The legacy of Liam Payne: a generation’s nostalgia

Maryville College’s student body was overturned by a wave of shock on Oct. 16, 2024, at around 5:15 p.m. when Liam Payne, best known for his contributions to the music world, especially as a part of the former boy band One Direction, passed away. Payne’s passing is a huge loss for those invested in the world of pop culture.

One Direction was formed in 2010 and composed of members Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Liam Payne. Reaching peak popularity in 2013, this band was formative for many 2000s babies, who are now college-aged. Most Maryville College students grew up hearing One Direction everywhere they went, or listening to the members’ songs from their solo careers.

Now, many students look back at One Direction as a source of comfort and nostalgia. Payne’s death, but also his life and music, have deeply affected much of the campus community, both in the past and the present. 

Clara Webster (‘26) shared the comfort One Direction’s music has brought her over the years. 

“Nostalgia is a warm blanket that wraps me up and heals my childhood wounds,” said Webster. “Now this comfort will always taste like sadness. I always knew this day would come, I just thought I’d have another fifty years.”

Emma Holmes (‘25) feels One Direction’s influence on her adolescence is bittersweet in light of Payne’s death. 

“I was a very big fan of One Direction as a child. They were my first concert at age eleven,” said Holmes, reminiscing on how Liam Payne’s career affected her childhood, and how his passing affects her today. 

“Now when I look back on watching all of the One Direction boys hang out together, it’s changed my perspective on life a little bit. I always knew life was short, but to imagine losing one of my closest friends like that is absolutely horrifying. It makes me want to hold them a little tighter now.”

Emma Mulligan (‘27) echoed the sentiment that Payne’s death felt singular.

“One Direction is absolutely part of my nostalgia,” said Mulligan. “It’s a very weird feeling, because this is the first celebrity death that I have experienced that really felt like a hit to my childhood.”

Even non-fans of Payne or One Direction have been affected by this pop culture tragedy. One Direction was such a huge force in the music industry that it was hard to ignore their impact.

“I wasn’t a huge fan of One Direction as a child, but I was very surprised by the news of Liam’s death, as I knew that this was a big deal and that he meant a lot to millions of people,” said Austin McKee (‘26). He mentioned that just the thought of One Direction reminds him of a simpler time.

 “Although not an essential aspect of my childhood, One Direction is a part of my nostalgia in the way that when I think of the band, I am reminded of who I used to be as a child and teenager and the innocence of that.”

Trevor Morency (‘26) described what he views as the butterfly effect incited by One Direction’s fame spreading to the individual members’ careers and, subsequently, the rest of the pop industry. 

“I was never a huge fan of Liam Payne, but I do recall times where my cousin and I would listen to One Direction, alongside other artists Justin Bieber and Kesha,” recalled Morency. “We would turn off the lights, use a light up party-style disco ball, and throw a dance party.” 

Morency agreed that, though he was not a big One Direction fan as a child, the sudden relevance of the band due to Payne’s passing makes him nostalgic for the memories of his childhood. 

“Nostalgia often feels very pensive. You don’t always miss that explicit action, but you miss the feelings you had during that time.”

Another item weighing on students’ minds is the controversies Liam Payne found himself in later in his career, and if his morals counteract the nostalgia people feel towards him.

“You can mourn the person he was, rather than the person he came to be. Disappointment and grief can coexist,” said Mulligan, when asked about his controversy. This seemed to be a common belief amongst many students: there is room for mourning for the nostalgia he brought to many, but his actions needn’t be condoned.

Megan Cooper (‘26) explained how fans may struggle with cognitive dissonance in the wake of Payne’s passing.

“Liam’s death has been really hard regarding ethics. Yes, he was a bad man, but he still deserves to be mourned,” said Cooper. Celebrity culture tends to teeter on a fine line when it comes to separating artists from their art, and the nostalgia and memories associated with an artist’s music can affect the way a celebrity is perceived, especially after they’ve passed.

“At what point does mourning become ignoring the accusations? When does condemning become wrong after death?” Cooper wonders.

“Although Liam Payne was a controversial figure right before his death, many are still in mourning based on their idea of who he was and how that influenced their childhoods. Can we really take the nostalgic halo off of people who inadvertently affected us so much in our younger years, even if we don’t agree with who they are now?” said McKee.

In the end, despite how one feels about Liam Payne, it is clear that his death has had a large effect, including to many MC students. While it is fair to mourn his death, his life should also be celebrated, after seeing how many people his music reached and the nostalgia he continues to inspire in others.