One Direction: Midnight Memories (2013) Songs Ranked

Rating: 8.5/10

Midnight Memories was One Direction’s first great album. Up All Night and Take Me Home were both fun and charming and cute, but I wouldn’t call them great. The growth from those two albums that is evident in this one makes me very proud. Midnight Memories says goodbye to bubblegum pop and hello to rock-influence and even some folk-flavor (see Something Great, Story of My Life, and Through the Dark).

In this post I’ll be ranking all of the songs from One Direction’s third studio album, Midnight Memories, from worst to best. I hope you enjoy my ranking, and feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree!

18. Does He Know? (Track 16)

This isn’t a bad song, but I don’t really think that it fits with the rest of the album. I associate Midnight Memories with pop-rock and pop-folk songs, and this isn’t either of those. This sounds like it would be on Take Me Home, which isn’t a bad thing, but I just think this song is on the wrong album.

17. Don’t Forget Where You Belong (Track 6)

Okay, I know this song is beloved, but I just don’t love it. Lyrically, it’s pretty nice, but sonically, it’s just not my taste. It’s not bad, it’s just not great.

16. Strong (Track 7)

I like this song, but it’s a little bland to me. The boys all sound great (especially Harry in the chorus and Zayn in the bridge), and I like the message of the song, which is not being afraid to tell your partner that they strengthen you.

15. Through the Dark (Track 11)

“I wish that I could take you to the stars, I’d never let you fall and break your heart. And if you wanna cry or fall apart, I’ll be there to hold you.” Here’s where the songs on this album start getting really good. Not my absolute favorites, but good. A lot of people say that Story of My Life sounds like Mumford and Sons, and it does, but this is THE Mumford and Sons song on the album. The chorus isn’t my favorite, but I love the melody of the verses, and the bridge is great. There’s also some nice lyricism. “You tell me that you’re hurt, it’s all in vain, but I can see your heart can love again. And I remember you laughing, so let’s just laugh again.”

14. Right Now (Track 9)

This song has a very late-at-night reminiscing feel to it, which fits the lyrics. This song is really just a great showcase for the boys’ vocal talent. In terms of melody, it’s not my favorite, but the vocals are great. Plus, the instrumental is cool. This song kind of feels like You & I’s little sibling.

13. Something Great (Track 12)

This also sounds like a Mumford and Sons song (that is to say, it’s folk-flavored). The verses aren’t amazing in my opinion, but I really like the chorus. The music gets louder, and Harry puts a lot of emotion into his voice, so it makes the song feel more meaningful. Plus, I like how Louis closes out the song. “The script was written and I could not change a thing. I want to rip it all to shreds and start again. One day I’ll come into your world and get it right. I’ll say we’re better off together here tonight.”

12. Better Than Words (Track 14)

Alright, we’ve now gotten into a section of songs that I really, really like, but they’re not quite my favorites from the album. This is a really fun song and the vocals are great. I also really like the music, and I would’ve loved to see it performed live. The chorus is definitely my favorite part of the song, because the melody is great, but the bridge is also cool. I guess I just kind of wish that the song got a little louder and crazier, because it could’ve been some hugely energetic rock-inspired song, but it never really goes all the way in that sense, it’s just teeters on the brim.

11. Why Don’t We Go There? (Track 15)

This is a really good song, and I love how upbeat it is. Harry sounds amazing in the first verse, and the chorus is really fun. However, without a doubt, the best part of the song is the bridge. Niall SERVED.

10. Happily (Track 8)

This is such a happy song (fits the title, wouldn’t you say?), and I love what it’s about. It’s about being with someone and not even caring that other people may not be super fond of your relationship, because you just like the person so much and you make each other so happy. It’s a really cute and charming song, and the boys all sound great.

9. Half a Heart (Track 18)

This is a gentler song, and a great closer for the album (it kind of reminds me of Moments, although I like this better than Moments). The lyrics are just a bit cheesy, but they’re really sweet. The boys all sound awesome and they do a great job of capturing the tone of the song without making it too overwrought.

8. Little White Lies (Track 13)

Aaaand now we’ve reached my absolute favorites from the album! This song is so good. The whole song is amazing, and Zayn does an amazing job with the chorus. Normally I don’t like harsh production in pop songs, but I actually think it’s done really well here. Niall also sounds awesome in the pre-chorus. HOWEVER. It is an inarguable fact that the bridge of this song is the best part. PERFECTION, I say. If you’ve never belted out this song’s bridge, I feel sorry for you.

