base talk Why did Cheryl/Spice Solo's work in the UK, but Little Mix not?

[prézli]

I never liked Little Mix. They were just girls with no personality.

[Gelato]

Cheryl has a certain star quality that is hard to put your finger on. She was full of charisma while in Girls Aloud and in the first few years of her solo career. She was also one of the first judges to be sympathetic and treat contestants on a talent show nicely, which made viewers like her.

 

I don't really think any of the Little Mix girls have enough star quality to work as solo artists. Maybe Jesy did - she's quite funny - but she torched her reputation and her relationship with the LM fans. There was a brief period when it seemed like Jade could make it but it's been crickets from her since they decided to split. I'd say Leigh-Anne's stuff has bombed because she has the least personality of all and the songs aren't good.

 

They're all probably on the wrong side of 30 now too, which shouldn't matter but unfortunately does. Cheryl meanwhile was only 24 when she started X Factor and 26 during her first solo era.

[prézli]

1 hour ago, wigglytuffer said:

She knew her formula and worked to be everywhere and slowed things down by album four.

Slowed things down? She left Girls Aloud (and made Nadine upset) and went back to X Factor to release her fourth album. Which gained 2 #1 hits.

 

What didn't work out is her comeback. She also went back to X Factor to perform that horrible song Love Made Me Do It and failed more horribly.

[prézli]

2 minutes ago, Gelato said:

I'd say Leigh-Anne's stuff has bombed because she has the least personality of all and the songs aren't good.

And she has the weakest vocals. The only song I like from them is Sweet Melody and the bridge is my least favorite part because she doesn't sound good.

[supertiffany]

3 hours ago, HotFriedChicken said:

Well the whole reason LM were formed was because none of them were big enough stars to make it solo  

this

 

they dont even have a camila or even a normani or lauren

[Rhythm]

2 hours ago, Hey Dude said:

From what I know a top 10 hit in the UK is apparently not as good as in the US? Geri's label were in panic mode when SIYWGF peaked at #7. 

Yes, chart positions were a HUGE media event for the UK in the late ‘90s/early-noughts. The “Christmas #1” especially was a huge cultural phenomenon because that was the period where record sales (obviously) would be massive and pretty much the entire nation was engaged. The chart battle between Victoria’s and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s solo debuts was probably one of the biggest media frenzies ever. There were huge campaigns, promotions etc. for the entire week. Sophie won in the end, and Victoria at #2 was deemed a massive flop.
 

All of Geri’s singles up to SIYWGF were #1’s (and a single #2). A peak at just #7 was an obvious signal of dark times.
 

 

[glitch]

People need to remember Cheryl had the X-factor to launch all of her lead singles (back when loads of people watched it and in the era of iTunes pre-orders). Outside of her debut era and Call My Name, her singles had quick peaks and didn't have much longevity.

 

I think it's much harder to launch "new" solo artists in the streaming era.

[teenager]

The two most talented, popular and charismatic members haven’t released yet. Jesy benefited because of the good will from her documentary and she was a great performer. She also benefited for being the first to leave but she absolutely fumbled the bag.

 

Leigh-Anne is the least memorable vocally and was unfortunately always the least popular, that aided with her putting out a debut single without any sort of identity to it absolutely killed any momentum she would have. 
 

Whilst Perrie is the best vocalist, and based on her TikToks, she’s probably releasing soon, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jade was the one who smashed given she’s had a hand in most of their songwriting, and is the best all-rounder. Feel she’s kinda the hungriest for it the success to but let’s see. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by teenager

[Link16]

2 hours ago, Rhythm said:

Yes, chart positions were a HUGE media event for the UK in the late ‘90s/early-noughts. The “Christmas #1” especially was a huge cultural phenomenon because that was the period where record sales (obviously) would be massive and pretty much the entire nation was engaged. The chart battle between Victoria’s and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s solo debuts was probably one of the biggest media frenzies ever. There were huge campaigns, promotions etc. for the entire week. Sophie won in the end, and Victoria at #2 was deemed a massive flop.
 

All of Geri’s singles up to SIYWGF were #1’s (and a single #2). A peak at just #7 was an obvious signal of dark times.
 

 

Victoria sold 180,584 copies in ONE week, that's a MASSIVE success, but the media was so cruel/evil with them, Britney media obsession level. 

and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s was so mean with Victoria, look the shirt 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Link16

[OrgVisual]

So many reasons lol

 

1. Spice Girls was a lot bigger than Little Mix and GA. So their solos of course had more hype. 

 

2. Little Mix lasted a lot longer than the others and they went solo when they already past their prime time.

 

3. Perrie and Jade are the more popular members and they haven't released yet.

 

 

[Polgg48]

common sense that perrie is the chosen one and the rest will be hertory.

[glitch]

I don't really agree that Jade was the most popular member. Jesy and Perrie were the ones more casual listeners knew. Jesy just torched any opportunity of success by turning on the rest of the group and releasing Boyz. If she'd released a ballad about body dysmorphia or the bullying she'd experienced, I'm sure she would've fared much better.

 

Leigh-Anne was never going to smash. I like her but she's so boring in interviews and seems to have very little personality. Perrie is kinda boring too but she's white and blonde (plus she has the best voice).

