The Show (Niall Horan album)

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The Show
Studio album by
Niall Horan
Released9 June 2023 (2023-06-09)
Studio
  • Chickering (Nashville)
  • EastWest (Hollywood)
  • Golden Age (Hollywood)
  • Juicy Hill (Nassau)
  • Little Fan (Auckland)
  • Mmm (Auckland)
  • Playpen (Calabasas)
  • Richmond Sound (London)
  • Skyline (Joshua Tree)
Length30:39
LabelCapitol
Producer
Niall Horan chronology
Heartbreak Weather
(2020) 		The Show
(2023) 		Live from Spotify Studios
(2024)
Singles from The Show
  1. "Heaven"
    Released: 17 February 2023
  2. "Meltdown"
    Released: 28 April 2023
Singles from The Show (The Encore)
  1. "You Could Start a Cult"
    Released: 27 October 2023

The Show is the third studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records on 9 June 2023. Musically, it draws from rock and synth pop genres. The album's lead single, "Heaven" was released on 17 February 2023, followed by "Meltdown" on 28 April 2023. The album topped the charts in eight countries. A deluxe version of the album, subtitled The Encore, was released on 3 November 2023; the album was preceded by an encore version of "You Could Start a Cult", with Lizzy McAlpine.[1]

Background and recording[edit]

On 15 February 2023, Horan announced the album title and release date.[2][3]

Whilst promoting the lead single, Horan told Rolling Stone: "What makes this record incredibly special to me is it's a reflection of where I am in my life today, as a person, a musician, and of course, as a songwriter," he explained in the video. "Can't say I'm not a little nervous, but hopefully you'll still like this version of me when you listen to the new record."[4] Horan appeared Late Night with Seth Meyers and spoke about how his last album cycle for Heartbreak Weather was heavily impacted by a series of lockdowns in 2020, meaning that he was never able to tour the project. "I'd released an album the day we were told we were going into lockdown, um – some would say that was great timing! The tour got cancelled [...] So then I was sitting around waiting for something to happen, waiting for the creative juices to flow [...] Once it came it kind of opened a door for what is now a finished product, record."[5]

In an interview with NME, Horan shared: "The last time I wrote an album I did less thinking. You don’t in your early 20s, you don’t think too much at all [...] I think with pandemics and relationships and things like that, you subconsciously grow as a person. And then production wise and what I’m saying [lyrically], it just sounds like something that a 30-year-old would release. Not a youthful version of what I did before."[6]

Promotion[edit]

In February 2023, Horan performed the "Heaven" chorus acoustically whilst appearing on the The Late Late Show with James Corden.[7] He appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and discussed writing the song at a writer's camp.[8][9] Horan appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show on 11 March 2023 and performed "Heaven" on that show.[10][11] On 15 May 2023, Horan performed "Meltdown" on The Voice.[12][13] On 16 June 2023, Horan released a live, acoustic video of album track "You Could Start A Cult".[14] The video was filmed in California.[15]

Singles[edit]

"Heaven", was released on 17 February 2023 as the lead single. The song debuted at number 4 on the Irish singles chart,[16] number 16 on the UK Official Top 100 and at number 63 in the USA on the Billboard Hot 100.[17] "Heaven" official music video was released one week later. In Australia, "Heaven" peaked at number 30 on that country's singles chart.[18] An acoustic version was released on 10 March 2023.[19]

"Meltdown" served as the second official single from the album. It was released on 28 April 2023.[20][21][22] "Meltdown" debuted at number 15 on the Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50 on 5 May 2023.[23] In the United Kingdom, "Meltdown" debuted at number 62 on the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100[24] and debuted at number 48 on the UK Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 on 5 May 2023.[25]

On the day of the album's release, the official music video of the song "The Show" was released. It was directed by Connor Brashier.[26]

On 27 October 2023, Horan released "You Could Start a Cult", an alternate version from the album version, with American singer Lizzy McAlpine.[27] The song will appear on the deluxe version of The Show: The Encore.[28]

Tour[edit]

