18 (One Direction song)

2014 promotional single by One Direction

"18"

Promotional single by One Direction
from the album  Four
Released| 11 November 2014 (2014-11-11)[1]
Recorded| 2014
Length| 4:09
Label|

* Syco
* Columbia

Songwriter(s)|

* Oliver Frank
* Ed Sheeran[2]

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.[3][2] The song is certified gold in Australia and the United Kingdom.[4][5]

## Background

[edit]

The song was written by English singer Ed Sheeran whilst in a hotel bathroom in Denmark, and was then sent to One Direction.[6] Sheeran spoke about writing the song for the band in an interview, saying he wrote it in their perspectives. He also mentioned that it was the first record he wrote specifically for the band.[2] Described as an acoustic, guitar-based track,[1] it runs at 124 BPM and is in the key of F♯ Minor.[7] The song was recorded at Enemy Dojo, The Mountains, Los Angeles.[8]

As of 2014, "18" sold 4,922 copies in the UK and 38,610 copies in the US.[9][10] Billboard called the song the album's best ballad.[11]

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits for "18" adapted from Genius.[8]

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)[12] | 60
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] | 84
France (SNEP)[14] | 82
Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 84
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[16] | 41
Scotland (OCC)[17] | 18
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18] | 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] | 46
UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 45
US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 87

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[4] | Gold  | 35,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[22] | Gold  | 45,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[23] | Platinum  | 60,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] | Platinum  | 30,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] | Gold  | 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] | Gold  | 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Jue, Teresa (11 November 2014). "One Direction releases Ed Sheeran-written track, '18'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
2. ^ a b c "Ed Sheeran Says "18" Was Written From Perspective of One Direction Members". Retrieved 29 May 2021.
3. ^ "iTunes – Music – FOUR (Deluxe Version) by One Direction". iTunes. 17 November 2014.
4. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
5. ^ a b "British single certifications – One Direction – 18". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
6. ^ Weiner, Natalie (1 October 2015). "Ed Sheeran Is No Longer Writing for One Direction...Because They've Gotten Too Good". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
7. ^ "Key and BPM of 18 by One Direction". Musicstax.com. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
8. ^ a b "18 – One Direction". Genius. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
9. ^ "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.
10. ^ "SoundScan 11/16/2014 – Digital Songs" (PDF). 16 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
11. ^ Arnold, Chuck (17 November 2014). "Album Review: One Direction Aren't Ready to Let Go of Their Bubble-Gum Days on 'Four'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
12. ^ "One Direction – 18" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
13. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
14. ^ "One Direction – 18" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
15. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography One Direction". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
16. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
18. ^ "One Direction – 18" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
19. ^ "One Direction – 18". Singles Top 100.
20. ^ "One Direction: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
21. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
22. ^ "Danish single certifications – One Direction – 18". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
23. ^ "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.
24. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – One Direction – 18". Radioscope. Retrieved 23 December 2024. Type 18  in the "Search:" field.
25. ^ "Spanish single certifications – One Direction – 18". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 20 April 2025.

* v
* t
* e

One Direction

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

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"
* "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"
* "Infinity"
* "Home"
* "Love You Goodbye"
* "What a Feeling"

Other songs|

* "Moments"
* "No Control"

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
* Crazy About One Direction

Related|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* Songs
* Larries
* Believe in Magic
* Our Moment
* John Ryan

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template