Pod Of The Pops (The Girlband Popcast)

Spice Girls 12: Geri 2 - X factor, books and giving the finger

She gave you the finger, you took her to dinner, and you made her laugh. Its time to respect
the painfully derailed second solo career of Geraldine Estelle Halliwell.

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Welcome back to Pod of the Pops.
Just like an apple, cut down the middle, she only has one matching half…….. If you don’t
know the lyrics I’m referencing then THIS podcast is going to be an EYEOPENER for you.

The second Geri Halliwell career is really a long road of threats to release an album. She hits more road bumps than Rita Ora.
Start the podcast in true Geri style….. an interview in The Guardian where she denounces
herself as a feminist: “For me, feminism is bra-burning lesbianism. It's very unglamorous...We
need to see a celebration of our femininity and softness”
Constantly comes back to her not knowing what her greatest assets are. I used to picture
her as a great speaker, politically engaging but actually – she is a monkey at a typewriter.
If you type a thousand scripts, eventually one will say SpiceWorld.

Example: I'm learning every day as a mother. I'm learning that she's like a flower
that thrives when it gets sunlight, and the sunlight is confidence, and I feel that
when I'm confident it gives her self-esteem. And that gives me motivation to go on
and be the best.……I, I, I, i…. iSpice

On 12 April 2007, it was announced that Halliwell had signed a six-book deal with Macmillan
Childrens Books. The books follow the adventures of nine-year-old Ugenia, a character based
on Halliwell,  alongside her friends Bronte, Rudy, and Trevor.
Each title feature a newsletter from Ugenia highlighting lessons she has learned, along with
quizzes, riddles and crosswords, and available in an audio book edition read by Halliwell.

Geri described it as “The rebith of girl power. Handing on the baton through a different medium.
(If she has handed on the baton it would explain the next 7 years)
There were rumours Geri had based one of the characters, Princess Posh Vattoria on her fellow
bandmate, Mrs Victoria Beckham. Another character is called David Bockham. Not the most
cunning disguise, it is. She loves an obvious dance move; she loves an obvious character name.
She appeared in early drafts but removed. 

According to the official site, the book sold more than 250,000 copies in its first 5 months, making
Halliwell 2008s most successful female celebrity childrens author.
In September 2009, Halliwell, in her role as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNFPA, visited Nepal to
help launch a national campaign to stop violence against women
In 2009, she also makes a movie cameo. In the Jason Statham action comedy, Crank: High
Voltage. It’s a sequel in which Chev Chelios must electrocute himself regularly to stay alive –
whilst a group of assassins take out hits on his life.
Geri appears in a flashback; as the role of Jason Stathams mother. (I am assuming they used
the scene from SpiceWorld where they play mothers as their inspiration). Clip. Clip.
Now – I know this is just a bit of fun BUT can we discuss, for a moment, the role Geri played
in early feminism. And the irony then, that in 2009 she would appear in a film the Guardian
accussed of “extreme misogyny and racism” and “although nothing should be off limits in
comedy” it amounts to “flashy, arrogant, emptiness”. Now, I haven’t seen

2010 had the makings of a big year for Geri. She has put wheels in motion; Scream if you
wanna go faster. We start getting a lot of “Geri is coming back to music”. This is 5 years after
her last album (2005 Passion).
March: Vocal coach Carrie Grant, famous as one half of the husband-wife team that coached
contestants on reality TV show Fame Academy is being interviewed on The Alan Titchmarsh
show (all big names) and she says Geri is working on a return to music.

We also cover:
- Her episode of Piers Morgans: Life Stories
- Fashion Spice: she releases 3 collections with Next. A beach wear collection, a red carpet ready gown collection and a very patriotic Olympics range
- Judge Spice: X factor UK and Australias got talent
- Her foray into sitcom, with Trollied and the pilot of her own show, Life Sucks.

- Her wedding to Christian Horner. With only one Spice Girl in attendance

- "Other half of me" her Australian only single with some, ummm, questionable dance moves and lyrics
- Her leaked country album, Man on the Mountain
- Presenter Spice, hosting the One Show and her own driving show: My Drive to Freedom

- George Michael charity single, Angels in chains, raising money for Childline

- BBC talent show, All Together Now. Where Geri is blostered by 99 other panelists. 

 

Spice Girls 11: Melanie C 07-19 - Musicals, make ups and 4 more albums

In this episode we cover Melanie C (AKA Sporty Spice) first foray into Musical Theatre (Blood Brothers and Jesus Christ Superstar), motherhood (with baby Scarlet), a nasty break up with her long term partner and 4…… yes FOUR….. more albums.

So, we pick up in 2007 – Spice Girls have announced the reunion tour and Mel C, as Mel C loves to do… is releasing a solo album. Forever 2.0 isn’t it.

In her defence, I believe she probably wasn’t planning on doing the reunion and was convinced last minute. As recent as 2 months before she’d said in interview she wouldn’t and was focussed on the album. This seems like a smart move for her.

She releases two songs simultaneously. In Europe she releases the very Mel C ballad – For this moment; the UK we get her cover version of “I want candy”. Featured on the soundtrack of film of same name.

                I remember at the time this feeling like a very odd move. Bizarre. She’d always been the credible one and this seemed like a bit of a PR exercise. Which was surprising because she is on her own now – running her own label, Red Girl Records. I guess, they’re figuring things out. Trying to be commercial…… And the Spice Girls were known for cheesy covers. Their live shows were always filled with 80s disco hits like “We are family” and “Ain’t no stopping us”.

                It charted at 24, spent 2 weeks on the chart. This would be one of the last times we would see Mel C in the top 40. The charting days of the Spice Girls are behind us by 2008.

Cute Fact – The video, a little raunchier than usual for Melanie. A leather catsuit – Hello, Victoria – and she’s surrounded by half naked oil men in a pink room – Hello, Geri - The song did debut at the top of the YouTube video chart. With 200,000 views in its first day…. Now, this is just a reflection of how much YouTube has grown. 200,000 views.  Most watched. In 2018, Thank U Next was released as the first YouTube premier – encouraging live streams – in its first 24hours was viewed 55.4million times.

                The album followed the next month – This Time – to a mixed critical reception. They felt it was a bit meh. She’d teamed up with some of the old favbourites: Guy Chambers, Cathy Dennis, Steve Mac – it was praised for the vocal maturity. It reached 57 in the charts. And went on to sell 300,000 worldwide. Her previous effort had sold a million.

                 

I think this is the last we see of angry, not fitting it, fighting the industry “Sporty Spice”. The mellow Melanie that we see now really starts to ascend from the ashes of the 2007 reunion. Particularly, after the birth of her daughter.            

At this point Melanie becomes the last Spice Girls to get pregnant. With her only child, Scarlett, born in February 2009. By this point she had been with her long term partner, Thomas Starr, for 7 years. This is where we see a change in direction from Melanie, and she signs on to play Mrs Johnstone in a new production of Willy Russels, Blood Brothers, in her West End debut. (Oct 2009). This seems like such a natural fit for her; it’s a Liverpool rooted play. Contemporary. Big singing vocals.

