One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” music video set Vevo’s record for the most views in 24 hours upon release. It attracted 12.3 million views during its first day, surpassing the previous mark held by Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop.”
Released on 22 July 2013, the video served as the lead visual for the group’s third studio album, Midnight Memories. It is a deliberately comic production in which the members play exaggerated characters connected with a Hollywood film project, alongside scenes of the band performing the song.
The record was a major example of the group’s enormous online fan base, but it was not permanent. Miley Cyrus later reclaimed the 24-hour Vevo record with “Wrecking Ball,” which reached 19.3 million views in September 2013. Other artists subsequently pushed the benchmark much higher.
“Story of My Life” and “What Makes You Beautiful” were also major One Direction videos, while “Night Changes” became especially known for its interactive-feeling, member-by-member scenes. Neither held this particular first-day Vevo record.