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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Spice Girls _ Throwback! Anniversaries of Spice Girls moments

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 19 2017, 10:23 AM

19 years ago...
Monday 14th September 1998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1krWk-kFI

The day after marrying her first husband Jimmy Gulzar, Mel B released her debut solo single I Want You Back, featuring Missy Elliott! The R&B/Hip-Hop flavoured track was the very first solo release to come from any of the Spice Girls. It debuted at #1 in the UK, and would prove to be Mel's only chart topper away from the group. Its entry date of Sunday 20th September 1998 was also the last date of the Spiceworld Tour, with the concluding date taking place at Wembley Stadium.


16 years ago...
Monday 17th September 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl15xG3cHd4

Victoria's first chart moment away from the Spice Girls was a collaboration with True Steppers & Dane Bowers - Out of Your Mind - in August 2000. It would be another year until she was ready to release her first completely solo single, Not Such an Innocent Girl. By 2001, all of her former band-mates had achieved at least one solo #1 each (the aforementioned Out of Your Mind had had to make do with #2). The pressure was on for Victoria to achieve the same. With an expensive-looking video and an intense promotional schedule, surely Victoria's time had come? Unfortunately for her, it wasn't to be! Despite a much-hyped chart battle between herself and Kylie Minogue (who won out, with Can't Get You Out of My Head entering at #1), she fell way short of the mark - entering and peaking at #6. Surely a great position to achieve for a lot of artists, but for Victoria it was labelled as an unmitigated flop. cry.gif


4 years ago...
Thursday 19th September 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUUO5JeT-QA

Mel B surprised her fans with the release of For Once in My Life, her first music release in over 8 years! Was she finally gearing herself up to release a third solo album? Sadly not, as another 4 years have come and gone without further music releases! For the past decade Mel has experienced major success in the television industry, and thus has prioritised presenting & judging over music. For Once in My Life was backed with one of the more memorable solo-Spice music videos - it was filmed on the set of Desperate Housewives, and sees her stripping off, cutting her own hair and even giving herself a kiss on the lips. ;o Ultimately chart success wasn't forthcoming, although it managed to make it to #30 in the UK Indie singles chart, and #2 in the US Billboard Dance Club Songs.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Sep 19 2017, 10:29 AM

I like 'For Once In My Life'. It was mainly stemmed from me and my then housemate having an ironic obsession with it bit then grew to genuinely like it.

'I Want You Back' is probably one of the most forgettable and nondescript #1s ever. NSAIG is okay, but nothing to write home about at all.

Posted by: JB2o2o Sep 19 2017, 07:56 PM

wow didnt realize they all came out around the same time.

I loved both IWYB and FOIML. Missy did a great thing working with Mel on that track. I only wish she (and Timbaland) could've done more on the album.

NSAIG was cute when it came out. I rarely listen to it now, I loved the video tho.

Posted by: JosephGutierrez Sep 20 2017, 07:49 PM

For Once In My Life is such an anthem, can't believe it was 4 years ago ohmy.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 20 2017, 07:58 PM

19 years ago...

Saturday 19th September 1998 / Sunday 20th September 1998



The Spice Girls performed the last two dates of their Spiceworld Tour at Wembley Stadium!

The tour began in February 1998 in Dublin, Ireland, and at this point the Spice Girls were still in tact as a 5 piece. However, by the end of the first European leg in May, Geri quit the group - just two weeks before they were set to embark on their North American dates. Despite fears of a backlash, their American fans proved themselves to be fine with the prospect of seeing a quartet instead. Barely any refunds were requested and every American date was successfully completed. By the time the girls returned to the UK for their stadium dates in Sheffield & London, both Mel B & Victoria were showing the signs of pregnancy. The Wembley shows were filmed, and subsequently released on VHS in November 1998 and DVD in October 2008.

Memorable elements of this tour include the If U Can't Dance intro (I love the routine / formation!), Naked (despite it seeming that only the chairs they were sat on were covering their modesty, they weren't completely naked x), 2 Become 1 (Emma's extended high note wub.gif ), Spice Up Your Life (the conga *.*) and a rousing cover of We Are Family.

Looking back, it's a great shame that the biggest show of their career wasn't with the full line-up. This is why I actually prefer their Istanbul show from 1997 - for me it represents the group at their peak & I enjoy it more (even though it's sadly lacking a performance of Viva Forever). Geri has since expressed regret at missing out on the opportunity to perform at Wembley Stadium - although she did get to perform for American & Canadian fans for the first time, thanks to the 2007/8 tour The Return of the Spice Girls.

Posted by: schizo_spice Sep 21 2017, 12:58 PM

Yeah as good as Wembley Stadium was looking at it now it just never looks or feels right as a four piece. I think it's also because there was no new four piece only music either it was just Spice and Spiceworld which again made the absence stand out more (to me)



Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 11 2017, 01:23 AM

18 years ago...
Monday 27th September 1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlq9PecSD5o

Melanie C released Goin' Down, which managed a peak of #4 in the UK. This grungy rock song was released as the lead single off her debut album Northern Star.


17 years ago...
Monday 25th September 2000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtW13ZtSdgw

Mel B released Tell Me, which also reached #4 in the UK and preceded the release of her debut album Hot. It includes the memorable lyric "all you loved was Mel B's money" (this song is about her ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar).


17 years ago...
Monday 9th October 2000



Mel B's debut album Hot was released. It proved to be a commercial disaster, stalling at #28 in the UK chart - making it the first Spice related release to miss the UK Top 20. Mel B sadly has the dubious honour of being the only Spice Girl not to have achieved a Top 10 solo album. Four months after release, Mel achieved another Top 5 hit single with 'Feels So Good', but interest in its parent album remained limited - only managing to climb to #95.


16 years ago...
Monday 1st October 2001



Victoria Beckham's self-titled album came out. She was the last of the Spice Girls to release a debut, following Geri's 'Schizophonic' (1999), Melanie C's 'Northern Star' (1999), Mel B's 'Hot' (2000) and Emma's 'A Girl Like Me' (2001). 'Victoria Beckham' achieved a UK peak of #10, following on from the #6 peak its lead single 'Not Such An Innocent Girl' acheived. Sadly this would prove to be Victoria's only commercially released album, although her second album sessions (from 2003/2004) were eventually leaked.


12 years ago...
Friday 30th September 2005

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9n5AkJU-so

Melanie C released First Day of My Life (a cover of an Enrique Iglesias song). It became a #1 smash in Germany, Spain & Switzerland thanks to being the theme song from the German soap opera telenovela Wege zum Glück. The single's success lead to a re-release of her third album Beautiful Intentions, which hadn't previously included the track. Curiously she didn't release this as a single in the UK, but included it as a bonus track on the 'Carolyna' single in 2007.

Posted by: Jonjo Oct 12 2017, 09:51 AM

QUOTE
Memorable elements of this tour include the If U Can't Dance intro (I love the routine / formation!), Naked (despite it seeming that only the chairs they were sat on were covering their modesty, they weren't completely naked x), 2 Become 1 (Emma's extended high note  ), Spice Up Your Life (the conga *.*) and a rousing cover of We Are Family.
BITCH.

