Why One of the Biggest Girl Groups Ever Is Still Underrated Today

Entertainment
Written By Sammi Wong

Little Mix recently celebrated their ten-year anniversary and released their greatest hits album, Between Us, on November 12th, so I thought I’d share this article that I originally wrote for Excuse My Thoughts. Note that this blog post was written several months ago, so the information is somewhat outdated.

When it comes to girl groups, a few names immediately come to mind. The Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, and TLC defined 90's pop music. If your music tastes are more old-school, you're probably more familiar with The Supremes, The Pointer Sisters, and The Marvelettes. And finally, K-pop groups like Blackpink, Red Velvet, and Twice are international superstars. But what about modern Western girl groups?

Girl bands like HAIM and The Aces have grown in popularity over the past few decades. Girl groups, on the other hand, seem to be less in demand. There have been recent successes like the Pussycat Dolls, Girls Aloud, and Fifth Harmony, but none have had as much impact or longevity as their predecessors. However, there is one group that has seemingly defied the odds: Little Mix. First, they've been going strong for ten years despite most girl groups having short runs. Next, their record sales are on par with Destiny's Child, selling sixty million records worldwide. Finally, they've beat numerous records previously set by the Spice Girls. Yet, Little Mix is still relatively unknown and under-appreciated in America despite their success, and there are more than a few reasons why.

Little Mix, A History

In 2011, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Jesy Nelson auditioned for The X-Factor as solo artists. They were almost sent home before the final round of auditions. However, Kelly Rowland, one of the show's judges and a former member of Destiny's Child, suggested putting them together. They quickly dominated the competition by singing songs like “If I Were A Boy”, “Beautiful”, and “Don't Let Go (Love)”. Little Mix went on to become the first group to ever win The X-Factor.

Since then, Little Mix has released six albums, headlined seven tours, and starred in over thirty music videos. They've also opened for Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift, released makeup and clothing collections, and hosted their own singing competition show. Little Mix has won two Brit Awards, five Global Awards, and six MTV Europe Music Awards. In total, they have amassed over a hundred nominations and fifty wins during their ten-year career.

Little Mix are best known for their vocal talent and versatility. Fans often praise their ability to do both big, crowd-pleasing performances and intimate, powerful acapellas. For example, they've always put on a good show at the Brit Awards with “Black Magic”, “Shout Out To My” Ex, and “Woman Like Me”. They also excel at acapella performances and power ballads like “The End”, “Touch”, and “Secret Love Song”. Finally, they've done many covers, including Harry Styles's “Falling”, Rihanna's “Love On The Brain”, and a mashup of Jason Derulo's “Want To Want Me” with Whitney Houston's “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”.

Struggling Behind The Scenes

Little Mix has faced some unfortunate difficulties behind the scenes. Many of these issues have impacted their ability to make it big in North America. For example, their record label once told them to flirt with radio executives so they could get their music on American airwaves. American music producers told them not to bother writing songs of their own. Over the years, they've had to deal with misogyny, racism, and the struggle for control. Because Little Mix refused to give in to their American record label and producers, they've received less promotion in America as a result.

Another one of Little Mix's problems is Simon Cowell's Syco, his record label, and Modest Management, his management firm. Modest Management has been accused of overworking and mistreating its talent for years. Little Mix left Syco right before releasing their fifth album in 2018, which they later admitted caused promotional issues. They claimed the split was due to creative differences, as they were pushed into making singles they didn't want. Cowell, on the other hand, "blamed [their] management team". Finally, Little Mix insists they have no hard feelings towards Cowell. However, they also sang "I don't do what Simon says, get the message 'cause it's read" on their sixth album, a clear reference to their former boss.

In December 2020, Jesy left Little Mix, as the pressure and expectations were negatively affecting her mental health. She had recently won a National Television Award for her documentary, Odd One Out, in which she talked about the years of cyberbullying, depression, and eating disorders she'd suffered since the group's formation. Jesy has since signed with new management and started working on a debut solo album. The other members, Perrie, Leigh-Anne, and Jade, have confirmed their plans to continue as a trio.

Little Mix's Plans for the Future

Despite their success, Little Mix are yet to have a mainstream hit in the United States. Many fans think they deserve more widespread recognition for their talent and dedication. Others think this is a "centrist American view", and that Little Mix is perfectly fine without a big American audience. Little Mix themselves have repeatedly talked about wanting to break into the American market even today. However, publications have been claiming it's too late for them as early as 2015.

People often compare Little Mix to Fifth Harmony, who came in third on The X-Factor US in 2012. Some think there's only room for one girl group at a time. Unfortunately for Little Mix, an American group is more likely to succeed in America than a British one. Fifth Harmony went on indefinite hiatus in 2018, meaning Little Mix still has a chance. They recently started working on new music and collaborations with other artists. They also have upcoming solo projects, including Perrie's shoe collection, Leigh-Anne's documentary on racism and colourism, and Jade's hosting career. Regardless of what Little Mix's future -- in America or otherwise -- holds, it's clear that they're successful, hard-working women.

References

Sammi Wong
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