"Sweet Melody" is a song by British girl group Little Mix, released through RCA Records on 23 October 2020, as the third single from the group's sixth studio album Confetti (2020). Little Mix worked with notable names and frequent collaborators Tayla Parx, Morten Ristorp, Robin Frid, Brian Garcia, and MNEK, who co-written and co-produced the track. It has since been regarded as one of the group's best releases.[1]
"Sweet Melody" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Little Mix | ||||
from the album Confetti | ||||
Released | 23 October 2020 | |||
Studio | Metropolis Studios; London, UK | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:33 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Little Mix singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Sweet Melody" on YouTube |
"Sweet Melody" was met with widespread acclaim from music critics who described it as a girl group classic[2] with some citing it as a stand out single amongst their previous releases[3] and lead single material from the group's sixth album Confetti.[4] Furthermore, praise was given towards the song's production; describing it as "perfectly structured" with Billboard naming it as one of the best releases of 2020.[5][6] It peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, in January 2021, becoming the group's fifth number one single in the UK and their first since "Shout Out to My Ex" was released in 2016. It reached the top ten in five other territories.
An accompanying choreography-based music video was released and features individual and group shots of the members performing dance routines, filmed in an abandoned warehouse. It would mark the group's last music video with Jesy Nelson, who left the group in the same year. The video was later nominated for "Best Pop Video" at the 2021 UK Music Video Awards. To promote the song, the group performed the track at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards, in which they co-hosted and performed it on The Jonathan Ross Show, and Little Mix The Search.
Background and release
editOn 18 October 2020, the group posted a teaser video to Twitter, hinting at a forthcoming announcement.[7] The next day, they posted an official announcement and release date for the song along with a preview of the track.[8] In November 2020, during an interview for Gay Times producer MNEK revealed "Sweet Melody" was originally crafted for a Demi Lovato songwriting camp three years prior. It was later offered to Selena Gomez, JoJo, Zara Larsson and Hailee Steinfeld and eventually pitched to Little Mix. Thirlwall added that “Leigh-Anne and I were in LA, and did a few sessions with Tayla Parx, who played us this song, which she’d done with MNEK, who we have worked with a lot. The song tells a story a to me, and is like the big sister to "Touch".[2]
Production and composition
editCritics described "Sweet Melody" as a dance-pop and pop[9] song with reggaeton drum beats, and elements of Latin[10][11] Kpop[12] and trap beats.[12] It was written by frequent collaborators Brian Garcia, Robin Oliver Frid, Morten Ristorp, Tayla Parx, MNEK, and produced by Tayla Parx, Oliver Frid, MNEK, Rissi, and Peoples. It lyrically addresses the ending of relationship and the deception that follows and runs for a 3 minutes and 33 seconds.
Critical reception
edit"Sweet Melody" was met with widespread acclaim from music critics. Jordan Robledo of Gay Times, said: "Sweet Melody is an empowering track that touches upon on the ending of relationships and the deception that follows. It is also showstopping stand out amongst their recent singles."[13]
Alexis Petrdis of The Guardian, described the song as a standout single incorporating reggaeton beats.[14] Elisa Bray from i-News said "the song boasts an infectious tune with feisty lyrics matching its Latin rhythm."[15] Will Hodgekinson of The Times said "The lyrics 'He would lie, he would cheat over syncopated beats," shows the group singing of an unnamed boy band member on the Latin-tinged track that is Sweet Melody,".[16]
Billboard, named the song as one of the best of 2020, stating "Sweet melody is a slick banger that sees the group delivering a sizzling takedown of some dude in a band who "would lie, would cheat, over syncopated beats."[17] The song was also included on their list of best pop songs of 2020.[18] In the same year it was named as favourite song of the year in a voting poll done by Billboard.[19]
Attitude included the song #3 on their list of 32 greatest Little Mix singles of all time writing "Sweet Melody was an instant girl group classic. It’s one of those songs with little details in the production and vocals that open itself up to you more and more each time you listen."[20]
Music video
editOn 21 October 2020, Little Mix started teasing the release date of their music video by sharing snippets of the music video on their social media pages.[21] A day later, they announced via Twitter that the music video would be released on 23 October where it was uploaded to YouTube.[22] On 20 November, an official lyric video created by a fan was released.[23][24] On 27 November, a vertical video version was uploaded to their YouTube channel.[25]
"Sweet Melody" was directed by KC Locke and filmed at an abandoned warehouse. It begins with the girls stood against a flaming backdrop, with Jade wearing a black bra underneath a sheer black long-sleeved top, with trousers attached to her suspenders and her hair in braided locks. Perrie is dressed in a black bra with matching trousers and a cropped jacket. Jesy is seen dressed wearing a black and white bodysuit and a pair of thigh high boots, while Leigh-Anne sports a strappy black crop top which she pairs with black trousers. The video features different segments with individual shots of all four members performing their own choreography with back up dancers and coming together for a group routine.
