RCA Records
Release Date: March 27th 2020
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Little Mix– Break Up Song (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Break Up Song
If you were to ask me who the most prolific, inspiring, engaging, honest, vulnerable, encouraging and hopeful girl group of the modern era, I’d have to say without a doubt that’d have to be British quartet Little Mix. Comprising of Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson and Jade Thirlwall; I have only recently started to listen to the group and their 5 studio albums- I only started to seriously listen to their discography this year- all due to my rising interest being piqued because of a few of their songs being constantly played on the radio. So when the group’s latest single “Break Up Song” was unveiled- with quite heavy promotion in the lead up to the track being released- I thought I better take a listen and see what the big fuss is about. I mean, Christian singer/songwriter Philippa Hanna endorses them, and toured with the group, so Little Mix have gotta be great, right?
Well let me tell you that “Break Up Song” is honest, emotional, vulnerable and inspiring, while still being fun to listen to, as well as having a positive message. Even before listening to “Break Up Song”, the odd few songs I had heard on the radio convinced me to write about these girls in my Momentous Mondays blog post– so in that sense Little Mix has to be doing something right for me to deem them a future influencer in music. If you haven’t heard of Little Mix before, “Break Up Song” is indeed a great place to start- despite the group’s extensive discography. Let me first put a disclaimer- if you’ve come to read more about the history of Little Mix, then here you would be disappointed. If you want to read about how the group came to be, and how Simon Cowell on The X Factor engineered the group’s formation…then you can read about that and more about the group’s songs on my Momentous Mondays blog post. And while there, you all can listen to the group’s hit songs. Finished yet? Good, now let’s move onto “Break Up Song”, shall we?
On the surface, this 80’s musically inspired dance track is about the breakdown and goodbye of a relationship, and the confidence that the persona is filled with when realising that it is good to be single and independent for a season in life. However, there is indeed a double meaning here that may have been intended by the girls, but maybe not. If you’re a big, big fan of Little Mix, or if you’re just like myself and doing some research on Wikipedia, then if you know about Little Mix’s history, then you’d know about disagreements with their label and with Simon Cowell culminating in a split from the label and a new label change in 2018. Some would say “Break Up Song” addresses the girls’ breakup from their label- their musical home for 7 years. For newer fans, a split in the label wouldn’t concern them, so perhaps I’m reading too deeply into this song. Anyway, the track is fun to listen to, and is a great reminder than our self-worth doesn’t need to be tied to any one person. and so, for all of you, if we remember that we are beautiful the way we are, and we are beautiful regardless of who is beside us…then Little Mix have done their job here. Perhaps God is also speaking through this song and through Little Mix’s discography as well.
With COVID-19 increasing confusion and uncertainty around the release date of albums and TV shows and movies, inclusive of Little Mix’s upcoming 6th album, there’s no guarantee when there would be new music released from any artist. This makes any new single extremely special, and that is the case of “Break Up Song”. Sure, it’s a weird title, but I reckon if we move past that, we can hear one of this year’s most underrated songs thus far. While I myself need to listen more to Little Mix’s discography because they are that good (and writing this blog post only cements the notion that these girls are going to be here to stay, and will blow up the world someday- yep even America!); I believe that this band is one band that you all should take notice of, and check out if you haven’t already. So what are you waiting for? God is certainly moving through Little Mix, so dive in and hear what they have to say through “Break Up Song” and other tracks!
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Kelly Clarkson, P!NK, Demi Lovato, Riley Clemmons, Britt Nicole, Superchick, Fifth Harmony