At the time she said how she had been invited to do musicals and movies in the past, but it had never felt like the right time – but, with having a baby, she wanted to stay close to home and have more routine. She’d genuinely contemplated never working again. That surprised me. So. God bless little Scarlett.

Because it was very successful for her. Reviews were very quickly glowing. London evening standard called her the “Galvanising factor” saying they’d never seen a set of reviewers rise so quick to standing ovation. The Independent said she rightly followed in the footsteps of previous actresses Carole King and Barbara Dickson with her singing abilities and luminous stage presence in a role she was born for.

She was nominated for an Oliver Award for best actress. Only the third actress to be nominated in the role in its 25 year run. Pretty impressive as she is nominated just months into her first professional acting role – well, Spiceworld aside. I don’t think this is shouted about enough. Nominated and respected by a panel of industry peers as exceptional in the field.

Victoria lent her two gowns for the awards! One for perfoming, one for the ceremony.

She plays the role for a little over a year. Because she had already started on new music! She releases “Rock Me” in Germany only, as the official single for FIFA world cup. Hi, remember me, Sporty Spice. But single proper was September 2011s, Think About It. This saw her make a return to Dance-pop – a more common territory for a Spice Girl, with a greater focus on radio-friendly beats than her previous singer-songwriter work. She worked with the Cutfather team, to provide a fresh edge to her newly stage developed vocals. It’s a popping track. Banger.

Under radar, under rated. I’d be surprised if many casual fans knew it existed. It didn’t get a lot of press attention. It did manage to chart in the UK. Just. At 95. Had somewhat better success in Europe. Reached 30 in Switzerland.

She was an Indie artist at this point. On her own label. So the album isn’t dragged away from us. Which is really nice. When Mel C says she has a new album coming out – You get an album. This isn’t Geri taunting us for years. Sporty can deliver. Its not a cause of trialling a single, she if the public engages. She creates something then puts it out. Bit like this podcast!!

So the album is released. The Sea. It has a bit more variety about it than her previous efforts. There are radio-friendly bops, stirring ballads, beat led tracks, a range of emotions. It still has a pop element but she worked with a lot of new people to create a diverse collection. My favourite thing about it; it lasts the length of a full gym session. 35 minute – what am I meant to do on the ab track. Whistle?! 

Regarding the concept of The Sea, Chisholm said in a video interview on YouTube that, the album is cohesively experimental mixing many different genres/styles of music into one unified pop album with electronic undertones, therefore naming it The Sea, which ecomphases the many species who inhabit beneath the oceans surface.

It was also conveniently the title of the first track on the album.

                It got fairly good reviews, Ok Magazine said it was her most ambitious album yet. If only sales had been so good: The album made it number 45 on the UK chart. Better on the digital and independent charts – 29 and 6, respectively.  She did follow it with a 17 date European tour. I think Mel has really nailed that 10,000 fans theory.

My last two albums didn't perform that well in the UK. Would I be devastated if this one didn't do well? No, I'd live. But I'd keep plugging away. All it takes is one song. And this one has a touch of my debut solo album, Northern Star, about it. – Interview with the Guardian in 2011

Remember, that album was a slow climber. It obviously debuted higher but its most successful tracks came late in the campaign and its huge sales were due to it remaining in the charts for the best part of a year.

So, she tries to replicate this with her second official single – Weak. A big contrast to the dance-pop of Think about it. Which is a rousing ballad. I love it. I think it has the musical feelings to it – as its telling a very clear story, and evoking an emotion.

It got a bigger kick promo wise. Made it onto Radio 2 A list. Which helped it reach the top 60 most played songs on UK radio….. but it didn’t sell enough to make the top 200 of the singles chart. 

She has described it as a disappointment – as she felt the quality was better than the reality of the sales it enjoyed.

She told the Evening Standard in 2016, it was the most catastrophic thing she experienced.  

She has openly talked in interviews how this period saw a return of her depression - which is important to acknowledge. would binge eat, stay up all night crying and sit alone in her house for days.

She says "Sometimes you can do all the right things but they dont work enough". Its refreshing to hear some accomplished recognise that these things do recurr. 

She also talked about the fear of post-natal depression as well, during her pregnancy. And i think, actually, these days - parenting explains a lot of the reasons she refuses reunions. She doesn't want to be too far from her daughter and needs more control of her work schedule. When she goes back into the Spice machine it is just carnage. 

So there were a few rumours at the times. Hints of infidelity, but nothing with any weight. There was the rumblings that she had been working too hard and neglecting her womanly duties. Apparently, she wasn't going out and much and not even talking to protect her vocal cords. 

For her part, she displayed the classic Mel C media training in speaking about it: deflecting to concentrating on parenting and not being drawn on any elements of blame. 

She is very busy at this time. So after the album and its tour wrapped she signed on for Andrew Lloyd Webbers, Jesus Christ Superstar, in the role of Mary Magdalene. Alongside, Chris Moyles and Tim Minchin.... but before she does; their is a TV talent contest to find the next Jesus.

Melanie was a judge on the panel, alongside Dawn French, Jason Donovan and of course Andrew Lloyd Webber himself. 

So following the show, they enter a national arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Which is unusual as it was obviously in theatres previously. ALW had said as a rock concert, this is exactly how he had envisioned it. In proscneium stages it feels shoe-horned in.

Reviews were devisive. 

The Guardian did not love it. They gave it a 1 star review. Particularly the arena format. They suggested perhaps ALW should have been crucified as opposed to the titular character. Mel C is a strangely laid-back Mary Magdalene, relaxed to the point of blankness. the large cast crowd scenes appear to have been directed on the premise that if Jesus is coming, it's best to look busy

But the Telegraph loved it - Melanie Chisholm, a lovely relaxed Mary Magdalene, proves again that she was too good for the Spice Girls. TOO good. TOO GOOD. There is no such thing!

She did win a whatsonstage award for best musical actress. 

And its this that would go on to inspire her sixth studio album. The aptly titled "Stages", a collection of emotional musical and film covers. Its all happening at the same time. So this is 2012 - a big year for Melanie - July - Superstar airs/along with the first single "I dont know how to love him). August - Olympic performance - September the album is released, which is the same month the tour began for Jesus Christ Superstar - December the Viva Forever musical launches.

Anyway, this album. Melanie said they are show tunes that have been important to her at different stages in her life. First single - I don't know how to love him.  - Which everyone knows is from the musical (I googled it). She sang it on the live final accompanied by ALW on the piano. I mean, as much as promoting the album - this is really about promoting the ALW tour. Adelaide Entertainment Centrestated: "Melanie C absolutely blitzes her big number 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' bringing a more raw rock edge to the bridge before hitting the final big notes right out of the arena.

The second release from the album is a little more special...... Its a duet, from the musical Chess: I know him so well. With someone she knows very well. A certain Ms Emma Bunton. 

It did not chart so favourably.... reaching 153 in the UK. We did get a lovely video of the two, meeting at a piano and goofing around. They also did a lot of live promo together, interviews on the TV circuit and singing live together. They switched on the Christmas lights in Oxford and sung 2 Become 1.......

