I guess they're traditionally 'better' vocally than the Spice Girls, but nowhere near as interesting vocally. The Spice Girls' success was based on personality, both vocally and as individuals. Musically they were on a completely different level too.
Girls Aloud had that chemistry and that spark, as well as many fantastic pop songs, but they still weren't Spice Girls level.
Little Mix are doing well because there just hasn't been a major girlband in years. Plus they all seem pretty nice people, if a little vacant. The Saturdays were always glorified models with boring songs, a nothing image and about as much personality as a box of hair.
I guess they're traditionally 'better' vocally than the Spice Girls, but nowhere near as interesting vocally. The Spice Girls' success was based on personality, both vocally and as individuals.
Girls Aloud had that chemistry and that spark, as well as many fantastic pop songs, but they still weren't Spice Girls level.
I tend to think quite a bit of Spice Girls's success was also "right time, right place" with their particular brand of girl power, in an era when the music industry was far bigger and all the kids watched music videos. But the girl power thing has been done now.
Girls Aloud had Xenomania at their best writing their hits, and they are very solid performers, but they did not really seem to have much if anything new to say culturally.
I tend to think quite a bit of Spice Girls's success was also "right time, right place" with their particular brand of girl power, in an era when the music industry was far bigger and all the kids watched music videos. But the girl power thing has been done now.
I'm not sure what 'right time, right place' means here. The Spice Girls set out their girl power agenda and the public could have taken or left it. It caught on. The rest is history.
Girls Aloud had Xenomania at their best writing their hits, and they are very solid performers, but they did not really seem to have much if anything new to say culturally.
You couldn't be further from the mark with that comment. Irrespective of who wrote the songs, GA's albums were successful because they did get the critical acclaim for at least two of their albums and many of their singles precisely GA caught the spirit of their times.
LM are technically better than both groups but are pushing an old message and need a killer hit or two if they are going to last.
I'm not sure what 'right time, right place' means here. The Spice Girls set out their girl power agenda and the public could have taken or left it. It caught on. The rest is history.
I think we mostly agree here. To rephrase, I think they blew up primarily because they brought one fresh idea in that apparently the public was primed for across a lot of countries. I do not think any girl groups since them have had a really clear new idea, even though some of them have been fairly successful.
You couldn't be further from the mark with that comment. Irrespective of who wrote the songs, GA's albums were successful because they did get the critical acclaim for at least two of their albums and many of their singles precisely GA caught the spirit of their times.
LM are technically better than both groups but are pushing an old message and need a killer hit or two if they are going to last.
I'm American so I will have to take your word for it that GA captured something about the spirit of the times in the UK.
If I were feeling charitable I'd say LM are capturing the spirit of their times by being sweet, approachable, and a bit quirky, and synthesizing a bunch of stuff that came before them. But it certainly doesn't amount to something super fresh artistically, and they do need to find a few hits that resonate with lots of young adults while not alienating the teens.
I think The Saturdays have been helped quite a bit by their love lives and 'beach bodies' - I only know their names due to the DM's sidebar of shame. Which is fine, 1D got loads of press from Harry's sex life. The Saturdays never really had a huge hit but their arena tours seemed successful. Aside from Perrie Edwards LM don't have tabloid-friendly boyfriends but even 'zerrie' aren't that public unless interviewers ask. Their management must be so upset that they are a low key couple - the Zayn girls see the lack of paparazzi and selfie photos as #proof that they aren't a real couple. The 'ziam' shippers are particularly demented about it and I enjoyed their turmoil when Zayn tweeted a loved up photo last month
Lol! The Saturdays appeal is what they're legs? I like them but they are pretty bland overall. They too are very fortunate to still be around and it only helps they are on a smaller version of polydor.
Though I think jiggyball said it best. But what can a pop girl group do now that the spices havnt already done?
They've not lasted this long on looks alone, not once have they made any kind of pretentious effort to be edgy and cool. Plus people have had the chance to see their personalities with 'Chasing The Saturdays' (or something along those lines) that came on E! and topical show appearances like Sweat The Small Stuff.
Didn't mention the Spice Girls, because Little Mix have just started out so it's pretty typical of the media to form a bandwagon calling them "The new..." whatever. My main gripe is with anyone who doesn't like Little Mix being labeled as though it's blasphemy.
But what can a pop girl group do now that the spices havnt already done?
Sustain their success. We forget how brief the Spice Girls' global run was - only 18 months or so and a couple of albums really. Geri leaving and Posh & Scary's pregnancies, plus some backlash to their commercialisation, rather stopped them in their tracks. Plus they were very far from winning a Grammy. If they had kept the winning formula they could have been enjoying the commercial success One Direction currently has. At least until the Backstreet Boys came along, that is.
Cracking America really isn't everything though. It annoys me when acts brag about their US success in interviews outside of the States. The Italian fans have done plenty for 1D locally and the boys had the top selling album in the UK last year, which is rare for a pop group. I think Zayn will base his solo R&B career here - I was kind of thrilled to see he's working with Naughty Boy. Harry will probably launch his indie band in the US, which is less snobbish about popstars.
