Sweet Melody

Album: Confetti (2020)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jade Thirwall kicks off this pulsating pop song with a verse about falling in love with a guy in a band who used his musical talents to write love songs with sweet melodies that charmed her. However, as the track progresses, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock reveal the musician to be a liar, deceiver and cheat who took advantage of his girlfriend.
  • Some fans have speculated that Jade is singing about her three-year relationship with The Struts' bassist Jed Elliot between 2016 and 2019. However, Jade did not contribute to the writing of the song.
  • Little Mix released "Sweet Melody" as the third single from Confetti on October 23, 2020. It was originally the lead single for the album until they revisited "Break Up Song" and chose that instead.
  • None of the four Little Mix band members contributed to the writing of the track. It was written and produced by:

    Uzoechi Emenike (a.k.a. MNEK), who has writing credits on several Little Mix songs, including their 2016 hit "Touch."

    Frequent Ariana Grande collaborator Tayla Parx ("Thank U, Next" and "7 Rings") and her songwriting partner, Robin Oliver Frida.

    Brian "Peoples" Garcia, who produced six of the tracks on Fetty Wap's eponymous debut album, including the singles "679" and "Again."

    Former Lukas Graham keyboardist Morten "Rissi" Ristorp, who co-penned several of the Danish band's hits, including "7 Years" and "Love Someone."
  • Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall first came across this song when they were in LA doing some sessions with Tayla Parx. The "7 Rings" writer played it to them, and Jade told Apple Music she and Leigh-Anne "were singing it for days after."

    Leigh Anne added: "With that beat dropping in the chorus, I was like, 'Okay, I'm sold. This is it!' It's a banger!"
  • In a poll published by Billboard in December 2020, readers chose "Sweet Melody" as their favorite song released that year. BTS' "Dynamite" was runner-up and Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's collaboration "Rain On Me" came in third place.
  • This was Little Mix's fifth #1 single in the UK following "Cannonball" "Wings," "Black Magic," and "Shout Out To My Ex."
  • Zara Larsson originally recorded this for her Poster Girl album. The Swedish pop star kept changing her mind whether to keep the tune or not; eventually the four songwriters grabbed it back and handed the track over to Little Mix.
  • KC Locke directed the video. While filming the clip, Jesy Nelson had a panic attack and shortly after she announced her departure from the group. Speaking to Cosmopolitan, Nelson explained how she got anxious whenever Little Mix shot a video because she put pressure on herself to lose weight.

    The breaking point came when after putting on weight during lockdown, Little Mix's management told Nelson they were filming the "Sweet Melody" visual in a fortnight.

    Nelson panicked. She went on an extreme diet with shakes and ate as little as possible. When they shot the video, she had a panic attack because she "didn't look how I wanted to look and I found it so hard to just be happy and enjoy myself."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.