'HEARTBREAK WEATHER' IS IN YOUR FORECAST
Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction released his sophomore record on March 13 titled Heartbreak Weather. The record sees him making a sound change from his 2017 debut. The album fits together almost as a concept record. It deals with the start of a relationship, heartbreak, and meeting each other for the first time. The songs sound much more cohesive and generally larger than the last record. Niall really comes into who he is as a singer and songwriter in this album. The singles from this record show the diversity of his voice and his lyricism.
The album opens with the title track and it’s much deeper than the bouncy music leads the listener to believe. The song deals with being entranced with someone and how you feel like this might be the change you need because everything before that was heartbreak and letdowns.
Niall proclaimed one of my favorite songs on the record as his Bruce Springsteen moment. “Bend The Rules” could almost be on any of the later One Direction records, but a much more mature version. The chorus is catchy and the lyrics are clearly directed at a specific person, or at least feel that way.
“I’m not saying that you’re lying, but you’re leaving out the truth. I’m not saying that you’re guilty because I don’t have any proof.”
This song is about someone cheating or at least being suspected of it.
Farther down the record you find the lead single, “Nice To Meet Ya”, which Niall described as he continuously catching a girl’s attention in bars despite the bouncing around bars that night. The intro with the piano and clapping make the song attention-catching right from the get go. He’s describing catching this girl’s attention and being interested immediately, but she keeps vanishing.
“I want your number tattooed on me in ink I swear.”
After that is the much darker “Put A Little Love On Me,” which is much sadder and pretty relatable.
“Are you all dressed up with nowhere to go?... Do you hate the weekend because no one’s calling?”
This song is about a girl he sees crumbling and he’s trying to convince her that he likes her. It’s a beautiful piano ballad and keeps the tale of heartbreak that is the thread of the album.
The other single, “No Judgement” has a much poppier feel and upbeat lyrics. It’s actually a really cute song about just being yourself around the person you love.
“You can just be yourself, when you’re with me no judgement.”
This is the kind of relationship everyone hopes to be in; one where you can just be your whole being with your partner. Niall just put out another version of the video which features a young boy playing dress up with his sister, and it’s really just so pure.
The album ends with “Still” which again, is much darker, but a perfect closer. The record overall is a lot of fun and definitely on my list of records of the year because it’s so much more mature than his last record. I very highly recommended it if you haven’t listened to it yet.