Zayn Malik surprised fans with an emotional performance of One Direction’s ‘Night Changes’ during his concert in Mexico City on March 25. The appearance marked the first time in 10 years that the singer performed a song from his former band.

The milestone moment occurred at the Palacio De Los Deportes, where Malik kicked off his ‘Stairway To The Sky’ tour with his first-ever solo arena show. Choosing ‘Night Changes’ as the opening track, the singer stood in awe as the crowd sang along, visibly moved by the overwhelming response.

It was an especially poignant performance, almost exactly a decade after Malik’s departure from One Direction in March 2015. Addressing the audience mid-show, Malik shared his feelings, reportedly saying, “I haven’t sung this song in 10 years. Thank you, that was amazing, I almost cried.”

Beyond the emotional opener, Malik treated fans to a setlist packed with solo material, including tracks like ‘Pillowtalk’, ‘Lied To’, and ‘Shoot At Will’. He also surprised the crowd with a heartfelt cover of Paolo Nutini’s ‘Last Request’. The full setlist from the night is as follows:

1. ‘Night Changes’ (One Direction)

2. ‘My Woman’

3. ‘Birds on a Cloud’

4. ‘Dreamin’

5. ‘Lied To’

6. ‘In the Bag’

7. ‘Ignorance Ain’t Bliss’

8. ‘Scripted’

9. ‘Sweat’

10. ‘BoRdErZ’

11. ‘iT’s YoU’

12. ‘Shoot at Will’

13. ‘Last Request’ (Paolo Nutini cover)

14. ‘PILLOWTALK’

15. ‘Concrete Kisses’

16. ‘What I Am’

17. ‘Alienated’

18. ‘Gates of Hell’

The Mexico City concert followed a difficult period for Malik. In late 2024, his Newcastle show was unexpectedly canceled just moments before it was set to begin. In a statement, the cancellation was announced with an apology for the short notice. Malik later explained via Instagram Stories that his voice wasn’t in good condition, saying, “I’m so sorry to do this but my voice just isn’t there at all tonight and without it, there’s no show. I’m truly sorry to let you down.”

Adding to the emotional weight of the tour, Malik had previously postponed his US concert dates in the wake of the tragic passing of his former bandmate, Liam Payne. Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

When Malik resumed his UK tour in Leeds on November 23, he closed the show with a touching tribute to Payne. The screen behind him displayed Payne’s birth and death years, accompanied by the heartfelt message: “Love you bro.”

Despite the hardships, Malik’s return to the stage and his powerful performance of ‘Night Changes’ served as a moving reminder of his enduring connection to his One Direction roots. Fans can expect the postponed US tour dates to take place in January 2025, as Malik continues his journey as a solo artist.