Fireproof (One Direction song)

On 8 September 2014, the group announced that they would be releasing their fourth studio album, Four, on 17 November 2014. Along with this announcement, they released the song, "Fireproof" for free download for 24 hours. In a statement, Niall Horan said, "It's one of our favorite songs, so hopefully you are enjoying it! And can't wait for you to hear the rest of the album."

"Fireproof" was written by Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, John Ryan, Jamie Scott, Julian Bunetta, and Carolina Velert,{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1550147/download-new-one-direction-song-fireproof-for-free/|title=Download new One Direction song 'Fireproof' for free|website=Global News|author=John R. Kennedy|date=8 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}} while production was handled by Bunetta and Ryan. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the track runs at 132 BPM and is in the key of E-flat major.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0139187|title=Fireproof by One Direction - Digital Sheet Music|website=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Alfred Music Publishing|access-date=13 January 2024}} Bunetta told Billboard about "Fireproof" stating:

{{quote|"I think that everybody felt like this was a nice, little change in pace. It's a nice breather and a nice sort of more sophisticated, artful way of making a pop song for kids from 8 to 80. Fans want to be challenged and they want to be led and taken to new places and hear things they haven't heard. And the boys definitely listen to the fans."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/one-directions-four-offers-fans-a-window-into-the-group-6259044/|title=One Direction's 'Four' Offers Fans a 'Window' Into The Group|magazine=Billboard|author=Jocelyn Vena|date=20 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}}}}

"Fireproof" was met with mostly positive reviews from music critics. Joe Lynch of Billboard described the track as, "an easy-going pop song, eschewing the high-energy attack of 'Best Song Ever' or the Mumford-lite vibe of 'Story of My Life' in favor of a gentle (and extremely catchy) melody." Stitched Sound stated, "Side by side, 'Fireproof' has almost zero things in common with their very first single 'What Makes You Beautiful' [...] their voices and quality of writing are stronger than ever and it seems as though, One Direction's finally taking control of the music that release into the world."{{cite web|url=https://stitchedsound.com/single-review-one-directions-fireproof/|title=Single Review: One Direction 'Fireproof'|website=Stitched Sound|date=14 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}} However, Alex Kritselis of Bustle gave a negative review of the song, calling the track, "boring, bland, and terrible." He felt that the song was a "Midnight Memories leftover," in which he added, "a song that nobody wanted or remembered."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/39565-one-direction-song-fireproof-is-kind-of-terrible-im-glad-its-not-fours-lead-single|title=1D's New Song Is Kind of Terrible, Admit It|magazine=Bustle|author=Alex Kritselis|date=11 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}} Fan reception of the song were positive, garnering 1.7 million tweets about the track, topping the Billboard Twitter Real-Time chart for eight hours.

In April 2015, American singer-songwriter Mitski, released a cover of the track which premiered via Billboard.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/mitski-covers-one-direction-fireproof-exclusive-6531846/|title=Mitski Covers One Direction's 'Fireproof': Exclusive Song Premiere|author=Harley Brown|magazine=Billboard|date=15 April 2015|access-date=13 January 2024}}

In the span of 24-hours, "Fireproof" sold 1.1 million downloads worldwide,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/one-direction-fireproof-million-downloads/|title=One Direction's Free 'Fireproof' Scores 1.1 Million Downloads|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caufield|date=10 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}} which broke the record for most downloaded song in a 24-hour period.{{cite web|url=https://popcrush.com/one-direction-fireproof-download-record/|title=One Direction's 'Fireproof' Breaks Download Record|website=PopCrush|author=Maggie Malach|date=15 September 2014|access-date=13 January 2024}} The song also sold 3,723 copies in the UK.{{cite news|url=http://mediaor.com/post/103452913349/official-charts-analysis-1d-land-fourth|title=Official Charts analysis: 1D land fourth consecutive No.1 LP as Four sells 141,780|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=24 November 2014|work=Music Week|access-date=13 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525162133/http://mediaor.com/post/103452913349/official-charts-analysis-1d-land-fourth|archive-date=25 May 2015|url-status=dead}} The song debuted at number 92 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20141123/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart: 22 November 2014 - 28 November 2014|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=13 January 2024}} The song also peaked at number two on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

• John Ryan – producer, engineering, guitar, backing vocals
• Julian Bunetta – producer, engineering, drums, backing vocals
• Jamie Scott – guitar
• Randy Merrill – assistant mastering engineer
• Benjamin Chang – vocal producer, recording engineer
• Alex Oriet – recording engineer
• Ash Howes – mixing (The Dark Room, London, United Kingdom)
• Tom Coyne – mastering (Sterling Sound, Nashville, Tennessee)
• Ian Franzino – assistant engineer

{{Reflist}}

{{One Direction}}

Category:2014 songs

Category:Songs written by Louis Tomlinson

Category:Songs written by Liam Payne

Category:Songs written by John Ryan (musician)

Category:Songs written by Jamie Scott

Category:Songs written by Julian Bunetta

Category:One Direction songs