Patrick Grieve
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One Direction’s Honda Civic Commercial a Joyless Affair without Zayn [VIDEO]

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One Direction TV Spot for 2016 Civic Heralds Next Wave of Honda

Wish you were here, Zayn

Members of the English-Irish pop group One Direction are appearing in a new commercial for the 2016 Honda Civic, which the automaker is calling “light-hearted,” even though the ad’s conspicuous absence of former member Zayn Malik could more aptly be described as “heartbreaking” and “mournful.”

Take a look:

In the new 30-second spot, surviving bandmates Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan perform a tongue-in-cheek inspection of the all-new Civic, set to the tune of “Drag Me Down,” even though a funeral dirge would be more appropriate, considering Zayn’s untimely departure from the group. Together, the boys show off some of the 2016 Honda Civic’s features, including its “boomin’ system,” “great curves,” and “serious style.”

One thing the band doesn’t show off? The sedan’s ability to comfortably hold five passengers.

Because there are only four of them.

Because Zayn is gone forever and nothing matters anymore.

The commercial debuts on Friday, to coincide with the release of the boys’ new album, Made in the A.M., which Harry Styles told People magazine will be the band’s “best one.”

HA! As if, Harry!

I can’t remember—was Art Garfunkel’s first album after Paul Simon left, Angel Clare, better than Bridge Over Troubled Water? Was Ringo Starr’s Sentimental Journey superior to all that claptrap he made with those other three guys from Liverpool? Was Buddy Holly’s death in a plane crash a classic example of “addition by subtraction” for his backing band, The Crickets?

Didn’t think so.

The commercial ends with the endorsement, “It’s all-new and One Direction approved.”

Okay, sure, but what does Zayn think of it?