Think About Us Explained
"Think About Us" is a song by British girl group Little Mix. The original version appeared on their fifth studio album, LM5 (2018). A remixed version featuring American singer Ty Dolla Sign was released on 25 January 2019 as the second and final single from the album. The song was written by Kamille, Goldfingers, Frank Nobel, Ty Dolla Sign and Victor Bolander, and produced by Kamille, Goldfingers and Louis Bell.
"Think About Us" has been described as a pop song and a power ballad with elements of tropical house.[1] It was met with positive reviews from critics who praised the song for its upbeat tempo and good vibes feeling. The song addresses feelings of insecurity within a relationship.[2] The single peaked at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart and charted in seven other countries. It has since been certified platinum in Brazil and gold in Poland and the United Kingdom.
Composition
"Think About Us" is a pop song[3] and power ballad[4] [5] with elements of tropical house,[6] Afrobeats and Latin pop.[7] Built around a dance breakdown,[8] the track "eschews common ballad structure in favour of more rhythmic verses".[9]
The lyrics find the group questioning the seriousness of a relationship and whether their partner wants to be with them.[4] [8] Ty Dolla Sign responds in his verse near the end of the song by singing about how he is similarly affected by the relationship's insecurity.[4] His verse is sung alongside Jesy Nelson and Jade Thirlwall.[10]
Critical reception
Mike Nied from Idolator deemed the song "stunning" and wrote, "Built around an infectious break, it is a lush floor filler."[8] Megan Downing from MTV UK called it "the storming emotional pop banger we all need in our lives right now",[3] while Michael Silver of Billboard magazine described it as "danceable".[10] Writing for People magazine, Tomás Mier found the track similar to "Cheap Thrills" by Sia and complimented its "catchy beat".[11] The National said "Think About Us" has "Beyoncé-like swagger" and after listening to it "you are left with a pleasantly guilty feeling."[7] Attitude magazine's Joe Passmore wrote that while not as experimental as other tracks from LM5, its "slight Latin vibe is on trend and it sounds like an easily consumable radio single".[12]
Music video
Background and concept
Directed by Bradley & Pablo, the music video for "Think About Us" was filmed in London on 12 December 2018.[13] [14] Intended as a more honest and authentic representation of Little Mix, Bradley & Pablo used a mature and stripped back execution based on the sound of LM5. They eschewed polished visuals in favour of "effortlessly sexy" styling and candid scenes inspired by 1990s Calvin Klein campaigns, and opted for the group not to perform choreography to show a side to them that is "less like a tightly controlled performance and more like them".[13] Leigh-Anne Pinnock invited her fiancé, English footballer Andre Gray, to appear in the video.[13]
The concept has a double meaning and was a collaborative process, according to Bradley & Pablo. It has a theme of paranoia, control and surveillance, based on "emotions and sensations that you experience in a relationship that may be lost in a future where certain kinds of intimacy are no longer possible".[13] The concept alludes to Little Mix's fame by using contained sets within an industrial space and staging inspired by Jeremy Bentham's panopticon.[13]
Synopsis
Each member of Little Mix has their own set-up in the music video inspired by different stages of a relationship. Candid scenes from each set-up are intercut throughout. It opens with Perrie Edwards lying in a meadow filled with butterflies, based on the start of a relationship and the feeling of butterflies in the stomach.[15] [16] Representing the icy end to a relationship, Thirlwall is shown fighting a snowstorm in a white lace bralet, white padded jacket and tartan, long plaid maxi skirt.[16]
In her passion scene, Nelson wears a red halterneck and high-waisted denim jeans, and straddles a topless man. In her scene representing dangers in a relationship, Pinnock in a leather two-piece, wraps her legs around Gray sitting on a motorcycle for their segment. The group then come together in all-white and body-to-body rave scenes with Ty Dolla Sign.[15] [17]
Live performances
Little Mix gave their first live performance of "Think About Us" on The Graham Norton Show on 14 December 2018.[18] On 12 January 2019, the group performed the song on The Brits Are Coming.[19] They also performed the track along with "Woman Like Me" on The Voice of Holland on 1 February 2019,[20] and at the 2019 Global Awards on 7 March 2019.[21] They performed the song at various music festivals such as BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend on 26 May 2019,[22] the Fusion Festival on 1 September 2019,[23] and the GRLS Festival on 8 March 2020.[24] The song was also regularly performed on .[25]
