Pop music usually ages like milk. One week a song is everywhere, and the next, it feels like a dusty relic of a specific TikTok trend or a forgotten summer. But then there's Little of Your Love by HAIM. It's weird. It doesn't sound like it belongs in 2017, yet it doesn't quite fit into the 1970s either. It’s this caffeinated, hand-clapping burst of energy that managed to bridge the gap between Laurel Canyon nostalgia and modern indie-pop slickness. Honestly, if you haven't blasted this while driving with the windows down, you're missing out on one of the most technically proficient "happy" songs of the last decade.
The Haim sisters—Este, Danielle, and Alana—have this uncanny ability to make complex arrangements sound effortless. On the surface, Little of Your Love is a straightforward plea for affection. It’s catchy. It’s upbeat. But beneath those layers of "shoo-be-doo-wops" and percussive guitars lies a masterclass in production that most pop acts wouldn't dare attempt today.
The Fleetwood Mac Comparison is Lazy
People love to compare HAIM to Fleetwood Mac. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Three sisters from California playing instruments? Check. Vocal harmonies? Check. A certain vintage aesthetic? Double check. But looking at Little of Your Love through a purely 70s lens ignores what actually makes the track work.
While the DNA of the song definitely pulls from the era of Rumours, the production is pure Ariel Rechtshaid. He’s the guy who worked with Vampire Weekend and Usher, and his fingerprints are all over this track. The drums don't sound like a dusty studio in 1975; they have that crisp, gated snap that feels hyper-modern. It's punchy. It hits you right in the chest.
If you listen closely to the bridge, the way the vocals are layered is almost dizzying. It’s not just "three-part harmony." It’s a rhythmic tapestry. They use their voices like percussion instruments. That’s a trick they picked up from R&B, not just folk-rock. They've cited Destiny's Child as a massive influence just as often as they mention Joni Mitchell. You can hear that syncopation in the way Danielle Haim delivers the verses. She's not just singing; she's pocketing the groove.
Why "Something to Tell You" Divided People
When the album Something to Tell You dropped, critics were split. Some felt it was too polished. Too "studio." Their debut, Days Are Gone, had this raw, indie-darling energy that made everyone fall in love with them. Little of Your Love was the centerpiece of the follow-up, and it was unapologetically shiny.
Is "shiny" bad?
Not necessarily. In the context of 2017, the charts were dominated by "moody" pop. We were in the middle of the Lorde-inspired era of minimalism and trap-influenced beats. HAIM went the opposite direction. They went big. They went loud. They used a gospel-adjacent choir toward the end of the track. It was a risky move because it could have easily veered into "corny" territory.
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But it didn't.
The reason it holds up is the sincerity. You can tell they actually play these instruments. Watch any live performance of Little of Your Love—specifically their Saturday Night Live appearance or their Glastonbury sets. They play it harder live. The guitars are grittier. The "bass face" from Este isn't a gimmick; it's the result of someone actually digging into the strings.
The Paul Thomas Anderson Connection
You can't talk about this song without mentioning the music video. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (yes, the There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights guy), it was filmed at Oil Can Harry’s, a legendary gay country-western bar in Studio City.
The video is basically one long line dance.
It captures the essence of the song perfectly because it’s about communal joy. PTA didn't use flashy cuts or CGI. He just let the sisters dance. It feels human. It feels like a real night out in the Valley. Most pop videos now are so heavily edited that you lose the sense of space. Here, you feel like you're in the room. You see the sweat. You see the missed steps. It’s authentic in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare.
The Technical Brilliance of the "Little of Your Love" Arrangement
Let's nerd out for a second. The song is in the key of E major, which is the "brightest" key for a guitar. It’s built on a classic I-IV-V progression, but they throw in these little melodic flourishes that keep it from being "Mary Had a Little Lamb" levels of simple.
The interplay between the muted guitar strums and the heavy snare hit on the two and the four is what drives the momentum. If that snare was a fraction of a second off, the whole thing would feel sluggish. Instead, it feels like a runaway train that stays perfectly on the tracks.
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- The "pre-chorus" buildup: Notice how the instruments drop out slightly to let the "Gimme just a little of your love" line breathe.
- The handclaps: They aren't synthesized. They sound like a group of people in a room, which adds to that "live" feel.
- The guitar solo: It’s short. It’s sweet. It’s not about virtuosity; it’s about melody.
Most people just hear a pop song. Musicians hear a clockwork mechanism where every gear is perfectly greased.
What Most People Get Wrong About HAIM’s "Simplicity"
There's a common misconception that HAIM is just "easy listening." Because their music is catchy, some assume it lacks depth.
That's a mistake.
Little of Your Love deals with the vulnerability of asking for a chance. It’s a "please don’t walk away" song disguised as a party anthem. There’s a desperation in the lyrics—"You've gotta give me a sign," Danielle sings—that contrasts with the upbeat tempo. That tension is what makes great pop music. Think of ABBA. Think of Fleetwood Mac. The music is dancing, but the lyrics are crying.
HAIM understands that. They aren't just making background music for H&M stores, even if it gets played there. They are students of the craft. They grew up in a family band called Rockinhaim, playing covers at local fairs. They learned the fundamentals of how a song moves a crowd before they ever tried to write their own hits.
The Legacy of the Track in the 2020s
Fast forward to now. HAIM has moved on to even more experimental sounds with Women in Music Pt. III. They’ve worked with Taylor Swift. They’ve been nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys.
But Little of Your Love remains the "gold standard" for their pop sensibility. It’s the song that proves you can be a "serious" musician and still write a three-minute banger that makes people want to jump around.
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It’s also become a staple in "feel good" playlists across Spotify and Apple Music. Why? Because it’s timeless. It doesn’t use the trendy synth sounds of 2017 that feel dated now. It uses organic sounds—drums, guitars, piano, voices. Those don't go out of style.
How to Truly Appreciate the Song Today
If you want to get the most out of this track, stop listening to it through your phone speakers. Get a decent pair of headphones.
Listen to the panning.
The way the backing vocals move from the left ear to the right during the final chorus is a masterstroke of mixing. It creates this 3D soundscape that makes the song feel much bigger than it actually is.
Also, look up the "Blood Orange" remix. Dev Hynes took the track and turned it into this slow, sultry, 80s-inspired R&B jam. It strips away the frantic energy and highlights just how strong the actual songwriting is. When a song can be completely flipped into a different genre and still work, you know the foundation is solid.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
- Analyze the Layers: Next time you listen to Little of Your Love, try to isolate one instrument. Follow just the bassline for three minutes. You’ll realize Este Haim is doing way more work than you thought.
- Watch the SNL Version: It’s arguably better than the studio recording. The energy is infectious and proves they are a live band first and a studio band second.
- Check the Credits: Look at the other people involved in the Something to Tell You sessions. Rostam Batmanglij (formerly of Vampire Weekend) contributed heavily to the album's sound, providing that "indie" credibility that balances the pop sheen.
- Learn the Line Dance: If you’re feeling brave, the choreography in the music video is actually followable. It’s a great piece of pop culture history that bridges the gap between old-school Hollywood and modern indie rock.
Ultimately, this song is a reminder that pop music doesn't have to be shallow. It can be technically brilliant, emotionally resonant, and incredibly fun all at the same time. HAIM didn't just write a hit; they wrote a staple.
Next Steps for Your Playlist
Go back and listen to the transition between the album's opening track "Want You Back" and Little of Your Love. The flow is intentional. Then, compare it to "The Steps" from their later work to see how they evolved from "polished pop" to "raw rock." You'll see a band that isn't afraid to change, but one that always keeps the "hook" at the center of everything they do.