This month, I’m replacing my normal playlist with a fun little post about Little Mix because aside from a few singles that I’ll probably have more to say about next month, I essentially listened to the same playlist.
If you’ve ever underestimated or overlooked UK girl group Little Mix, let me change your mind. Even if you’re not a particular fan of their brand of sugar-y pop, they are unmatched when it comes to performance. Thier energy, choreography, vocals, and outfits are so detailed and in sync that it’s a shame these women aren’t getting the credit they deserve, at least in the US. They have toured with Demi Lovato on her 2014 Neon Lights Tour and Ariana Grande on her 2017 Dangerous Woman Tour but they’ve been selling out arenas on their own in the UK. Here are 5 times (in no particular order) Little Mix killed their live performances.
BRIT Awards 2016- Black Magic
For this performance, Little Mix leaned all the way into the concept of witchcraft and black magic. All the backup dancers and drummers are wearing skull makeup while the beginning of the song is accompanied by massive drums and chanting of “Black! Magic!”. Perrie holds down the beginning by singing parts of the first verse in between drum and dance breaks before they launch into the full backing track. Some of my favorite details are the flashes of green in the lights and screen visuals that match with the green of the skull they came out in and the green in their outfits. They break it all the way down with a dance break on the bridge that returns to the chanting from the beginning and it is accompanied WITH BURSTS OF FIRE. This is how you execute a concept.
Summertime Ball 2016- Hair
Little Mix has a tendency to re-release already good singles with an unnecessary male feature in what I can only assume is a shot at crossover appeal. As someone who wants this girl group to thrive internationally, I get it, but as a fan of the music, it is annoying as hell. This remix of Hair from their third album Get Weird with an added verse from Sean Paul is a prime example. Why add a verse from the guy’s perspective when this is supposed to be a sassy post-breakup jam? While I’m not a fan of this version, they use the dead space that is Sean Paul’s verse for a fun and well-executed dance break. The stitching details on the different cuts of their leotards are very cute and creative as well.
X Factor UK 2016- Shout Out To My Ex
This performance marked the beginning of the Glory Days album cycle. Perrie had been a public relationship with Zayn Malik of One Direction that was plagued with a long engagement, multiple cheating rumors, a tattoo of her face, and accusations of their leading to Zayn’s eventual split from One Direction. After publicly announcing the end of their relationship in 2015, Perrie hadn’t directly addressed the relationship in music or otherwise until the release of Shout Out To My Ex. Perrie, appropriately, starts off the song, giving an explicit middle finger to Zayn through her whole verse and serving an ‘Over It’ attitude. That harmony on the word “sex” for a girl group that’s been slammed for their “revealing outfits” is a great middle finger to the uptight parents as well. This was just a triumphant comeback to the mainstream overall.
How Ya Doin’?/Hotline Bling Medley- Get Weird Tour 2016
This phone themed medley from their Get Weird Tour is so fun and innovative. It starts with the girls and their backup dancers dancing to a remix of a phone ringing, complete with a flip phone prop, which then smoothly transitions into their 2013 hit How Ya Doin’?. The song is then interrupted with an interlude of Drake’s Hotline Bling chorus and some of his recognizable dad-at-a-barbecue dance moves from the music video before easing back into the end of How Ya Doin’?. The girls just look like they’re having so much fun and I support that one hundred percent.
Love Me Like You- The Royal Variety (2017)
Little Mix is serving style, clean choreography, well-executed concepts, and now, versatility. This performance is a stripped back love letter to the girl groups of the 60’s. The girls stand in a row, behind gold retro microphones, each with slightly curled hair parted to the left and coordinating glittering black and gold gowns. The hand choreography is a great touch and it wouldn’t be a Little Mix performance without ending on a little flair so flames shoot down from the ceiling behind them on the last chorus.
If you read this far, thank you for reading my five paragraph rant. Little Mix deserves more mainstream success just on their talent and work ethic alone. I originally had ten videos picked out but not even I would sit and read that long of a post so I might end up posting a part two when my monthly playlist stagnates again.
dani writes 