The music video for "Sweet Melody" was the last one to feature former member Jesy Nelson, who left the group in December 2020. In 2021, she revealed that the shooting of the video caused her to experience panic attacks while on set, recalling that she was also rushed to the hospital following symptoms stemming from an eating disorder she was dealing with at the time. The incident was particularly worsened by the label's demands during the COVID-19 pandemic, after which her mother and the remaining three members advised that she should leave Little Mix to focus on her mental health.[26][27][28][29]
Live performances
editThe debut performance of "Sweet Melody" was on the first live show of Little Mix The Search. Group member Jade Thirlwall was absent on the day of the performance as she was self-isolating as a precaution at the time, after several members of the production crew had tested positive for COVID-19 a week prior.[30][31] On 8 November, Little Mix performed "Sweet Melody" at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards, which they also hosted.[32] On 21 November, Little Mix performed the song on The Jonathan Ross Show.[33][34] Jesy Nelson was absent from both of these performances.
The song was added as the final number to the setlist of the Confetti Tour, Little Mix's last concert tour before going on a hiatus.[35]
Commercial performance
edit"Sweet Melody" entered at number eight on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 5 November 2020, becoming their 16th top ten hit on the chart.[36] It also became their highest charting single since Woman Like Me (2018).[37] "Sweet Melody" reached the top of the UK Singles Chart in the week ending 14 January 2021, becoming Little Mix's fifth number one on the chart, and their first since "Shout Out to My Ex" in October 2016. This moved Little Mix to joint 11th on the list of artists with most number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart.[38] It was the group's first chart-topper since the departure of founding member Jesy Nelson, although her vocals are on the song. It later surpassed Shout Out to My Ex and Touch, becoming the group's longest-reigning Top 5 single.[39] It spent a total of thirteen weeks inside the top 10 of the UK Charts, becoming their longest running Top 10 single there.[40]
Outside of the United Kingdom "Sweet Melody" also topped the charts in North Macedonia, Scotland, and the Official Big Top 40 charts, breaking the record for the group with the most number-ones.[41] The song reached the top ten in four other music markets including Ireland, becoming the band's tenth top ten single in the country. It later reached a new peak of number seven, and was their first top ten hit in Ireland since "Woman Like Me" which peaked at number three on the Irish Singles Chart in 2018.[42] "Sweet Melody" charted in thirteen other territories including Lithuania, Portugal and Switzerland.
Track listing
editDigital download and streaming[43]
- "Sweet Melody" – 3:33
Digital download and streaming – PS1 remix[44]
- "Sweet Melody" (PS1 remix) – 3:30
Digital download and streaming – Alle Farben remix[45]
- "Sweet Melody" (Alle Farben remix) – 3:21
Digital download and streaming – karaoke[46]
- "Sweet Melody" (karaoke version) – 3:30
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Accolades
editRankings
editPublication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | Best Pop Songs of 2020 | — | [71] |
Billboard | Favourite song of 2020 | 1 | [72] |
Billboard | Best Songs of 2020 | — | [73] |
Industry awards
editPublication | Accolade | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Official Charts Awards | Official Charts Awards for Official Singles Chart Number One | Won | [74][75] |
UK Music Video Awards | Best Pop Video | Nominated | [76] |
The Official Big Top 40 | Official Big Top 40 Charts Number One Award | Won | [77][78] |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[79] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[80] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[81] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] | Platinum | 1,100,000[82] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 23 October 2020 | Original | RCA UK | [43] | |
PS1 remix | [44] | ||||
5 November 2020 | Alle Farben remix | [45] | |||
Australia | 6 November 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Sony | [84] |
Various | 5 January 2021 |
|
Karaoke | RCA UK | [46] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stroude, Will (11 November 2021). "Little Mix's 32 singles ranked in order of greatness". Attitude. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Singer, songwriter and producer: MNEK is more than just a pop star". GAY TIMES. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Little Mix wow's with their new single and video Sweet Melody". GAY TIMES. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ Billboard Staff (11 December 2020). "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ Billboard Staff (8 December 2020). "The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ Billboard Staff (11 December 2020). "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ @LittleMix (18 October 2020). "🔥🔥🔥" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @LittleMix (19 October 2020). "Went something like... 🔥 Sweet Melody 23.10" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Billboard Staff (11 December 2020). "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ Hodgkinson, Will (10 June 2023). "Little Mix: Confetti review — zippy pop and slinky R&B". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ Bray, Elisa (5 November 2020). "Little Mix's Confetti shows a group who have found their voice". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Little Mix - Confetti". DIY. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Little Mix wow's with their new single and video Sweet Melody". GAY TIMES. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Little Mix: Confetti review – still stuck inside the pop factory | Little Mix". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Bray, Elisa (5 November 2020). "Little Mix's Confetti shows a group who have found their voice". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Hodgkinson, Will. "Little Mix: Confetti review — zippy pop and slinky R&B". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Billboard Staff (8 December 2020). "The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Billboard Staff (11 December 2020). "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (29 December 2020). "Fans Pick Little Mix's 'Sweet Melody' as Their Favorite Song of 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "All 32 of Little Mix's singles ranked in order of greatness". Attitude.co.uk. