Four cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Four

2014 Syco Records / Columbia Records 12 tracks 44 min

Produced by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, Savan Kotecha, Naughty Boy, Greg Kurstin, Butch Walker, Ben Winston, Wayne Hector  ·  Engineered by Julian Bunetta, Ben Chang, Ian Franzino, Serban Ghenea, Ash Howes, Tom Coyne

Syco Records / Columbia Records PopPop Rock
83%
Authorship
Artist

One Direction wrote 10 of 12 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether One Direction carries a lyricist or composer credit.

83%
10 trackswritten by One Direction 2 tracksoutside writers
One Direction's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist83%
Composer83%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
18
Lyricists
12
Producers
3.2 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2014
Released
Data Insight

Four marked the point where One Direction's five members took a much heavier hand in songwriting, with Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne in particular earning credits across most of the record alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik. The core production-writing team of Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and Jamie Scott shaped the album's sound, with Teddy Geiger also contributing. Lead single 'Steal My Girl' and the closer 'Night Changes' were both band-collaborations with this writing camp. The result leans into a fuller pop rock direction.

Four is the fourth studio album by One Direction, released on 17 November 2014 through Syco Records and Columbia Records. Named to reflect the group's four years together as a band, the album saw the members' involvement in songwriting reach its highest point yet, with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson receiving co-writing credits on nearly every track. The album embraced a more mature, guitar-driven rock and adult contemporary sound, moving further from the teen pop of their earlier work and drawing comparisons to classic rock acts. Lead single 'Steal My Girl' reached number one in the UK and charted inside the top five in most of their major markets. Four debuted at number one in more than sixteen countries and became the group's fourth consecutive number one debut on the US Billboard 200.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Steal My Girl #13
Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneWayne HectorJulian BunettaEd DrewettJohn Ryan Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneWayne HectorJulian BunettaEd DrewettJohn Ryan Julian BunettaPär WesterlundJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
2
Ready to Run
Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Julian BunettaJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
3
Where Do Broken Hearts Go
Harry StylesJulian BunettaRuth-Anne CunninghamTheodore GeigerAli Tamposi Harry StylesJulian BunettaRuth-Anne CunninghamTheodore GeigerAli Tamposi Julian BunettaPär WesterlundTeddy Geiger Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
4
18
Ed SheeranOliver Frank Ed SheeranOliver Frank Steve RobsonMatt RadSam Miller Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
5
Girl Almighty
Julian BunettaJohn RyanS. Pages Mehner Julian BunettaJohn RyanS. Pages Mehner Julian BunettaJohn RyanAlexander Oriet Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
6
Fool's Gold
Jamie ScottMaureen McDonaldNiall HoranZayn MalikHarry StylesLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne Jamie ScottMaureen McDonaldNiall HoranZayn MalikHarry StylesLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne Matt RadJamie ScottSam Miller Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
7
Night Changes #31
Jamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn RyanNiall HoranZayn MalikHarry StylesLiam PayneLouis Tomlinson Jamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn RyanNiall HoranZayn MalikHarry StylesLiam PayneLouis Tomlinson Julian BunettaJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
8
No Control
Louis TomlinsonRuth-Anne CunninghamJamie ScottLiam PayneJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Louis TomlinsonRuth-Anne CunninghamJamie ScottLiam PayneJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Julian BunettaIan FranzinoJohn RyanAfterhrs Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
9
Fireproof
Liam PayneLouis TomlinsonJohn RyanJamie ScottJulian Bunetta Liam PayneLouis TomlinsonJohn RyanJamie ScottJulian Bunetta Julian BunettaJohn RyanBen Chang Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
10
Spaces
Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Julian BunettaAfterhrsJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
11
Stockholm Syndrome
Harry StylesJulian BunettaJohn RyanJohan Carlsson Harry StylesJulian BunettaJohn RyanJohan Carlsson Julian BunettaJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)
12
Clouds
Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneZayn MalikJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Louis TomlinsonLiam PayneZayn MalikJamie ScottJulian BunettaJohn Ryan Julian BunettaJohn Ryan Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 27 contributors

More from One Direction

Frequently Asked Questions Four

When was One Direction's album Four released?
Four was released on November 17, 2014, through Syco Records and Columbia Records. It was the band's fourth studio album and contains 12 tracks.
Did One Direction write the songs on Four themselves?
Yes, the band members co-wrote most of Four. Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne earned writing credits across much of the album, with Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik also contributing. They worked alongside a regular team of Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and Jamie Scott.
What were the singles from One Direction's Four?
Two official singles were released from Four. 'Steal My Girl' came out in September 2014 and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. 'Night Changes' followed in November 2014 and peaked at number 31.
What chart position did 'Steal My Girl' by One Direction reach?
'Steal My Girl' peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was the lead single from Four and was certified Platinum in the United States. The track was a collaboration between the band and writers including Julian Bunetta and John Ryan.
Who wrote 'Night Changes' by One Direction?
'Night Changes' was written by the band members together with Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and Jamie Scott. It served as the album's closing track and second single and reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
How many copies did One Direction's Four sell?
Four sold around 3.2 million copies worldwide, making it one of 2014's best-selling albums per the IFPI. In the United States it was certified Platinum, and in the United Kingdom it reached 3x Platinum.

Sources