History Music / LouisTomlinson

* StepfordSmiler: "Bigger Than Me" opens with, and then goes onto repeat, "When somebody told me I would change, I used to hide behind a smile".

--> When you kissed me for the last time

+ Music/ArcticMonkeys, Music/SamFender, Music/TheFray, Music/{{Oasis}}, Music/EdSheeran, Music/AmyWinehouse

* ContinuityNod: "That's the Way Love Goes", which is about consoling a friend who's having difficulty getting over an ex, directly quotes what the friend said to him in "Miss You", when the situations were reversed.
--> '''Miss You''': Now I'm asking my friends who to say "I'm sorry"
--> They say "Lad, give it time, there's no need to worry"
--> '''That's the Way Love Goes''': Remember when you told me I should give it time?
--> Well, here's the chance for you to take your own advice

* OopNorth: A Yorkshireman and proud of it. He even incorporated the white rose of York into his 28 brand. The thickness of his accent varies: it tends to be very thick these days, but there was a time during which it leaned more towards [[IAmVeryBritish RP]] (such as enunciating his Ts), likely due to media training.

* RelationshipRevolvingDoor: Several of his songs, especially his early singles and on "Walls", allude to a relationship that the narrator repeatedly goes back to, or wants to go back to. Some songs romanticise this relationship, others are more cynical.

* CallBack: "That's the Way Love Goes", which is about consoling a friend who's having difficulty getting over an ex, directly quotes what the friend said to him in "Miss You", when the situations were reversed.

He gained notability as a member of hit boyband Music/OneDirection, having auditioned for the 2010 season of ''Series/TheXFactor'' as a solo artist. Out of all the members, he contributed the most in songwriting with credits on over 38 songs across the band's discography, particularly on the later 3 albums, including 6 hit singles. Outside of music, he initially made his name as the [[LargeHam larger-than-life]] funny one with {{Keet}} tendencies.

Since the band's hiatus in 2016, he has gone on to release several singles as a solo artist and two albums: ''Walls'' (2020) and ''Faith in the Future'' (2022). He also appeared as a judge on the 2018 season of ''Series/TheXFactor''.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/original_81.jpg]]

* LoveIsADrug: On ''Walls'', he compares a seemingly on/off relationship to addiction and substance abuse, perhaps most directly in "Kill My Mind" and "Habit".

* MrFanservice: During his concerts, he runs to the barricade ([[RunningGag with his security guards chasing after him]]) and throws himself at fans, an activity that has cost him several shirts. He even went to the barricade with a broken arm, knowing his fans would be gentle.

* NumerologicalMotif: 28 – he has it tattooed, it is on his football jersey, his in-ear piece, and plastered all over his branding. Though the number's significance has been a topic of speculation for many years, his former bandmate Liam claimed it was his childhood house number, supported by the "Back to You" music video, in which includes a shot of a #28 house in Doncaster.
* OopNorth: A Yorkshireman and proud of it. The thickness of his accent varies: it tends to be very thick these days, but there was a time during which it leaned more towards [[IAmVeryBritish RP]], likely due to media training.

* UndyingLoyalty: Despite having his confidence bashed by producers and feeling left in the dark about certain things, Louis was arguably the ''most'' loyal and staunch advocate of 1D as a band and as boys. He is generally a loyal person and holds onto friends from his childhood to this day.

* YouAreWorthHell: In "All This Time", after questioning whether his hard work and struggles are for nothing, whether it will amount to anything, He concludes that "the friends we make, the love it takes" is "worth the pain".

* NumerologicalMotif: 28 – he has it tattooed, it is on his football jersey, his in-ear piece, and plastered all over his branding. Though Louis himself has never confirmed the number's significance, his bandmate Liam claimed it was his childhood house number, supported by the "Back to You" music video, in which Louis walks passed a house in Doncaster with the number 28.

* AlongAmongTheCouples: In the "Walls" music video, Louis pensively wanders through a ballroom as men and women paired in couples waltz around him before lying down on the target-printed dance floor.

* {{Britpop}}: His music, his debut album in particular, has often been referred to as such and he has cited the likes of Music/{{Oasis}} as his inspiration.

* NumerologicalMotif: 28 – he has it tattooed, it is on his football jersey, his earpiece, and plastered all over his branding. Though Louis himself has never confirmed the number's significance, his bandmate Liam claimed it was his childhood house number, supported by the "Back to You" music video, in which Louis walks passed a house in Doncaster with the number 28.

--> '''Always You: I'm wasting my time when it was always you

--> '''Back to You''': " just keep on coming back to you

* ArtImitatesArt: The cover art for the single "Bigger Than Me" features Louis with a singular green eye (his eyes are naturally blue), in an apparent reference to the cover art for Music/GeorgeMichael's ''Music/Older''.

* LighterAndSofter: ''Faith in the Future'', true to its name, carries an overall happier and more optimistic tone than ''Walls''.

* MrFanservice: During his concerts, he runs to the barricade ([[RunningGag with his security guards chasing after him]]) and throws himself at fans, an activity that has cost him several shirts. But he loves it, always smiley, even going to the barricade with a broken arm, knowing his fans would be gentle.

* GriefSong: "Just Hold On" and "Two of Us" are tributes to his late mother, with whom he had a very close relationship. Other songs such as "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" also deal with the theme of grief, as well as "Angels Fly" from ''Faith in the Future''.

* GriefSong: "Just Hold On" and "Two of Us" are tributes to his late mother, with whom he had a very close relationship. Other songs such as "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" also deal with the theme of grief.

* UndyingLoyalty: Despite having his confidence bashed by producers and feeling left in the dark about certain things, Louis was arguably the ''most'' loyal and staunch advocate of One Direction as a band and of the boys. He is generally a very loyal person and holds onto friends from his childhood to this day.

* * YouAreWorthHell: In "All This Time", after questioning whether his hard work and struggles are for nothing, whether it will amount to anything, He concludes that "the friends we make, the love it takes" is "worth the pain".

--> Whispering my name

--> I didn't have to search 'cause I still know your number
--> I bet sometimes you still like to wear my jumper

* TheMasochismTango: "Written All Over Your Face" speaks of wanting to "get back to loving" a partner who's being cold and disagreeable and trying pick a fight with you first thing in the morning.

* GriefSong: "Just Hold On" and "Two of Us" are tributes to his late mother, with whom he had a very close relationship. "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" also deals with the theme of grief.

* IJustWantToBeLoved: He [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove declares]] wanting to be loved "by you" in the bridge of "Defenceless", as he is "too tired to be tough".

* MrFanservice: During his concerts, he runs to the barricade ([[RunningGag with his security guards chasing after him]]), an activity that has cost him several shirts. But he loves it, always smiley, even going to the barricade with a broken arm, knowing his fans would be gentle.

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Although Louis frequently writes about the hardship and great pain he's experienced, he often aims for a hopeful and defiant attitude in the face of it all. He avoids a DownerEnding, placing the uplifting "Only the Brave" at the end of ''Walls'', right after the sadder "Defenceless".

* WhamShot: The final scene of the "Walls" music shows Louis stumble across four silhouettes on a stage who resemble his former bandmates. As he takes his position next to them, one of the silhouettes (Zayn) disappears.