I could argue that GA sustained pretty well. Anyway, artistically...
Be great, not just good live. They are pushing the top 20 groups I've seen (out of maybe ~300). But there is a big, qualitative difference between the top 5-10 and the rest. Right now they have quite a bit of "x-factor" connection but I'm not sure how much they're consciously working to understand it and develop it.
Do lots of interesting things with four-part harmonies. Most girl groups have primarily either traded leads or primarily been about one singer (DC, PCD). They don't need to hide anyone, and their voices fit together so well. I feel like there is a lot of fresh stuff they could do if they mix up the core R&B sound they've settled on this era with different genres.
Contribute something new to the gender conversation, which is an evolving thing. Salute might stir up a bit of debate when it (I assume) comes out, but it is still a bit behind the times in this regard to me. (I'd see something like Frozen as being more current, if you want an example).
I think we mostly agree here. To rephrase, I think they blew up primarily because they brought one fresh idea in that apparently the public was primed for across a lot of countries. I do not think any girl groups since them have had a really clear new idea, even though some of them have been fairly successful.
My fav modern girl group is the Sugababes (particularly v1 and v2) because their music was diverse, experimental and genuinely creative at times. So they didn't have to catch the spirit in the same way as GA did.
My interest in LM is that they were put together in an unusual way, high profile talent show, all good singers and winning against the odds. Then what sort of nusic would they come up with, it wasn't obvious what would work. At this stage though the direction is much more obvious, the girls have some creative control but they haven't managed to create a really great song yet. (By this stage in the Sugababes career they had at least 3 or 4 excellent songs).
I'm American so I will have to take your word for it that GA captured something about the spirit of the times in the UK.
If I were feeling charitable I'd say LM are capturing the spirit of their times by being sweet, approachable, and a bit quirky, and synthesizing a bunch of stuff that came before them. But it certainly doesn't amount to something super fresh artistically, and they do need to find a few hits that resonate with lots of young adults while not alienating the teens.
The retro thing is in the spirit of the times, look how well Daft Punk did retro dance music.
It's difficult to be really fresh though, LM are mainly doing R n'B type music, reworking 90s acts like TLC and En Vogue to some degree. That isn't easy and LM haven't stamped their own take on it yet.
Image wise, it is time to end the teenies era and grow up a little. They should up the glamour factor and do a little more soulful music. I think they should also experiment with featuring singers more. Perrie has a rock singer's voice so why not do a rock song with Perrie primarily on lead? And then put Jesy on lead on a proper fully fledged R n'B track. I would also simplify much of the production and cut out a lot of the choreography on the next tour. Less is more.
Not sure if they will go upwards, I think despite the good bit of success they have had they may just stall from now on. They make good pop songs but aren't very interesting.
"A poor man's Spice Girls" - I've never heard any of their music but surely they can't be that bad? That's like saying they are even worse than the most shit thing you can think of.
The Spice Girls' first two albums were actually very good, great pop music that captured the 90's pop scene so well, LM so far just seem to be copying girlbands before them. Hopefully they come up with something more original for album 3.
How can you possibly know whether or not people will be talking about LM in 20 years??
Why is laughable, they both girl groups and even some members of the spice girls have compared LM to the spice girls.
I just don't think Little Mix are anything particularly special they haven't made a huge impact really. Sure they got the highest debut US album for a Brit girlband but the sales don't reflect the hype. Singles wise they really haven't released any hugely memorable hits bar perhaps Wings that I can see having massive longevity. I can't see Wings being as fondly remembered as Wannabe or Waterfalls by TLC or Survivor by Destiny's Child.
They just aren't unique in any way its just more of the same where as Spice Girls were completely unique and today have big stars cooing over them like Emma Stone.
It's just my own opinion if you think otherwise fine. I personally think Little Mix were hugely helped by their connection to One Direction through Perrie's relationship with Zayn.
That's a bit harsh. I remember on X Factor Kelly Rowland said that Little Mix could be the next En Vogue. Now I don't think they are THAT good vocally but they are very good vocalists and I can't think of any girl group besides En Vogue that have better harmonies than they do. They are also promoting friendship and being yourself and stuff to young girls which I think is much better than saying you have to use your sexuality to be successful.
They are also promoting friendship and being yourself and stuff to young girls which I think is much better than saying you have to use your sexuality to be successful.
I listened to LM's second album a few times on Spotify and it's as someone previously said "destinys child meets En a Vogue". I think it's great. It's very "the writings on the wall". It may not be remembered as an all time classic in 10 years but it's still a cut above the Saturdays album. I know only a handful of their songs but their number 1 song with Sean Paul was woeful! On regards little mix and the Saturdays, I don't know all their names, only the ones that are dating 1D and JLS in each respective group. Plus Una as she's Irish.
Comments
Girls Aloud had that chemistry and that spark, as well as many fantastic pop songs, but they still weren't Spice Girls level.
Little Mix are doing well because there just hasn't been a major girlband in years. Plus they all seem pretty nice people, if a little vacant. The Saturdays were always glorified models with boring songs, a nothing image and about as much personality as a box of hair.
