18 (One Direction song)

2014 promotional single by One Direction

"18"

Promotional single by One Direction
from the album  Four
Released| 17 November 2014 (2014-11-17)
Recorded| 2014
Length| 4:09
Label|

* Syco
* Columbia

Songwriter(s)|

* Oliver Frank
* Ed Sheeran[1]

Producer(s)|

* Sam Miller
* Matt Rad
* Steve Robson

"18" is a song by English-Irish boy band One Direction from their fourth studio album Four. The song was released on 17 November 2014 and was written by English singer Ed Sheeran and Oliver Frank.[2][1] The song attained international success as it is certified gold in Australia and the UK.[3][4]

## Background[edit]

English singer Ed Sheeran spoke about writing the song for One Direction in an interview saying, "I kinda wrote it from their perspective." He also mentions, "I'm really happy with the record that I wrote for them. It's the first record I've actually specifically written for them."[1] The track runs at 124 BPM and is in the key of F♯ Minor.[5] The song was recorded at Enemy Dojo, The Mountains, Los Angeles.[6]

As of 2014, "18" sold 4,922 copies in the UK and 38,610 copies in the US.[7][8]

## Personnel[edit]

Credits for "18" adapted from Genius.[6]

Musicians

One Direction

* Niall Horan – vocals
* Zayn Malik – vocals
* Liam Payne – vocals
* Harry Styles – vocals
* Louis Tomlinson – vocals

Additional musicians

* Oliver Frank – writing
* Luke Potashnick – guitar
* Matt Rad – drum programming, keyboard, producer
* Steve Robson – bass, producer
* Ed Sheeran – writing

Production

* Ian Dowling – engineering
* Șerban Ghenea – mixing
* John Hanes – mixing
* Sam Miller – engineering, producer

|

## Charts[edit]

Chart (2014)  | Peak
position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 60
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 84
France (SNEP)[11] | 82
Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 84
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 41
Scotland (OCC)[14] | 18
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[15] | 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 46
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 45
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 87

## Certifications[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[3] | Gold  | 35,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[19] | Gold  | 45,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[20] | Platinum  | 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[4] | Gold  | 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Ed Sheeran Says "18" Was Written From Perspective of One Direction Members". Retrieved 29 May 2021.
2. ^ "iTunes – Music – FOUR (Deluxe Version) by One Direction". iTunes. 17 November 2014.
3. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
4. ^ a b "British single certifications – One Direction – 18". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
5. ^ "Key and BPM of 18 by One Direction". Musicstax.com. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
6. ^ a b "18 – One Direction". Genius. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
7. ^ "Official Charts analysis: 1D land fourth consecutive No.1 LP as Four sells 141,780". 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
8. ^ "SoundScan 11/16/2014 – Digital Songs" (PDF). 16 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
9. ^ "One Direction – 18" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
10. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
11. ^ "One Direction – 18" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
12. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography One Direction". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
13. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
15. ^ "One Direction – 18" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
16. ^ "One Direction – 18". Singles Top 100.
17. ^ "One Direction: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
18. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
19. ^ "Danish single certifications – One Direction – 18". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
20. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 3 June 2022. Type One Direction in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and 18 in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.

* v
* t
* e

One Direction

* Niall Horan
* Liam Payne
* Harry Styles
* Louis Tomlinson

* Zayn Malik

Studio albums|

* Up All Night
* Take Me Home
* Midnight Memories
* Four
* Made in the A.M.

Video albums|

* Up All Night: The Live Tour

EPs|

* iTunes Festival: London 2012

Singles|

* "What Makes You Beautiful"
* "Gotta Be You"
* "One Thing"
* "More than This"
* "Live While We're Young"
* "Little Things"
* "Kiss You"
* "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)"
* "Best Song Ever"
* "Story of My Life"
* "Midnight Memories"
* "You & I"
* "Steal My Girl"
* "Night Changes"
* "Drag Me Down"
* "Perfect"
* "History"

Promotional singles|

* "Diana"
* "Strong"
* "Fireproof"
* "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
* "18"
* "Fool's Gold"
* "Infinity"
* "Home"
* "Love You Goodbye"
* "What a Feeling"

Other songs|

* "Moments"
* "No Control"
* "If I Could Fly"

Concert tours|

* Up All Night Tour
* Take Me Home Tour
* Where We Are Tour
* On the Road Again Tour

TV and film|

* This Is Us
* Where We Are – The Concert Film

Related|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* Songs
* Our Moment
* John Ryan

* Category

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