Last Friday saw the release of ‘Put A Little Love On Me’, the latest single from ex-Directioner Niall Horan.
The song is a textbook breakup ballad; the 26 year-old crooner unpicks the aftermath of a failed relationship against a backdrop of Adele-esque piano chords and judiciously placed strings. Lightly decorated with sparse percussion, the track is satisfyingly simple.
‘Put A Little Love On Me’ bears little to no resemblance to the Norman Cooke-inspired groove of Horan’s previous single, ‘Nice To Meet Ya’. Indeed, it’s far easier to spot shades of past 1D hits (think ‘Night Changes’ and ‘Little Things’) in this song’s gentle melodic resolutions.
Whilst it’s certainly true that One Direction weren’t famed for their nuanced songwriting, Horan’s lyrics are pleasantly earnest:
‘When the lights come up and there’s no shadows dancin’
I look around as my heart is collapsin’
‘Cause you’re the only one I need
To put a little love on me’
With his sophomore solo album slated for release early in the new year, Horan will inevitably find himself competing for chart space with his former bandmates, each of whom have released new music in recent weeks. Who will 1D’s fractured fanbase choose as their champion?