Main article: The Show: Live on Tour

On 22 May 2023, Horan announced a 50-date tour promoting the album, which is set to visit Europe, Oceania and North America.[29] Horan later added seven more dates due to high demand.[citation needed]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[30]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[31]
Clash8/10[32]
I[33]
The Independent[34]
The Line of Best Fit6/10[35]
MusicOMH[36]

The Show was met with critical acclaim by the music critics, it received a score of 83 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[30] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent called the album "the apotheosis of Horan's classic rock sound, which he has been carefully honing ever since his solo debut" and "beautifully cohesive". She wrote that it "finds Horan moving towards the lusher production sound of his former bandmate Harry Styles. Laurel Canyon references mingle easily with Eighties synth-pop and Noughties guitar rock".[34] Writing for Clash, Hannah Sinclair found that Horan "does not disappoint with his latest eclectic release" and that the album "explores deeper meanings to previous work after having time to reflect on life during our multiple lockdowns", summarising that it "is undoubtedly Niall Horan's finest and most mature album to date – and was certainly worth the wait".[32]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone opined that The Show is "full of laid-back Laurel Canyon-inspired ballads, heavy on the mellow, full of feelings about looking for sanity in a time of personal turmoil", remarking that it is "touching to hear [Horan] get so intimate on his own" and complimenting the "empathy" he brings to "power ballads" like "Heaven".[37] Caitlin Chatterton of The Line of Best Fit wrote that "Listening to the album in full reveals [the first two singles] as the standout tracks by a healthy margin" and that the remainder of the album "is often hampered by its predictability" despite being "far from a bad record".[35] Rachel Martin, reviewing for Fault magazine, stated that the album was "Horan’s most vulnerable and mature songwriting to date", and adding that the singer "takes cent[re] stage [...] a place he’s rightfully earned."[38]

Commercial performance[edit]

In Horan's native Ireland, The Show debuted at number 1 on the Irish album chart.[39] In the UK, the album debuted and peaked at number 1, becoming Horan's second solo number 1 album in that country.[40] In the US, The Show sold 68,000 copies in the first week of release, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 1 on the Vinyl albums chart.[41] The deluxe version of the album, The Show: The Encore, was released in November 2023 and entered the UK Albums Sales Chart at number 39.[42]

Track listing[edit]

The Show track listing[43]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Heaven"
  • Ryan
  • Little
3:06
2."If You Leave Me"
  • Ryan
  • Bunetta
2:59
3."Meltdown"
  • Ryan
  • Little
2:33
4."Never Grow Up"
  • Little
  • Ryan
  • Bunetta
3:29
5."The Show"
3:11
6."You Could Start a Cult"
  • Little
  • Ryan
  • Bunetta
3:20
7."Save My Life"
  • Horan
  • Allen
  • Ryan
Ryan2:57
8."On a Night Like Tonight"
  • Ryan
  • Matt Zara[a]
3:07
9."Science"
  • Horan
  • Needle
  • Bryer
  • Scott
2:45
10."Must Be Love"
3:09
Total length:30:39
Japanese bonus track[44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Heaven" (Acoustic)
  • Horan
  • Jesso
  • Ryan
  • Little
Ryan3:04
Total length:33:43
The Show: The Encore additional tracks
No.TitleLength
11."You Could Start a Cult" (Encore version with Lizzy McAlpine)3:14
12."The Show" (Encore version with John Legend)3:11
13."Heaven" (Live from Electric Picnic)3:11
14."If You Leave Me" / "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (Live from Electric Picnic)5:17
15."Meltdown" (Stripped)3:44
16."Save My Life" (Live from Electric Picnic)3:08
17."On a Night Like Tonight" (Live)3:38
18."Science" (Live from Spotify Studios)2:56
19."Something in the Orange" (Live from Spotify Studios)4:02
Total length:01:03:00

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer.

