One Direction’s ‘Drag Me Down’ Is Set To Debut In Top Five on ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

One Direction is set to make the highest debut of 2015 on Billboard‘s Hot 100. Keith Caulfield from Billboard has the news.

“One Direction is set to blast onto the Billboard Hot 100 with the chart’s highest debut of 2015, as its new single, ‘Drag Me Down,’ appears headed for a debut likely in the top five.”

Billboard notes that industry forecasters suggest that One Direction’s single could sell around 340,000 digital copies in the week ending August 6. Streaming and airplay are also very strong with “Drag Me Down.”

Since its release, “Drag Me Down” has received mixed reviews from critics. Billboard gave cautious praise to 1D’s new single.

“The song hums along with a playful back-and-forth between the guitar and bass, and if the hooks aren’t as delectable as they are on the group’s past hits, they at least come close.”

Music Times was thrilled with One Direction’s new song.

“Musically, ‘Drag Me Down’ is the epitome of an arena anthem with hand claps slowly building in the chorus that are sure to power the rest of 1D’s On The Road Again Tour. The song also has one of the more fulfilling drops in One Direction’s career, with a searing energy and intensity that fans are sure to respond to.”

Music Times goes on to note that if this is One Direction without Malik, it’s not so bad after all. Malik himself offered praise to the single. According to People, Zayn described the new single as “sick” (in a good way). As the magazine notes, some of One Direction’s fans were quite offended when Zayn Malik announced earlier in the week that he had been signed to RCA Records and that now, he could be who he really is. He even used the hashtag #realmusic, which some fans took to be a slight towards One Direction.

Besides leaving One Direction, E! Online reports that Malik has called quits with his fiance, Perry Edwards. The two became engaged in August of 2013 after about a year of dating. Many One Direction fans blamed Edwards for Zayn Malik leaving the band and even sent disturbing Tweets to her. It has been reported in various tabloids that Zayn Malik broke up with Edwards through a text — certainly not the most honorable way to break up with someone. Who knows, perhaps we’ll see Zayn Malik reunite with One Direction in the future.

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