Despite some rocky developments for the U.K. girl group at the end of 2020, Little Mix’s 2021 is off to a “sweet” start.
This week, the group collects their first No. 1 of the new decade, as their Confetti single “Sweet Melody” ascends from No. 9 to No. 1 on the Official Charts Company listing. “Melody” replaces Wham!’s “Last Christmas” atop the chart, as that 1984 song and a number of other holiday titles vacate the rankings entirely in the first full week after Christmas.
“Sweet Melody” is Little Mix’s fifth No. 1 on the chart overall, now spanning a decade from the group’s 2011 single “Cannonball” — a tally that also includes “Wings” (2012), “Black Magic” (2015) and “Shout Out to My Ex” (2016).
The single, co-written and co-produced by a variety of behind-the-scenes hitmakers including MNEK and Tayla Parks, is also notable as the first No. 1 that the group has scored in their home country following the departure of original member Jesy Nelson. In November 2020, the group issued statement that said Nelson would be taking time off from the group “for private medical reasons.”
“We literally can’t thank the fans enough,” the group said to Scott Mills and OfficialCharts.com. “We see them every day fighting to get this song to No. 1. The fact this song has been out since October and now it’s got to No. 1 just shows how dedicated they are. We can’t wait to eventually get back on the road again and see them all — and give them a big hug when we’re allowed.”
Elsewhere on the chart, Ed Sheeran’s “Afterglow” jumps from No. 13 to No. 2 in its third week, while New York rapper CJ’s viral hit “Whoopty” reaches a new peak of No. 3. The top debut belongs to Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, whose Jan. 1-released single “Anyone” bows at No. 4 on the tally.