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ @LittleMix (21 October 2020). "🔥 SWEET MELODY 23.10 🔥 Official video coming sooooon... 👀🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @LittleMix (22 October 2020). "SWEET MELODY IS OUT NOW 🔥 http://lttlmx.com/SweetMelody Get your alarms set for the video premiere tomorrow at 9am BST... you don't want to miss this #SweetMelody #Confetti 🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Little Mix (20 November 2020). "Little Mix - Sweet Melody (Lyric Video)". Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Little Mix via Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix - Sweet Melody (Official Vertical Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 27 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Jesy Nelson quit Little Mix after panic attack on 'Sweet Melody' set". Capital. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Jesy Nelson on leaving Little Mix: 'I felt everybody hated me'". The Guardian. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Jesy Nelson opens up about mental health struggles following internet trolling". NME. 22 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ Tabberer, Jamie; jane (5 May 2021). "Jesy Nelson says Sweet Melody video was 'breaking point' for Little Mix exit". Attitude. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ BBC (24 October 2020). "@Little Mix kick off Battle of the Bands with Sweet Melody! - Little Mix The Search". Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Duke, Simon (24 October 2020). "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall sparks concern from fans after being 'missing' from The Search". ChronicleLive. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Nugent, Annabel (21 October 2020). "Little Mix will perform new single 'Sweet Melody' after being announced as MTV EMA –hosts". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Little Mix perform 'Sweet Melody' in rink full of water on The Jonathan Ross Show". Breathe Heavy. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards & Leigh-Anne Pinnock Give First TV Interview Without Jesy Nelson On Jonathan Ross". Capital FM. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ Hawthorne, Katie (17 April 2022). "Little Mix review – pop trio bow out with joyful hit rundown". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Ariana Grande positions herself at Number 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "First Look: Ariana Grande set for 7th UK Number 1 single with Positions". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Little Mix score fifth Number 1 single with Sweet Melody: "We literally can't thank the fans enough"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Sweet Melody becomes Little Mix's longest charting top five single". Official Charts. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Little Mix make history as first girl group to claim 100 weeks in Top 10". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix become most successful group in UK chart history". BigTop40. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Positions becomes Ariana Grande's seventh Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Sweet Melody / Little Mix". Tidal. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Sweet Melody (PS1 Remix) - Single". Apple Music (GB). Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Sweet Melody (Alle Farben Remix) - Single". Apple Music (GB). Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Sweet Melody (Karaoke Version) - Single". Apple Music (GB). Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix – Sweet Melody" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Bolivia – Del 7 al 13 de Diciembre, 2020" [Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Bolivia from December 7 to 13, 2020] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Guatemala – Del 21 de 28 Diciembre, 2020" [Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Guatemala from December 21 to 28, 2020] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 43/2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "2020 44-os SAVAITĖS (spalio 23-29 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Macedonia - Radio airplay chart". Radiomonitor. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Little Mix – Sweet Melody". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Little Mix – Sweet Melody". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Arvunescu, Victor (19 April 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Cine îl dă jos pe Tiesto?" [Top Airplay 100 – Who will take down Tiesto?] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Little Mix – Sweet Melody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Peru – Del 7 al 13 de Diciembre, 2020" [Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Peru from 7 to 13 December 2020] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Little Mix Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Uruguay – Del 7 al 13 de Diciembre, 2020" [Top 20 Anglo Monitor Latino Uruguay from December 7 to 13, 2020] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "United Arab Emirates - Radio airplay chart". Radiomonitor. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Fans Pick Little Mix's 'Sweet Melody' as Their Favorite Song of 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "The Best Songs of 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Little Mix score fifth single award with Sweet Melody". Official Charts. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Celebrating 10 years of the Official Number 1 Award". Official Charts. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2021 nominations revealed". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Little Mix wins 6th award on The Official Big Top 40". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Who has had the most Number 1's Awards on the Big Top 40 charts". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Little Mix – Sweet Melody" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 13 August 2024. Type Little Mix in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Sweet Melody in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
- ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ Paine, Andre (6 January 2022). "RCA triumphs as No.1 record company of 2021 with more than 15 billion streams". Music Week. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "British single certifications – Little Mix – Sweet Melody". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Singles to Radio". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.