NIALL HORAN - THE SHOW
Credit: Christian Tierney
Niall Horan’s recent album The Show is 30 minutes and 38 seconds of cohesive, intimate, dreamy bops that make you feel like you’re in a coming-of-age indie film. With influence from The Beach Boys, Horan combines a ‘60’s, harmony heavy sound with contemporary feel.
Kickstarting the album off is ‘Heaven’, a track that genuinely evokes the sensation of being welcomed into the gates of Heaven for the first 10 seconds. Prior to the album's launch, this particular track was released as a single, perfectly capturing the classic rock essence that Horan has been earnestly pursuing since his departure from One Direction.
Following ‘Heaven‘, we then dive into the second track ‘If You Leave Me’. Although this track possesses a touch of repetition, it undeniably boasts a captivating rhythm that could easily be interpreted as a heartfelt love song dedicated to someone truly special. With lyrics such as: “If you leave me / Hope you know that you’re sentencing me to a life on my knees,” the song serves as a plea of love, expressing an unwavering desire for that special someone to stay by one's side, never to depart.
With Horan coming to the end of his 20’s this year, The Show is also an encapsulation of all the thoughts, feelings, and opinions that many young people have when it comes to growing up. This is especially highlighted in track 4 - ‘Never Grow Up’. Having been three years since his last album, Horan has clearly had a lot of thinking time. The core theme of this track revolves around the apprehension of growing up and losing the carefree joy of youth, undoubtedly a sentiment that resonates with numerous individuals. As Horan himself has matured alongside his fan base, transitioning from the era of fervent teenage fans to now young adults, this song possesses an emotional depth that will undoubtedly strike a chord with many listeners.
Positioned at the album's midpoint, the eponymous track ‘The Show’ draws notable comparisons to Coldplay's 'Fix You', evoking a comparable beat, but also an emotional resonance that undeniably pulls at the heartstrings of listeners. The main point of this track, as Horan puts it himself, is that “Life is like a board game some of the time.” Undoubtedly, a sentiment shared by countless individuals. This imparts a highly intimate ambiance to the album, as Horan skillfully takes relatable experiences and transforms them into magnificent melodies.
As we venture into the latter portion of the album, we are graced with the mellower tracks, ‘Science’ and ‘Must Be Loved.’ As we listen to ‘Science,’ it feels as though Horan is reaching out to individuals grappling with mental health challenges. He offers solace, assuring them that their struggles are merely a product of science and that everything will be okay in the end.
The album concludes with the track ‘Must Be Loved,’ where Horan seemingly endeavours to inspire individuals to embrace love in all its forms. He passionately encourages everyone to love openly, candidly, and without reservation. There couldn’t be a more perfect way to end an album.
Emily Fletcher
★★★★★