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Terry Gee asks, "What does the future hold for Melanie C, our 'Sporty' northern lass?"
In just five years the Spice Girls have become known as the most famous girl group ever to hit the music scene. Marketing and promotion meant that the girls images were the most recognisable in the world and having 'cute' names, Ginger, Sporty, Mel B, Posh and Baby made it even easier for kids and grand dads alike to remeber who was who. When Geri Halliwell left, the five girls became four and people said the group would never survive, but that just wasn't the case. Although the media and public alike saw this as the end of the phenomenon, the Spice Girls weren't about to give up. Having released nothing since their number one Christmas smash 'Goodbye', the four girls are now in the studio recording their third album due for release early next year.
Geri has become a solo artist releasing an album and two very successful singles. Mel G (aka B) has also tried out her solo talents and we just waited to see who was going to be next. The last one we expected to see was Melanie C, the quiet northern girl who only ever wore trainers and a sweet smile. Sporty's profile may have been that of a mere backing singer but she has proved that she can sing and perform with the best of them.
Known as the quiet, more mysterious one of the Spice Girls, she has, overnight, transformed herself into an indie/rock star. People that never particularly liked the Spice Girls have raved about Mel's new single and she has gained admiration from fans both old and new. For the first time people have witnessed her full vocal potential not only on the single but also at live gigs in Sheffield and Manchester. Despite the media disliking the ruder elements of her new act, they couldn't do anything but praise our Liverpool Lass as she strutted her stuff and delivered her rendition of the Sex Pistols classic, 'Anarchy in the UK'.
I'm probably not the only one who can see the link between Mel C and Robbie Wiliams. Both were not regarded as the 'talent' in their respective bands but each was desperate enough to break the mould and try their hand at doing things their way. Mel C has said that she intends staying with the Spice Girls but that the group has never been anything more than a hobby for her. Rumours abound that it's only a matter of time before Mel and Robbie are seen performing together simply because they have been seen out on the town and 'socialising' together.
Her new album, Northern Star sees her working with the likes of William Orbit (Madonna, Blur), The beastie Boys and Bryan Adams and she is quick to enthuse about this latest development in her career.
"The calibre of talent working with me was incredible," Melanie explains. "It's very odd being in a studio with these kind of people... It was just the best time of my entire life."
Mel has come into a bit od criticism recently especially if you read the news groups on the net. Apparently one of her tracks, 'I Turn to You' sounds a lot like Madonna's 'Sky Fits Heaven'. As she's been working with one of Madonna's producers - William Orbit, there is bound to be some similarities in the production of the two artists. From what we've seen so far, the rocking Mel C sounds nothing like our Madge but let's hope she has the same amount of success.
Meanwhile also on the net we did enjoy reading one comment from a woman who likes Mel C even more than we do!
"Are there any other girls who find Mel C sexy? As a heterosexual female, I don't usually find myself fantasizing about women, but Mel C is my weakness. I've never done the big nasty with another woman, but Mel C could probably force herself on me without any resistance. I touch myself."
She's always had that hard 'butch' style, but now with her short, dyed hair, new tattoos and all over 'rock-chick image' she'll appeal to the girl in the boys and the boy in the girls!