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"I've had a bad time in the press recently," sniffed Mel on the phone to her fave mag, "and I'd like Smash Hits to clear a few things up!" Well, who else?
"ALL I'VE DONE IS HAD A HAIRCUT!"
You said recently that your solo stuff is the real you, so have you just been acting for three years? What I've said has been taken out of context. This is the real me and Spice Girls is the real me. But there are four girls in the Spice Girls, whereas this is just Melanie C, this is just Sporty. I don't put on an act at any time! I haven't even got a new image, I've just had a haircut!
But you said the Spice Girls is just a hobby! Why do people have hobbies? Because they're fun! And that's what I meant but I wish I'd never said it 'cos it came out wrong. I was trying to say that I love being a Spice Girl! But I do take it seriously, the Spice Girls is my life.
In your new single you say "I have gone hardcore". Wassat all about? Well, I've gone more rock, whereas the Spice Girls has a sprinkling of rock on the top! Goin' Down is hardcore 'cos it's about being angry with a boy who's treated me badly. But my album isn't all rock, there's also pop and some acoustic stuff and I've even worked with Left-Eye from TLC.
So did Hardcore Spice enjoy V99? I had the time of my life!! I love festivals, I'd never been to one before and my first one I'm on the stage!
But did the audience enjoy it? Well, I was really pleased. I didn't know what to expect, I don't think there are a lot of Melanie C fans who are also Manic Street Preachers fans! But there was a good response and I won over even the most cynical onlookers.
And what about all the swearing on stage, have you given up being a good role model? Not at all! I've always sworn, I swear worse with my mum, but I'm definitely not saying it's a good thing. I've got a poor vocabulary, that's why I use swear words. I'm not going to swear in a Spice Girls show but when I'm at a festival it's a completely different crowd.
But you do want Spice Girls fans to buy your album? Yes Please! Will they like it? Definitely!
"SPICE GIRLS RULE!"
Moving on, you're now recording the new Spice Girls album. So, go on, give us the dilly... Well, it's different in that we're more mature, we've got a world tour under our belts, so we can sing better! Hopefully it's more challenging. It's still very poppy, but we have to move with the times. Spice and Spiceworld were so great, but we're just getting better and better. Spice Girls rule!
Yes you do! So... when will we hear it? The album will probably be out next spring. Before then we've got my new single and my album coming out, Emma's releasing a realy good single with Tin Tin Out and Melanie's got some wicked tracks for her album. The world is a very lucky place because the Spice Girls are making so much great music!
Does that mean you're releasing a solo Christmas single? No, Northern Star (her lush new ballad) isn't a Christmas single, it'll be out in November, and we don't even know if there'll be a Spice Girls Christmas single. But in the honour of tradition, it would be great if the Spice Girls were number one and I was number two!
Both Mels have had singles, you mentioned Emma's solo stuff, what about Victoria? I think she should do a solo single. It would be very sexy and sultry. She could be the British Jennifer Lopez.
Talking of solo projects, what of the report that you've been, erm, bitchy about Geri's album? That really upsets me! I love Geri, she's one of my best friends and I love her new album, Mi Chico Latino is my favourite. But I don't think she's got a very good voice and I'm not being horrible 'cos she knows that's what I think, I'm just being honest.
"WE'LL BE SPICE GIRLS FOREVER!"
Looking to the future, what can fans expect from the Christmas shows? It'll be the first showcase of our new material and they'll be very exciting visually. Unlike my tour, which will just be me jumping around like an idiot! I'll probably be in my jeans looking like a scruff bag! So, you can come and see me being a rock'n'roll chick and then you can see all of us being a pop phenomenon!
Last question. How long will the Spice Girls stay together? You know what, every time people try to knock us down it makes us stronger and gives us more energy because we like to prove them wrong! We'll carry on as long as the fans want us. We'll all be Spice Girls forever!