DON'T EVEN FORGET ABOUT THE MEL'S 'VIVA FOREVER' MOMENT. I.e. the absolute best moment from the concert! wub.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 12 2017, 11:06 AM

drama.gif I’m surprised I did!! Maybe the Viva Forever haters are influencing me. ;o

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 13 2017, 10:12 AM

20 years ago...
Monday 13th October 1997

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wfpXI5PKlw

Spice Girls released Spice Up Your Life, the first single from their second album Spiceworld! http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=205301&view=findpost&p=5843362


14 years ago...
Monday 13th October 2003

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdW9oM6ZMME

Emma Bunton released Maybe, the second single to be taken from her sophomore album Free Me! What a gem of a pop song. wub.gif It provided Emma with a #6 peak in the UK.

Posted by: »ïïïïïïïïïïïïï. Oct 13 2017, 04:56 PM

Both are great tracks that I still listen to quite frequent happy.gif

Feeling all nostalgic with this topic btw wub.gif

(And old sleep.gif ).. teresa.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 17 2017, 07:59 AM

21 years ago...
Monday 14th October 1996

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ro0FW9Qt-4

Spice Girls released their second single Say You'll Be There! http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=205301&view=findpost&p=5843362


20 years ago...
Thursday 16th October 1997

https://twitter.com/SpiceGirlsNet/status/920017030430052352

The official launch of the Spice Girls dolls! They would go on to be the fifth best selling toy of Christmas 1997 in the UK with 300,000 sales, which was reportedly too limited to satisfy demand. 9 year old me really wanted them, but 9 year old me was also too aware of "dolls not being for boys" to dare ask cry.gif :') Does anyone here collect their dolls?

Posted by: Sonia Fowler Oct 17 2017, 08:04 AM

Omg 21 years since their best single was released!!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 19 2017, 10:19 AM

18 years ago...
Monday 18th October 1999



Melanie C's debut album - Northern Star - was released 18 years ago! ohmy.gif Released three weeks after introductory single 'Goin' Down', the album started off somewhat modestly in the UK album chart - entering at #10, on sales of just under 18,000. Northern Star initially spent just three weeks inside the Top 40, but with the release of its title track as the second single, it climbed back inside, and remained within the Top 40 over Christmas 1999. This caused its sales to swell to 175,000 by the end of the year.

2000 proved to be an incredibly successful year for Melanie C. The album's third & fourth releases - Never Be The Same Again and I Turn To You - both topped the UK charts. A re-release of the album containing newer versions of these two singles saw Northern Star achieve its peak of #4. It was certified 3xPlatinum by February 2001, denoting shipments of over 900,000 copies. Its actual UK sales stood at 890,150 as of October 2016. It also achieved great longevity, registering 99 weeks inside the UK Top 200 - even re-entering the Top 75 in 2004!

The album was also a success in other countries. It reached #1 in Sweden and peaked within the Top 10 in several countries. It was certified gold in Australia, Canada and Switzerland, and platinum in Germany and Sweden. Although Northern Star only reached #108 in the US Billboard chart, it sold around 95,000 copies there in total. With an estimated 4 million sales worldwide, this makes Northern Star by far the most successful album released by a member of the Spice Girls gone solo. Go Melanie!

Despite the album receiving average reviews upon release (including a particularly scathing assessment by http://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-nme-1475), its a true fan favourite - with many fans citing it as not only Melanie's best work, but as the best solo Spice Girls album. It's arguably the most genre diverse album released by a Spice Girl too, exploring pop, rock, electronic, r&b, techno and punk - with production from Rick Rubin, Rick Nowels, Craig Armstrong, Marius De Vries, Rhett Lawrence and most notably William Orbit, who was one of the producers on Madonna's much-celebrated album 'Ray of Light' (1998).

Melanie C may not be one of the UK's most celebrated female solo artists, sadly - but in my eyes Northern Star is a classic - happy 18th anniversary! *.*

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 19 2017, 01:47 PM

WOW time flies I still love this album so much one of her best work ever and one of the best spice solo albums ever .

Posted by: Fulvio84 Oct 19 2017, 02:44 PM

I like Northern star but not myfav solo record.
Is funny to see how modest was in the beginning and how big became after NBTSA and I turn to you.
I always thought that if the success was keeping low until 2000 then we could have such a better Forever era, with solo attitude less strong and much more focu on the group again

Posted by: vibe Oct 20 2017, 10:43 AM

NS is a masterpiece

Posted by: Spiceboy Oct 20 2017, 10:01 PM

Northern star is my favourite Spice realease full stop! I adore it wub.gif

Posted by: Maurice Oct 23 2017, 11:00 AM

Northern Star is Melanie's best album, still love it now. Not the best solo spice album but certainly one of the best.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 23 2017, 01:09 PM

17 years ago...
Monday 23rd October 2000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFBWbH5CeREhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtczIm5XrNo

Spice Girls released their Holler / Let Love Lead the Way, the "Double A Side" single which launched their third studio album, Forever! The single reached #1 in the UK, becoming their 9th and final chart topper as a group.

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=205301&view=findpost&p=5831251 + http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=205301&view=findpost&p=5830055

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 23 2017, 02:12 PM

Mind the Mel C look they all were hot in the video , Holler is just perfection and still sounds awesome

Posted by: JB2o2o Oct 23 2017, 04:30 PM

^^im now feeling old with this one...sheesh

Posted by: Maurice Oct 23 2017, 05:49 PM

I was 13 17 years ago, i can imagine people feeling old tbh.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 24 2017, 03:16 PM

What about them do they feel old too LOL

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 3 2017, 05:51 PM

20 years ago...
Monday 3rd November 1997



It's been 20 years since the release of the Spice Girls' second album Spiceworld! ohmy.gif

Spiceworld is of course the follow up to their hugely successful debut album 'Spice'. The level of notoriety and success the Spice Girls achieved with that album was phenomenal, and lead to them filming their very own movie! This took place in the summer of 1997. As if the Spice Girls weren't busy enough learning their lines & filming scenes, there was also the small matter of recording their second album. Spiceworld was written/recorded on set during any free moments; a hectic time for the Spice Girls!

Spiceworld is a pop album, with influences of Latin (Spice Up Your Life, Viva Forever), Motown (Stop), Disco (Never Give Up on the Good Times) and even Jazz (The Lady is a Vamp). It received positive critical reviews, bettering the mixed response towards their debut.

The album was an instantaneous success, reaching the Top 10 in all major markets - including #1 in the UK, on first week sales of just under 192,000. This made it the fastest selling girl group album of all-time in the UK, a record which has still not been taken from them 20 years on... so it might come as a surprise that the media and music industry insiders deemed its sales as being "disappointing" at the time! This negativity/backlash was likely a response to the Spice Girls famously sacked their manager (Simon Fuller) just four days after the album's release. Spiceworld spent three non-consecutive weeks at #1, and had sold its millionth copy by the end of 1997. By 2009, its total sales were approaching 1.6m, while its worldwide sales are reportedly around 20m.

Four singles were released from the album - Spice Up Your Life, Too Much, Stop and Viva Forever. Stop became the group's first single to miss the top spot in the UK, having to make do with #2, but the other three singles all reached #1. Too Much was the most successful release in the US, where it peaked at #9 - the group's final US Top 10 hit.

