One Direction is all grown up.
The fivesome-turned-foursome released their music video for "History," the latest single that was written as a tribute to the Directioners, and it is insanely nostalgic. Although Zayn Malik has made it clear that he has moved on in his life, that doesn't mean his participation never happened, so the guys included him in the video.
Talk about emotional, right?
The music video features black-and-white footage from the very beginning, including their time on The X Factor. Simon Cowell makes a cameo in it and launches what would become one of the most successful boy bands of a generation. They all look adorably young, jumping for joy at their victory. It splices footage of the now-foursome singing against old school, behind-the-scenes looks at the guys as they travel on their tour bus, meet fans and perform in concert.
Can we just pause and see how much they've changed? Liam Payne's hair! Niall Horan's teeth! Harry Styles' locks. It's all so pre-pubescent and hilarious. These guys really did grow up in front of the camera and the world, and they're here to thank you for allowing them to do so.
Even better is the fact that they include scenes from many of their music videos, including "Story of My Life," "What Makes You Beautiful" and more. The nostalgia is real, people, and we'd be lying if we said we didn't tear up a time (or two or three) at the video. Although the song was written for the fans, the video does make it seem like it was also a goodbye to Zayn, who has since moved on with his solo career.
Watch the music video and prepare to grab the tissues. You'll need them.