'Little Things' Is An Important Song For Our Time

Before you exit this web page because you think this is just a crazed One Direction-related post, please read on. I'm not some crazy obsessed fan, I don't tweet Mr Styles every time my grandma dies (on a side note follow @HarryMyCatDied for hilarious tweets from bonkers fans)

But you've kinda got to admire these boys. Kind of. Yes, they were churned out of the Simon Cowell machine, destined to make millions from the beginning due to their dashing good looks, but they've come quite far in just a couple of years. And be honest, if you saw Louis Tomlinson and his girlfriend clothes shopping in Harvey Nichols, you'd probably do some subtle stalking... ok just me?

In 2012, they released their second studio album in just under a year and released their first single from it, 'Little Things'. Admittedly it follows the same themes as most of their other songs, as it's about a girl. Original. But this one is so different, and, in my opinion, actually speaks a very important message to young people today, their audience.

Harry, stop giving me those eyes. You're with Taylor, it would be inappropriate.

Before you start to think I'm a complete loony, listen to some of the songs on their first album. The girls they sing of are portrayed as absolute angels. Just listen to some of the lyrics from their first album. 'The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed'?! Are you serious, there's this great girl in front of you, and the best thing you can find to comment on is her hair? Additionally, 'It's everything about you, everything that you do'. And they're not half picky these boys: 'I NEED that One Thing and you've got that One Thing'. No pressure there then.

Don't get me wrong, I know why One Direction only sing about getting girls and falling in love. Because of their target market (spotty pre-teen girls whose most serious relationships are with their teddy bears), they know they will make money from making these girls swoon. But some of these girls, they're no Victoria's Secret Angels. They write fan fiction, for Christ's sake.

Look, you've got to stop freaking out when I flip my hair, Zayn...

So 'Little Things' was a huge breath of fresh air. How awesome is it to be told that that its ok to 'never want to know how much you weigh'?? (Especially after a super-indulgent festive period). It's true, the majority of girls don't like their stomach or their thighs. Can we all just collectively ignore the stupid line 'You can't go to bed without a cup of tea, and maybe that's the reason that you talk in your sleep. And all those conversations are the secrets that I keep, though it makes no sense to me', like are you serious? C'mon Louis, buck up.

Back to the important issue at hand. Girls nowadays suffer from so many self-esteem issues, never believing that they are good enough to get the guy. Let alone bag a member of One Direction. And whose to blame for a whole generation, and probably even generations before, developing confidence issues? The media and the artists of today, that's who. Or, in One Direction's case, their songwriters.

It seems as if you cannot go on the Internet anymore without being told that a celebrity is struggling to keep off the pounds, therefore being branded as 'fat'. She's not fat, she's 110 pounds for Christ's sake. These online newspapers then proceed to publish articles about how low self-esteem is ruining so many bright futures. Ironic much?! I'm talking about you, Mail Online.

Living in a big city like London, it is hard to avoid models and London Fashion Week. I believe LFW is a great way of showcasing British talent, but in recent years, controversy surrounding Size 0 models has hit the headlines, reaching the eyes of millions of easily-manipulated teenage girls. Although London isn't the most popular fashion capital for using Size 0 models, it's still happening. Back in 2011, the nations beloved SamCam, wife of the less loved PM David Cameron, said she was 'disgusted' by the inclusion of a Size 0 model at a show she attended. Hey model, it's not normal to look skeletal and it don't suit you, babe.

On the subject of self-esteem issues, let me bring up a topical issue that you may/may not be aware of. You'll undoubtedly have seem them. The yobs at the back of the bus will usually leave them around. You may even know someone who buys it just to see them. That's right, I'm talking about The Sun's Page 3 models. These hugely out-of-proportion girls are basically telling girls everywhere that they have to look like that. They may not be realising they're doing it or doing it intentionally because they don't think that their audience may include young girls, but yeah, they're doing it. Don't even get me started on the over-sexualisation of youngsters. I think I'm too young/not mardy enough to address that right now.

These images are basically saying that this is what young women everywhere should look like. No slightly flabby thighs for you, missy. So we are trying to get rid of it. Forever.

So here is today's task for you. Two things actually.
1) Sign this petition to get rid of the Page 3 models, and then tell absolutely everyone you know to sign it.
2) Listen to Little Things, open a box of Quality Street and hug your normal thighs. They're not thunder thighs, I promise. You go girl.

So girls, stretch marks are fine. Spots are cool too. Because, hey, you may still bag a member of One Direction. I hear Niall may be free...

L x