In February 1998, the Spice Girls embarked on their first tour (the Spiceworld Tour) in support of the album. They started in Europe, and sadly by the end of this leg in May, Geri decided to leave the group. A four piece Spice Girls toured North America over the summer of 1998, and culminated with stadium dates at Don Valley and Wembley Stadium in September 1998, which marked the end of this album era.


wub.gif What an incredible pop album, one of my all time faves! Please feel free to share your memories / your favourite songs/performances!

Posted by: Maurice Nov 3 2017, 07:10 PM

Ha 20 years ago today i ran to the shop to buy this album with my dad and my sister throwing a strop in the music shop because she didn't get the Backstreet Boys album she wanted laugh.gif
I remember coming home and listening to the album the whole evening and thinking the girl sang German in Move Over for several years! (Das ist over instead of Cause its over)
This is my favorite album of the girls. It had the hits like Spice Up Your Life,Too Much, Stop and Viva Forever and brilliant songs like Saturday Night Divas,Never Give Up On The Good Times,Do It, Denying and The Lady is a Vamp. In my opinion there is no bad song on this album.
Loved the tour and went to the Arnhem date on the 28th of March 1998. Sadly we lost Geri during this era but the Wembley concert was stil amazing!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 4 2017, 10:16 PM

I'll write something more substantial tomorrow perhaps, but today marks 21 years since the release of Spice in the UK!

21 & 20 years since their first two albums... help ;o

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 5 2017, 04:51 PM

Spiceworld wub.gif Truly a pop masterpiece! This deserved to outsell their debut in my opinion. While I love Spice, Spiceworld is much more varied in it's styles touching on Motown, Latin, Disco, Jazz and even flavours of RnB, it was great evolution from the first album and it features my top 3 Spice Girls singles (Viva forever, Stop, Spice up your life) wub.gif

It has been really lovely to see a few articles from Billboard and Metro giving the album the praise it deserves, it's Spiceworld that makes me gutted that we never got that 3rd follow up to the album, these girls still had so much more to give (as evident with some of their solo pop masterpieces).

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 5 2017, 06:17 PM

^ It's great that it's received some attention for its anniversary! wub.gif

A few articles:

QUOTE
Spice Girls: 9 reasons why Spiceworld is the greatest pop album of the 90s

There’s a tendency to discredit the Spice Girls’ actual music when it comes to discussing the colossal impact they made in the mid-90s.

Sure, the entry-level feminism, colourful DIY fashion sense, never-ending commercial tie-ins and TOTP magazine-devised nicknames all played their part in establishing Scary, Ginger, Sporty, Baby and Posh as the decade’s ultimate pop-culture icons.

But without the perfectly crafted pop of their No 1s (and a No. 2), as well as their two multi-million-selling parent albums, the quintet are unlikely to have made a ripple in their own country, let alone conquer the entire globe.

Twenty years to the day that their second studio effort, Spiceworld, hit the shelves, here’s a look at why it still stands up as the greatest pop album of the 1990s.

Read More: http://metro.co.uk/2017/11/03/spice-girls-9-reasons-why-spiceworld-is-the-greatest-pop-album-of-the-90s-7039814/


QUOTE
Spice Girls' 'Spiceworld' Turns 20: Remembering Their Eclectic, Theatrical Second Album

Not to state the obvious, but the Spice Girls were one of the most famous pop groups of the ‘90s. The quintet’s 1996 debut Spice launched a worldwide girl power movement that extended beyond the pop world. But the band continued its reign even as it ventured into more experimental, theatrical territory on their sophomore effort Spiceworld.

Spiceworld featured all five-band members, Victoria “Posh” Beckham, Emma “Baby” Bunton, Geri “Ginger” Halliwell, Melanie “Scary” Brown and Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm, as they fused pop, R&B, salsa and balladry together. The record would go on to soundtrack their feature film Spice World in 1998 and would continue to build the hype surrounding the pop group.

With the Spice Girls’ sophomore record turning 20 today (Nov. 3), we're taking a look at it track by track. Perhaps 20 is the magic number for at least four of the five members to reunite for a tour. Let this post serve as encouragement.

Read More: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8023062/spice-girls-spiceworld-album-anniversary


QUOTE
Dear Spice Girls, Thank You For Teaching A Little Boy About Girl Power
An open letter to the best-selling female group of all time on the 20th anniversary of ‘Spiceworld’

Dear Spice Girls,

Or should I say, “Dear the Spice Girls”? IDK! Anyway, today marks the 20th anniversary of Spiceworld’s U.S. release. Not many albums are worth reflecting on two decades in, but Spiceworld and your movie, Spice World (which turns 20 this December), are special. Not just to me, of course—you’re the best-selling female group of all time—but, for now, we’re going to focus on me.

Read More: https://nylon.com/articles/spice-girls-spiceworld-20th-anniversary


QUOTE
TRIBUTE: Celebrating 20 Years of Spice Girls’ ‘Spiceworld’

Happy 20th Anniversary to Spice Girls’ second studio album Spiceworld, originally released November 3, 1997.

Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Horner (née Halliwell) had already conquered their native homeland England—and most of the globe — with Spice in 1996. Once their first album stepped onto American shores, simply put, it was just another territory to be taken by the quintet. And so it was. Looking back now, in the era of Blur, Björk and Bad Boy, the Spice Girls were a funky, approachable and fresh alternative. They were also well studied. Their research had encompassed the musical urbanity of their American predecessors En Vogue and TLC, as well as the DIY model of their British foremothers Bananarama. Pairing that education with their own musical and visual disposition, the Spice Girls were peerless upon arrival.

Read More: http://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-spice-girls-spiceworld


Read More: http://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-spice-girls-spiceworld

QUOTE
Essential Albums: The Spice Girls – Spiceworld]
20 years after its initial release, Suraj Hallan tells us why the Spice Girls' multi-platinum album is still just as relevant and empowering today

After their debut album, Spice, became the best-selling album of all time by a girl-group, with sales of 31 million, the pressure was on for the Spice Girls to deliver with their follow-up. In late 1997, the group gifted pop music with their second album, Spiceworld. The album became a global success, shifting a smooth 20 million worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. However, despite its success in the 90s, is the message and influence of this album still relevant 20 years on? Of course it is!

Read More: http://www.redbrick.me/music/slider-music/essential-albums-spice-girls-spiceworld/


QUOTE
20 Years Later: A ‘Spiceworld’ Song To Match Your Every Emotion

A little over two decades ago, the iconic Spice Girls arrived on the scene and changed both pop culture and the music industry forever.

The five British singers dropped major hit makers like “Wannabe,” “2 Become 1” and “Say You’ll Be There.” But it was their second album that debuted on November 3, 1997 from planet Spiceworld—solidifying the quintet as more than just a pop group, but rather, everlasting symbols of girl power.

n 1997, the world was in peak Spice mania and Spiceworld became an instant commercial success as it debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and climbed to the top three in 18 other countries. While their first album Spice was just as popular, Spiceworld’s songs were catchier and honed in on Ginger, Sporty, Posh, Scary and Baby’s vocal talents while also boasting more personal lyrics.