7. Little Black Dress (Track 10)

When people say that Midnight Memories has rock-influence, this is likely one of the songs they’re thinking of. From the harsh, cutting guitar riff that opens the song, the pounding drums, and the practically-yelled vocals, this isn’t a song that could be found on one of One Direction’s previous albums. Louis really shines in this song, and I love that. This song is just so high-energy and fun, and the chorus, while very lyrically-simple, is addictive. Plus, though it may be a simple lyric (“I wanna see the way you move for me”), it’s a good one.

6. You & I (Track 5)

As you’ll quickly notice when reading from this point on, the singles majorly dominate my top songs from this album. I can’t really say why that is, but I guess they just chose really good singles. Actually, it’s probably because the singles on this album give me such powerful nostalgia. Anyway, this is a really nice song. It feels very heartfelt and passionate, and the boys all put a lot of power into their voices (especially Harry in the chorus, and then Zayn at the end with the heavenly high notes). There’s just a lot of determination in this song, and I love it. (Also, side note: the verses and the chorus sound like entirely different songs, but I don’t mind that.)

5. Best Song Ever (Track 1)

This is like the perfect pop-rock song (although I wish they had leaned a little more onto the rock side). The chorus is infectious and delightful, and the verses have such a powerful and flirtatious vibe to them. The boys all sound incredible here, but I think Harry shines a lot here. This type of song just suits his voice really well. Honestly, I dare you to listen to this song and not dance/sing along. It’s impossible. If you can listen to Best Song Ever and not burst out screaming “MAYBE IT’S THE WAY SHE WALKED”, I applaud you, but I also kind of pity you. Plus, the music video to this song is absolute madness in the most perfect way. (Side note: the first few seconds of this song remind me of Baba O’Riley by The Who. Anyone else?)

4. Diana (Track 3)

“Diana, let me be the one to light a fire inside those eyes. You’ve been lonely, you don’t even know me, but I can feel you crying.” This song is so wonderful. The vocals, the music, the lyrics. It’s all gold. I just really love the way they croon ‘Diana’. Apparently this song was written for their female fans who go through a lot of hard times, and that’s honestly so touching and sweet. I don’t think I have a lot of really interesting things to say about this track, I just love it a lot. “Diana, let me be the one to lift your heart up and save your life. I don’t think you even realize, baby, you’d be saving mine.”

3. Alive (Track 17)

This song literally gives me life (you could say it makes me feel alive… I’m not even going to pretend like that was clever). Everything about it is AMAZING. I wish it was longer, but I’m also glad it’s short because that makes it so that it’s perfect all the way through. I just love how rambunctious and fun this song is (it’s one of the majorly-rock-influenced songs on the album). The best part is the bridge. I want the bridge of this song to be played at my funeral. I don’t care if it doesn’t fit the tone of a funeral. It’s my funeral, and I want it to be played.

2. Midnight Memories (Track 4)

This is my friend’s favorite One Direction song ever, and honestly… TASTE. There’s so much to love about the titular track, from the booming chorus to the chaotic lyrics and the restless energy. The guitar and drums in this song are amazing, and I love the clapping/stomping in the chorus. I dare you to try not to clap/sing along to this song. It can’t be done. The bridge of this song is amazing as well, Niall and Harry honestly and truly served (Harry’s scream is the reason I’m alive). In summation, this song is everything and I want it to be played at my funeral, alongside Alive. Oh, and the music video is awesome. I want to live inside this song’s music video.

1. Story of My Life (Track 2)

“Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain. I leave my heart open, but it stays right here empty for days. She told me in the morning she don’t feel the same about us in her bones. It seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone. And I’ll be gone, gone tonight, the ground beneath my feet is open wide. The way that I’ve been holding on too tight, with nothing in between.” I love this song so much, it really strikes a chord with me. Maybe it’s because it’s really nostalgic for me, and it was one of the biggest songs of my childhood. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone within the ages of 12-22 who hasn’t heard this song. I can understand that people may think it’s overrated or overplayed, but I don’t think it is at all. Because really, everything about this song is gorgeous. The music is folk-inspired, the vocals are lovely, the harmonies are angelic, and the lyrics are really, really beautiful. It’s just a beautiful song. Story of My Life manages to be emotional and poignant without feeling dramatic and overwrought. It’s sad and reflective but inspiring and uplifting. This is one of my absolute favorite One Direction songs, and some of their best work. There’s just such a timeless quality to this song, I feel like I could listen to it for hours and not get sick of it. It’s so beautiful. “Written on these walls are the colors that I can’t change. Leave my heart open, but it stays right here in its cage. I know that in the morning, now, I’ll see us in the light up on the hill. Although I am broken, my heart is untamed still. And I’ll be gone, gone tonight. The fire beneath my feet is burning bright. The way that I’ve been holding on so tight, with nothing in between.”