Late One Direction star Liam Payne said there was “one person he’s always wanted to perform with.” The then-17-year-old got his wish sooner than he probably thought, when British pop royalty Robbie Williams sang a gorgeous duet with 1D on “She’s the One” on The X Factor 2010 final. 2010 was the year the band formed, so the 1D boys were so young back then. They’re just so adorable and have such sweet voices. Their group harmonies, like at 2:15, are just to die for.
The performance is truly special, as when Robbie walks out to sing with them, it’s just one of those magical moments. Seeing the One Direction boys grinning from ear to ear, just fan-boying out over Robbie, is too cute. We’re used to seeing them all grown up now and solo megastars in their own right, but The Music Man has to say you can’t go past the vibes of early 1D performances like this.
Louis Tomlinson made no secret of his love for Robbie in the post-performance interview, saying he was an “absolutely massive fan” and that the duet was an “absolute honour.” Harry Styles gave similar sentiments, although it was hard to hear much of anything he said over the screams of his female fans, which Robbie got a good laugh out of. Robbie saw that One Direction were destined for great things, saying that it was “magical” to perform with the boys at the start of their journey.
One Direction gave another memorable performance on The X Factor 2010 Live Final, singing Elton John’s “Your Song.” This cover was Harry Styles’ chance to shine, as his husky baritone is such a perfect fit for the range of the song. He delivers the goods in the second verse of the performance, as well as closing the song with a big high run. The performance was also an excellent showcase for their incredible group harmonies.
The One Direction boys auditioned as solo candidates for The X Factor 2010. The judges declined to allow them to progress as solo candidates. They instead allowed them to progress under the groups category, with Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger both having subsequently claimed the credit for forming the group. The Music Man readers may recall that One Direction did not actually win The X Factor that year. In a decision that seems quite shocking now, they only managed to finish in third place. One Direction subsequently signed with Simon’s Syco Records. They released their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” in September 2011, scoring a major international hit, and the rest is history.