Music 4 Healing: Little Mix

9 minutes read time

Welcome to the first installment of my Music 4 Healing series. Music has a way of providing words and comfort to emotions and experiences that we can’t muster ourselves. Through this series, I will explore the discographies of select artists and analyze the messaging of their music. To heal is to “become sound or healthy”. Taste in music is subjective and thus the healing that people gain from different artists are different as well. Each installment will represent artists of different genres, styles, and stories to share. 

Little Mix is the first group that I ever “stanned”. Although I’m not sure if I knew the phrase “stan” at the time, I considered myself a Mixer from the time I was an eighth grader in middle school. In May of 2015, “Black Magic” came out and by the following fall when I started high school, everyone loved the song. I remember feeling the satisfaction that I knew the group prior to the success of “Black Magic”. I’m thankful that I found Little Mix when I did. Not only do they arguably have the best vocalists of any girl group in recent years but they make music that really makes you feel something. Maybe as an eighth grader, I didn’t fully grasp the importance of songs like “Little Me” or “Salute” but those lyrics that I’d listen to and sing along with would soon come to be my own personal mantras as I navigated through my high school years. In this article, I will be covering my favorite healing songs from each of Little Mix’s seven albums. 

Change Your Life, Wings (2012)

From their earliest album, Little Mix had a clear message of empowerment. Especially coming off of a historical X-Factor UK win, I think this song set the tone for what they accomplished on the show and how they’d take that experience to propel themselves into their newfound career. Many of the lyrics don’t just serve as messages for their fans but for themselves as well. In the music video for this song, the girls are standing at their microphones in a circle, facing each other. In the first verse, Jade Thirlwall sings the lyrics:  “You’re not the only one so let them criticize, oh oh oh/You’re untouchable when you realize, oh oh oh” while looking and pointing at fellow member, Jesy Nelson. Jesy noticeably had a rough journey through X-Factor with a lot of online bullies commenting on her appearance rather than the amazing talent she possessed. Their signs of support and encouragement for one another are some of the staples of the group. They presented themselves as women who were for women and this theme would show up continuously throughout their discography. 

I’ve always listened to this song and seen it as a sign that everything I need to succeed is within me. I have the reigns of my fate in my hands and I can make my own dreams come true if I believe in myself. This all may sound corny and obvious but we all have moments where we need affirmation. I never have to look further than Little Mix to find it. 

Little Me, Salute (2013)

There’s so much to say about this song. Frankly, I don’t watch the music video if I’m not in an emotional mood. Growing up, it was one of my favorites to listen to. With hindsight, this song means more to me. I didn’t have a lot of confidence growing up and was the walking definition of “comparison is the thief of joy”. I always wished I was more assertive, skinnier, smarter, braver, etc. It took me a long time to realize how great I was simply because I was myself. And there’s no one else who can be me. I’m better at how I view myself now but I get sad at times when I reflect on my old feelings. I spent so much time in high school feeling this way that I didn’t enjoy that time enough. 

The music video is beautiful in so many ways. One point that I’d like to make is that they included boys in the messages of empowerment too. The beginning of the music video is pure with the children talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Through the video and at the end, adults talk about some of their struggles and what they’ve learned through the years. It’s a beautiful juxtaposition that illustrates the personal journeys of growth that we go through. I really wish TMarie from high school could have realized her potential but it’s okay because it was a journey I needed to get to where I am today. 

Clued Up, Get Weird (2015)

I don’t think this is one of Little Mix’s well-known songs but I absolutely love it. I feel like it models the phase of life that I’m in right now. I like to call it a “big girl” song. Not everything is perfect, a lot of challenges, setbacks, and change is happening but it’s okay because I have an understanding of who I am and my capabilities. I’m “clued up”. Like the song says, “And now I’m older, it’s never over. It don’t stop affecting me, the world keeps testing me… Just make the best of what you have. Cause sometimes it’s beauty, sometimes it’s pain. Sometimes it’s sunshine and sometimes it’s rain”. 

