Infinity (One Direction song)

"Infinity" is a song by Irish-British boy band One Direction from their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M. (2015). It was released as a single on iTunes and Apple Music on 22 September 2015.^[1] The song was at first announced as the third official single from the album,^[2] but was eventually scrapped in favour of "History".^[3]

"Infinity"
Promotional single by One Direction
from the album Made in the A.M.
Released	22 September 2015
Recorded	2015
Length	4:09
Label	Syco Sony
Songwriter(s)	Jamie Scott John Ryan Julian Bunetta
Producer(s)	Bunetta Ryan

Background

On 22 September 2015, One Direction announced the name of their album, Made in the A.M. and released "Infinity" as a promotional single along with the pre-order of the album.^[4] The cover art of the song also features a picture of One Direction's fragrance, Between Us. On 12 November, One Direction gave the first live performance of the song on BBC Radio 1.^[5] The band also performed the single at the final of The X Factor on 13 December 2015.^[6] Harry Styles stated that "Infinity" was one of the track's he was proudest of.^[7] The promo track was certified Gold in Italy for over 25,000 units in March 2016.

The song was supposed to be accompanied by a music video, but it was replaced by "History" as the album's third single, and the video was never finished.^[8]

Composition

"Infinity" was written by Jamie Scott, John Ryan, and Julian Bunetta,^[9] while production was handled by Ryan and Bunetta.^[10] 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 major.^[11] Louis Tomlinson stated that "Infinity" was, "one that we played on the first day of writing."^[12]

Critical reception

Daniela Cabrera of Bustle wrote that she "heard traces of "Stop and Stare" by OneRepublic and a little bit of fellow Brit rockers, Keane and Coldplay" while adding that the song "is soaring, beautiful, and quite catchy" and that the "lyrics will hit home for anyone who's lost love".^[13] Ella Ceron of Teen Vogue stated that the track, "tries to hit the uncanny ground of pairing a slightly uptempo beat and swooping guitar riffs with lyrics that will rip you to shreds." She also added, "It is the kind of song you listen to on loop, or as part of a secret mix, the one you say you're only going to listen to when you really need to feel something."^[14]

Nick Levine of NME remarked, "'Infinity' reaches its peak as the final minute approaches and the producers super-size its sound with some big stadium drums and ravey synth riffs."^[15] Madeline Roth of MTV described the song as "a beautiful, Coldplay-esque ballad that builds and builds until it reaches a soaring, chill-inducing crescendo about two-thirds of the way in."^[16] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday called the track, "a mellower slice of guitar pop."^[17]

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard had a more negative review, stating that the "new ballad was limited by lyrics" and that "a unmemorable arrangement of kick drum and glistening guitar also helps 'Infinity' sound hamstrung by its clumsy lyrics", but he complimented the group's vocals, stating that the band "sounds vocally accomplished on "Infinity" in spite of the absence of Zayn Malik".^[18]

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[19]	22
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20]	18
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21]	40
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22]	47
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23]	12
France (SNEP)[24]	24
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[25]	2
Hungary (Single Top 40)[26]	5
Ireland (IRMA)[27]	38
Italy (FIMI)[28]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29]	59
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30]	28
Portugal Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[31]	5
Scotland (OCC)[32]	15
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[33]	21
South Korea International Chart (GAON)[34]	67
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36]	42
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37]	34
UK Singles (OCC)[38]	36
US Billboard Hot 100[39]	54

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40]	Gold	35,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[41]	Gold	25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[42]	Gold	30,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition)". iTunes. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
2. Billboard Staff (26 November 2015). "One Direction Announces Next Single". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
3. Rachel Pilcher (15 December 2015). "One Direction Change New Single From 'Infinity' To 'History'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
4. Brittany Spanos (22 September 2015). "One Direction Detail New Album, Release Anthemic 'Infinity'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
5. "Radio 1's Live Lounge - One Direction". BBC Radio 1. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
6. Stephanie Soteriou (14 December 2015). "One Direction Thank Fans Following Emotional X Factor Performance". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
7. Amanda Michelle Steiner (10 November 2015). "One Direction's Harry Styles: Soundtrack of My Life". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
8. @benwinston (13 November 2020). "@Kitty_16 @onedirection We never finished it. Label changed course and decided to go with History as the single ins…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. Amanda Michelle Steiner (26 November 2015). "One Direction: Infinity will be third single off MITAM, says Liam Payne". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
10. Made in the A.M. (CD liner). One Direction. Columbia Records. 2015. 8-88751-30792-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. "Infinity by One Direction - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
12. "One Direction reveal 'Infinity' will be third single from Made in the AM". Irish Independent. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
13. Daniela Cabrera (22 September 2015). "One Direction "Infinity" Lyrics Will Hit Home for Anyone Who's Lost Love". Bustle. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
14. Ella Ceron (22 September 2015). "One Direction's New Heartbreak Anthem Proves They Will Always Love You". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
15. Nick Levine (23 September 2015). "One Direction Pine For The One That Got Away On New Track 'Infinity'". NME. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
16. Madeline Roth (27 November 2015). "One Direction Reveal Their Next Single". MTV. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
17. Glenn Gamboa (22 September 2015). "One Direction unveils new song 'Infinity,' reveals album plans". Newsday. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
18. "One Direction's 'Infinity' Review: New Ballad Limited by Lyrics". Billboard. 22 September 2015.
19. "One Direction – Infinity". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
20. "One Direction – Infinity" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
21. "One Direction Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
22. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2015 in the date selector.
23. "One Direction: Infinity" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
24. "One Direction – Infinity" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
25. "One Direction Chart History (Greece Digital Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
27. "Chart Track: Week 40, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
28. "One Direction – Infinity". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
29. "One Direction – Infinity" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
30. "One Direction – Infinity". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
31. "One Direction Chart History (Portugal Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
33. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201539 into search.
34. "Gaon Digital Chart: 2015.10.04~2015.10.10". GAON. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
35. "One Direction – Infinity" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
36. "One Direction – Infinity". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
37. "One Direction – Infinity". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
39. "One Direction Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
41. "Italian single certifications – One Direction – Infinity" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
42. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 6 June 2016. Type One Direction in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Infinity in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
43. "New Zealand single certifications – One Direction – Infinity". Radioscope. Retrieved 23 December 2024. Type Infinity in the "Search:" field.
44. "British single certifications – One Direction – Infinity". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 March 2016.