after listening to the show a few times, the main thought that keeps circling back to me is that niall hit a sweet spot here by being able to flawlessly blend what made both flicker and heartbreak weather good while stamping out the parts that didn’t feel familiar to his identity. the show is a seamlessly executed third record that truly feels fully formed. his keen ability for storytelling within his lyricism, the record’s big yet structured melodies, and his vocal’s overall authentic nature proves how versatile and purposeful niall is being here as an artist as he solidifies his sound instead of just exploring it. in my opinion (and you all know how i adore flicker), i believe this to be niall’s strongest outing to date. we begged for a show, and he didn’t just give us one. he gave us the show. excited to see him grow even further in what seems to be his locked-in sound arena for the rest of his musical career.
the show is an incredible album and I cannot believe we have 3 solo albums for someone who couldn’t get their microphone turned on at the start of their career, I am so proud of niall
We asked the public: do you think Niall wees in the shower? NIALL HORAN FOR LADBIBLE
the evolution in niall's songwriting is so fucking genius. flicker is heartbreak & emotional devastation to the brim, heartbreak weather naturally flows into that period of exploration post-breakup all the ups and downs of moving on from someone, and the show is comfort and self-assurance and settling in love again. and he is SO good at capturing the essence of each album into the title tracks
FINA your tag about niall!!!!! #why is he such a DILF in training? LITERALLY! half the time i look at niall and he is precious sunshine beanstalk boy and then the OTHER HALF he is... well... DILF in training! like ur friend's successful father who always treats you like a Real Adult and makes you feel all blushy and too young and too gangly and too awkward and is so kind to you that you almost feel guilty for wanting him to DO YOU AGAINST A WALL!! or something. yknow. whatever.
LOOK, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS NIALL CAN BE!!!!!!!! FOR INSTANCE!!!!!
HOT YOUNG ASSISTANT FIELD HOCKEY COACH AT YOUR FANCY BOARDING SCHOOL WHO ALL THE OTHER GIRLS SAY DIRTY THINGS ABOUT IN THE LOCKER ROOM BUT YOU WOULD NEVER BC YOU RESPECT HIM AS A PERSON AND AS A MENTOR BUT MOSTLY BC YOU DON’T WANT TO GIVE AWAY HOW DESPERATELY OBSESSED WITH HIM YOU REALLY ARE:
YOUR FUN, RECENTLY-DIVORCED AUNT’S HOT YOUNG DOCUMENTARY-FILMMAKER BOYFRIEND WHO SITS NEXT TO YOU AROUND THE CROWDED THANKSGIVING TABLE WHILE YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH AND TRY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING STUPID OR LET YOUR THIGH TOUCH HIS:
YOUR DAD’S HOT YOUNG WORK COLLEAGUE WHO SHOWS UP TO YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH AN ENVELOPE FULL OF CASH FOR YOU AND THEN DISAPPEARS OUT ONTO THE PATIO TO DRINK LIGHT BEER AND TALK BUSINESS WITH THE GROWN UPS AND DOESN’T EVEN NOTICE YOU SIPPING ON A SHIRLEY TEMPLE AND MAKING EYES AT HIM:
THE NEW HOT, YOUNG, AND PAINFULLY EARNEST YOUTH PASTOR AND CHOIR DIRECTOR AT YOUR LOCAL MEGA-CHURCH WHO’S GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING VERY UNHOLY THOUGHTS:
YOUR HOT YOUNG DENTAL HYGIENIST WHO YOU RUN INTO AT A FESTIVAL WHILE HE’S A LITTLE DRUNK WITH ALL HIS HOT FRIENDS AND HE REMEMBERS YOUR NAME AND GIVES YOU A HUG AND REMINDS YOU TO FLOSS AND THEN YOU TRY TO CONVINCE YOUR MOM TO LET YOU WEAR A TUBE TOP TO YOUR NEXT ORTHODONTIST APPOINTMENT:
YOUR BEST FRIEND’S OLDER BROTHER WHO’S HOME FROM SCHOOL FOR THE SUMMER SO YOU START ARRANGING A LOT OF SLEEPOVERS WITH UR FRIEND AND THEN ONE NIGHT YOU RUN INTO HIM IN THE KITCHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN YOU’RE GETTING A GLASS OF WATER AND YOU GUYS END UP TALKING AND HE CONFESSES HOW BAD HE WANTS TO BE KAPPA SIG PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR AND HOW HE’S SCARED THAT JAGOFF CHAD’S GONNA GET INSTEAD CUZ HE’S A LEGACY:
@clarz: #GOD I FEEL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE IN MY SOUL!! #THERE ARE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!
#THE NEW GOLF PRO AT THE COUNTRY CLUB WHO COMPETES IN AMATEUR TOURNAMENTS ON WEEKENDS #WHO HELPS FIT YOU FOR A CLUB WHEN YOU GET DRAGGED ALONG TO GOLF WITH YOUR GRANDPA #AND LIKE RESTS HIS HANDS ON YOUR HIPS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SWING PROPERLY #AND SUDDENLY YOU’RE LIKE REALLLLLLLY INTO GOLFING WITH GRANDPA #EVERY FUCKIN’ WEEKEND THERE YOU ARE! LEARNIN’ TO GOLF! REALLY DEDICATED TO THE SPORT!
#YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WHO WAS A FEW YEARS AHEAD OF YOU WHO WAS KIND OF A JOCK IN HIGH SCHOOL #BUT HE COMES BACK FROM COLLEGE ONE SUMMER AND HE’S PICKED UP A WOMEN’S STUDIES MINOR AND LET THE BLOND GROW OUT OF HIS HAIR #AND NOW HE PLAYS ACOUSTIC GUITAR SETS ON WEEKENDS AT YOUR LOCAL COFFEE SHOP #AND WHEN HE CASUALLY RESTS HIS FINGERS ON YOUR ELBOW WHILE GREETING YOU AFTER THE SHOW YOU FORGET HOW TO BREATHE
#THE EARNEST YOUNG ECOLOGIST WHO COMES TO TALK TO YOUR CLASS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE LOCAL WETLANDS #AND HE BRINGS A BABY DUCK AND CRADLES IT GENTLY IN HIS BIG HANDS #AND WHEN HE’S TEACHING YOU HOW TO USE THE DISSECTING SCOPE HE SITS SO CLOSE TO YOU THAT YOU SWEAR YOU CAN FEEL HIS BREATH ON YOUR CHEEK #AND YOU JUST MAKE AFFIRMING NOISES AT HIM AND LEARN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT MICROSCOPY