If you ever guessed who from Little Mix would make the best solo album, anyone with any sense would have picked Jade Thirlwall. Jade is not only an amazing vocalist who was always bursting with star power, but she is truly a student of pop music. She gets it, she loves it, she listens to it. Where other members from girl groups going solo struggle to form an identity in their music – Jade arrived a bonafide pop star ready to go. When you listen to That’s Showbiz Baby, her long awaited debut album, you can hear that she didn’t waste a moment. It’s lean, it’s thought through and it has a point to prove. It’s an absolute riot that lives up to all its single’s successes and promise. After five back to back listens, here’s my day one ranking of all the song’s on That’s Showbiz Baby – the debut album by JADE.
14. Before You Break My Heart
Whilst Jade does the sample obviously WELL, I’m gonna have to give this late album disco groover last place in this album ranking of That’s Showbiz Baby. It’s all a bit Ava Max for my taste, and I much prefer a Jade banger when she’s making something that’s wholly original sounding. Definitely not a bad track but feels like a safe play.
13. Silent Disco
The album closer Silent Disco is beautiful, melancholy, and still danceable. Feels like a comedown after this record’s more hedonistic moments.
12. Midnight Cowboy
Have to give it to Jade for dropping a debut album with no features at all. The closest she comes to having one is Ncuti Gatwa popping up uncredited to introduce this one – the second release from the record the world heard after Angel. It’s never been my favourite but I’d dance to it in the club. Chorus soars – I just don’t love the verses.
11. Glitch
Treads the boars Taylor Swift did on Midnights with a song called Glitch that features a glitchy production. It’s a fun gimmick and works well. Has a The Weeknd energy to it that feels mega cool. The jittering production is slick as anything.
10. Headache
Bursting with personality and full throttle – just how you’d expect a song called Headache to rattle around your eardrums. It’s a testament to how talented Jade is that this is only just peeping into the top 10 ranking of the album because That’s Showbiz Baby is honestly stacked with songs begging to be singles. She’s giving Prince on the chorus, lowkey.
9. Natural at Disaster
Far and away the most eyebrow raising song on That’s Showbiz Baby, purely because Jade goes full savage here. The lyrics are absolutely brutal, and the fact many are speculating it to be about her fallout with Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson adds even more to the impact of this track. I love it because it sounds like Camila Cabello at her best on last year’s outstanding and underrated C, XOXO – really reminds me of Godspeed and June Gloom sonically.
8. It Girl
I remember when It Girl and its THUMPING beat was first teased how gagged everyone was. How can you resist that beat, honestly? It’s outstanding. Only negatives with It Girl for me is it treads the same boards as Angel of my Dreams with that aggressive verse mixed with a delicate chorus. And does it less well.
7. FUFN
Fuck You For Now, when I first heard it, I found it generic. Sounds a bit too Eurovision-y for my taste, didn’t have that Jade swagger I was waiting for. But the more I’ve let it in, the more I’ve warmed to its pop sensibilities. I love it even more after seeing Jade live and how much I adore the fans screaming at her before the “getting out the car” chorus boots off.
6. Self Saboteur
The first new song I came to listening to That’s Showbiz Baby because the first half of the album Jade had already release, and it JUST misses out on the top five of the ranking. It’s from the same family as Plastic Box – very delicate and pulsing synthy magic that would make mother Robyn proud. But it’s best for how it transitions into the slightly superior…
5. Lip Service
Picking right up from where Self Saboteur leaves off, Lip Service has one of the bounciest and fun, carefree beats on the record. I love how this track flows. Instant standout for me and one that’s just got even better across repeat listens. Carly Rae Jepsen energy. Adore it.
4. Unconditional
Released a mere two days as a last little promo buzz before she dropped the record, Unconditional is bloody EXCELLENT. Described by Jade as a way for her to write a moving song about her mother that everyone can still dance to – it has that 80s, Depeche Mode / Pet Shop Boys introspectiveness coupled up with beautiful danceable synth pop. First thing that came to me was: This is so Goldfrapp. Love it.
3. Fantasy
The holy trinity of the Jade ranking is now here, and it’s the trio of songs I’d play anyone who asked me the highlights of the That’s Showbiz Baby album. Fantasy was the second official single, and it was criminally underrated commercially. The song is stunning. Truly classy disco, every time the chorus hits and Jade gives it all those vocal breaks you almost feel your body sighing on the dance floor with it. So underrated and gorgeous.
2. Plastic Box
Deceptively understated and so quiet in its brilliance, Plastic Box is Robyn core of the highest order. It’s a song that Jade never does too much with – and whilst she is great at being a maximalist across this album, it shows how amazing her music also is when she restrains and gives it a more delicate touch. Should have been a number one global smash – and it’s an injustice that it wasn’t.
1. Angel Of My Dreams
Sitting proudly at the top of the ranking, That’s Showbiz Baby kicked off its album cycle with Jade debuting her solo single Angel Of My Dreams and getting instant acclaim for it. How could she not? It’s a completely bizarre, exhilarating rollercoaster that never lets up and never stops surprising you. It’s where you realised how much a student of pop Jade is – it’s got that Xenomania Frankensteined approach to putting songs together. Everything clashes but it’s the clashing that makes it all excel. Seeing stuffy publications like Pitchfork give it a nod in their best songs of 2024 ranking was a revelation for a girl group soloist getting the flowers she deserves. Angel Of My Dreams will be that smash from the UK that defined the decade.
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