Studio Album · No. 3
Midnight Memories
Produced by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, Savan Kotecha, Steve Mac, Malay Ho, Ed Sheeran · Engineered by Serban Ghenea, Mark Stent, Ash Howes, Joe Zook
One Direction wrote 12 of 14 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 12 / 14 documented
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether One Direction carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Midnight Memories marked a sharp shift toward in-house writing, with Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne co-writing much of the record alongside the production core of Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and Jamie Scott. Tomlinson and Payne are credited on the title track, 'Story of My Life,' 'Diana' and others, and the single 'Midnight Memories' was written entirely by band members and their close collaborators. The album also pulled in rock-leaning outside names, pushing the sound toward pop rock. It is the first One Direction album where the group had a substantial authorship stake.
Midnight Memories is the third studio album by One Direction, released on 25 November 2013 through Syco Records and Columbia Records. It marked a notable turning point in the group's creative involvement, with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson receiving co-writing credits on multiple tracks, the first time band members had meaningfully participated in songwriting. The album adopted a more guitar-driven, rock-influenced direction compared to its predecessors, partly reflecting the group's growing creative ambitions. Lead single 'Best Song Ever' debuted at number one in the UK and Ireland and reached the top five in over twenty countries. Midnight Memories debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making One Direction the first act to debut three consecutive albums at the top of that chart.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Best Song Ever
#2
|
Wayne HectorJohn RyanEd DrewettJulian Bunetta | Wayne HectorJohn RyanEd DrewettJulian Bunetta | Julian BunettaJohn RyanMatt Rad | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 2 |
Story of My Life
#6
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam PayneNiall HoranHarry StylesZayn Malik | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam PayneNiall HoranHarry StylesZayn Malik | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 3 |
Diana
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Midnight Memories
#12
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Robert John "Mutt" LangeJulian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 5 |
You & I
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn Ryan | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn Ryan | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 6 |
Don't Forget Where You Belong
|
Jamie ScottTom FletcherDanny JonesDougie PoynterNiall Horan | Jamie ScottTom FletcherDanny JonesDougie PoynterNiall Horan | Tom FletcherDanny JonesDougie Poynter | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 7 |
Strong
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis Tomlinson | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis Tomlinson | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 8 |
Happily
|
Savan KotechaCarl FalkHarry Styles | Savan KotechaCarl FalkHarry Styles | Carl FalkKristian Lundin | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 9 |
Right Now
|
Ryan TedderLouis TomlinsonLiam PayneHarry Styles | Ryan TedderLouis TomlinsonLiam PayneHarry Styles | Ryan TedderJake Gosling | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 10 |
Little Black Dress
|
Julian BunettaJohn RyanTeddy GeigerLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJohn RyanTeddy GeigerLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJohn RyanTeddy Geiger | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 11 |
Through the Dark
|
Jamie ScottToby SmithLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Jamie ScottToby SmithLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Jamie ScottToby SmithJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 12 |
Something Great
|
Jacknife LeeGary LightbodyHarry Styles | Jacknife LeeGary LightbodyHarry Styles | Jacknife Lee | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 13 |
Little White Lies
|
Wayne HectorJohn RyanEd DrewettJulian BunettaLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Wayne HectorJohn RyanEd DrewettJulian BunettaLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |
| 14 |
Better Than Words
|
Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJamie ScottJohn RyanLouis TomlinsonLiam Payne | Julian BunettaJohn Ryan | Harry Styles (Vocals)Niall Horan (Vocals)Liam Payne (Vocals)Louis Tomlinson (Vocals)Zayn Malik (Vocals) |