Simon Cowell thinks it could take more than Justin Bieber to
drag One Direction down.
Both superstar acts are preparing to release new albums, and
the former “American Idol” judge has weighed in on whose music might
have an edge.
“Well, I’m not being biased, but I have heard the One
Direction album,” Simon told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush in a recent
interview.
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Simon helped assemble the British boy band on “The X
Factor” after all five original members struck out as solo artists during
the singing competition’s seventh season. Their latest effort, “Made in
the A.M.,” drops on Nov. 13 — the same day as Justin’s highly-anticipated
“Purpose.”
“Well, we’ll see,” Simon said, when asked which
album he thinks will prove more successful.
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“I personally think it’s the best album they’ve ever
made,” he said of One Direction’s new music. “I think it’s a
fantastic record.”
Like “Purpose,” “Made in the A.M.” has
already produced three hit singles weeks ahead of its release. The most recent track, “Perfect,” has been interpreted by some fans as a
thinly veiled reference to Taylor Swift, whom 1D’s Harry Styles dated in 2012.
Simon said the connection is feasible, but he doubts the
song is about anyone in particular.
“No one told me it was about Taylor. I think people
might infer it,” he said. “But I was never told that, no.”
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What Simon found less surprising was Zayn Malik’s departure
from the band in March. The newly announced “America’s Got Talent”
judge said that he was aware Zayn “wasn’t particularly happy” before
deciding to embark upon a solo career.
“I knew there was an issue, yeah,” the music mogul
said.
“I think he should have stuck it out, but look – he had
his own reasons,” he added. “Zayn had decided that he’d had
enough.”
Simon continued, pointing out that the band doesn’t seem to
have faltered in Zayn’s absence.
“It’s his choice, not a prison sentence,” he said.
“Did it make any difference to the record? None whatsoever.”
— Erin Biglow
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