Niall Horan, The Show | Album Review 💿

Irish pop musician and former One Directioner Niall Horan delivers his best album to date with The Show. 

Once upon a time, I didn’t expect 🎙 Niall Horan to be a successful solo artist following his stint with 🎙 One Direction.  However, Horal has far exceeded expectations, three albums in.  The success of 🎙 Harry Styles seemed inevitable – PERIOD.  Niall, however, has firmly planted himself as, minimally, the second-most successful former 1D member.  His third studio album, 💿 The Show debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was the top-selling album its debut week.  Sales aside, The Show, critically, just might be Horan’s best album to date.  It’s brief – 10 songs at 31 minutes in duration – but packs a sizable punch, nonetheless. 

“Heaven”

“God only knows where this could go / And even if our love starts to grow out of control,” Niall Horan sings memorably and thoughtfully in the chorus of 🤩 🎵 “Heaven”.  He continues, “And you and me go up in flames / Heaven won’t be the same.” “Heaven” commences The Show brilliantly. The vibe is indeed heavenly! Horan and his co-writers and producers (🎼 ✍ John Ryan, Joel Little, and Tobias Jesso Jr.) construct the perfect aesthetic; the backdrop is big and lush. Vocally, Niall continues to improve with time, growing more confident and mature with each successive release.  “Heaven” comes from a love angle at its most literal, as the excerpted chorus superbly demonstrates. Also, the verses seem to focus on that special somebody, with the second verse being utterly radiate: “I’m having revelations / You dance across the floor / Beyond infatuation / How I obsessively adore you / That’s what I do.” Commenting about the song, Niall makes it clear he eschews societal pressures regarding milestones and follows his heart. It is so sweet when he asserts, “I believe, I believe / I could die in your kiss,” in the pre-chorus. The thoughtfully-penned 🎵 “Heaven” makes you feel good inside – finding that one true love and embracing life. 

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: February 2023

“If you leave me / Hope you know that you’re sentencing me / To a life on my knees / I don’t know who I would be.” OMG – don’t leave him, girl! 🎵 “If You Leave Me” keeps the momentum of The Show going without a hitch.  It benefits from its moderate tempo, exuberant sound, groove, and those chill, easygoing vocals by Niall. The chorus (excerpted above) is catchy and fun as is the post-chorus, where Niall dips into his falsetto (“If you ever leave”).

“When it all melts down, I’ll be there.” 🤩 🎵 “Meltdown” arrived as the second advance single from The Show.  Although brief, it is potent. Horan penned “Meltdown” alongside 🎼 ✍ Amy Allen, Joel Little, and John Ryan.  Little and Ryan also produce the track, with incredibly positive results. “Meltdown” benefits from an electrifying groove and driving bass line.  Furthermore, Niall gives us strong vocals.  “Screamin’ in your car (Yeah) in the driveway / Spinnin’ out, think your life’s goin’ sideways,” Horan asserts in the first verse. In the second, he adds, “Sleep is so thin (Yeah) out of habit / Hard to tell the real from the dreams you imagine.” Clearly, things are NOT going well for this person.  Even so, superhero Niall is there for you, he reveals on the memorably penned, tuneful chorus! Good to know! All in all, “Meltdown” is a surefire earworm after the first listen!   

 Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: May 2023 
• Melt: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 44 (2023) 
• 11 Songs SOOO Hot, They MELT! (2023) 

“Never Grow Up”

The Show continues its engaging script with the cute, dedicated 🎵 “Never Grow Up”.  The love is innocent and sweet, sigh. “I hope we still dance like we’re fallin’ in love,” Horan sings in the chorus, continuing, “Hope we still drink like we’re back in the pub / Hope we grow old, but we never grow up.” Oh, the feels! Niall wants things to remain fresh and youthful, sans those un-fun aspects of adulting.  Next comes 🤩 🎵 “The Show”, which proves to be a fine title track.  Vocally, Niall gives a mature, nuanced performance; his tone is radiant.  Besides the maturity of the performance, the songwriting is alluring. Case in point, the second verse:  

“Life is like a dance floor some of the time

Dancin’ with the stars, oh every night

And gravity comes and wraps her arms around you again

It’s all fun and games until the party ends.”

Furthermore, the arrangement and production (Little, once more) are picturesque. Strings always add warmth, sigh.

We usually don’t celebrate cults – for good reason – but 🤩 🎵 “You Could Start a Cult” is a cult, or a song to get behind.  When you crush on, like, or love somebody, you are willing to follow and track their every move. That is what Niall asserts about his love on this sweet, singer/songwriter oriented number. “Baby, you could start a cult, you see,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “Anywhere you go,  I’ll be / You are so much more than beautiful to me.”  The charming nature of Niall, and the sentiment make “You Could Start a Cult” another winning moment from The Show.

“Save My Life” 

With 🎵 “You Could Start a Cult” being more stripped and slower in pace, 🎵 “Save My Life” provides a stark contrast.  It is characterized by driving rhythms, a quicker tempo, and expanded production.  Furthermore, the sound palette seems to hearken back to the 1980s – think the pop/rock of the era.  Notably, the synthesizer and horns stand out, specifically the saxophone 🎷 solo.  Like the songs that precede it, “Save My Life” benefits from a catchy, infectious chorus.  As the song title suggests, she just might save his life. Love continues to take center stage on 🎵 “On A Night Like Tonight,” where Mr. Horan wants some of her… “on a night like tonight,” of course! He’s particularly assertive about his desires at the end of the track, contrasting the cooler delivery that takes place earlier.  Meanwhile, during this bridge/outro section, the layering is a selling point.

Ah, 🤩 🎵 “Science”! Is Niall Horan being scientific on the penultimate cut, a ballad? WELL, to some extent.  He mentions “a heart still beatin’ in your chest” during the chorus, which is, indeed, science.  Still, perhaps scientific isn’t the proper characterization: “It’s just science / Don’t let it break you down.” Prior to the post-chorus where Niall encourages her not fear science, he ask questions in the first verse:   “Can you feel what’s beneath? / Is it stone cold under your feet?” In the second verse, he seems to encourage her, suggesting better days are imminent. “Science” is less about science and more about not letting life overwhelm or take you out – you can survive and potentially thrive!  The Show concludes enjoyably with 🎵 “Must Be Love.” Basically, “if it feels like lo-lo-lo-lo-love,” well, “Then it must be love.” WORD!

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Niall Horan puts together a solid, enjoyable effort on his third studio album, The Show. At a tight 10 tracks running 31 minutes, there are no major miscues to be found.  Consistently, Niall sings well, the songs are relatable and well-rounded, and the sound and production are strong too.  Will The Show change your life? Maybe, maybe not, but arguably, this is Horan’s best album to date.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Heaven,” “Meltdown,” “The Show,” “You Could Start a Cult” & “Science”

🎙 Niall Horan • 💿 The Show • 🏷 Neon Haze Music Ltd. / Niall Horan / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 6.9.23 

[📷: Neon Haze Music Ltd. / Niall Horan / UMG Recordings, Inc.]