I& #39;m back. Analysis of @LittleMix& #39;s single #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">, a thread: https://twitter.com/omoiluvleigh/status/1244680876434296832?s=20">https://twitter.com/omoiluvle...
Let& #39;s start with the low-key buzz around the lyrics, since that& #39;s what most of you noticed too. While you& #39;re here, go ahead and give the lyric video a stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa3C3blayWo">https://www.youtube.com/watch... It& #39;s cute af and deserves all the recognition. Shoutout to @kayleemix @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Let& #39;s start with Miss Leigh-Anne Pinnock& #39;s opening verse @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Next we have Jesy, signing the pre-chorus, a rarity among @LittleMix singles.
Note that at this point, the girls have NOT sung a single line that is undeniably *exclusively* about romantic feelings. @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
"I& #39;m gonna dance / under the lights" The parallels between clubbing and being on stage. Yes, girls https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏🏼" title="Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏🏼" title="Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏🏼" title="Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Clapping hands sign (medium light skin tone)"> @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Perrie delivers the second verse, which I personally think is low-key the most BRUTAL diss and my favorite https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😍" title="Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😈" title="Smiling face with horns" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with horns"> @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
This one& #39;s iincheresting. "I ain& #39;t even gonna call ya, no, babyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎶" title="Multiple musical notes" aria-label="Emoji: Multiple musical notes">" Remember Cowbell called the girls in the middle of the night, early in radio PR for LM5 era? Turns out this call was linked to their split w Psycho. Sorry, they don& #39;t need to be on calls anymore https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (medium light skin tone)"> #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
This one& #39;s iincheresting. "I ain& #39;t even gonna call ya, no, babyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=" Remember Cowbell called the girls in the middle of the night, early in radio PR for LM5 era? Turns out this call was linked to their split w Psycho. Sorry, they don& #39;t need to be on calls anymore https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (medium light skin tone)"> #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" title="This one& #39;s iincheresting. "I ain& #39;t even gonna call ya, no, babyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎶" title="Multiple musical notes" aria-label="Emoji: Multiple musical notes">" Remember Cowbell called the girls in the middle of the night, early in radio PR for LM5 era? Turns out this call was linked to their split w Psycho. Sorry, they don& #39;t need to be on calls anymore https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (medium light skin tone)"> #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
"Did you think you were the only one who could save me?" The SICKEST burn for a man who has the biggest ego and keeps claiming he created @LittleMix, when it was Kelly & Tulisa. It was patronizing of him to keep taking away LM& #39;s agency in the public& #39;s eye too. #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
I don& #39;t want to read toooo much into it, but "I ain& #39;t gonna take you back like I did before" can be interpreted as extending contracts. I& #39;m not sure if @LittleMix ever had to do that, and perhaps we may never know, but this is one interpretation. #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Skipping the repeated parts, let& #39;s get to a fan-favorite: The bridge with Miss Jade Thirlwall in the lead @LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Before moving on to analyzing the song structure and musical inspirations, here& #39;s the latest media review about #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> that addresses the label break up and @LittleMix& #39;s difficulty crossing over to the US - an injustice, according to @migold: https://twitter.com/migold/status/1245347774322917376?s=19">https://twitter.com/migold/st...
Jade RTed w comment for US part. Notice how @LittleMix have thanked and posted 2 reviews that connected their label split to #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> lyrics? I suspect they aren& #39;t outright saying it, (whole point of a subtle song), but is waiting for the media buzz. https://twitter.com/LittleMix/status/1245350870281326603?s=19">https://twitter.com/LittleMix...
