Forget One Direction — The Other Direction are here, and they are bringing a very different kind of boyband energy.
The self-proclaimed “world’s gayest boyband” became one of the most memorable acts on America’s Got Talent after taking the stage with their original song, “Girl, Ur The Best.” And within seconds, it was clear this was not going to be a typical boyband audition.
The five-piece group — Alex, Norm, Jason, Greg and Devin — arrived with the confidence, choreography and coordinated energy of a classic pop group, but their song came with a hilarious twist. Instead of singing about falling hopelessly in love with a girl, they celebrated the very specific relationship between a woman and her gay best friend.
The chorus says it all — “Girl, you’re the best and I love you, but not like that.” 😭
The performance mixes deliberately cheeky lyrics with surprisingly tight harmonies, turning what could have been a simple comedy routine into an actual boyband-worthy number. At one point, the group even jokes about painting each other’s toenails in a hot tub, proving they were absolutely committed to the bit.
And the best part? They actually sounded good.
While the comedy immediately grabbed the audience’s attention, their vocal blend gave the performance enough musicality to keep it from becoming nothing more than a joke. The judges clearly appreciated the balance. Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum gave the group a standing ovation, while Simon Cowell admitted that he found the act clever and praised the song as well written.
The group’s backstory made the performance even more entertaining. The members said they first met around middle school through show choir and eventually came out to one another. They had made a pact to reunite when they were 21 and form the boyband they had dreamed about.
So when they finally appeared on America’s Got Talent, they weren’t simply trying to become the next One Direction.
They were creating The Other Direction — complete with ridiculous confidence, synchronized moves and a song that basically turns the classic “girl, I love you” boyband trope upside down.
Although the group ultimately didn’t make it through to the live shows, their audition remained one of the show’s more unforgettable boyband moments. The song was also released as an official single, giving fans the chance to enjoy the gloriously chaotic anthem long after the audition ended.
And honestly, if One Direction had “What Makes You Beautiful,” The Other Direction had already found their own answer:
“Girl, you’re the best… but not like that.” 💀