Niall Horan Praises BTS & Explains How the K-Pop Group Is ‘Different’ From One Direction

Does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes? Not too long ago, One Direction was the biggest boy band on the planet — a title that BTS now objectively holds — and in a new interview, Niall Horan shared his thoughts.

The 1D alum opened up to Jake Shane on the Wednesday (June 3) episode of Therapuss about the similarities and differences between his former boy band and the Bangtan Boys. “None of our bit was super choreographed or right or anything like that,” Horan said on the topic of K-pop groups on the podcast. “So they’re very different.”

“Each generation seems like it’s got boy bands, but they’re all kind of different to each other,” he continued. “We didn’t wear all white outfits and do routines and things like, say, *NSYNC or Backstreet [Boys]. We just kind of walked around [on stage]. The K-pop thing is I guess more structured — but they look like athletes.”

The Irish singer-songwriter went on to praise BTS specifically. “When you watch BTS dance, you’re like, ‘OK, honestly, I have no idea how to do anything you’re doing, but it’s kind of crazy what you’re doing it.’ It’s pretty intense, but it’s amazing.”

Also comprised of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and the late Liam Payne, One Direction may not have done much dancing, but the group still dominated pop culture for years. The X Factor quintet scored 29 entries and six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 before BTS picked up the baton, with the K-pop superstars now boasting seven No. 1s to date.

Elsewhere on the pod, Horan gave flowers to another dominant force in music: Taylor Swift. Saying that her 2019 Lover track “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” “might be her best” song, the former Voice coach said, “The melody is so good … I love that line, ‘Play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.'”

“And ‘Me!'” Horan added. “‘Me!’ is a good song, too.”

Horan’s new album, Dinner Party, arrives Thursday (June 5). Check out his full interview on Therapuss below.