LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Liam Payne arrives at the "All Of Those Voices" UK Premiere at Cineworld ... [+]
A decade ago, Liam Payne was a member of the biggest band on the planet. In the years just after One Direction split up, he found great success with his solo career, but those wins didn’t last long. It’s now been a while since he’s landed a real smash, and he’s hoping to recapture some of the magic with a new single with some help from a famous pop talent.
Payne has released what may be his comeback single, titled “Teardrops,” which arrived on Friday, March 1. The tune appears to be the first taste of a new era for the pop singer, and it may prove to be very important to the musician and his career.
“Teardrops” is a bombastic pop tune that leans heavily into silky, sexy R&B. It’s not too low-key or laidback, though, as the chorus kicks the entire affair up a notch. The just-released single is exactly the kind of production that is typically reserved for chart-topping pop stars, as it’s bigger and more impressive than what many rising talents come up with.
The single is co-written by Payne and another musician who got his start in the boy band world. “Teardrops” credits JC Chasez as a writer, along with several others. Chasez is, of course, one of the five members of NSYNC. He took over the globe with his signature blend of top 40-ready pop many years ago, and now he’s helping Payne return to prominence with what could become a proper chart hit.
“Teardrops” marks Payne’s first single release as a lead artist in several years. It’s been even longer since he’s scored a big hit, even in his home country of the U.K., where he remains a star. The last time Payne charted in that nation was back in 2020, when he and TikTok powerhouse Dixie D’Amelio pushed their holiday track "Naughty List" to No. 48.
It’s been even longer since Payne landed a certified smash in the U.K. He last appeared inside the top 40–the region that typically defines when a song has become a hit–in 2018. That year, several tracks from his debut solo album LP1 reached the important arena.
Payne could use a hit right now, as his solo career has been on the rocks lately. He’s been quiet for years–which is a big no-no for many in the pop world–and before that, some of his latest offerings underperformed. A track like “Teardrops” could turn things around, and everything may change for him in a week or two. A smash in the U.K. may lead to a global win, and anything can happen from there.
