<P> Lyrically, "Secret Love Song" details unrequited and forbidden love . Edwards said the lyrics are about "being with someone and you want to scream it from the rooftops but you have to hold it in". Thirlwall interprets the group's lyrics in the song as a narrative for the struggles LGBT people are faced with when coming to terms with their sexuality and public affection . According to Derulo, his verse serves as a "twist" in the song, discussing his personal experience of having an affair: "I told a true story about this girl that I am really into but she has a boyfriend but we still do our thing ." </P> <P> The group revealed the song's title on 7 September 2015, on Instagram . On 13 October 2015, they announced Derulo's involvement on Twitter, ahead of Get Weird's release the following month . The song was first made available as part of the album when Get Weird was released on 6 November 2015 . On 5 December 2015, Little Mix confirmed on Twitter that "Secret Love Song" would be the third single from the album in the UK and Ireland . They unveiled the single's cover art on Instagram on 8 January 2016 . </P> <P> "Secret Love Song" has received mixed reviews from music critics . Popjustice wrote that the song would be better without Derulo, but called it "a big ballad" with an "amazing" chorus and gave it a rating of seven out of ten . Brad O'Mance from the website disliked Derulo's "dulcet / song - ruining tones". Lewis Corner of Digital Spy said the group matured emotionally on the track and described it as a "sweeping slowie (...) that soars highest on the perfectly polished chorus". He also deemed it "powerful" and "an LGBT anthem". Dan Wootton from The Sun viewed the song as "brilliant" and a highlight on Get Weird . </P> <P> Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun described the song as "uber cheese". Harriet Gibsone from The Guardian viewed the song as one of Get Weird's "odd moments of mediocrity". Chuck Campbell of the Knoxville News Sentinel felt the song tried too hard . Nick Levine from NME regarded the song as "melodramatic" and "not as entertaining" as the rest of the album . Ludovic Hunter - Tilney of the Financial Times said: "Their manufactured origins surface on' Secret Love Song', a by - the - numbers ballad watermarked with (Simon) Cowell's foreboding features ." Andy Gill of The Independent criticised Derulo's "ghastly, tremulous vibrato" on the track, calling it "by far, the worst (irritation)" on Get Weird . Matthew Horton of Virgin Media opined that "Secret Love Song" failed to help the album "catch fire", dismissing it as "syrupy" and "an unrequired duet". </P>

Who sang secret love song before little mix