable presence as well as his distinct singing ability.

Although the remaining lads of One Direction have announced they still plan to finish their next album without Zayn, it can’t possibly be the same as their previous hits. Zayn’s departure seems like the first spark in what will become the fire that destroys the band.

It’s sad to reflect on the fact that One Direction might soon be joining the likes of *NSYNC and The Jonas Brothers in the musical graveyard where boy bands go to die.  

But at least that means we have some interesting solo careers to look forward to, right?