Little Mix is a pop group from the UK, formed in 2011 on the The X Factor. The group won the competition, and have since released their second album, Salute. Fun, young, and energetic, the women of Little Mix have always been unapologetically themselves- incredibly hard-working, high-spirited, and dedicated to their fans and the music. The "girl power" attitude that the Spice Girls brought to pop music in the 90s becomes less of a catch phrase on Salute, and more of a contender for what could be considered feminist pop music.
The feminist themes of the album standout especially on "Salute," "Boy," and "A Different Beat." Some of the messages in these tracks include supporting other women (rather than viewing them as competition), intervening when a friend is in a destructive relationship, and asserting one's power as a woman.
"Salute," which opens the album, sets the tone;
Ladies all across the world
Listen up, we're looking for recruits
If you're with me, lemme see your hands
Stand up and salute
Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps or lace up your boots
Representing all the women, salute, salute!
The song encourages unity among women, and standing up to oppression together.
It's who we are
We don't need no camouflage
You think we're just pretty things
You couldn't be more wrong
(We're standing strong, we carry on)
Knock us but we keep moving up (we're moving up, yeah)
Can't stop a hurricane, ladies it's time to awake (yeah!)
The song uses military imagery, imagery that is normally portrayed as masculine. Using this metaphor of women as warriors, Little Mix tells their female audience that they are powerful and have a voice, and can fight for their rights.
"Boy" is a track about a relationship, but instead, Little Mix sings to a friend in a relationship with a partner who doesn't value her:
Girl, don't you know you set the tone?
I'll make you stop that, fight backHe won't get away with thatLook who's ringing up your phoneYou wanna call back, leave thatAin't nobody got time for that
It's funny how the tables turnWhen he's the one who's left at homeYou'll find your own real man and go
Forget that boy, forget that boyI know a bad boy ain't good enough for youYou're holding back tears in your eyesBad boy wanna fightBut I never see him fighting for youHe'll never realize what he's got until it's goneAnd he'll lose you foreverGirl, you'll be alright, forget that boy
See what you're worth, girlLook what you've gotHe knows you're out of his leagueIf he likes it or not
I know what you're worth, girlYou know what you gotWe know you're out of his leagueIf he likes it or not
"A Different Beat" contains what I consider one of the most important lines of the entire album: "I've got the right to make up my mind; say it loud and clear for the whole wide world to hear." The song is about not conforming to the ideals society has set for us, and even though we all come from different backgrounds, occupy different spaces, we come together when going against those stereotypes and standards set by society.
Three members of Little Mix are women of color. While representation in the main stream pop scene is still a work in progress, Little Mix, and groups like Fifth Harmony and Neon Jungle, offer more representation to their audiences.
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