During the time of Spiceworld’s release, the Spice Girls were involved in a lot of controversies from firing then manager Simon Fuller, misbehaving in front of the British Royal family and reports of constant arguing within the group. With that, each track on Spiceworld brings about a different emotion the girl’s were feeling at the time that resonated with listeners.

Whether you’re feeling sad, happy, angry or all of the above, Spiceworld has got you covered. In honor of it’s 20th anniversary, we recommend listening to the pop masterpiece again—no matter what you’re feeling.

Read More: https://www.much.com/20-year-anniversary-spiceworld-track-for-every-emotion/

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 5 2017, 07:00 PM

21 years ago...
Monday 4th November 1996



...the Spice Girls' debut album Spice went on sale in the UK!

After forming in 1994 via an audition process, the Spice Girls (or Touch as they were known back then) parted company with the original managers the following year. This was due to their frustration with the company's unwillingness to listen to their visions and ideas.

The Spice Girls already had a session booked with the songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy, so they drove to his studio in Sheffield to see if he'd still honour the meeting, even though they were now lacking in representation. Thankfully Eliot was intrigued by the girls and decided to work with them anyway. 'Love Thing' and 'Say You'll Be There' were composed during their very first session together. From there on out their debut album took shape, with writers & producers Stannard and Rowe & Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins also coming on board. The Spice Girls eventually secured new management with Simon Fuller of 19 Entertainment, and subsequently signed to Virgin Records in September 1995. 'Spice' was ultimately ready to be released a year later.

The 10-track album is a pop record at its core, but it incorporates other styles such as r&b, soul, funk and even hip-hop!

'Spice' entered the UK albums chart at #1 on 10th November 1996, with first week sales of 114,000. From there on out its sales exploded, and by the end of 1996 'Spice' had racked up an astonishing 1,800,000 sales, peaking with 439,000 sales in a single week in the Christmas chart (while the third single, the ballad '2 Become 1', became the Christmas #1 of 1996). The album went on to spend 15 non-consecutive weeks at #1 in total, as well as a consecutive 40 week run within the Top 5. It was still Top 20 by the time the group had moved on to its second album era. It is certified 10xPlatinum for shipments exceeding 3 million copies, and was within the Top 3 best selling albums of 1996 and 1997, as well as the third best selling album of the 1990s decade. It didn't exit the chart until early 1999, having amassed 113 weeks in the Top 200.

'Spice' was released in February 1997 in the US. It initially entered the US Billboard chart at #6, which at the time was the highest debut for a UK girl group. They held this record until 2013, when Little Mix entered the US chart at #4 with their own debut album 'DNA'. Ultimately 'DNA' had a short chart life, whereas 'Spice' had tremendous tenacity. It hovered around the US Top 10 for 3 months, before it finally reached its peak of #1 (where it stayed for 5 non-consecutive weeks). 'Spice' ended up selling over 5 million copies in 1997 alone, and went on to achieve a sales total of around 7.5m.

Overall, 'Spice' is one of the most successful albums of all-time, and remains as the best selling by a girl group. It has reportedly sold as much as 31 million copies worldwide. It topped the charts in at least 17 countries, and became a platinum or multi-platinum album in more than 40 countries. It was also the best selling album worldwide in 1997. The success of 'Spice' and the singles taken from it, combined with their unique image & infectious personalities, helped the Spice Girls to become a worldwide phenomenon, not seen since Beatlemania.

One word: iconic. wub.gif

Posted by: Jade Nov 5 2017, 07:07 PM

Spice and Spiceworld are both two of my favourite albums of all-time wub.gif I really need to get the former on vinyl at some point. Funnily enough, I prefer the Spiceworld singles but the Spice album tracks so I guess they're great in different ways. My parents owned Spice when it first came out, so when I got into the girls I nabbed it off them and they still haven't got it back. kink.gif happy birthday to two iconic albums *.*

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 5 2017, 07:12 PM

10 years ago...
Monday 5th November 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMo6v_uFZKU

It's been a decade since the release of the Spice Girls' final ever single (presumably cry.gif ) - 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)'!

*Lazily copies the commentary I wrote for it in the recent rate results* heehee.gif

2007 saw the return of the Spice Girls, reuniting after 7 years apart! As well as announcing a world tour & a Greatest Hits album, they also confirmed a new single - 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)' - released as that year's Children in Need single. In an interview with GMTV, Geri described 'Headlines' as a "big love song" and a "Spice Girls classic".

After a rather haphazard release strategy of "download only" (5th November), inclusion on the Greatest Hits album (12th November) and finally a CD single (19th November), 'Headlines' stalled at #11 in the UK - making it their first single to miss the Top 10 (in fact they'd never previously placed lower than #2). It spent a mere 6 weeks in the Top 100, and racked up total sales of just over 50,000. Undoubtedly a huge under-performance & disappointment for a group previously accustomed to #1 platinum smashes. It also reached #90 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

Can you believe it's been 10 years? ohmy.gif What do you think about Headlines?

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 5 2017, 07:21 PM

QUOTE(Jade @ Nov 5 2017, 07:07 PM) *
Spice and Spiceworld are both two of my favourite albums of all-time wub.gif I really need to get the former on vinyl at some point. Funnily enough, I prefer the Spiceworld singles but the Spice album tracks so I guess they're great in different ways. My parents owned Spice when it first came out, so when I got into the girls I nabbed it off them and they still haven't got it back. kink.gif happy birthday to two iconic albums *.*

Ooh definitely get the Spice vinyl when you can, one of my favourite items in my collection. wub.gif

I think out of the two I lean towards preferring Spiceworld on the whole, but of course I love both albums! heart.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 5 2017, 09:43 PM

Headlines rolleyes.gif

I actually really like the song it's a beautiful ballad but it is just so wrong for a single, and a comeback single from a group who had a perfect run of amazing singles up until then, it's just barmy. When you look at what All Saints managed the year before with Rock Steady for their come back, and then Girls Aloud Something New for their come back a few years later, it pales in comparison. I so so so so SO wish we had got a massive upbeat stomper of a track for their comeback something in the vein of Who do you think you are, Never give up on the good times, Spice up your life, one that could not be ignored, then Headlines could have taken Voodoo's place on the GH that would have been perfect.

Arrrgh these girls wub.gif lol

Posted by: liamk97 Nov 6 2017, 12:50 PM

NME reviewed Spiceworld as part of this week's edition of Album Club:



From 17:35 onwards. Snobby at times, as is expected of NME, but it is interesting to hear a perspective of people not necessarily fans of Spice Girls.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Nov 6 2017, 02:14 PM

I still love headlines

Posted by: Fulvio84 Nov 7 2017, 12:44 AM

Tonight I dreamed of them singing Headlines in a big Tv show similar to te Olympics 😍

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 7 2017, 01:33 PM

17 years ago...
Monday 6th November 2000



Forever, the third studio album by the Spice Girls, was released! A huge write-up for this one. kink.gif

This album was a long time in the making. Plans for a third Spice Girls album were in motion in 1998, with the girls suggesting that it would include solo songs and duets, as well as group songs. This unusual idea obviously didn't come to pass.