The album sort of dithered in terms of chart. It topped the Itunes chart for a minute..... you see that a lot with strong fanbases. Went to No. 50 for 1 week on official charts. But as I said, this won't have been about chart performances - it will have been about additional merch to have while on tour. Business Spice. Record Label Spice. 

So that sort of wraps up a pretty intense 2012! We do get here featuring in the Justice Collective - charity single "He aint heavy hes my brother" - a collaboration of musicians including Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Beverley Knight and many others. It was raising money for various charities associated with the Hillsborough disaster - which obviously, still resonates... especially for people with Liverpudlian heritage, which she very much has. 

That was a very successful venture actually, went to number one in Christmas 2012. Beating X Factor contestant James Arthur. Another number one for Mel. 

She did come into some hot water later on, actually, regarding the Hillsborough Disaster. So the city of Liverpool have managed to maintain an extremely powerful campaign refusing to buy, stock or sell the Sun Newspaper after strongly disparaging remarks were made about the Liverpool supporters just days after 96 were unlawfully killed in the tragic incident. 

Whilst promoting an album - I believe Version of Me, she did some work with The Sun, and I think she was pictured touring on a big red Sun bus.... and this was at a similar time to the court trial exposing the Police cover up and lies around the incident; which sought to blame they players. Some negative press there. BUT, that is later on. 2012 - gooooooood. 

2013 she starts still on tour with Jesus Christ Superstar in early 2013 - visiting Australia. Racking up the stamps on little Scarlets passport. Leading to a deservedly quieter 2013.

We get a couple of musical moments. In the summer, she releases a sexy duet with X Factor alumni, Matt Cardle, called "Loving You". They had met at the Isle of Wight festival.... said he was looking for a great voice (VB, obviously unavailable). The video gets quite steamy.... so its a similar premise: both of them seen in seperate rooms of a house, missing each other. Then in the final shots.... we get a steamy kiss! 

There were a lot of rumours flying around that they might be dating. Especially when they went on a promotional trip for the record, in Germany and Poland. I think that's a snatch. Well done Mel. She was single and fun. Be single and make a single. 

It managed to chart at number 14 - her highest chart position in 8 years, and impressive for 2 artists on independent labels. Only released on digital downloads as well so. 

Then at the end of the year, we get two of my fave Melanie C performances. So in the December she releases her first live album - Live from Shepherds Bush (done DVDs before but not a live tour album). I think she had been doing some work with Jools Holland around this time, guesting on a number of his live tour dates. 

Its just a short little 7 tracker, with mostly singles and a couple of more recent album tracks but it was nice if you didn't care for stages. There is a great mix of Turn to you, and it actually made me like "Next best superstar". 

But I fell in love with it after watching "Sporty turns 40". So, Melanie turns 40 in the January and to celebrate she throws a big concert party at the Shepheds Bush Empire singing all her hits, with a few exciting guests. So, its in full on YouTube. (Thank you Mel C fans brazil). She looks incredible. She has her hair in a pony. She is wearing a black leather vest jacket. She is glowing and buzzing and really having fun. Obviously she sounds great. Its a star studded crowd of 90s popstars. She duets with Nicole Appleton, Emma comes on. One of the guys from Starsailor..... its great to have on in the background. We'll listen over dinner or something; I can't believe I haven't showed you actually. 

This is a nice little bit of business, do you know which Little Mix video she makes an appearance in? 

Word Up - of course. The Children In Need charity single. Passing on the torch from their own CiN single. She was very complimentary about the girls at the time, who isn't. Would later get quoted saying she had banned her daughter from watching the girls in case she saw inappropriate content:

'They are getting more provocative. To me, they were kind of the closest thing to the Spice Girls we've seen.

'They are all gorgeous and great singers. But they weren't sexy and it's got more and more that way. I love them – but I just say, "Stay you".

'All young women want to look sexy and hot so I understand it's hard. But I think it's such a shame. We live in a narcissistic age – it's 100 per cent worse than when I was in the Spice Girls. It was a more innocent time.'

She would later go on to clarify her comments saying: Why do young girls want to be portrayed in that way? 'In my experience, I wore tracksuits. I never felt that us girls as Spice Girls were never put under any pressure to be sexy.

- I mean, it is arguable the Spice Girls were extremely sexualised. Victoria wore a catsuit or a bikini and skirt. Geris skirts never went much past her navel. Emma was made to look younger...... it didn't feel smutty though. Maybe because of the range, and personality. 

- Little Mix are often portrayed as wearing less than they are. A leotard is not an inappropirate stage outfit, no matter how high cut. Its actually very smart. Noone can get in and nothing can get out. Twat guard. 

- I think its the dance moves that are maybe more contentious. But these are young women. That are good dancers and singers and make good music. Why shouldn't they dance? And yes, sometimes writhing around on the floor isn't necessary in a heartbreak song.... but sometimes it feels good.

In 2015, we get a somewhat surprising move from Melanie – if you were a big fan of her “Beautiful Intentions” album. She is confirmed as a judge on TV talent show – Asias got talent. It was the first time the show was launching in that territory – maybe she thought we wouldn’t notice. Trying to break it down from the inside, perhaps.

It was done in multiple languages, so there was always translators on hand. First of its kind within the “Got Talent” brand.

Melanie gave her golden buzzer to an acrobatic act, Gao Lin and Lui Xin.

She only did one season, but it’s a nice little paid holiday. Experience a bit of culture properly. I think we have seen that in recent years from her – Global Spice – spending a bit of time. Because when they were Spice Girls they would have visited all of these places but not be there for more than a day or two. Can’t experience it. Get the passport stamped but no memories.

After this, we get back to music. Proper music. She features as vocalist – rather unexpected – collaboration with Sons of Sonix a British production duo who pride themselves on creating timeless, unboxed music. (I took that from their official website, could you tell). It’s a stark departure from her earlier work. They’ve worked with Ty Dollar Sign, Wretch 32, Stormzy. So, something a little more urban.

The track was called “Numb”. Digitalspy described it as a “massive tropical banger”. Its much more electronic…. Which is a big departure away from the guitars and string instruments Sporty likes.

Which made for a good interlude for her first single proper from the new album, Anymore. Also produced by SOS, as was much of the album.

• I remember being stunned when this came out. If you thought numb was a massive banger. This is “Turn to you” 2point0. Its uptempo electro. It premiered on BBC Radio 2 with Chris Evans. I remember watching the video in the office and I turned to my friend Jo like, pause everything – Mel C has hit the dancefloor!
• It got to number 1…… on the radio airplay chart. And it got to number 1…… on the UK physical singles chart! But a number 1 is a number 1!

The album, Version of me, followed in October. It took her two years to create. Started in 2014 but with all the other projects since then meant she couldn’t focus on the album solely…. Which she credits. Said it stopped the album getting stale and meant she could use real life scenaries to inspire the work.

She describes this as her first fully electronic album. She’d dabbled in the past but this was the first time she became an electro-synth artist. And it suits her. We get the same Melanie C themes…. It break ups and heartaches.

