Tributes have poured in for Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who has tragically died at the age of 31.
Local authorities in Argentina confirmed that the father-of-one lost his life after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires.
Celebrities, friends, and fans have flooded social media with touching tributes as they reflected on the star’s incredible contribution to music.
Payne was one of five young men who found global fame in 2010 when they joined forces and became One Direction, following ITV’s X Factor.
He was an integral part of the group, often lending his deep, pitch-perfect voice to the opening vocals of iconic 1D tracks heard worldwide.
Together, the band released 17 singles and five studio albums, as well as selling millions of records across the globe.
His legacy will live on through the energetic and much-loved melodies of one of the world’s most famous boy bands.
So, which One Direction songs did Liam take the lead on?
Songs Liam Payne sang lead vocals on
Live While We’re Young
The song Live While We're Young is a classic 1D hit that Payne played a key part in opening.
The lively 2012 track, taken from their second studio album, Take Me Home, has more than 700 million listens on YouTube alone.
Payne starts the track with the lyrics: “Hey, girl, I'm waiting on you, I'm waiting on you.
“Come on, and let me sneak you out, And have a celebration, a celebration. The music’s up, the window's down.”
Since hearing of Payne's death, many fans have commented on the platform, with some acknowledging, “This song hits different now.”
What Makes You Beautiful
The opening line of One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful may have been one of Payne’s most career-defining lyrics.
The hit 2011 track is one of the band’s most famous early songs, and it starts with a cheeky-looking Payne singing to the camera.
“You’re insecure, don’t know what for,” he says “You’re turning heads when you walk through the door.”
Gotta Be You
Payne opened up One Direction’s Gotta Be You, assuming the lead vocals for the track on the band’s debut 2011 album.
His opening lines were: “Girl I see it in your eyes you're disappointed, Cause I'm the foolish one that you anointed with your heart, I tore it apart.”
“And girl what a mess I made upon your innocence, And no woman in the world deserves this, But here I am asking you for one more chance.”
More Than This
More Than This is another track from the band’s 2011 debut album, and it once again featured powerful lyrics dung by none other than Payne.
Often considered another masterpiece opening by the singer, Payne starts: “Ooh I'm broken, do you hear me? I'm blinded, ’cause you are everything I see.
“I'm dancin' alone, I'm praying, That your heart will just turn around.
“And as I walk up to your door, My head turns to face the floor, ’Cause I can't look you in the eyes and say.”
One Thing
Payne obviously had a key role in the band’s debut album, often taking the lead on the opening lyrics like he did with One Thing.
Stood in front of a red London bus in the music video, Payne looks into the camera and sings:
“I've tried playin' it cool, But when I'm lookin' at you, I can't ever be brave', ’Cause you make my heart race.”
Did Liam Payne write One Direction’s lyrics?
Payne was also a talented songwriter and received song-writing credits on several of One Direction’s hits, including Story of My Life, Steal My Girl, and Night Changes.
He continued to work on his song-writing skills even after the band went on hiatus, contributing to his solo music as well.
His lyrics have hit people even harder after his untimely death.Story of My Life is particularly eerie, with the lyrics: “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.”
Also poignant are the words to Night Changes. “Heart is beating loud and she doesn't want it to stop, Moving too fast, moon is lighting up her skin, She's falling, doesn't even know it yet, Having no regrets is all that she really wants, We're only getting older, baby, And I've been thinking about it lately, Does it ever drive you crazy, Just how fast the night changes?”