'Goodbye' was recorded in the summer of 1998 and released as a single in December. It became their third Christmas #1 and fifth best selling hit. At this point it seemed the group's popularity was untainted despite Geri's departure earlier that year - so there was huge interest in when the eventual first 4-piece album would materialise. Would it be ready in 1999?

Sadly not! Following the success of 'Goodbye', the group parted ways for a few months. Victoria & Mel B both gave birth in early 1999 and took time out - and notably Melanie C took the opportunity to record her first solo album ('Northern Star') during this downtime. It wasn't until August 1999 that the girls were ready to start work on the third album. They collaborated with their usual British producers and writers, and for the first time in their careers they worked with the American producers Rodney & Fred Jerkins, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. According to Geri many years later, the other four girls had expressed an interest in making R&B music even while she was still in the group, but she felt it wasn't the right fit for her. She reckons that it was her departure that allowed the other girls to feel free to explore their desire to record R&B.

In December 1999 the girls embarked on a short UK tour, 'Christmas In Spiceworld'. They showcased three of their new songs - 'W.O.M.A.N.', 'Right Back At Ya' and 'Holler' (then known as 'Holler Holler'). The first two songs were a continuation of the pop sound they were known and loved for, while 'Holler' was their fans' first taste of the group's new sound.

In March 2000, the Spice Girls were honoured with the 'Outstanding Contribution to Music' award at the BRIT Awards - but despite this, a single and album wasn't ready for release, to benefit from this exposure. What was the cause of the delay? By this point, they had recorded more than enough tracks to compile an album. It seems the delay was for two reasons. Reason 1: The girls were distracted by their solo endeavours. That same month, Melanie C achieved her first solo #1 hit with 'Never Be The Same Again', and sales of her album skyrocketed. She followed this with another #1 smash in August, 'I Turn to You' - and both singles became successful worldwide. The other three girls also spent time separately in recording studios in 2000, each working on respective debut solo albums. Reason 2: The Spice Girls/Virgin decided to scrap almost all of the tracks from their "pop sessions", deciding to commit fully to making the album an R&B record - and thus needed more time in the studio to create new tracks. It wasn't until July that the album's final track was recorded (while the sole surviving pop track, 'Right Back At Ya', was reworked to fit the album's sound), and thus they were finally ready to get to work on choosing a single, recording videos and starting promotion.

The tracks 'Holler' and 'Let Love Lead The Way' (both written and recorded in August 1999) were chosen to be released as a Double A Side single. Both videos were filmed in July 2000, and the songs/videos premiered in September. It was also revealed that the third album finally had a name - 'Forever'.

Rather strangely, Mel B decided to release her solo material just week's before the group's releases, despite strong resistance from Virgin. This decision proved to be a misfire, with her debut album 'Hot' stalling at #28 in the UK albums chart. Despite this, it seemed like it was business as usual for the Spice Girls - their single shot straight to #1 in the UK at the end of October 2000, becoming their 9th #1. Would 'Forever' follow suit?

'Forever' was released in the same week as 'Coast To Coast', the second album from the Irish boyband Westlife. During the Spice Girls' absence from the charts, Westlife had emerged as the new chart force to be reckoned with, having achieved 7 #1 singles in a row by the time the groups went head to head in the charts. Media attention was intense - who would win? Ultimately, the Spice Girls proved to be no match for the all-conquering Westlife. While the girls reached a perfectly respectable #2, they had been outsold 3:1 - and thus were labelled as having flopped.

'Forever' performed disappointingly outside of the UK, failing to make the Top 10 in quite a few countries - partly due to poor promotion. With a downturn in success and reported in-fighting within the group, the Spice Girls quietly parted ways at the end of the year. No further singles were released, and 'Forever' ended up becoming the final Spice Girls studio album. cry.gif

With the benefit of hindsight, there were certainly things they could have done differently. They evidently spent far too long away from the charts, the complete change of direction in music genre was arguably a misstep, and they focused more on their solo careers than the group... it seemed by the time they got around to releasing 'Forever', their passion for the group had dwindled, in particular Melanie C. Also, the group's image had visibly matured, so maybe they were unwittingly alienating some of their younger fans too.

Personally, I don't think 'Forever' is a bad album! It includes some of their greatest vocal moments, and I'll always argue that 'Holler' is one of their best singles. kink.gif What are your thoughts on the album?

Final thought: That artwork will never not be terrible. kink.gif What were they thinking?

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 7 2017, 05:54 PM

That album artwork sick2.gif Kinda sums up the whole era for me. I like Forever but that’s it I like it while I love the first two albums. While I’m glad we got Holler and some other tracks the whole era kinda makes me wish it was either completely different or not done at all. It certainly tarnished them a little at the time.

Posted by: schizo_spice Nov 7 2017, 07:06 PM

I like the 4 unreleased leaked Eliot Kennedy tracks (A Day in Your Life, Pain Proof, Give You What You Want & Right Back At Ya pop mix) more than the majority of Forever. They wasted a good pop four piece album.

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 7 2017, 08:02 PM

I agree.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 7 2017, 08:44 PM

So many anniversaries, I can't keep up!!

18 years ago...
Sunday 7th November 1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVp9P1-fBy8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEOeClFSQ1o

It's been 18 years since Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton went head to head in the UK singles chart! Geri released Lift Me Up as the third single from her debut album Schizophonic, while Emma teamed up with Tin Tin Out for her first solo offering What I Am (a cover of the 1988 hit by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians).

At this point in time it hadn't yet been two full years since Geri had left the Spice Girls, and things between her and Emma were still quietly acrimonious. A chart battle wasn't ideal, and not planned by the ladies themselves; Geri openly criticised record label executives at the time: "I think that we should be responsible about that because that little kid has to part with four quid and making them decide is really wicked, I think. That is like choosing between two parents".

Nevertheless, their promotional schedules were intense, ensuring that they both occupied the top two positions - but it was Geri who succeeded in achieving the #1 spot, outselling Emma by a margin of 33,000 copies (139,000 vs 106,000 copies). Geri also won in terms of total sales; as of June 2017 Lift Me Up had sold 346,000 copies, compared to What I Am's 224,000.

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 7 2017, 10:15 PM

I wonder why neither of them changed their date by a week? I mean both were pretty much heading for the #1 spot it would have been better for both (well Emma) to have moved the singles so they didn't clash hence betting their discographies.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 8 2017, 12:28 AM

03/10/1999 - 141,500 - Eiffel 65 - Blue (La Da Dee)
10/10/1999 - 172,600 - Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
17/10/1999 - 123,000 - Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
24/10/1999 - 92,000 - Westlife - Flying Without Wings
31/10/1999 - 137,000 - Five - Keep On Movin
07/11/1999 - 139,000 - Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up
14/11/1999 - 122,600 - Robbie Williams - She's The One
21/11/1999 - 148,000 - Wamdue Project - King Of My Castle
28/11/1999 - 147,947 - Cliff Richard - Millennium Prayer
05/12/1999 - 158,328 - Cliff Richard - Millennium Prayer
12/12/1999 - 159,369 - Cliff Richard - Millennium Prayer
19/12/1999 - 213,000 - Westlife - I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun
26/12/1999 - 231,000 - Westlife - I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun

The only week near Emma's release, in which the #1 sold less than what Emma sold to be #2, is (rather surprisingly) Westlife's Flying Without Wings. Westlife 92k vs Emma 106k. The only thing is, if Emma had released a couple of weeks earlier, without the hype of a "Spice Girl vs Spice Girl battle", would she have sold significantly less than 106k, and therefore not prevented Westlife from #1 anyway?