The bloggers loved it. We’re past the point when many main streams review but the Express said: When the producers calm down and her huskily powerful but always slightly vulnerable voice is allowed to soar, as on the closing quartet of tracks, the results are superb

The Independent called it her most accomplished solo outing to date. Gave it 3 stars. Same as it Gave Lady Gagas Joanne.

The Sydney Herald described it as -  Melanie C's version of Beyonce's Lemonade, taking on her very own "Becky with the good hair" and alluding to her relationship breakdown with partner of 10 years and the father of Scarlett, Thomas Starr, whom she split from in 2012.

            A brave move into Electro led dance-pop – which finally paid off. It was easily her most successful album in over a decade. It CHARTED. Yes, at number 25. Much higher if you only look at physical sales.

            Melanie C was out doing the promo for this. She did GAY appearances, talk shows, she did a prioper tour and into Europe. I got to see her at Hoopla; as you will remember from the last episode.

            We’d get another 3 singles from this era – none of which chart, but do get a fair bit or radio – “Dear life” which is more of a ballad. A bit more akin to her earlier work but still with this new found dance edge. “Hold on” A collaboration with Alex Francis. And “Room for love” which gets a video made up of fan clips. Which is a lovely nod.

We should discuss one track. The title track Version of Me…… This is not your playground, I'm not here for you to shoot me down
Praying on my weakness, even when you're not around
Nothing lasts forever but you're wrapped around my DNA
And I'm hiding in the corner, the wounded kid I was
Like it was yesterday, like nothing's changed

All that you've done, you see
Ever so quietly comes creeping back up on me
Haunting me, goading me, why can't you let go of me?
I don't have the patience anymore

Version of me:

"Unfortunately, being bullied can really damage people and even when you are stronger and over it, it can still be in the background – undermining you. I hope people will Identify with that track," she told Attitude.

She continued: "It's been addressed, they were aware of what they'd done. They apologised."

This is a good era for her. Making music that she likes; it soundsa fresh and exciting again. Couldn’t be more pleased. I had time for it. Still do. Good for at the gym; or cycling a commute.

Then the final thing Melanie adds before the reunion – is she becomes DJ Spice. Doing sets at retro nights.

There probably won't come a time when I'm not asked about the Spice Girls. Do I mind? It depends what mood I'm in. People want to know about our relationships now. When we first split, I went two years without speaking to some of the girls, but we're closer now than we've ever been. – Interview with the Guardian, 2011.

Maybe Melanie is Live Spice…. Her mic is rarely switched off.  She’s released 3 live concert albums. She’s toured every album. She’s also done more musical than anyone else. She is a singer much more than she is a celebrity – which goes beyond what any of the other girls have done.

Spice Girls 10 - Olympics, GEM & Viva Forever! The Musical

All the Spice Girls projects that lead us to the 2019 reunion tour. We actually get a lot at this time. They’re literally... "Giving us everything".

Brits 2010 Spice Girls win best British performance of the past 30 years – for 1997 hit Who Do You Think You Are.
Geri Halliwell and Melanie Brown (Scary Spice and Ginger Spice) attend to collect the Brit award. They look incredible. I don’t think these photos do Geri justice. I remember watching it on TV and thinking “Hell, how is this angel on earth”.

2012 was a big year for the Spice Girls of course we get the 2012 Olympics.
London 2012 Olympics was a huge deal in the UK. We had one of our most successful events on record, taking 65 medals. More than we had since 1908. But….. the real thing everyone cared about….. was the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
I had got confused. I believed they would be on in the opening ceremony. Frankly, they deserved to
be in both. Emelie Sande appeared twice. I felt like she was on it a lot. Was Dido there at all?

12 August, 2012. The show was entitled “A symphony of British Music”. 23 million viewers in the UK, 750 million globally.
Worst kept secret ever. It had been rumoured for some time and then a few days before the event, rehearsal footage leaked of the Spice Girls performing around taxis.

They were apparently reluctant at first – believing the show was being staged at minimal cost
and only agreed after Simon Fuller convinced them. Missing out would be a mistake….. Who
did:  The Rolling Stones ,  David Bowie ,  Sex Pistols ,  Kate Bush  and  The Libertines

They don’t appear until 20 minutes in, nearer the end of the music section. Everytime I saw a
taxi I started screaming. Convinced it was them.

Most tweeted moment of the year: 116,000 tweets per minute.
By this point we had already had an announcement of a new musical in the works for the girls. So, in June 2012 the five girls reunited on the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel where 16 years previously they had filmed the video for Wannabe. They announced a juke box musical will be made from the back catalogue with a book by Jennifer Saunders and production by Judy Craymer.
Then we move into musical territory. Viva Forever! (written with an exclamation mark – presumably that was Victorias input – we know she loves a ! her Greatest hits thank yous were filled with them).

Right choice of people to work with. All female. Felt very appropriate. Saunders can be linked
to Comic Relief, Ab Fab, The Movie.
Open in London West End at the Piccadilly Theatre in Dec of that same year.

Before we talk about the show – can we do opening night. Victoria nearly didn’t make it. Didn’t walk the red carpet with the girls; did with her family
o The look book. Geri is in a huge ballgown. Very similar to the one she wore at Prince
Charles Birthday Gala. All in upmarket dresses….. except VB. Who is in trousers, a
shirt, and a jacket over her shoulders. (Maybe she was genuinely late).
I had on platform trainers. My union Jack vest. My bottle of wine. It was very middle class,
middle aged, middle mooded. Was not a lot of jumping and screaming. It felt like Mamma Mia
audience, to me.

It felt…. Weak. And I wanted it to be good. The story was – well, X Factor felt tired at that
point, and it was centred on that. Also, they started as a group and then she left. Whereas the
Spice Girls were about 5 girls forced together who had to get along. Bear in mind a year
earlier Little Mix had been put together as a winning group. THAT would have been a better
story.
o They used album tracks and solo stuff. Which I thought was strong. A nod to the fans,
new music for some.
o Staging – cool – with the houseboat that rose out of the stage.
o Also, there was this complicated birth mother story that had an obvious conclusion
that never got resolved.
o I lay the blame at Jennifer Saunders door. And the support she would have received
in writing the book. She is known more for things coming together in improve and
rehearsal – They never had a finished script when they went to film an episode of Ab
Fab. The jokes in it were tight – hilar, but it didn’t feel slick and fully cohesive.

- The reviews were savage:
o Telegraph: "ll tell you what I wanted, what I really really wanted – I wanted this
terrible show to stop. I shall not dwell on the plot because, goodness knows,
Jennifer Saunders, its writer, certainly hasn’t done.  Viva Forever! marks the
West End coming to an unequivocal dead end."
o Guardian: The real problem is the songs. For one thing, there aren't enough
memorable hits in a career that lasted for three albums to support two hours of
theatre
o That’s the tone all the way through – bad script, lack of experience in Saunders,
not enough hits to carry the show, gloomy story.

We also get a documentary _ Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever! Another Christmas treat my
family left me in a room with a bottle of wine to enjoy.

