Reflecting on the era before One Direction became a worldwide pop phenomenon, dedicated fans may remember humorous video diaries filled with inside jokes, goofy dance routines, and Liam Payne standing out as the group’s unofficial leader, often taking the lead vocals.

Once affectionately referred to by 1D fans as “Daddy Direction,” Liam has showcased his incredible singing talent since he first appeared on “The X-Factor” in 2010. At just 16 years old, sporting a Justin Bieber-esque haircut, he sought a return to the spotlight. Liam impressed the judges with his rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me A River” and eventually formed One Direction with Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles.

As One Direction released five consecutive albums that skyrocketed in popularity, the group members became more confident in their songwriting abilities. Notably, Liam and Louis emerged as the primary songwriters, especially on the later albums “Four” and “Made in the A.M.”

Sadly, Liam passed away on October 16 in Argentina after a tragic fall from a hotel balcony, leaving a profound impact on fans who recall his charismatic performances and songwriting skills. Without his contributions, classic hits like “Story of My Life” and beloved tracks like “Through the Dark” may never have existed.

After One Direction, Liam launched an EP, a studio album, and several dance hits, including the 2017 song “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo and his collaboration with Zedd titled “Get Low.” However, it was through One Direction where most fans first connected with Liam, also known as Payno, during the height of his music career.

To honor his contributions to the band, here are some of the standout songs that Liam co-wrote for One Direction from a fan’s perspective.

‘Same Mistakes’ from ‘Up All Night’

While most of the debut album saw well-known songwriters at the helm, each member (affectionately called “the boys” by fans) received writing credits on Track 11, “Same Mistakes.” This song reflects the notion that repeating past mistakes in a relationship signifies insanity.

Best lyrics: “That’s what crazy is/ When it’s broke and you say there’s nothing to fix.”

‘Last First Kiss’ from ‘Take Me Home’

Memories from their Take Me Home Tour, captured in the 2013 documentary “This Is Us,” replay in my mind whenever I revisit 1D’s second album. The energy of the concert is vivid, making me feel as if I were one of the enthusiastic fans from 2013.

Although “Last First Kiss” (co-written by Liam, Louis, and Zayn along with five others) wasn’t featured in the movie, the rehearsal clip where they tried a reggae-style version remains a favorite moment of mine, even if it was excluded from the album.

Best lyrics: “Girl, what would you do?/ Would you wanna stay/ If I were to say/ I wanna be last, yeah/ Baby, let me be your, let me be your last first kiss.”

‘Story of My Life’ from ‘Midnight Memories’

The album “Midnight Memories” marked a significant turning point for One Direction as they began to infuse more personal elements into their music, showcasing their growth as artists. By this point, they had become prominent figures in pop culture.

The second single from 1D’s third album, “Story of My Life,” took a contrasting direction from the upbeat “Best Song Ever,” aligning more closely with the heartfelt message of “Midnight Memories.”

From what I remember, fans were buzzing about how mature 1D was sounding with their self-described rock-inspired album. The “SOML” music video took Tumblr by storm with GIFs capturing the boys reminiscing about their childhoods and recreating family photos alongside their siblings, parents, and grandparents.

Standout lyrics: “I leave my heart open/ But it stays right here empty for days.”

‘Right Now’ from ‘Midnight Memories’

Zayn’s incredible vocals on “Right Now” are what make this track from “Midnight Memories” one of my absolute favorites. You have to hear him hit every note effortlessly during their live performances on the Where We Are Tour.

The album touches on themes of homesickness in “Don’t Forget Where You Belong” and “Right Now,” where Niall and Harry sing, “We won’t be going home for so long, for so long.” The lyrics convey a bittersweet sentiment, highlighting that while the boys had everything they could wish for on tour, they still longed for the people back home.

Standout lyrics: “Right now/ I wish you were here with me/ ‘Cause right now/ Everything is new to me.”

‘Through the Dark’ from ‘Midnight Memories’

The decision to perform their Mumford and Sons-style track “Through the Dark” on “Saturday Night Live” in 2013 was a delightful surprise. Liam starts the song, which focuses on being there for someone going through tough times. In his 2021 livestreamed concert series, “The LP Show,” Payne also performed it solo with his more mature, smooth vocals.

In a review of “Midnight Memories,” former YSL News reporter Brian Mansfield mentioned in 2013, “One Direction still shows signs of growth, with some members — especially Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne — stepping up as strong songwriters.” He also noted that “Through the Dark” was among the essential tracks to download from the album (back in the time before streaming became popular, of course).

Standout lyrics: “I wish that I could take you to the start/ I’d never let you fall and break your heart/ And if you wanna cry or fall apart/ I’ll be there to hold ya.”

‘Fireproof’ from ‘Four’

In 2014, 1D released what would become their final album featuring Zayn and his iconic falsetto. The “Four” era began with the guitar-driven “Fireproof,” a free-download track that even won over my friends who were indifferent about 1D, with comments like: “This is One Direction?”

Honestly, it remains one of my most-listened-to songs, even more than “Right Now.”

Standout lyrics: “I think I’m gonna win this time/ I roll, and I roll, ’til I change my luck.”

‘No Control’ from ‘Four’

“No Control,” which includes contributions from the talented duo of Louis and Liam (aka Tommo and Payno), features playful innuendos (“Waking up/ Beside you I’m a loaded gun”) that sparked chatter among fans in 2014. It became particularly beloved among “Louis girls,” eager to see the eldest member finally take the lead on a chorus after being in the background for so long.

However, the song truly gained recognition in 2015 when the boys performed it on “The Late Late Show’s” “Carpool Karaoke” (before it became its own series), complete with humorous choreography.

Standout lyrics: “Powerless, and I don’t care it’s obvious/ I just can’t get enough of you/ The pedal’s down, my eyes are closed, no control.”

‘What a Feeling’ from ‘Made in the A.M.’

Sadly, we’ve reached the final album from 1D — and their first without Zayn.

Tommo and Payno collaborated with three other songwriters to create “What a Feeling,” a groovy track inspired by Fleetwood Mac that became a sleeper hit among many fans. It was one of Liam’s top picks from the album, as he showcased it during his “LP Show.”

Standout lyrics: “With no way out and a long way down/ Everybody needs someone around.”

‘History’ from ‘Made in the A.M.’

Liam, Niall, Harry, Louis, and the label executives went big with the closing track of their final album, “History,” a heartfelt anthem about becoming “the greatest team that the world has ever seen.” The plea in their lyrics — “So don’t let me go/ We can live forever” — resonated with fans long after the 2016 “break” turned into a definitive disbanding.

I challenge you to watch their music video, which is filled with archival clips of the band over their remarkable five-year journey to stardom.

It’s hard not to shed a tear during their final “X-Factor” performance.

Most memorable lyrics: “This is not the end, this is not the end/ We can make it, you know it, you know/ You and me have a rich history.”