Ok, on to the musical influences on #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">. We already know @LittleMix is inspired by big 1980s synthpop on this one ... Exactly what about it is so & #39;80s though? Listen to it again on this Little Mix Diss Tracks playlist as we dig deep https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😌" title="Relieved face" aria-label="Emoji: Relieved face">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😉" title="Winking face" aria-label="Emoji: Winking face"> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nVGKPUn0w1QYf28Y1Tvik?si=dVmQz20OSVqtcUJPMMrzAw">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/...
If you’ve seen Stranger Things and the string of 80s inspired films/shows lately, synthpop must be now somewhat familiar to you, even if you weren’t alive back then. The latest music trend is an extension of this attempt to appeal to millennial (born 1981-1886) nostalgia.
Synthpop is primarily defined by replacing rock instruments with electro equipment, giving the music a robotic, synthetic texture. Tho often associated with musicians of limited skills, @LittleMix& #39;s big vocals in #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> offset this image, breathing life into the track.
Synthpop is also associated with the Second British Invasion, when MTV popularized synthpop/new wave music from the early to mid 1980s. It is perhaps appropriate that UK artists @LittleMix and Dua are now spearheading its mainstream revival. #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Take a listen to this Take On Me drum cover. The resemblance to the beat on the chorus of #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> is clearest at the top, before the singing begins: https://youtu.be/-igIwHSDwHs ">https://youtu.be/-igIwHSDw...
A common beat, perhaps. Another famous song that uses the same beat is Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, but in a v different genre and a slower tempo. Considering the 80s synthpop inspiration, @LittleMix& #39;s A-Ha reference is likely intentional #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> https://open.spotify.com/track/63xdwScd1Ai1GigAwQxE8y?si=GGaONummTGWXAMt5-Fp6Xw">https://open.spotify.com/track/63x...
It is perhaps appropriate for @LittleMix, who have been mocked for making "teen bop", to reference A-Ha, a band once dismissed for the same reason. Take On Me& #39;s clever mixing of synthpop w/ guitars and real drums has made it one of the most used pop songs today. #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Just in case you didn& #39;t notice, @LittleMix also has (what sounds like) a real drum, which A-Ha did with Take On Me to soften the synthetic side of synthpop, and make the song accessible to a popular audience. #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
There are other minor references that I& #39;ve yet to put my finger on, so that& #39;s for later, but I do want to mention (credit to @hippiejades) the doowop-y version Perrie sang on radio. Different era, but wouldn& #39;t it be nice to hear it done differently live? https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😏" title="Smirking face" aria-label="Emoji: Smirking face">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎶" title="Multiple musical notes" aria-label="Emoji: Multiple musical notes"> #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Let& #39;s move on to song structure and self-references. @LittleMix reference their own music often, e.g. the SOTME call back in the No More Sad Songs MVhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥺" title="Pleading face" aria-label="Emoji: Pleading face"> References to SOTME/Black Magic/Power in More Than Words - see thread here: https://twitter.com/omoiluvleigh/status/1063274640766832641?s=20">https://twitter.com/omoiluvle... #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
Let& #39;s describe both Break Up Song and No More Sad Songs, with BUS commentary in [ ] :

- Background music enters quietly
- A quiet verse about the past, with a beat in the background perfect for a late night drive
[Leigh opens up BUS beautifully]

@LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
A more emotionally charged pre-chorus about the present that builds the tension, before it breaks into a very upbeat chorus
[Jesy& #39;s smokey vocals is well placed here in BUS]

@LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
- A distinct and buzzing chorus, where emotions run high and their vocals shimmer with joy
- Followed by a call-and-response post-chorus (for NMSS, only after 2nd verse)

@LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
- An introspective bridge led by Jade and Jesy that shifts the mood
[Unlike NMSS, however, BUS is more forward-minded and further along with moving on from the break up. A beautiful metaphor, really, of how far @LittleMix have come since the Glory Days era.]

#LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
- Big vocals transition back to into a chorus with all the ad libs.
[Though BUS repurposes the bridge as an outro to re-emphasize that "I don& #39;t wanna turn back time ... " is truly the message with which they want us to walk away https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (medium light skin tone)">]

@LittleMix #LMBreakUpSong https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
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