- Announced on 2nd May that the show was to close after only 7 months, with a loss of
£5million. Who takes that hit? That would have been a huge blow. They were looking at that
show being their legacy…… they were thinking transferring to broadway, a soundtrack, a
movie. Big things were planned for this.
o How do you survive reviews like that? You just can’t really. Its not like a movie, where
people can just pop in. West End is expensive, and a travel, it’s a huge event.
o Some satisfaction. I had written to Jennifer Saunders to appear in it…… Tell the
story.

Then we get the Hot mess that was GEM.
- July 2016: There is a website launched with a video stating they will be doing something for
the 20 th anniversary of Wannabe (watch). The video, they are sat in a bed with paper hats on.
- Its just Scary, Baby and Ginger…… with the intials of Melanie, Emma and Geri spelling GEM.
In the video, Mel B is wearing two hats….. makes you wonder if they were expecting
someone else.
- They don’t say what is happening, but they say something. Its highly speculated there will be
a gig in Hyde park the following summer. Mel B has subsequently confirmed that…. But we never know what to believe with her, because a lot of the time she says things she wants to
happen. Shes obviously read The Secret.

- November we get a leak of a single from the 3 – Song For Her – I think it could have been a
banger. Its what you would expect from a grown up spice girls album actually.
o Geris vocals are awful
o It obviously is pretty raw, needs a lot of production work. But that all comes in later.
Get a Hex Hector remix. Call up Freemasons. You got a hit on your hands.
o They said it was not a single. Emma said on Heart it was just the girls getting together
and messing around.

- This whole thing just got MESSY – There was some hot rumours they would perform at the X
Factor final that year. Either as GEM, or the Spice Girls. But that never happened. That same
week – Mel C and Victoria duetted on 2 Become 1….. They sang it at the Beckhams New
Years Eve party. (VB is always doing that, her Karaoke song is her OWN song. But she didn’t
sing most of the vocals, so it’s a genuine treat and challenge!)
- Then they were saying they weren’t called GEM, and still the Spice Girls. Then the other two
said they weren’t the Spice Girls without all 5. Then they said the other two might join, and the
other two said they wont. Then Mel said GEM wasn’t a thing, the tabloids made it up – even
though the domain name is registered to them. It was messy messy messy….. and just faded
into nothing. Much like another girlband acronym: Sugababes MKS

Spice Girls 9: Reunion rumours, predictions and gossip 2019

In this Spice Girls reunion 2019 podcast we discuss our predictions and the rumours regarding the Spice Girls tour starring Sporty Spice, Scary Spice, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice and not Posh Spice because she is busy.

Lets start this in February 2018. All 5 are back together at Geri's house (She keeps mentioning her new kitchen in interviews). All look great, Mel B’s hair is total “woke up like this”….. she was clearly late.

"the time now feels right to explore some incredible new opportunities together"

RUMOURS:

• Reality show to find a replacement VB
• Heidi Range from the sugababes to replace VB (Suga Spice)
• An animated movie, with each of the girls voicing the characters of a super hero. A bit powerpuff girls and showing a new evolution of “Girl Power”…… hello, Spice Force 5 (had animated movie in the works before, remember).

October 2018: Mel B Halloween outfit. Cheapest mask ever. VB black dress wig combo. Friend in Beckham shirt. Axe NO IAM not GOING ON tour. Obvs threw it together that day.

November 2018…… we get the announcement. I mean, it was no secret but I wasn’t banking on anything until it happened.

The announcement video is amazing. Lets watch and review:

• Dress reference. Mel B won’t let it go.
• People power instead of Girl Power. Political position

Dec 2018 – A news report comes out stating the girls will have to change some of the lyrics to songs, because they are not PC in 2019. Specifically stated the line from Spice Up Your Life….. “Yellow man in Timbucctu”.

They are actively trying to be inclusive in that rap. Not the first time they have had to do this. There was a verse in 2 become 1 that originally went “Any deal that we endeavour, boys and girls feel good together” to “Once again if we endeavour, Love will bring us back together”. Interestingly they also gave the line to Victoria instead of Geri. So Geri sings on the album track; Victoria sings on the radio version.

I’d guess, Victoria wasn’t in the studio at the time….. busy sorting business. Which, if you remember, is what happened with Wannabe. Which Victoria has been very open about. Whereas Geri probably wrote the whole thing whilst out hugging a tree.

 

8th Jan

Simon Fuller quizzed about streaming and social media numbers – calling them meaningless.

"There's no music out, the streaming on Spice Girls, we don't even bother looking at it because I haven't a clue what it is, my guess is it's not very much.

"It's the fastest selling, biggest selling tour this year, because people engaged with them, they are engaged with them, the girls are awesome, they have a message which connects and we will sell out more stadiums, quicker, than any other artist on planet Earth. Fact."

Spice Girls have 333k followers on insta (They joined in 2018). Little Mix have 10.9m.

There are fan accounts who do what the Spice Girls accounts do better (name them).

 

Melanie B fall (I think Geri pushed her). Calls up worries about how well they will cope on tour. Injuries etc.

Melanie B and Geri confession.

• On Piers Morgan, Mel C in the audience. Newspaper headlines invented a scandal
• “She’s all posh in her big house now”. Saying husband would really object
• I don’t think you marry Geri Halliwell without knowing who she is!
• They have talked about this before. How they all kissed Mel B when she got her tongue pierced to try it out. Its just silly cruel intentions stuff.
• Also, she doesn’t say what they did. Piers asks if they went all the way, Mel just nods.

 

Jess Glynne opening act controversy. Modest Management had arranged the support act. Agreed 100,000 per show. Which is 1.3 million in total(?). Apparently, this hadn’t been put past the girls. Who did not want to part with the cash?

• Discussion around openers. Who would be good? If you want to see Jess Glynne, you book tickets for Jess Glynne.

 

Online shop – what will they sell.

• I wannabe a spice girl t-shirt

 

• Merchandise we would want to see brought back. Look at the twitter posts
• Jamie @JLW1006 wants the beanbag. (Surprised it wasn’t inflatable)
• Sarah Ramage on FB STILL has a can of the impulse.
• My friend Lauren, wallet sized club card that said “Flash for instant girl power”. Problematic.

 

New music rumours

• Diplo collaboration: him sampling one of their older songs to rework it into a summer banger. They did feature a lot of remixes….. they had club hits. Seems a smart idea….. I’m thinking of “The girl is mine” from a few years ago.

Greatest hits idea

• What they will do. Greatest Hits revisited. With a couple of fave songs and one new track. Which will probably be a dreary ballad they recorded in 1999 and just taken Victorias vocals off. Or not, because they probably weren’t on there. And maybe a video disc. With live performances. Or a live album. Or a live tour DVD. Almost definitely a DVD
• They should do…… 1 disc hits. 1 disc – best of the Bs. So single B sides, hits from the albums, justice for Forever. 3rd Disc – best of the solo. Couple hits from all of them, maybe the newer stuff as well as their number 1s. That album would then have 17 number 1’s on it. That’s a  great adveritising slogan.

