Louis Tomlinson Shares the One Direction Song He Didn’t Enjoy Singing the Most
Louis Tomlinson in 2025; One Direction in 2011.
Credit:
Noam Galai/Getty; Jon Furniss/WireImage
Key Information
- Louis Tomlinson discusses a One Direction hit he disliked performing.
- The former boy band member shared his thoughts during a fan Q&A for Capital FM.
- His third solo album, How Did I Get Here?, is set for release in early 2026.
Louis Tomlinson recently revealed that while reflecting on his time with One Direction, there was a particular song he never enjoyed performing. During a fan Q&A session for Capital FM, promoting his forthcoming album How Did I Get Here?, the 33-year-old singer candidly addressed the question. “Maybe some people wouldn’t answer this, but I’m not sure there was a single time I performed One Direction’s ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ and enjoyed it,” Tomlinson stated. “That always felt like a bit of a challenge.”
Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles of One Direction in 2013.
Dave M. Benett/WireImage
Released in 2011, “What Makes You Beautiful” was the debut single for One Direction, a group formed on The X Factor the same year. Alongside Tomlinson, members included Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik. The track became a global sensation, propelling the band’s rise to fame.
In addition to discussing his feelings about their hit song, Tomlinson expressed a desire to share an unreleased track from his One Direction days. He mentioned “Where We Are,” a song he felt strongly about that ultimately did not make it onto their last album. “I always really, really loved that song. I was fighting for that song to make the record. It never did,” he said.
Following One Direction’s breakup in 2015, each member ventured into solo careers. The group reunited in November 2024 for Liam Payne’s funeral after his passing at age 31 the previous October. Tomlinson is also set to work with Malik on a new three-part Netflix series, showcasing their travels across America.
Louis Tomlinson in 2023.
Jeff Spicer/Getty
Tomlinson’s upcoming album, How Did I Get Here?, is scheduled for release on January 23, 2026. This marks his third studio album, following 2020’s Walls and 2022’s Faith in the Future.
He shared his aspirations for the album with Rolling Stone UK, stating, “I hope it feels like a reflection of how confident I am, but breezy is a real nice way of putting it. It’s been a long time since, professionally and personally, I’ve been able to have a little spring in my step.”
Looking ahead, Tomlinson expressed interest in transitioning to music management later in his career. “I would actually be interested in going into the other side of music — maybe like music management or helping out with a label,” he noted. “I think that’s really cool, so at some point, I’ll probably do that around the time I play golf, maybe in my 50s.”
