Do Zayn Malik And John Lennon Fit The One Direction And Beatles Comparison
One Direction has frequently been compared to The Beatles, largely due to their overwhelming popularity among young girls. Beatlemania, is certainly back, in the form of 1D frenzy. Then there is the fact that both bands came from Britain then took America and eventually the entire world by storm. But the similarities do not stop there.
Harry Styles’ strong similarities to Paul McCartney, in personality, work ethic, and facial expressions have been noted. That could be in part because McCartney has always been Styles’ role model, but it would be hard to explain the resemblance that easily.
Does Zayn Malik fit the often used comparison between One Direction and The Beatles? Those who are fans of both bands, especially those who actually remember the Beatles, might notice that Zayn is quite a bit like John Lennon.
One Direction’s Harry Styles and Zayn Malik were the two greatest musical collaborators. Zayn and Harry both always wanted more out of their music. They were the driven ones, perfectionists, and always striving to be better musicians.
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney and John Lennon were the same. They were the ones who were the driving force, the most prolific songwriters, and always their own harshest critics, especially John.
Zayn Malik is often described as anxiety plagued, stressed, complicated, unique, and insecure at times. Those kinds of words are always cropping up to describe the bearded former One Direction singer. Then there is that word Malik always hated, mysterious. Zayn complains that he often feels misunderstood, self-conscious, and less than confident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AFSa7HySo0
John Lennon’s dear friend Ray Connolly said that although history had made a sort of saint out of Lennon, he certainly was not perfect. Mr. Connolly preferred to remember John as the complicated, contradictory man that he was, rather than enshrine his memory with myth. To set the record straight, Mr. Connolly wrote an editorial in The Telegraph depicting John as he remembered him. Though many things don’t fit, at times Connolly seems to be describing Zayn with uncanny accuracy when he speaks of John.
Zayn Malik, formerly of One Direction, is never satisfied with his own performance, no matter how great. He is currently suffering severe anxiety and low confidence since going solo. Surprisingly, John Lennon, also suffered from a lack of self-confidence, especially after going solo, according to Ray Connolly. Connolly described Lennon’s battle with self-confidence.
“After a brilliant start to a solo career after the Beatles broke up, Lennon seemed to lose his way artistically, becoming less certain of himself. To those who knew him that was no surprise, because although publicly he was viewed as a man of great self-confidence, he had deep insecurities, not least about his own singing voice.”
John Lennon had a way of saying things that sometimes shocked and outraged people who never seemed to understand exactly where he was coming from. One of the worst of those incidents came when, back in 1966, Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Ultimate Classic Rock recalls that quote, and the controversy that some found unforgivable.
“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that. I’m right and I’ll be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.”
Well, Zayn Malik never said anything nearly as shocking as that. However, Malik is often misunderstood when he tries to explain his frustration with the musical limitations put on One Direction. People often think he is being critical of the band, or his bandmates when he is clearly explaining the limitations put on boy bands when they want to explore a more mature genre.
Harry Styles can say virtually the exact same thing, but put in that classic Styles phrasing and he comes off sounding humble and sugar sweet. It was always the same with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Lennon would always take things too far when explaining in spoken words rather than songs. It never came out quite right. It must have been as frustrating for Lennon then as it is for Zayn now.
Zayn Malik has recently written a book and it is soon to be published. It will contain personal photos, Zayn’s own drawings, as well as Malik’s life story up to now. There will be a lot about One Direction in the book. Zayn wants to be understood so badly he’s creating an illustrated book just to explain himself.
John Lennon was also a terrific writer and artist, according to Roy Connolly. Lennon had even gone to art school. Zayn loves to draw and write as well.
“Quite what [John Lennon] would have done if he hadn’t been murdered and if the album hadn’t been the success his death made it, is difficult to say. My guess is that he would have turned to writing because he wrote very funny, playful letters and had previously published two books of cartoons and nonsense short stories.”
John Lennon was not confident at all about what would be his final album. He had been very fretful that it would not sell, according to Connolly.
Zayn Malik, since leaving One Direction, is more confident in the studio, but on the stage and sometimes even out in public, Zayn has trouble with big crowds. Malik is suffering from social anxiety disorder and at times it can be very severe.
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The Beatles ceased touring in 1966, following a miserable rainy season of travel. One might wonder if that was Lennon’s idea. It appears from Paul McCarney’s account it certainly was not his own plan, and the other three members simply wanted to go home. One has to wonder, though, if John Lennon was the main one opposed to touring. Zayn Malik seems to be developing a dislike for touring and being on stage after approximately the same amount of time.
John Lennon of the Beatles was often thought to be egotistical, but those who knew him best, know that it was a cover for deeper insecurities.
Zayn Malik has learned not to cover his insecurities. He possibly used to, but in One Direction he was always quiet about his feelings. Now he’s starting to speak up. He’s been very frank about his own insecurities and anxieties.
While John Lennon and Zayn Malik are hardly identical in character and there are some huge differences in their outward behaviors, one can see major similarities as well. They are both unique individuals, but even in their brilliance and uniqueness, there is a sort of kinship or kindred spirit.
Zayn Malik and John Lennon fit the One Direction and The Beatles comparison at least to a point, and they seem to have filled a similar role in their bands.
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