 

Tour Set List…. What do we expect

• Will they do Holler, Goodbye, Let Love Lead the Way. That’s 3 number ones without Geri on.
• Already been revealed they will do Holler with Geri…… but they wont be doing Headlines.
• Emma confirmed to the Official Charts company in an interview they WONT be doing solo songs. But they have lied before.
• I predict there will be a video message of some sort from Victoria. I can’t see them ignoring her involvement. I’d like into being “Stop, slow down, take a deep breath” and end “Spice Girls, you’re out of your mind”
• Visuals - cheaper
• Album tracks you’d want to hear?

2007 Reunion - Return of Spice Girls World tour, Tesco adverts & Greatest Hits

They’re coming Right Back At Ya. All 5 Spice Girls together again. 4 become 5. 

Each Spice Girl said they were unlikely to reform. Particularly Melanie C, who as recent as the April had said she wouldn't. The christening of Geris daughter, Bluebell, appeared to be the clincher.

They were meant to get together for Live8, July 2005. The hold up was Mel B, because she was in California working. Instead people were treated to Madonna, Mariah and Dido (The Adele of her day). More forgotten heros of the time: Ms Dynamite and Joss Stone

Mel C was pretty shady about it on Anne Robinsons talk show. Mel B would give a glimmer of hope by confirming their will be an album, full of new tracks and it was inevitable the girls would get back together. But we would have to wait two more years.

28th June 2007 – Announced world tour outside of Londons O2 Arena.  Lets talk looks.

• Geri is the only one in white. Meaning she would be in the middle. You KNOW she was told all black. "We were all on the email, Geri"
• Melanie Brown thought she was being clever by wearing a red skirt.
• Geris dress is also truly heinous. Shapeless earth mother
• Victoria Beckham….. The boobs, the corset, the sequin leggings. The hair!
• Emma Bunton is an 8 month pregnant goddess
• Mel B had given birth just 2 months previously. These girls love being pregnant around tour times. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them makes announcement next week.

 

Announce world tour – initially 11 dates. Dates sold out and they added an additional 16 dates. Grossed over $70million dollars

Victoria Beckham turned down a spot in the Sex and the city sequel because of touring. Geri must have been furious.

This was followed by a Greatest Hits CD in November.

• The album artwork….. simple right. Spice Girls greatest hits album is one of the most expensive album covers ever made. Because they are REAL jewels. What a bloody waste!

Best selling girlband album of 2007, but beaten to the top by – can you guess it? Leona Lewis debut. Only made number 93 in America due to a clerical issue with retailer Victorias Secret, who weren’t registered for soundscan. Despite selling 600,000 copies in those stores alone.  

 

VB – Mummy was a popstar.

I love a liner note – not as much as Mel B, who didn’t have room on the page so wrote an additional section on her website. (Don’t read it Karen – she doesn’t get all her yours right).

Supported by new single “Headlines (Friendship never ends).

• I like it more now. It has grown on me. Plush ballad….. if a little beige.
• Mel C was not a fan. Never mind the buzzcocks. FIND.
• Unusual composition –The Mel C power bridge comes in halfway through, before Victorias solo. Distinctly hear Victorias voice in the chorus for once.
• Geri described it as a “Classic”. By that she means they recorded it in 1998 and gave it a musical wash. Apparently it was written back in the day, with Absolute and they just revamped it
• Crucially, it was their only single to miss the Top 10 – clocking in at 11. Despite being the official Children in need single. First song in 10 years not to do so (Makes Baby Bunton feel better about Downtown).

THE VIDEO

• The storyboard for this video is: 5 friends meet up after 10 years and instead of going for cocktails and talking about boys – they strut into a dark and draughty house and cavort on the furniture. That is clearly an event organised by Geri “Yo, Vicki, Emma, Mel, Mel – Crazy golf was fully booked so do you fancy going to Downton Abbey and watched me writhe against a wardrobe door in bra and gloves. This is a song about friendship, and surviving together and they spend most of it in separate rooms!
• The only time they are actually together is when Geri and Victorias sit on a dresser and stroke each others hair. They sit on a dresser…. Despite this house being filled exclusively with furniture.  
• They look incredibly classy and sophisticated except when, for a reason never explained, Geri is in her underwear and gloves. Scary lies down on a rug in her bra but has the decency to keep her skirt on. VB at least had the decency to wear a high fashion bra and suspender set, which looks like its made out of the leftover scraps from her “Out of your mind” video. Baby and Sporty are the only two who couldn’t find a suitable bra in Marks and Spencers and instead have to settle for seducing the phallic chandeliers

In America, the album was only released through Victoria Secret stores, in line with their performance at the Victorias Secret Lingerie Show.

 

• The Tesco Christmas adverts "I want lobster"
• The documentary "Giving you everything" - 
• Mel B is quoted as saying “Girl power is about being a good woman to another woman. Sorting your head out. No drama, no bitchiness”…. Which, from everything they have said in the last few years AND in the documentary; they rarely did after the first two years
• Victoria Beckhams Pob haircut - one of the most groundbreaking haircuts of the 21st century
• Tour costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli
• Tour issues and early cancellations, due to personal tensions and family issues
• 2002 documentary – Seven days that shook the Spice Girls. 
• W.O.M.A.N as the potential lead single but missed off the album.

 

Spice Girls 7: Mel B Hot, dancers & Eddie Murphy's baby (99-07)

Mel B, aka Scary Spice, was the feisty, in-your-face Spice Girl. She'd had solo albums, babies, marriages (plural) and many flows from over seas. But how can you beep-beep with no keys. 

This week, Pod of the pops, respects the solo career of Melanie Janine Brown. This is Pod of the Pops

Click here to download the LookBook

_______________

Mel B, Scary Spice, was the first one to release a solo track. The impeccable “I want you back”.

Technically, its  a Missy Elliott song. She called Scary and said I have a song for you. Mel flew out their and recorded the song and video in just a couple of days.

Appeared on the soundtrack for “Why do fools fall in  love”, which Missy was executively produced by Missy Elliot.  Same soundtrack as Destiny Childs “get on the bus”.

 

UK number one single. Biggest thing, for me, was the hair. She had the long sleek straight hair. That was MIND BLOWING to me at the time. I grew up in Devon, I knew NOTHING about black hair. I couldn’t comprehend it. I thought she looked amazing.

 

In the video, Mel is pregnant with her first daughter – from back up dancer, Jimmy Gulzar, who also appears in the video.

It was also his idea……

 

Married and had baby with a back up dancer. Why do popstars keep marrying their back up dancers?

Mel B timeline. She meets him in March 98 on the tour, they get engaged in May, pregnant in June and married in September. That’s 6 months. 6. In that time I have just about learnt his name!

Divorced in January 2000. So, they got a year of happy.

Britney and K-Fed (plus this new one).

Mariah Carey left James Packer for Brian Tanaka (I accidentally typed brain tanaka, which I doubt is his nickname)

Jennifer Lopez has done it twice. She married her love don’t cost a thing dancer Chris Judd in 2001. Then she got with Caspar Smart from the Dance Again video.