It’s a lesson to give yourself grace and be true to who you are. You can have good days and bad days. Use the bad days to better yourself and don’t take them to heart. Afterall, you need sadness to know happiness and you need hardship to know joy. 

Power, Glory Days (2017)

I’m sure this next song comes as no surprise. A fun, hype song to blast in the car that doubles as a female empowerment anthem. “Power” is the epitome of a female empowerment song. In my opinion, it’s on the same level as “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce. From the lines “You’re the man, but I got the, I got the, I got the power. You make rain, but I make it, I make it, I make it shower” all the way to the end of the music video where they march out with their mothers. Power is literally the only word you can use to describe it. 

One of my favorite parts of the song is actually the beginning lines of Stormzy’s verse: 

“When them boys talk loose and tell you power’s for a king (huh?)

You just play it cool and tell ’em power’s not a thing (what?)

You look him in the eye and say: I know I’m not a guy

But see, there’s power in my losses and there’s power in my wins”

This is one of my favorite Little Mix collaborations. While women don’t need male validation, I really liked these lyrics coming from Stormzy. “There’s power in my losses and there’s power in my wins” is the lyric that stays with me the most. The lyric conveys a strong message about resilience and self-empowerment. It suggests that both victories and defeats contribute to personal strength and growth.

Strip, LM5 (2018)

It was hard to pick just one song from the LM5 album that encapsulates healing and empowerment. The whole album does this. “Strip” is an amazing song that dives into body image and loving every curve, edge, line, and dot on your body. You cannot watch this music video and not appreciate the message that they’re trying to get across. They even brought their family and friends on to further represent more women. Unfortunately, there always seems to be some form of uproar when women promote empowerment for themselves. Piers Morgan famously berated the group for “using sex to sell records”. I think it’s clear that the messaging wasn’t for him and he massively missed the point. While “selling sex” is a tactic that artists (men and women) do, Morgan’s efforts to discredit and try to drag down this song in particular just feels like misogyny. The lyrics alone should have shown him the deeper meaning. “Strip”  simply isn’t what he made it out to be. 

I’m still working towards feeling and embodying the message that Little Mix shares in “Strip”. You shine brighter and better when you have confidence in yourself. Like Sharaya J said in her verse, “Cause even if you had a hundred deals/That money won’t buy you what confidence will”. Self confidence is such an internal and personal journey. Even the most successful, rich, driven, and beautiful people can have problems with confidence. It’s a universal struggle. 

Happiness, Confetti (2020)

It’s easy to anchor your worth and happiness in someone in your life. I do it all the time. I’m grateful for the people that I have around me and they’ve had a big impact on me but it’s important to understand that what you pour into yourself is just as important as what others pour into you. It’s great to have people around you but you also have to be able to be you when it’s just you. For me, Little Mix’s “Happiness” is about finding yourself. Although “Happiness” is sung more in the context of a relationship, you can really apply it to any situation. Don’t lose yourself in something or someone else. 

As Leigh-Anne sings in her verse, “Brand new evolution of me, ever since I let you go/Finally, I’m learning things I never knew before”, you might just be surprised at who you are when you look within yourself. 

Cut You Off, Between Us (2021)

I’m sure Little Mix was referencing many things when they worked on and recorded this song. In my opinion, the hardest thing to do is let go. I will always try my hardest to salvage a situation and save a relationship. The reality is, that sometimes you have to protect your peace and go your separate ways. During my final year in college, I had to let go of a friendship that I had had since my earliest days on campus. It felt so wrong to give up on something that I had spent a lot of time building but it simply got to the point where I could no longer handle it without it impacting my state of mind. The lyrics “Can’t be mad about it when you handed me the scissors” resonates so loudly with me. But it’s true. Sometimes there’s nothing more empowering than protecting yourself. It’s amazing to be present for others and help them but you can’t lose yourself in the process. 

For more healing Little Mix music, check out the Spotify playlist here.