Personnel
- Jesy Nelson – vocals
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – vocals
- Jade Thirlwall – vocals
- Perrie Edwards – vocals
- Kamille – production, vocal production and recording, piano, keyboards, drum programming, backing vocals
- Goldfingers – production, vocal production, piano, keyboards, drum programming
- Louis Bell – production
- Frank Nobel – piano, keys, drum programming, backing vocals
- Liam Nolan – vocal engineering
- Jason Elliot – vocal engineering
- Joe Kearns – additional vocal production and recording
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Bill Zimmerman – engineering assistance
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- James Royo – mixing, vocal engineering
Credits adapted from Qobuz.[26]
Charts
Release history
Notes and References
- Web site: Roth . Madeline . Little Mix Are Bonafide 'Goddesses' On 'Think About Us' Remix With Ty Dolla $ign . https://web.archive.org/web/20190126024440/http://www.mtv.com/news/3110517/little-mix-think-about-us-remix-ty-dolla-sign/ . dead . January 26, 2019 . 2022-06-26 . www.mtv.com.
- Web site: 2019-01-25 . Little Mix Update 'LM5' Track 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla $ign . 2022-06-26 . Rolling Stone.
- Web site: Check Out These Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Pics From Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Music Video. Downing. Megan. MTV UK. 30 January 2019. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324161427/http://www.mtv.co.uk/little-mix/news/exclusive-little-mix-think-about-us-behindthescenes-pics. live.
- Web site: Hear Little Mix Update 'LM5' Track 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla $ign. Spanos. Brittany. Rolling Stone. 25 January 2019. 23 March 2019. 21 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421040636/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-mix-think-about-us-ty-dolla-sign-784506/. live.
- Web site: On record: Pop, rock & jazz. Cairns. Dan. Edwards. Mark. Verrico. Lisa. Davis. Clive. The Sunday Times. 18 November 2018. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323082217/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pop-albuim-reviews-mumford-sons-delta-d6w70zx2j. live.
- Web site: Little Mix, LM5 album review: A frenetic record from a pop group struggling to assert their identity. Pollard. Alexandra. The Independent. 14 November 2018. 23 March 2019. 26 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126222014/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/little-mix-album-review-lm5-release-date-tracklist-features-tour-jesy-perrie-a8633466.html. live.
- Web site: Fresh sounds: Dua Lipa, Little Mix and George Wassouf release new singles. Saeed. Saeed. Jhurani. Aarti. The National. 30 January 2019. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323082219/https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/fresh-sounds-dua-lipa-little-mix-and-george-wassouf-release-new-singles-1.819945. live.
- Web site: Album Review: Little Mix Celebrates Womanhood On 'LM5'. Nied. Mike. Idolator. 19 November 2018. 23 March 2019.
- Web site: Review: Little Mix - LM5. Tallon. Andy. Nouse. 25 November 2018. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323082221/https://nouse.co.uk/2018/11/25/review-little-mix-lm5-review. live.
- Web site: Little Mix's 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla Sign: Listen. Silver. Michael. Billboard. 25 January 2019. 23 March 2019. 4 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404042708/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8495016/little-mix-think-about-us-ty-dolla-sign. live.
- Web site: Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock on Feminism and New Album LM5. Mier. Tomás. People. 16 November 2018. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323082220/https://people.com/music/little-mix-release-lm5/. live.
- Web site: 'LM5' review: Little Mix step it up a level on fifth studio. Passmore. Joe. Attitude. 15 November 2018. 23 March 2019. 6 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190506152631/https://attitude.co.uk/article/lm5-review-little-mix-step-it-up-a-level-on-fifth-studio-album/19627/. live.
- Web site: Exclusive: Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Directors Bradley & Pablo Talk 'Bad Role Models', Choreography & More. MTV UK. 15 February 2019. 23 March 2019. 22 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322133404/http://www.mtv.co.uk/little-mix/news/little-mixs-think-about-us-directors-bradley-pablo-talk-bad-role-models-choreography-more. live.