It was also him that suggested she cover Cameos “Word Up” as her second single. Another movie soundtrack – Austin Powers, Spy who shagged me (I don’t remember because Britney and Beyonce were in that one).

She was Mel G for this video – and the video was a cartoon, so her best disguise yet. Got to number 13. Lowest charting Spice single of the 90s.

Not kept down, goes into the world of presenting. I don’t remember; she had a BBC2 magazine show focusing on Black Music called Pure Naughty.

She presented the MOBOS twice in 98 and 99.

She also presented a TV talent show on ITV primetime called: This is my Moment.

Basically, people ring up and sing down the phone. Then viewers vote on who they want to keep. Only lasted one series.

I do not remember this at the time but I did find clips of her on youtube. Someone spent the time to string all her presenting clips together without anything else. Im so grateful. It was…… rigid. They all seem like such natural presenters in real life; but they need each other really. She wore a LOT of sequins. You know how sequins are everytwhere this year….. she was literally 19 years ahead of her time. Diff colour sequin outfit each week. Incredible boobs!

We also discuss:

- Her solo album, Hot, with its single: Tell me, feels so good and Lullaby. It featured production from Darkchild, Sisqo, Jimmy Jam & Lewis and, surprisingly, Max Beesley. (She dated Max Beesley also)

- Break up and Divorce from Jimmy Gulzar. Post baby, pre break up anthem "Tell me". There was also the first hints of domestic violence within her relationship

- Getting dropped by Virgin records

- Autobiography

- Mel B acting career. BBC drama, Burn it, featuring Lisa Faulkner. Plus appearing in movie, The Seatfiller, with Kelly Rowland from Destinys Child. Plus performing as Mim Marquez in Rent

- Setting up own lable, to create the Sheryl Crowe esque "LA State of Mind" second album

- Getting pregnant with Eddie Murphy baby. Giving birth after paternity battle with Eddie Murphy. Also during this time she meets future husband Stephen Belafonte. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spice Girls 6: Victoria Beckham - Marriage & music, Babies & affairs (99-07)

Posh Spice, Victoria Beckhams, Vicky Adams... today we take a quote from her former music school principal: If Victoria hadn't had the lucky breaks she had and the people having faith
in her to make her what she is, she probably would have been singing and
dancing on a cruise liner.

Click here to download the LookBook

Do we think this is true? Lets Stop – slow down – take a deep breath and respect the solo career of Victoria
Caroline Beckham.
_________________________________
Shes one half of the most photographed couple in Britain, queen of the wags, inventor of the POB.
Can't discuss her without her husband David Beckham. Met at a charity football match.
Becks overcame his shyness, to peer from under his curtains and chat her up.

They had their first baby Brooklyn in march of 1999 and were married in July, in a £424,000.
(Although OK magazine paid £980000 so that’s a sweet profit). Which seems like a tight turn
around to fit into a dress.

Geri wasn’t in attendance. Sporty and Baby wore white tuxedos. Scary wore black. Mel C has
the worst haircut.

They then brought their her first home, the £2.5million “Beckingham Palace”.
o It has a mini chapel
o Playground made of fake ancient runes
o Maze
o Bbq area
o And of course …. Professionally tailor football pitch (Don’t worry, there is also a recording studio)

- 4 children in total: Brooklyn, 1999, Romeo, 2002, Cruz, 2005. 3 during this time (Harper wouldn’t
arrive until 2011). Elton John and his partner, David Furnish are Godparents to Brooklyn and Romea, along
with Elizabeth Hurley.

The Beckhams suffered extreme mocking from Alistair McGowan as they imitated the two.

One thing we can say about Victoria: She was not afraid of a trend. In fact, I don’t think she met one
she didn’t like. Dramatically launched her music career in August 2000. Duet, she didn’t want to step out
alone so she Truesteppered out with the garage tinged “Out of your mind” featuring Dane
Bowers. There was a real trend for the reply song – so we had Damons Fuck
You, followed by Frankie Fuck you right back. Mario, I don’t wanna know. Followed by Shola
Ama, You already knew. And then this, a follow up to Truesteppers top 10 record “Bugging”.

Replies were soooooo noughties but so were epic chart battles. This track was in a much
hyped race to no.1 with Spiller and Sophie Ellis Bextors “Groovejet”. Which narrowly beat it
by 20,000 copies.

This was a real fashion moment: The cut out pleather tops, the matrix video and my fave
image (the lip ring and extensions). This Victoria saying – Im a bad bitch.

Question: Which solo spice single has the biggest first week sales? This with 180,000 copies.
Lowest selling? Geri angels in chains or Mel B Day in your lfe

Kidnap plots
 there was a fear and a plot and an investigation...... but CPS charges were dropped
because main testimony cane from a serial fantasist who was paid by News Of The World journalist
Mazher Mahmoud (classic New of the world behaviour)
 Plan was to kidnap Victoria, with guns, and keep her in a house in Brixton. Police were in
contact with Mahmoud but he refused to give them evidence or say who the victim was.
 They agreed an arrest date and only then did he provided details.... 3 hours before the
arrest
 Because you can release details of a suspect after an arrest
 Turns out the guy selling the story was the gang leader and had set the whole thing up
just to sell the story!
 November 2002. Dropped 6 months later
Brooklyn and Romeo. Mother of two.
5 million for her; if the children with her another 5.
Told, then watched her husband play against Southampton and didn’t tell him until after
Not the first attempt on her life - rehearsals for Brit awards 2000. Red laser beam on her chest,
signals a rifle bullet.
Police found a door had been wedged open
Whilst performing Victoria became convinced she had been shot, after hearing a series of
unexpected bangs, and stopped singing, clutching her stomach
- She then took a solid year to “find her sound” and came back with the autobiographical “Not
such an innocent girl” in September 2001.
- Recently my Spotify has started throwing this onto my daily mix and shes right: First
impressions can be wrong, this is a tune! Good chorus, deep lyricaly content. Very deep
message in the video: you had the white blonde good girl, and then the dark haired bad girl
racing in some futuristic grand prix – effectively inventing the idea of quidditch – until they
crash and form one, Victoria beckham. Still a lot of leather in this video.

We also discuss:

• - Her chart battle with Kylie Minogue

• Debut album, Not such an innocent girl, and a painful review by NME

• Two shelved albums - Come Together/Open your eyes - produced with Jay Z friend, Damon Dash

• Her best-selling autobiograpjy, Learning to Fly

• Her French language single

• Shady lyrics against Geri Halliwell in "Whatcha Talkin' Bout"

• Being dropped by Virgin Records

• Singing and sinking Telstar records

• The Rebecca Loos scandal and David Beckham affair rumours allegations of cheating

• Beginnings of her fashion empire, starting with walking the catwalk at London Fashion week in 200 wearing Burbery. Her fashion line with Jay Z owned Rocawear. Her line of Rocawear VB Jeans, her relationship with Roberto Cavalli and her second book, That extra half an inch

• Pulls all the gossip on her WAG look at Football World Cup.

