One Direction: Young and living it up

The Associated Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012, 12:27pm (PDT)

LONDON (AP) -- One Direction's latest single sums it up: "Live While We're Young."

The members of the British pop group say they are happy to have that first track off their second album as a motto -- and admit they're making the most of being young, successful and popular.

"We're working a lot, so when we're not, it's nice to have fun and enjoy yourself," singer Harry Styles, 18, said in an interview Wednesday. "It's important."

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He was accompanied by band mates Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne -- and they're all quick to laugh at themselves and each other.

These five names are known around the globe since their debut album, "Up All Night," became a No. 1 smash worldwide earlier this year.

So who they date and where they go is heavily reported, especially by the British press. But Tomlinson, 20, says they don't mind being trailed by the paparazzi.

"If we go out on a night out and we're a little bit drunk, it's not obviously going to be a great picture, but it's not too bad," he said. "The fact is we're young -- everyone who is our age is going out."

Tomlinson added that "everyone complains about paps (paparazzi), but we always have a laugh with them, to be honest."

They enjoyed shooting the video for the single "Live While We're Young," which is out in the U.K. on Sept. 30.

Fans were quick to chat about the bare-chested scenes that Horan did but he shrugged off the sex idol comments, saying he was just warm, not showing off.

And the band members had a laugh and worked up a sweat trying zorbing -- running around in giant plastic balls like hamsters.

If there's anything controversial about the sound of their feel-good new single, it's that the start of the song is similar to The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go."

"It's a bit like the first single ("What Makes You Beautiful") where the opening riff sounds similar to a certain film ("Summer Nights" from "Grease")," explains Styles. "It's kind of on purpose though, it's a great riff."

Their sophomore album, "Take Me Home," will be released Nov. 12 and 13 in the U.K. and the United States.

Despite joking that they've got rapping and choirs involved this time around, the guys admit that fans can expect more of their same catchy pop style.

"There aren't too many surprises," Styles said. "We're just really happy with how the album's come out. We all agree that it's better than the first one ... we're proud of it."

"In the least arrogant way," Tomlinson made sure to add.

He then pondered why.

"We're a better band. We're closer as friends, we've got better vocally, it's all experience," he said.