Had Geri moved her week of release and Emma had kept it, the #3 behind Geri/Emma was Five's Keep on Movin', with sales of 87,000. So perhaps Emma would have managed to clinch #1 for herself (again, I'm assuming she'd have sold somewhat less than 106k without the battle hype).

If Geri had released a week earlier, I imagine she would have lost out to Five, and if she'd delayed by a week then she'd have been up against Robbie Williams... and I guess her label didn't feel brave enough for this scenario, even though his first week ended up being less than Geri's.

I know all of this is "moot point" territory! kink.gif It does seem that Emma's only viable chance of #1 would have been if Geri/EMI had decided to move, but it seems they were ultimately happy to stick to it - and it paid off for them!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 12 2017, 06:44 PM

10 years ago...
Monday 12th November 2007



It's been a decade since the Spice Girls released their compilation album Greatest Hits!

The collection includes all 13 of their singles, including 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)' which was a brand new single at the time. Additionally, 'Move Over' from the Spiceworld album and another new recording, 'Voodoo', were also included.

Greatest Hits was released in support of the Spice Girls' 'The Return of the Spice Girls' tour, which took place across Europe and North America, from December 2007 to February 2008.

It was released on the same date as X Factor winner Leona Lewis' highly anticipated debut album 'Spirit'. It was a foregone conclusion that Leona would claim the #1 album that week, and she did it in style - selling a huge 375,872 in its first week on sale. The Spice Girls did manage to enter at #2 though, with 75,787 sold. Greatest Hits was certified Platinum in the UK, and had sold over 413,000 copies as of August 2012.

Posted by: Jade Nov 12 2017, 07:47 PM

The Greatest Hits compilation was the first Spice album I ever bought *.* I'm glad they released it shortly before I got into them because a GH is always a solid starting point when you want to get into a group. Their chart career may have been short but they managed to pack a lot of hits into those few years!

It is a shame that the compilation isn't on Spotify. </3

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Nov 12 2017, 09:04 PM

I always thought the Greatest Hits would have sold more for them, i know it has done well but i expected it to sell far higher.

Posted by: missingyou Nov 13 2017, 10:21 AM

its been a very consistent seller for sure, but i also thought it would sell more, especially as Girls Alouds first GH sold over 1m, released 12 months before.


I feel like a Vinyl would have boosted sales long term, and if it was stocked in the super markets with those 3 pound CDs.


*if* the rumours of a new album next year are true, I hope its a repackage with say a bonus CD rather than a whole new greatest hits, then the sales will all count as one right

Posted by: Mr.X Nov 13 2017, 12:37 PM

The Greatest Hits was a nice collection, but it is somewhat lacking.

They did f*** all promo for it, and released it on the same week as Leona - all the press was again about the chart battle and how Leona had the upperhand - it was sad to see that actually, as maybe if they had released it in another week it would have stand a better chance.

Then the disgraceful Limited Edition Box - what a crack of shit. I bought it out of 'being a fan' but was so reluctant to do it, cos it was bad. I loved the pink, but the 'friendship bracelet' was at best childish and the content of the box super shit.

And Headlines, I think, didnt help it either. It was as a poor song, with a shit video. And I dont even want to talk about their performances of it, or even Voodoo.

So, I like the GH standard edition/two CD edition with videos. It's a great CD with all their singles plus a new track. I wish the standard edition was on Spotify as it would improve its sales over time.

Overall, a bit poorly handled, but a nice item to the collection.

Posted by: sammy01 Nov 13 2017, 03:44 PM

The total for the GH is obviously much higher than Jay's figure posted. It has charted for about 10 weeks in the top 200 after that figure.

As for the release, the cd and cd/dvd were fine, maybe adding step to me would have been good. The ugly pink box was such a disaster though.

A vinyl is crying out to be released surely.

Posted by: Buttered Muffin Nov 13 2017, 03:54 PM

JESUS CHRIST

17 YEARS SINCE OUR OF YOUR MIND AND HOLLER

I CAN'T

I STILL LISTEN TO THEM A LOT

I LITERALLY CAN'T EVEN

OMG AT 18 FOR LIFT ME UP ohmy.gif ohmy.gif

Posted by: Fulvio84 Nov 14 2017, 01:20 PM

I cant believe the reunion and the GH is already 10 years ago, seems less, actually they were absolutly perfect, I ams o happy they did and I was able to attend a concert. Many things could have been done better but still it was beautiful

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 23 2017, 01:26 AM

19 years ago...
Monday 23rd November 1998 - Bryan Adams feat. Melanie C - 'When You're Gone'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W2jONIjrM0


18 years ago...
Monday 22nd November 1999 - Melanie C - 'Northern Star' (Single)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6OLkIF3Up4


14 years ago...
Monday 10th November 2003 - Melanie C - 'Melt' / 'Yeh Yeh Yeh'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0RBIkWpyd8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL07-WxN-c8


13 years ago...
Monday 22nd November 2004 - Geri Halliwell - 'Ride It'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV8ivByc6U8


11 years ago...
Monday 20th November 2006 - Emma Bunton - 'Downtown'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhD4rXkV0yo


6 years ago...
Sunday 6th November 2011 - Melanie C - 'Weak'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1bsXGc7X0U


5 years ago...
Sunday 11th November 2012 - Melanie C feat. Emma Bunton - 'I Know Him So Well'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eO0hhfq5RM


4 years ago...
Friday 25th October 2013 - Geri Halliwell - 'Half of Me'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EK2vNnS5pg


I forgot to mention a few of these anniversaries over the past few weeks! Note that today's date is exactly 19 years since 'When You're Gone', while yesterday was 13 years since 'Ride It' & 18 years since 'Northern Star'.

Can't quite believe how old some of these songs are now. 13 years since Geri's last Top 10 hit, and 11 years since Emma's last one... drama.gif cry.gif

Posted by: vibe Nov 23 2017, 06:48 AM

When You’re Gone is still so huge . Played all over radio around the world . Melanie really did help this song become a hit !!!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 30 2017, 12:10 AM

17 years ago...
Monday 27th November 2000 - Melanie C - 'If That Were Me'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K_P6G0E7oE


16 years ago...
Monday 26th November 2001 - Geri Halliwell - Calling'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu4a_7k38Bc


'If That Were Me' and 'Calling' have a couple of things in common - they're both ballads, and both were released as the last singles from their respective parent albums, 'Northern Star' and 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster'.

