In celebration of the Bradford, England, native's 24th birthday Thursday (Jan. 12), we wanted to honor some of his most standout vocal moments whether it was on a 1D track, his own or someone else's.
1/12/2017 by Taylor Weatherby
Zayn Malik performs at 102.7 KIIS FMâs Wango Tango 2016 at StubHub Center on May 14, 2016 in Carson, Calif.
Zayn Malik established himself as a powerhouse singer during his One Direction days, and he has continued to show off his chops in his solo days with Mind of Mine and beyond.
So in celebration of the Bradford, England, nativeâs 24th birthday Thursday (Jan. 12), we wanted to honor some of his most standout vocal moments, whether it was on a 1D track, his own or someone elseâs.
NOTE: Clicking on the pictures would take you to Spotify to play the tracks
âPillowtalkâ
Malikâs voice sounds passionate no matter what song heâs singing. But when heâs singing sexually charged lyrics like those of his debut solo single, he reaches a whole new level of vocal vigor.
âItâs Youâ
While the entire track is hauntingly beautiful, the lead-up to the chorus is definitely the most awe-inspiring â especially when he sings it live.
âBeFourâ
Although most hard-core Directioners arenât super appreciative of this One Direction-shading tune, itâs hard to deny that Malik sounds great singing it â particularly the part where Malik softly belts âflashing lightsâ around 2:15. Swoon.
âIUcOzAdEâ
If this song doesnât really do it for you, pay close attention to how he sings the line, âIâm tryna fâing scream, but the words wonât come out.â
âLike I Wouldâ
This track is a bit of a catchier, radio-friendly way for Malik to show off his vocals, but his performance on The Voice (specifically when he belts out âHe donât know your bodyâ) really showcased them.
âFool for Youâ
One of the only truly balladic songs on Mind of Mine, âFool for Youâ reminds fans that he doesnât need background beats to help display his talent. And the build from the crooning beginning to the powerful chorus? Flawless.
âNo Controlâ
A song that gives Louis Tomlinson more of a spotlight than many other One Direction tunes, Malik still steals the spotlight with a big moment about three-fourths of the way through.
âReady to Runâ
There seems to be a spot that was manufactured specifically for Malik while he was still in 1D, as he was also given a similar slot in this Four track where he blows us away with his vocal power.
âThey Donât Know About Usâ
Malikâs impressive moment was still very prevalent on pre-Four albums like Take Me Home. Scroll through to 2:07 and hear him belt over his bandmates as the song finishes.
âBest Song Everâ
Yes, Harry Styles has a pretty killer vocal spot in this Midnight Memories tune, but heâs quickly shown up by Malikâs extreme high note (which James Corden emulated on 1Dâs âCarpool Karaokeâ â and impressively so â to fill Malikâs void).
âI Donât Wanna Live Foreverâ (Taylor Swift collaboration for Fifty Shades Darker)
Teaming up with Taylor Swift can be tricky, considering sheâs pop musicâs sweetheart. But while her whispery vocals sound great, Swift takes a backseat to Malikâs dreamy falsetto.
âBack to Sleep REMIXâ (Chris Brown/Usher collaboration)
Perhaps the most sexual song in Malikâs repertoire thus far, his use of smooth runs combined with some signature belts makes this feature one of his most striking post-1D vocal moments.
âCruel" (Snakehips feature)
After the electronic track fades its bouncy beats, the Snakehips songâs finale strips away the beat and allows Malikâs velvety baritone to really shine.
The âHaloâ sensation has been recognised in the Best International Female, Best Album, Best Video, Music Moment Of The Year and Hero Of The Year. The Best British Band category has a great group of nominees including Wolf Alice, The 1975, Bastille, Years & Years, Biffy Clyro and The Last Shadow Puppets.
Tame Impala, Green Day, Kings Of Leon, Metallica, A Tribe Called Quest and Tegan And Sara are all going head-to-head for the Best International Band. Skepta, Zayn Malik, Kano, Jamie T, Michael Kiwanuka and Richard Ashcroft are all up for the Best British Male prize.
Aussie rockers 5 Seconds Of Summer have been nominated for the Worst Band award, and also up for the prize are the likes of Honey G, Clean Bandit, The Chainsmokers, Nickelback and Twenty One Pilots. All of the categories will be voted for by the public and winners wil be crowned on Wednesday, February 15 at Londonâs Brixton Academy.
In case you missed it, there was a mini One Direction reunion on Twitter today. Well, sort of.
Liam Payne took to social media to shout out former band member Zayn Malik on his birthday. Zaynâs big day clearly brings out all the love from celebrities, from his girlfriend Gigi Hadid, to the guys that used to share the stage with him.
On Twitter, Liam wrote, âHappy birthday bro! Hope all is well and you have a good day celebrating it.â Naturally, he added a bunch of emojis as one must do when they post a birthday tribute to one of their besties.
This message is just another extension of Liam and Zaynâs friendship. Remember, after Zayn left One Direction, Liam was right there for him with support and he was also quick to explainthat there were no hard feelings between the now-solo singer and the rest of the group. Additionally, Liam has made it clear that Zayn is totally irreplaceable â as it should be.
While an ~official~ One Direction reunion still hasnât taken place, these little exchanges of Liam and Zaynâs bromance are certainly a silver lining.
