Friday Five: Little Mix riff on self-acceptance, Sturgill Simpson's bluegrass moves, and more

Every Friday, EW's music team runs down the five best songs of the week. In today's edition, Little Mix are feeling happy, Griselda's phenomenal 2020 run continues, Sturgill Simpson drops a bluegrass album, King Princess takes a page out of Kylie Minogue's playbook, and Omar Apollo is feeling confident.

"Happiness" — Little Mix

It’s time for America to embrace Little Mix. Not only is the coast clear of any other chart-topping English-speaking girl groups, but the U.K. quartet have zeroed in on a sound all their own — one that makes them stand out from similar pop acts. The fourth single off their upcoming album Confetti has the girls riffing about self-acceptance: “I'm standing right where I'm meant to be/I found the love, I found the love in me.” It was co-written by frequent collaborator MNEK, a fellow Brit who’s helped the group showcase the diversity of their country through their music — from the sprinkle of U.K. garage on "Happiness" to the West Indian vibes of the 2017 hit “Touch.” —Marcus Jones

"I Don't Mind" — Sturgill Simpson

Following 2019's psych-rock barn burner Sound & Fury, Sturgill Simpson is taking another left turn with Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1, a collection of old songs reimagined as stripped-down bluegrass cuts. The highlight belongs to "I Don't Mind." First recorded as an upbeat country tune with his old outfit Sunday Valley, the new banjo- and mandolin-led version gets to the story's root in a way the original couldn't. —Alex Suskind

"Legend" — Benny the Butcher feat. Hit-Boy

The Griselda train keeps rolling with another grimy tale of street hustling and rap come-ups. "Put my hood in diamonds, so you know how my block did it/Gun come with a Carfax, you know who I shot with it," Benny the Butcher raps on "Legend," the lead single off his just-released solo album Burden of Proof. The muted chimed loop from beat wiz Hit-Boy and longtime PartyNextDoor collaborator G. Ry. allows Benny even more room to flourish and flex about how far he's come: "Yeah, 15 years straight, I was crack sellin'/Dope boy, made it out the hood, now that's legend." —AS

"I'm Amazing" — Omar Apollo

The opener to the Mexican American artist’s new project Apolonio sees him at his most confident, with boasts like “Yeah, these b-----s always fillin' up my email.” The newcomer smartly recruited Michael Uzowuru, a frequent Frank Ocean collaborator, to co-produce alongside frequent Apollo associate Blake Slatkin. “I’m Amazing” conveys just how seamlessly Apollo is able to navigate through music genres, flipping through elements of R&B, rap, indie rock, and even a line en español about running on CPT. —MJ

"Only Time Makes It Human" — King Princess

One of 2019's most enticing breakouts is back with a New Wave lullaby of one-sided feelings, co-produced with her Cheap Queen collaborator Mike Malchicoff. "Know you told me you'd never call/It pisses me off how you never call," she laments over a synthetic bass line. "Only Time Makes It Human" is more than just a lover's lament, it's a 21st century take on Kylie Minogue's '90s club mainstay "Can't Get You Out of My Head" — right down to the singer's la la las. —AS

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