The proceeds of Melanie C's single went to the Kandu Arts charity, due to the song's theme about homelessness. It was poorly received by critics, and it couldn't be called a fan favourite either (although I personally like it!). It peaked at #18 in the UK charts, which at the time was the lowest peaking single a solo Spice Girl had achieved. In fairness it was the 5th release from a multi-platinum album, and unlike her previous three singles, 'If That Were Me' wasn't edited or remixed for its release. As of 2009 it had sold over 53,000 copies, which believe it or not makes it Melanie's 7th best seller.

Geri had high hopes that 'Calling' would return her to #1 in the UK charts, but it wasn't to be - entering at a respectable #7 (its eventual total sales exceeded 70,000 copies). This chart position reportedly upset her, and it abruptly marked the end of the 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' era. It ended up taking her 3 years to follow it up (with 'Ride It'); in the intervening period she had tried her hand at acting, presenting and most notably became a judge on Popstars: The Rivals.

Posted by: vibe Nov 30 2017, 07:15 AM

I like if that were me . But can you imagine if Closer for a single release ? It would have been a bigger hit and pushed album sales further !

Posted by: Fulvio84 Nov 30 2017, 02:17 PM

I Love calling! Still a beautiful ballad.

If that were me is one of worst solo single ever for me

Posted by: sammy01 Nov 30 2017, 03:18 PM

The scary one is half of me being 4 years old, Jesus that 4 years has gone quick.

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 30 2017, 05:40 PM

I like IFTWM but a double a-side of closer and be the one was screaming to be released! I thought suddenly Monday would have worked as a double-side with if that were me and given it that extra push.

Posted by: SamJudd Dec 2 2017, 01:34 AM

Still to this day I never understand why 'If That Were Me' was chosen as a single, especially considering the critical panning that it had and the fact that it followed up 2 chart toppers, especially again given that there were several other tracks that were far better such as 'Suddenly Monday' or 'Feel The Sun' either of those could have stood a better chance chart wise, okay maybe not on the level of the previous hits, considering this was the 5th single from an already massive selling album, or maybe like Spiceboy said a double a-side with 'ITWM' and an uptempo track 'SM', those 2 together would have ended the era with a bang and maybe maintain her top 10 streak and maybe push the album sales to a Million copies.

Just listened to Northern Star again for the first time in years and it's still an amazing album and here's how I rated each track. 'If That Were Me' isn't bad song, it actually has a beautiful sound but that stupid line about her phone kinda ruins it, but as an album track it's decent, just not a good single choice on it's own and needed something alongside it. But still this and Emma Bunton's 'Free Me' are definitely the best Spice Girls solo albums.

Go = 8/10
Northern Star = 10/10
Goin' Down = 9/10
I Turn To You = 10/10
If That Were Me = 8/10
Never Be The Same Again = 10/10
Why = 7/10
Suddenly Monday = 10/10
Ga, Ga = 9/10
Be The One = 7/10
Closer = 9/10
Feel The Sun = 10/10

Geri Halliwell's 'Calling' is still a beautiful track and it's definitely one of the album's finest moments, although I still really liked 'Love Is The Only Light' as well and would have been happy if either one was picked for that X-Mas ballad type for the end of that year. However there was no way this was ever gonna top the charts following the pretty awful title track, which should not have been the 2nd single at all. I remember reading somewhere that 'Feels Like Sex' was gonna be the lead single until 'It's Raining Men' came along, which was probably the better choice considering that it became her 4th UK #1 hit.

So why wasn't 'FLS' considered as the 2nd single, it's a much better choice than 'SIYWGF', maybe remixed slightly for it's release, or what about 'Strength Of A Woman' which is another definite standout and again could have worked as a single, okay I doubt they'd give her a 5th chart topper, but honestly think that either one could have been a top 5 hit and therefore created more hype for 'Calling', doubt it would have charted higher, but it's #7 peak isn't terrible though.

'Circles Round The Moon' was another missed opportunity and should have been the 4th single, like it was originally planned for the following year and who knows it could have been a surprise hit and okay the album wasn't great, but there were some gems on there and if she'd released the better tracks, then maybe the album could have hung around for longer and sold a little bit more. Here's how I think this era should have went =

Lead Single = "It's Raining Men" (You either love it or hate it, but as it stands it did give her a #1 smash hit so it was a good career move)
2nd Single = "Strength Of A Woman" or "Feels Like Sex" (I'm still torn between these, probably the former would have been the better choice)
3rd Single = "Calling"
4th Single = "Circles Round The Moon" (Would have been the perfect ending to this era for early '02)



Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 3 2017, 11:48 PM

10 years ago; 2nd December 2007 - the Spice Girls started their Return of the Spice Girls tour, in Vancouver!




Posted by: Fulvio84 Dec 4 2017, 01:24 PM

wub.gif

Posted by: MARIAH. Dec 10 2017, 05:32 PM

16 years ago...
Monday 10th December 2001 - Emma Bunton - 'We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vhbQmOj--A


11 years ago...
Monday 3rd December 2006 - Emma Bunton - 'Life in Mono'





A couple of Emma anniversaries!

Last week marked 11 years since the release of Emma's third and (to date) final studio album Life in Mono. It was released directly after her #3 peaking Children in Need single Downtown, but unfortunately Emma didn't scale the same heights in the albums chart - entering at a mere #65. sad.gif This made it the second lowest charting solo Spice Girls album, which still remains the case 11 years on - the only album to perform worse was Mel B's L.A. State of Mind, which peaked at a shockingly low #453!

#65 was a clearly disappointing result, particularly seeing as Emma was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing that year. Its sales aren't too bad though, relatively speaking! It sold 12,307 copies in its first week, 9,926 copies in week 2 (#75) and approx 12,000 copies in week 3 (#79). This certainly highlights how strong album sales in Christmas 2006 (Christmas week saw all of the Top 15 albums sell over 100k)! By June 2009, Life in Mono has amassed 50,725 sales.

We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight was the final single to be taken from Emma's debut album A Girl Like Me. In its original album version its a Latin-tinged summery bop, but it was given an overhaul for single release, transforming it into a more dance-pop offering. Sadly it proved to be a bit of a flop, entering the UK charts at #20 - at the time this made it the lowest charting Spice related release ever. ohmy.gif It went on to sell over 35,000 copies.

Posted by: sammy01 Dec 11 2017, 02:19 PM

I've always thought Emma gave up on music too soon. 50k of an album after a CIN cover and the most non radio friendly song released while she was pregnant. Mel C would give her left tit to flog 50k albums.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Dec 11 2017, 03:03 PM

I love Life in Mono I know it's not everyone cup of tea but I've enjoyed so much too bad she gave up on music so soon another album like Free Me now would be Ace .


Posted by: sammy01 Dec 11 2017, 04:04 PM

I don't think it would be my thing but Emma doing a covers album now released in Nov with a couple of duets (robbie and Will Young say) could be a great seller. She could get that 50+ market coin. Her Heart connection plus her TV connections could really come in handy.

Posted by: tommie Dec 13 2017, 09:41 AM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Dec 11 2017, 03:19 PM) *
I've always thought Emma gave up on music too soon. 50k of an album after a CIN cover and the most non radio friendly song released while she was pregnant. Mel C would give her left tit to flog 50k albums.


I actually agree.