Personnel[edit]

Musicians

  • Niall Horan – vocals (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 1–4, 6–10); harmonica, piano (6)
  • Joel Little – programming (1, 3–5, 9, 10), background vocals (1, 3, 4, 7), synthesizer (1, 4, 5, 10), piano (1, 5, 10), guitar (1, 10); bass guitar, drums (3)
  • John Ryan – background vocals (1–4, 7, 8); bass guitar, programming, synthesizer (1, 3, 4, 7, 8); guitar (1, 3, 6–8, 10), drums (1, 3, 7, 8), piano (1, 4, 7), organ (4)
  • Tobias Jesso Jr. – background vocals (1)
  • Julian Bunetta – background vocals, drums (2, 4); programming, synthesizer (2)
  • Michael Sabath – background vocals, bass guitar (2)
  • Amy Allen – background vocals (3, 7)
  • Dan Bryer – background vocals (5, 9)
  • Jamie Scott – background vocals (5, 9), piano (9)
  • Mike Needle – background vocals (5, 9)
  • Sam de Jong – drums (5, 10)
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – strings director, violin (5, 9)
  • James Bush – cello (5, 9)
  • Joe Harrop – viola (5, 9)
  • Peau Halapua – violin (5, 9)
  • Sean Erick – flugelhorn, trumpet (7)
  • Kevin Williams, Jr. – flute, tuba (7)
  • Leon Silva – saxophones (7)
  • Matt Zara – guitar, programming, synthesizer (8)

Technical

  • Nathan Dantzler – mastering
  • Spike Stent – mixing (1, 3–5, 7–10)
  • Julian Bunetta – mixing (2), engineering (2, 4)
  • John Ryan – mixing (6), engineering (1–6)
  • Joel Little – engineering (1, 3–6)
  • Jesse Munsat – engineering (1, 3)
  • Jeff Gunnell – engineering (2, 4, 6)
  • Martin Hannah – engineering (5)
  • Harrison Tate – mastering assistance (2–10)
  • Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (1, 3–5, 7–10)

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Release formats for The Show
Region Date Format(s) Label Edition Ref.
Various 9 June 2023
Capitol Standard [72]
3 November 2023
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 The Show: The Encore [73]
5 April 2024
  • 2×LP
  • CD

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Brandle, Lars (27 October 2023). "Niall Horan Shares 'You Could Start A Cult' With Lizzy McAlpine, Sets 'The Show: The Encore'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ Geraghty, Hollie (17 February 2023). "Niall Horan announces new album 'The Show'". NME. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ "I couldn't possibly be more happy to tell you that my new album 'The Show' will be released on June 9th. You can pre-order it now from the link in my bio..." 15 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ Paul, Larisha (17 February 2023). "Niall Horan Enters His Certified Lover Boy Era on 'Heaven'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ Roberts, Savannah (1 March 2023). "Niall Horan On Why He's Nervous For Fans To Hear 'The Show'". Capital fm. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. ^ Mylrea, Hannah (8 April 2023). "Niall Horan: "The last time I wrote an album I did less thinking"". NME. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  7. ^ Paul, Larisha (17 February 2023). "Niall Horan Makes Existential Connection Between Katy Perry and New Single 'Heaven' on 'Corden'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Hear more about the making of NiallOfficial's new single #Heaven, and the origins of his cardigan obsession". Twitter. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Niall Horan Reveals He 'Constantly' Speaks to One Direction as Collaboration Rumors Swirl". Rolling Stone. 22 February 2023.
  10. ^ Millar, Will (10 March 2023). "The Jonathan Ross Show: Who is on ITV show this week including Maya Jama, Niall Horan & James Acaster". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Niall Horan - Heaven [Live] | The Jonathan Ross Show". YouTube. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  12. ^ Paul, Larisha (16 May 2023). "Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper Take the Stage on 'The Voice". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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  29. ^ Irvin, Jack. "Niall Horan Announces The Show Live on Tour 2024 – His First Headline Run in 6 Years: See the Dates". People. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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  72. ^ The Show release formats:
  73. ^ Lars Brandle (27 October 2023). "Niall Horan Shares 'You Could Start A Cult' With Lizzy McAlpine, Sets 'The Show: The Encore'". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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