[@TheDiaryOfACEO] Louis Tomlinson: "The Room Was Cold That Day". When The Police Knocked... I Just Knew

Link: https://youtu.be/lylGyddTiGg

Short Summary

This transcript highlights Louis Tomlinson's journey from a working-class upbringing and X-Factor rejections to One Direction stardom and its subsequent challenges. It delves into his struggles with fame, the loss of his mother and sister, and his evolving understanding of success and personal worth, emphasizing the importance of family and authenticity.

Key Quotes

Here are 4 direct quotes from the Louis Tomlinson interview that I found particularly insightful:

1. "What was really strange was being 24 years old and realizing that the only way is down from it." This quote highlights the unique pressure and realization that comes with achieving peak success at a young age, especially in the entertainment industry.

2. "I think what gave me confidence in those ideas is even if it wasn't a collective voice, even if it was just my voice delivering the message, it was always with collective intention. It would always be for the good of all of us." This demonstrates Tomlinson's sense of responsibility and leadership within One Direction, as well as his dedication to his bandmates.

3. "It's the definition of being thrown at the deep end. And I think that's part of what they want, but it's not it's not going to yield the best results from everyone. Some people it is, but I just remember feeling like a [ __ ] deer in a headlight. Like really really shaky, like really really just felt really really uncomfortable. I was just I just wanted the ground to swallow me up." This quote illustrates the immense pressure and discomfort Tomlinson experienced early on due to the sudden fame and expectations of the X-Factor.

4. "Now, I could always tell them apart perfectly, but they look utterly identical, these two, especially when they were really young. And I can remember the more time I spent at the band, the more time I spent away from home, I wasn't confident enough to use their name to them. you know, it would be always like, "Oh, babe," or like, you know, something that way I wouldn't have to mention the name because I wasn't certain who was who. These are two sisters that I spent my life with and grew up with, but I think shows just how little I was at home." This demonstrates how much of a toll being in One Direction took on Tomlinson's personal life and how much time he spent away from his family.

Detailed Summary

Okay, here's a detailed summary of the YouTube video transcript, broken down into bullet points:

I. Introduction & Background

• Louis Tomlinson (of One Direction fame) discusses his life, career, grief, and upcoming music in a deeply personal interview.
• He grew up in a working-class town, Doncaster, with seven people in a three-bedroom house.
• His mother played both mother and father roles, instilling emotional openness and a mischievous spirit in him.
• His biological father was absent, only meeting him three times.
• He always felt his purpose was to look after his siblings as an older brother.
• Childhood friends note he's stayed remarkably grounded despite fame.

II. X-Factor Journey

• Auditioned for the X Factor three times, failing the first two.
• First rejection was "utterly crushing."
• The second time, he auditioned with a friend who received a "gold ticket" while he didn't, which fueled his determination.
• His mother's encouragement and belief in him were crucial for his persistence.
• His first audition song, "Hey There Delilah," was terrible and makes him uncomfortable to this day.
• His live audition at the MEN in Manchester felt overwhelming, like "a deer in the headlights."

III. One Direction Era

• He believes the X Factor judges and Simon Cowell intended to form a band all along.
• Signed with Simon Cowell's Syco Music at 19.
• Early success felt surreal and assumed to be normal for successful artists.
• A "dressing down" from a manager before a support gig with Big Time Rush was proven wrong when fans reacted enthusiastically.
• He and Zayn weren't rule-abiding which helped alleviate the pressure they felt from fame.
• He was the one in the band who stood up against the record label.
• He pushed back against the label because it was for the good of the group as a whole.
• The success of "What Makes You Beautiful" pre-orders showed their power and ability to rewrite the rules.
• The most fulfilling part of fame to him was being respected by people in Doncaster.
• He began to lose independence and felt increasingly alienated from his pre-fame life.
• Guilt for his success and money also contributed to his feelings.
• Longed for normalcy and being on an even playing field with others.
• He used marijuana, along with Zayn, post-show to decompress and create a sense of normality on tour.
• Advice to his younger self: be more confident and recognize his worth within the band.

IV. Personal Struggles & Grief

• The sudden end of One Direction felt like a ton of bricks had hit him. He grieved the loss of the band.
• The meeting to discuss the band's future was cold, and he felt a selfish energy in the room.
• Felt that, at 24, the only way was down from One Direction's level of fame.
• He found a version of confidence because he survived some challenging times.
• His mother passed away from leukemia, three days before his X Factor final performance.
• His mother insisted he do the performance; it was the last thing he wanted to do but did it for her.
• Her death created a "resentment for the world."
• His role became to look after and instill hope in his family, especially his sisters.
• His sister, Felicity, struggled with mental health, and he felt guilty about her struggles and death.
• Felicity's death undermined all the hope he'd tried to instill following his mother's death.
• He is very guarded about discussing his family's struggles, fearing it will define him.
• He learned from Liam Payne that when someone is struggling, you just go over and stay.

V. Reflections on Bandmates

• He and Liam Payne were closest and could have deeper conversations.
• Reflects on Zayn's departure from One Direction, feeling a little betrayed but understanding.
• Talks about Liam Payne's struggles with fame and the pressures, acknowledging he was often misunderstood and that they all looked up to him.
• Liam came to the premiere of Louis’ movie, which was incredibly selfless and something he does not think the other band members would have done.
• The remaining One Direction members are the only people who can truly understand his professional journey.
• Recalls Nile told him about the passing of Liam Payne.
• Says one thing that made Liam misunderstood was that he was still working so much out because he was working in One Direction and living his life at the same time.

VI. Fatherhood & Personal Growth

• He is proud of being a kind and polite dad.
• Discusses the challenges of balancing fame with raising his son, Freddy.
• His success is in commuting a new version of success.
• Finally is worthy for the success that he has earned.
• He feels like he is "on the home straight" and "sharp now."

VII. New Music & Business Ventures

• The new album will be positive and make you feel good.
• He founded Away From Home Festival, a music festival and 28, a clothing brand.

VIII. Concluding Thoughts

• Acknowledges he could have prioritized family more as a young adult.
• Expresses gratitude for his fans.
• The final question for him was have you prioritized the most important things in your life? He replied "no."

This summary captures the key information and arguments presented in the video transcript. Let me know if you'd like any specific aspect expanded further!