- Web site: Little Mix Share Behind-The-Scenes Video Of Filming 'Think About Us' Music Video. Capital. 12 December 2018. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324144509/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/little-mix/behind-the-scenes-music-video-think-about-us/. live.
- Web site: Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Video Stars Butterflies, Shirtless Dudes, And Ty Dolla $ign - MTV. Roth. Madeline. MTV. 15 February 2019. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324191036/http://www.mtv.com/news/3113460/little-mix-ty-dolla-sign-think-about-us-video/. dead.
- Web site: Little Mix drop amazing video for new single 'Think About Us'. Ross. Alex. Heat. 17 February 2019. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324191038/https://heatworld.com/entertainment/music/little-mix-video-think-about-us/. live.
- Web site: Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Video With Ty Dolla Sign: Watch. Weatherby. Taylor. Billboard. 15 February 2019. 24 March 2019. 29 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329062606/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8498666/little-mix-think-about-us-video-ty-dolla-sign. live.
- Web site: Jason Momoa on life after Game Of Thrones: I didn't get much work after that. Roper. Kerri-Ann. Irish Independent. 13 December 2018. 27 February 2019. 27 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227183527/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/jason-momoa-on-life-after-game-of-thrones-i-didnt-get-much-work-after-that-37623035.html. live.
- Web site: Little Mix to release remix of Think About Us featuring Ty Dolla Sign as the next single from LM5. White. Jack. Official Charts Company. 21 January 2019. 27 February 2019. 16 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216154635/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/little-mix-to-release-remix-of-think-about-us-featuring-ty-dolla-sign-as-the-next-single-from-lm5__25360//. live.
- Web site: Little Mix komt in september naar Ziggo Dome. Little Mix is coming to Ziggo Dome in September. nl. RTL Nieuws. 1 February 2019. 27 February 2019. 27 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227183548/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/boulevard/artikel/4595071/little-mix-september-naar-ziggo-dome. live.
- Web site: Little Mix win big at the Global Awards but won't go crazy celebrating as they're going teetotal. Storey. Katie. Metro. 8 March 2019. 19 March 2019.
- Web site: Radio 1's Big Weekend 2019 - Little Mix . 2022-05-03 . BBC Music Events . en.
- News: Murphy . Catherine . 2019-09-01 . Full set list and timings for Little Mix's Fusion Festival performance . 2022-05-03 . . en.
- Web site: Hora . Stephanie . 2020-03-09 . Setlist: Little Mix no Festival GRLS! (08/03/2020) . 2022-05-03 . Nação da Música . pt-BR.
- Web site: What songs did Little Mix sing on their 2019 tour? The 'LM5 Tour' set list revealed . 2022-05-03 . . en.
- Web site: Think About Us. Qobuz. 27 February 2019. 27 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227120830/https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/think-about-us-little-mix-feat-ty-dolla-ign/cfm7uupta70wb. live.
- Web site: Croatia ARC TOP 100. HRT. 20 September 2019. 21 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921021950/https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/arc-100-datum-16-rujna-2019/208354/. live.
- Web site: Chart Search. Billboard. 28 June 2019.
- Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 9 March 2019. 14 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170614003514/http://www.irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles. live.
- Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 10, 2019. nl. Tip parade list from week 10, 2019. Dutch Top 40. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323104516/https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2019/week-10. live.
- Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 4 February 2019. 16 February 2019. 27 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327150125/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4588. live.
- Web site: Airplay 100 – 14 aprilie 2019. Kiss FM. ro. 15 April 2019. 14 April 2019. 15 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415061646/https://www.kissfm.ro/podcasturi/6177. live.
- Web site: Think About Us (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) - Single by Little Mix. Apple Music (GB). 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153112/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/think-about-us-feat-ty-dolla-%24ign-single/1450267416. 16 February 2019. live.
- Web site: Little Mix – Think About Us RadioDate. 20 February 2019. 22 February 2019. Radioairplay.fm. 21 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000043/http://radiodate.it/radio-date/little-mix-feat-ty-dolla-ign-think-about-us-178896-22-02-2019-radiodate/. live.