[Rid Of Me]

Jade and Perrie have more star quality but they took too much time to release solo material

[BravoTangoWhiskey]

Spice girls were marketed as a brand, each and every single one of them.

 

I saw little mix in concert and didn’t know their names except jesy’s (due to a joke) despite having streamed their songs hundreds of times. Essentially they either lacked personality to stand out individually (look at the reason they were formed) or their managers didn’t do PR to build up their celebrity status to get us invested. Like now I know their names, but let’s be real, unless they have mega tracks and PR, who is checking their tracks after release week? 

[wigglytuffer]

2 hours ago, prézli said:

Slowed things down? She left Girls Aloud (and made Nadine upset) and went back to X Factor to release her fourth album. Which gained 2 #1 hits.

 

What didn't work out is her comeback. She also went back to X Factor to perform that horrible song Love Made Me Do It and failed more horribly.

I was just thinking in terms of the abysmal sales for Only Human, but yeah fair point. I just checked and she also performed CSL on BGT, so every single lead got a big TV performance on a talent show of some sort, and then of course I Don't Care back on The X Factor.

Such a shame she chose to lead with Love Made Me Do It when Let You was right there

 

[Rhythm]

2 hours ago, Link16 said:

Victoria sold 180,584 copies in ONE week, that's a MASSIVE success, but the media was so cruel/evil with them, Britney obsession level. 

and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s was so mean with Victoria, look the shirt 

 

Like, this was complete madness. 

[prézli]

9 hours ago, BravoTangoWhiskey said:

their managers didn’t do PR to build up their celebrity status to get us invested.

Perrie had celebrity status when she dated Zayn.

[Spark]

1. Lack of solo activities during their time in the group
2. They're all in their 30s and pop is an ageist industry esp in England (The Spice Girls + Cheryl were all 25-27 during their debut eras)
3. Music isn't that strong overall
4. None of them have a big presence within the British tabloids (Cheryl with X Factor and being a WAG, Geri with leaving the Spice Girls)

Honestly, I think Perrie would have had a successful solo career if she debuted as a soloist in like 2016/2017 because of the Zayn breakup (+ her talent ofc). But that would have meant their biggest era, Glory Days, would have never happened so the right decision was made. 

[Link16]

On 11/25/2023 at 8:11 AM, Spark said:

1. Lack of solo activities during their time in the group
2. They're all in their 30s and pop is an ageist industry esp in England (The Spice Girls + Cheryl were all 25-27 during their debut eras)
3. Music isn't that strong overall
4. None of them have a big presence within the British tabloids (Cheryl with X Factor and being a WAG, Geri with leaving the Spice Girls)

Honestly, I think Perrie would have had a successful solo career if she debuted as a soloist in like 2016/2017 because of the Zayn breakup (+ her talent ofc). But that would have meant their biggest era, Glory Days, would have never happened so the right decision was made. 

I think Perrie still have some potential

[Shelter]

Spice Girls were bigger and they released decent solo songs. 
 

Cheryl had X Factor behind her, she would’ve flopped otherwise imo 

 

All LM are going to flop. It’s harder for UK acts to get a hit with streaming, especially with little radio support. 

[liquiddiamonds]

Cheryl was huge even as part of Girls Aloud. Lily Allen had a whole song about her. Did any Little Mix member even touch that? Spice Girls were all huge celebrities too

 

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by liquiddiamonds

[WERKER]

Everyone is downplaying Little Mix’s success in the UK. They were still scanning platinums and golds with majority of their singles until 2021 (when they stopped releasing material). 
 

Perrie and Jade ideally should have released 2022 or early 2023 when they were 29. Jade will be 31 and Perrie 30 when they release which isn’t too late for the UK. They’ll have support it’s just if they utilise it. 
 

I don’t think people should underestimate either of them. 

[ithinkheknowsoutsold]

On 11/25/2023 at 12:15 AM, Rhythm said:

Yes, chart positions were a HUGE media event for the UK in the late ‘90s/early-noughts. The “Christmas #1” especially was a huge cultural phenomenon because that was the period where record sales (obviously) would be massive and pretty much the entire nation was engaged. The chart battle between Victoria’s and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s solo debuts was probably one of the biggest media frenzies ever. There were huge campaigns, promotions etc. for the entire week. Sophie won in the end, and Victoria at #2 was deemed a massive flop.
 

All of Geri’s singles up to SIYWGF were #1’s (and a single #2). A peak at just #7 was an obvious signal of dark times.
 

 

Poor Victoria, she also went up against Kylie when Can't Get You Out of My Head came out and that was an even bigger embarrassment. Very unfortunate timing for her.

[ithinkheknowsoutsold]

On 11/24/2023 at 10:01 PM, Hey Dude said:

From what I know a top 10 hit in the UK is apparently not as good as in the US? Geri's label were in panic mode when SIYWGF peaked at #7. 

The UK chart system works very different from the US one, since the main chart does not include airplay. A number 10 peaking single in the US will still be a hit since it can chart for 30+ weeks and spend months in the top 20/30, but in the UK a number 10 was basically a flop since it would most likely be out in 5-6 weeks and probably wouldn't even make it to a certification. Song sales were very low back then due to high music piracy and because album sales peaked slightly later in the UK compared to the US (i.e. the 100th best-selling of 2022 in the UK sold 384,000 copies, that's more than third best-seller of 2004!).