Spice Girls 5: Mel C Solo (99-07)

She’ll call you up whenever things go wrong. She’s always there she is your shoulder to cry on. She just can’t live without her phone but you don’t even have a home.

Click here to download the LookBook

As a solo artist, she has sold 20 million records and had 2 number 1 singles. Pod of the Pops is celebrating the Solo Careers of the Spice Girls. This time it’s the turn of Sporty Spice: Melanie Jayne Chisholm.

This episode covers Sporty Spice, Mel C: battles with her weight, eating disorder, 3 albums, Number 1s, Grammy win, Spice Girls bullying, record label, dropped, lesbian rumours,

 

Kicks off her career the classic spice girls way – collaboration. Bryan Adams – When you’re gone.

She was not Adams first choice for duet: "When I was first doing it, I asked Sheryl Crow to do it and never heard back from her!, "I was in LA at the time and got in the lift at the hotel and in walked Mel and I said 'hey Mel!' and she said 'Hi'.

"I said: 'We should sing something together' and she said 'I'd love to!' Then I said: 'I've got one for you!'"

 

Was written by Eliot Kennedy who worked on a number of the Spice Girls hits (Say you’ll be there and Love Thing). Went to number 3.

 

She signed with Virgin records and began recording the album. Couple months before going  back into the studio for Forever (So would have her solo music ready to go while having to go and sing Holler!).

She recorded with LA; worked with William Orbit and the main producer for Red Hot Chilli Peppers. She met with Madonna (and stole half the production team from Ray of Light).

 

The album, Northern Star, was the best selling solo album of all the girls. 4 million copies worldwide. Slow burner, singles helped build momentum – especially after a re-release in the August when Never be the same again went number 1. It peaked at number 2 in Set 2000, nearly a year after release.

 

We also talk about:

• Her subsequent 2 albums: Reason, Beautiful Intentions
• Two number one singles – never be the same again and I turn to you
• Grammy win
• Mel C is first female artist to writer on 11 number 1s.
• Only female artist to have a number 1 as a solo, duet, quadret and quintet
• The ever changing Mel C hair
• Being dogged by rumours regarding her sexuality. Apparently, having short hair and liking football makes you a lesbian. Not.
• Dropped by Virgin records
• Performing in reality tv show, The Games
• Battles with weight, image, size and eating disorder
• Spice girls bullying, bullying with the band
• Her dating life: Including Robbie William and Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Slam quotes on the other girls

Spice Girls 4: Emma Solo Career (98-07)

What took you so long? Its time to respect the solo career of Emma Lee Bunton.

 

Click here to download the LookBook

Baby Spice was one of the last to do solo release – but it was worth it. Pre-Forever, 1999, she
recorded a song for the Pokemon movie soundtrack, (Hey you) Free up your mind. Yep, the
Pokemon movie soundtrack.
I didn’t realise but Baby Bunton had a really solid solo launch. She presented her own TV show on
VH1, in October 1999, at a similar time to releasing the Tin Tin Outs cover of “What I am”.
In 90s chart fashion it was in a battle for number 1. Against former bandmate, Geri Halliwells.
Then after the Forever album, and hiatus, she went straight into presenting. Her current Heart FM
gig is not a pleasant little surprise Baby had always been carving herself a position as a presenter.

We’d wait to wait until April 2001 (What took you so long) to get Baby Bunton proper with the
release of her debut single and its accompanying album, Girl Like Me.
Wrote the song herself with Richard Stannard, who had been a big part of the Spice and Spiceworld
albums (2 become 1, Spice up your life). Songwriting credits on almost every track – theres two
covers, but other than that. Consistently through her solo career, actually. I think with all of them
that was the case. Even Victoria Beckham.
The album charted at number 4. Went gold. Critics were mixed – they said it was pleasant,
she was pleasant, the songs were pleasant, it was just…. Pleasant. NME called her “Ewok spice”. It
had a long metaphor comparing it to the movies that really wasn’t aimed at her target market.” her
heart is in the right place but her soul is nowhere to be seen.”
She had 2 further singles, summery ballad “Take my breath away” – Its nice but it does sound
very much like an album filler track. I think this was voted for as a single by fans on her website.
Then we got the remixed version of “Were not gonna sleep tonight” – a party anthem about
slopping around on the dancefloor until the early morning, just in time for christmas.
- Both saw diminishing chart returns. 5 for take my breath; and 20 for Sleep. Which ultimately
led to her parting ways with Virgin records.
Of course, around this time she starts dating Jade Jones from Damage. They met in 1998 during
Spice Girls peak mania. Apparently, she flirted with him trying to get him to help her programme her
phone – classic.
They split a couple of times at the turn of the century. For about a year after their first year of
dating, and then again in 2002 when she started working with Simon Fuller again.
So, she may have not been single for long but when she was she went for top grade
batchelor. Dated:
- Rio Ferdinand
- Justin Timberlake (On Ellen this year he revealed he hooked up with one of them.
Their last split was in 2002 and was triggered by Bunton signing a new record deal with none
other than spice Tsar, Simon Fuller/19 management. Apparently, Jade wasn’t that happy
about it and Emma wanted to get back on it.
In 2003, Bunton had to move out of her mansion because neighbours moaned about the noise from
her latenight partying (We’re not gonna sleep tonight). Gives you a bit of context for her new album.
She reinvented herself as a 60s siren in 2003, when she released the Bond Theme sounding
Free Me. We had to wait nearly two years but it was worth it.
It peaked at number 5 and paved the way for the greatest song of her career, Maybe.
We also talk about:
- Her stint on Strictly come dancing
- Her attempt at Actress Spice: appearing in Absolutely Fabulous
- Bollywood Spice: Emma appeared in 2 bollywood movies and a documentary
- Her controversial Howard Stern interview that resurfaced recently where he treats her
horrendously
- Her third album, life in mono – cover of Downtown.

Spice Girls 3: Geri Halliwell Solo (98-07)

Love the Spice Girls? Pod of the Pops celebrates their career ahead of the 2019 reunion tour.

Go get yourself wet girls, I know you want to!

Click here to download the LookBook

Geri Halliwell was the first to leave the Spice Girls in 1998 proving that friendship never ends, unless, like, you know, you’re not feeling it anymore.

 

She started the year with  a hand written note from Prince Charles and would go on to sing at his 50^th. Of course, she sang Happy Birthday – Marilyn Monroe style – and blew him a little kiss.

 

That same year, she became a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Yes, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.

 

Of course, all of this was documented in the documentary – Geri by Molly Dineen. It’s a pretty hard hitting doc. Raw.  

 

She was the first to release a solo album – Schizophonic. It had a rough start but went on to feature 3 number 1 singles and chart in America.

 

In this episode we also talk about:

• Geris 4 number one singles. That was (at the time) more than any other British Female Solo artist. Do you know who has beaten her since?
• Geris 3 albums, including Scream if you wanna go faster and Passion.
• Geris Hand Choreography
• The Yoga DVDs
• THAT body, after being admitted to an eating clinic due to the stress and pressures of fame
• How Geri Halliwell literally created Girls Aloud!

Giving birth to her first baby