Think About Us

"Think About Us"
Single by Little Mix featuring Ty Dolla Sign
from the album LM5
Released25 January 2019 (2019-01-25)
Studio
Genre
Length3:54
LabelSyco
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Little Mix singles chronology
"Woman Like Me"
(2018) 		"Think About Us"
(2019) 		"Bounce Back"
(2019)
Ty Dolla Sign singles chronology
"Nights Like This"
(2019) 		"Think About Us"
(2019) 		"Remember"
(2019)
Music video
"Think About Us" on YouTube

"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[1] and a power ballad[3] with elements of tropical house.[4] 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.[3] 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[1] and power ballad[2][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.[2][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.[2] 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",[1] 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

Little Mix on a stage in matching white outfits accompanied by dancers.
The all-white rave scene's staging is based on Jeremy Bentham's panopticon as a commentary alluding to Little Mix's fame.[13]

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 LM5: The Tour.[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

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[27] 14
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[28] 32
Croatia (HRT)[29] 81
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[30] 61
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[31] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[32] 36
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[33] 14
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[34] 26
Romania (Airplay 100)[35] 58
Scotland (OCC)[36] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 22

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[38] Platinum 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[39] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of region, release date, format, label and reference
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 25 January 2019
Syco [41]
Italy 22 February 2019 Contemporary hit radio Sony [42]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Downing, Megan (30 January 2019). "Check Out These Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Pics From Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Music Video". MTV UK. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Spanos, Brittany (25 January 2019). "Hear Little Mix Update 'LM5' Track 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla $ign". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Little Mix Update 'LM5' Track 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla $ign". Rolling Stone. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  4. ^ Roth, Madeline. "Little Mix Are Bonafide 'Goddesses' On 'Think About Us' Remix With Ty Dolla $ign". www.mtv.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  5. ^ Cairns, Dan; Edwards, Mark; Verrico, Lisa; Davis, Clive (18 November 2018). "On record: Pop, rock & jazz". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  6. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (14 November 2018). "Little Mix, LM5 album review: A frenetic record from a pop group struggling to assert their identity". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b Saeed, Saeed; Jhurani, Aarti (30 January 2019). "Fresh sounds: Dua Lipa, Little Mix and George Wassouf release new singles". The National. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Nied, Mike (19 November 2018). "Album Review: Little Mix Celebrates Womanhood On 'LM5'". Idolator. Retrieved 23 March 2019.[dead link]
  9. ^ Tallon, Andy (25 November 2018). "Review: Little Mix - LM5". Nouse. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  10. ^ a b Silver, Michael (25 January 2019). "Little Mix's 'Think About Us' With Ty Dolla Sign: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  11. ^ Mier, Tomás (16 November 2018). "Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock on Feminism and New Album LM5". People. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  12. ^ Passmore, Joe (15 November 2018). "'LM5' review: Little Mix step it up a level on fifth studio". Attitude. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Exclusive: Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Directors Bradley & Pablo Talk 'Bad Role Models', Choreography & More". MTV UK. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Little Mix Share Behind-The-Scenes Video Of Filming 'Think About Us' Music Video". Capital. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  15. ^ a b Roth, Madeline (15 February 2019). "Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Video Stars Butterflies, Shirtless Dudes, And Ty Dolla $ign - MTV". MTV. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  16. ^ a b Ross, Alex (17 February 2019). "Little Mix drop amazing video for new single 'Think About Us'". Heat. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  17. ^ Weatherby, Taylor (15 February 2019). "Little Mix's 'Think About Us' Video With Ty Dolla Sign: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  18. ^ Roper, Kerri-Ann (13 December 2018). "Jason Momoa on life after Game Of Thrones: I didn't get much work after that". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  19. ^ White, Jack (21 January 2019). "Little Mix to release remix of Think About Us featuring Ty Dolla Sign as the next single from LM5". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Little Mix komt in september naar Ziggo Dome" [Little Mix is coming to Ziggo Dome in September]. RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  21. ^ Storey, Katie (8 March 2019). "Little Mix win big at the Global Awards but won't go crazy celebrating as they're going teetotal". Metro. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Radio 1's Big Weekend 2019 - Little Mix". BBC Music Events. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  23. ^ Murphy, Catherine (2019-09-01). "Full set list and timings for Little Mix's Fusion Festival performance". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  24. ^ Hora, Stephanie (2020-03-09). "Setlist: Little Mix no Festival GRLS! (08/03/2020)". Nação da Música (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  25. ^ "What songs did Little Mix sing on their 2019 tour? The 'LM5 Tour' set list revealed". Hits Radio. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  26. ^ "Think About Us". Qobuz. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  27. ^ "Little Mix feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Think About Us" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Little Mix feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Think About Us" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 33. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  32. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  33. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 10, 2019" [Tip parade list from week 10, 2019] (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  34. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  35. ^ "Airplay 100 – 14 aprilie 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Little Mix – Think About Us" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  40. ^ "British single certifications – Little Mix ft Ty Dolla Sign – Think About Us". British Phonographic Industry.
  41. ^ "Think About Us (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) - Single by Little Mix". Apple Music (GB). Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Little Mix – Think About Us RadioDate". Radioairplay.fm. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.