Girls Aloud had Xenomania at their best writing their hits, and they are very solid performers, but they did not really seem to have much if anything new to say culturally.
I'm not sure what 'right time, right place' means here. The Spice Girls set out their girl power agenda and the public could have taken or left it. It caught on. The rest is history.
You couldn't be further from the mark with that comment. Irrespective of who wrote the songs, GA's albums were successful because they did get the critical acclaim for at least two of their albums and many of their singles precisely GA caught the spirit of their times.
LM are technically better than both groups but are pushing an old message and need a killer hit or two if they are going to last.
I'm American so I will have to take your word for it that GA captured something about the spirit of the times in the UK.
If I were feeling charitable I'd say LM are capturing the spirit of their times by being sweet, approachable, and a bit quirky, and synthesizing a bunch of stuff that came before them. But it certainly doesn't amount to something super fresh artistically, and they do need to find a few hits that resonate with lots of young adults while not alienating the teens.
Didn't mention the Spice Girls, because Little Mix have just started out so it's pretty typical of the media to form a bandwagon calling them "The new..." whatever. My main gripe is with anyone who doesn't like Little Mix being labeled as though it's blasphemy.
Sustain their success. We forget how brief the Spice Girls' global run was - only 18 months or so and a couple of albums really. Geri leaving and Posh & Scary's pregnancies, plus some backlash to their commercialisation, rather stopped them in their tracks. Plus they were very far from winning a Grammy. If they had kept the winning formula they could have been enjoying the commercial success One Direction currently has. At least until the Backstreet Boys came along, that is.
Cracking America really isn't everything though. It annoys me when acts brag about their US success in interviews outside of the States. The Italian fans have done plenty for 1D locally and the boys had the top selling album in the UK last year, which is rare for a pop group. I think Zayn will base his solo R&B career here - I was kind of thrilled to see he's working with Naughty Boy. Harry will probably launch his indie band in the US, which is less snobbish about popstars.
Be great, not just good live. They are pushing the top 20 groups I've seen (out of maybe ~300). But there is a big, qualitative difference between the top 5-10 and the rest. Right now they have quite a bit of "x-factor" connection but I'm not sure how much they're consciously working to understand it and develop it.
Do lots of interesting things with four-part harmonies. Most girl groups have primarily either traded leads or primarily been about one singer (DC, PCD). They don't need to hide anyone, and their voices fit together so well. I feel like there is a lot of fresh stuff they could do if they mix up the core R&B sound they've settled on this era with different genres.
Contribute something new to the gender conversation, which is an evolving thing. Salute might stir up a bit of debate when it (I assume) comes out, but it is still a bit behind the times in this regard to me. (I'd see something like Frozen as being more current, if you want an example).
The mainstream, maybe. It would be a huge uphill battle to play one of our "festival circuit" tier of festivals, though.
My fav modern girl group is the Sugababes (particularly v1 and v2) because their music was diverse, experimental and genuinely creative at times. So they didn't have to catch the spirit in the same way as GA did.
My interest in LM is that they were put together in an unusual way, high profile talent show, all good singers and winning against the odds. Then what sort of nusic would they come up with, it wasn't obvious what would work. At this stage though the direction is much more obvious, the girls have some creative control but they haven't managed to create a really great song yet. (By this stage in the Sugababes career they had at least 3 or 4 excellent songs).
The retro thing is in the spirit of the times, look how well Daft Punk did retro dance music.
It's difficult to be really fresh though, LM are mainly doing R n'B type music, reworking 90s acts like TLC and En Vogue to some degree. That isn't easy and LM haven't stamped their own take on it yet.
Image wise, it is time to end the teenies era and grow up a little. They should up the glamour factor and do a little more soulful music. I think they should also experiment with featuring singers more. Perrie has a rock singer's voice so why not do a rock song with Perrie primarily on lead? And then put Jesy on lead on a proper fully fledged R n'B track. I would also simplify much of the production and cut out a lot of the choreography on the next tour. Less is more.
Little Mix are talented and are still young in the business, they will release more than their current 2 albums and go much, much further upwards
Fad for what?
Well said, I don't think they are anything like The Spice Girls.
The homeless man's Spice Girls?
I am a Little Mix fan but to compare them to the Spice Girls who are modern day pop legends is laughable.
How can you possibly know whether or not people will be talking about LM in 20 years??
Why is laughable, they both girl groups and even some members of the spice girls have compared LM to the spice girls.
I just don't think Little Mix are anything particularly special they haven't made a huge impact really. Sure they got the highest debut US album for a Brit girlband but the sales don't reflect the hype. Singles wise they really haven't released any hugely memorable hits bar perhaps Wings that I can see having massive longevity. I can't see Wings being as fondly remembered as Wannabe or Waterfalls by TLC or Survivor by Destiny's Child.
They just aren't unique in any way its just more of the same where as Spice Girls were completely unique and today have big stars cooing over them like Emma Stone.
It's just my own opinion if you think otherwise fine. I personally think Little Mix were hugely helped by their connection to One Direction through Perrie's relationship with Zayn.
That was pretty much the spice girl thing.