In addition to the four familiar seasons, this year will be remembered for a fifth, marked by a whirlwind of back-to-back artistic comebacks, from rap and pop to rock n’ roll. After three years of no show, when Zayn Malik crashed The Tonight Show consecutively to declare a resurgence, he also announced his ‘Room Under the Stairs’ record would explore a personal evolution. But as the days rolled on and his tracks went from playlist loops to real-time manifestations with the Stairway to the Sky Tour, fans stumbled upon a “2012” Malik on the Manchester stage, leaving X in a frenzy. 

Years of anticipation finally paid off at Leeds on November 23 when Zayn Malik kicked off his ongoing debut concert tour, Stairway to the Sky, in support of his fourth studio album, ‘Room Under the Stairs.’ But only Manchester was lucky enough to encounter a Malik from a decade before when he took center stage the next day at O2 Apollo Manchester. In an age where social media and instant access make the world feel small, it only took minutes for X to turn into a shrine hailing Malik. 

As photos flooded in from the show-like pages in an endless photo album, it became increasingly clear where the fans were coming from. Malik’s stage look in plaid trousers, a tank layered over a striped full-sleeve t-shirt, and his signature taper fade hairstyle just as it was a decade ago caught fans in a charming, nostalgic chokehold. It is safe to say that they were not welcoming a new Malik but rolling out the red carpet for the original’s return.

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While his opening night was an emotional rollercoaster for a different reason, Malik’s Manchester show was a sentimental minefield because of himself. 

Zayn Malik did not front the music scene for three years, but in the meantime, he seemingly has perfected a special skill—turning back time. Despite his return to the stage after years, and nearl a decade since he left One Direction, fans are baffled how time had no impact on him. His Manchester show was like a journey through a time portal, and fans could not help but drop their jaws on the floor.

While his show saw Malik expressing gratitude towards his fans for making his dream come true, it turns out that the ‘Entertainer’ star forgot he was the catalyst of theirs as well.

To crown it all, beyond his captivating stage presence, it is his consistent tributes to his lost friend who now has the Internet in a meltdown. While Malik may call this tour and album a reinvention of self, fans are endlessly grateful that, despite the transformation, his humility, and charm remain intact as ever.

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What do you think of fans swooning over Zayn Malik following his Manchester show? Let us know in the comments below!