Critics were divided. The Guardian gave it two stars, calling it "morbid and underwhelming for a girl group." However, The Huffington Post praised it as "refreshingly understated," noting that the arrangement "allowed their individual tones to shine without screaming."
However, Little Mix made a creative decision that saved the track. They rejected the somber, solo arrangement. Instead, they worked with producer Richard "Biff" Stannard to turn "Cannonball" into a . The song starts with a lone piano and Jesy’s hushed verse. It slowly adds layers—Perrie’s soaring bridge, Jade’s rhythmic middle-eight, and Leigh-Anne’s smooth ad-libs. By the final chorus, it is a wall of intertwined voices, not a solo.
During the grand finale on December 11, 2011, both Little Mix and runner-up Marcus Collins had to perform the track live before the public voting lines closed. Little Mix's rendition emphasized their vocal versatility, giving each of the four members a distinct solo moment before uniting for a massive, harmonic final chorus. 2. The Victory Encore little mix winning song x factor
On final night, the four members (Perrie, Jesy, Leigh-Anne, and Jade) delivered an emotionally restrained but vocally solid performance. Given the rushed production (winner’s singles are often recorded just days before), the live rendition was heartfelt, especially with tears flowing as the results were announced.
Little Mix became the first group to win The X Factor UK during the show's eighth series in 2011. Their victory was a landmark moment in reality television history, as groups had historically struggled to progress to the final stages of the competition. The Journey to the Win Critics were divided
Learn more about the group members and their journey to stardom.
For years, Little Mix did not perform "Cannonball" live. During their DNA and Salute tours, they skipped it. They felt it represented a time when they had no creative control. In a 2016 interview with Capital FM , Perrie admitted: "We don't hate it, but we were so stressed when we recorded it. It reminds us of being told what to do." Instead, they worked with producer Richard "Biff" Stannard
In 2011, four talented young women auditioned for The X Factor as solo artists. Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall each showcased their vocal abilities, but unfortunately, none of them made it through to the next round as solo artists. However, during the bootcamp phase of the competition, the four girls were brought together to form a group, which would eventually become Little Mix.