50k isn't bad considering it sold on the back of a cover version essentially. With that said, I don't really hear any "hits" on the album itself - there's no "Free Me" or "Maybe" or even "Crickets" on there. Not even Greg Kurstin / Cathy Dennis could give her a good single, so you can understand why they put their money on launching it with "Downtown"...

Posted by: sammy01 Dec 13 2017, 10:45 PM

Take me to another town was surely crying out to be single number 2.

Posted by: Mr.X Dec 14 2017, 12:37 AM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Dec 13 2017, 11:45 PM) *
Take me to another town was surely crying out to be single number 2.


I agree. If they had gone with that song, Undressing You and All That You'll Be, she would have had a good run, I think!

Posted by: MARIAH. Dec 15 2017, 05:21 PM

A personal anniversary: today's date is 10 years since I saw the Spice Girls for the very first time (and last time) at London O2 Arena! What a dream come true that was wub.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 7 2018, 06:05 PM

14 years ago...
Sunday 4th January 2004 - Victoria Beckham - 'This Groove' / 'Let Your Head Go'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjF5RfhSG-shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcskhTEHAP0

14 years since Victoria's final ever single charted in the UK!

After leaving Virgin Records in 2002, Victoria went back to the drawing board for her proposed second album. She signed to the Telstar label and started to work on dance/pop flavoured material in early 2003. In the same year she was introduced to the producer Damon Dash, who guided her towards a more Hip-Hop flavoured sound. A song from each session was chosen for a Double A Side single release, possibly to test the waters and determine which sound was better received by the public - This Groove from the urban sessions, and Let Your Head Go from the pop sessions.

As always, there was pressure placed on Victoria to achieve a #1 single. Its release date of Monday 29th December 2003 was most likely purposefully chosen due to the fact that the week after Christmas was usually a low-selling week in the days of physicals. Unfortunately she still couldn't manage it, and entered at a respectable #3 on sales of 29,000 copies.

Unfortunately Telstar went bankrupt in 2004, and the media placed most of the blame on Victoria being an expensive signing for the label. Victoria lost interest in her solo music career that year, which meant that this single would ultimately be her final one. sad.gif

Sadly both songs remain unavailable to either download or stream, which means the single has stalled at a sales total of 69,000 copies, all of which are physicals! Neither music video is officially uploaded to YouTube either.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Jan 7 2018, 11:21 PM

This Groove' / 'Let Your Head Go' Were really perfect along with the videos everything was on point I've enjoyed them so much I still do biggrin.gif



Posted by: Eduardo Jan 7 2018, 11:35 PM

God, this thread is making me depressed. wacko.gif
I just can't believe these releases are this old!

Posted by: Jade Jan 8 2018, 12:18 AM

Victoria needs to put that double A-side on Spotify pronto, 'Let Your Head Go' is just so good!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 8 2018, 11:29 AM

QUOTE(Blond 2.0 @ Jan 7 2018, 11:21 PM) *
This Groove' / 'Let Your Head Go' Were really perfect along with the videos everything was on point I've enjoyed them so much I still do biggrin.gif

wub.gif I'd say that Let Your Head Go is my favourite song of hers, and the video is so funny! She was very self-aware of how she was perceived, and I love that she sent herself up like that. Such a shame that she wasn't able to keep going with that era and properly release a second album. sad.gif

QUOTE(Eduardo @ Jan 7 2018, 11:35 PM) *
God, this thread is making me depressed. wacko.gif
I just can't believe these releases are this old!

I'm feeling exactly the same. sob.gif

QUOTE(Jade @ Jan 8 2018, 12:18 AM) *
Victoria needs to put that double A-side on Spotify pronto, 'Let Your Head Go' is just so good!

Shall we all tweet her and request this, I'm sure she'll listen! *_* ( laugh.gif ). It is a shame though, and I wonder who is ultimately responsible for its lack of availability? There's plenty of formerly Telstar signed artists who have their material from that time available!

Posted by: Maz! Jan 8 2018, 04:50 PM

Its a bloody shame Let Your Head Go isnt on Spotify cause its such a banger! One of my favorite solo spice releases,

Posted by: Mr.X Jan 9 2018, 12:49 PM

A shame that Let Your Head Go and This Groove aren't online to purchase/stream.

I feel like there is a distinct lack of online presence from releases that were overseen by Simon Fuller/19 Management at the time of their releases:

Victoria's LYHG/This Groove (not available anywhere)
Emma's Free Me album (not available on iTunes)
Spice Girls Greatest Hits (not available on Spotify)

A shame, cos they are probably the best releases from each artist...

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Jan 18 2018, 04:27 PM

16 years ago...
Monday 17th September 2001

WHAAAAAAAAT WHAT WHAAAT!!

AND HOW MANY YEARS SINCE HER EXCELLENT, ESPECIALLY THIS GROOVE WHICH HAS MORE THAN OVERTAKEN LYHG, WHICH I LOOOVED AS A KID FAR MORE THAN THIS GROOVE WHICH I DIDN'T LIKE, DOUBLE A-SIDE?!

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Jan 18 2018, 04:29 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 8 2018, 11:29 AM) *
wub.gif I'd say that Let Your Head Go is my favourite song of hers, and the video is so funny! She was very self-aware of how she was perceived, and I love that she sent herself up like that. Such a shame that she wasn't able to keep going with that era and properly release a second album. sad.gif
I'm feeling exactly the same. sob.gif
Shall we all tweet her and request this, I'm sure she'll listen! *_* ( laugh.gif ). It is a shame though, and I wonder who is ultimately responsible for its lack of availability? There's plenty of formerly Telstar signed artists who have their material from that time available!


What a label laugh.gif

I heard the album though on youtube, and it was pretty terrible. She should have released the Damian Dash one.

Posted by: tommie Jan 22 2018, 12:57 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Jan 9 2018, 01:49 PM) *
A shame that Let Your Head Go and This Groove aren't online to purchase/stream.

I feel like there is a distinct lack of online presence from releases that were overseen by Simon Fuller/19 Management at the time of their releases:

Victoria's LYHG/This Groove (not available anywhere)
Emma's Free Me album (not available on iTunes)
Spice Girls Greatest Hits (not available on Spotify)

A shame, cos they are probably the best releases from each artist...


I feel like some of those are hold back due to overshipping physical copies and them wanting to sell them out. Then they probably sort of forgot to chuck it up there.

Posted by: sammy01 Jan 23 2018, 10:47 PM

QUOTE(tommie @ Jan 22 2018, 12:57 PM) *
I feel like some of those are hold back due to overshipping physical copies and them wanting to sell them out. Then they probably sort of forgot to chuck it up there.


The GH and Emma's free me are more likely due to 19 management not bothering with music anymore and it was sold off as well.

Victoria's is the label went bust and nobody has probably brought the rights to her single so no has the power to add it.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Jan 24 2018, 02:32 AM

So couldn't she add it?

Or is it one of those things where the rights go up for auction as no one owns them?

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 28 2018, 04:37 PM

14 years ago...
Monday 26th January 2004 - Emma Bunton - 'I'll Be There'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9xImcenGrI

It's been 14 years since the release of Emma's 7th single - I'll Be There! Emma & 19/Univeral approached the release of her second album (Free Me) with caution, preceding its release with three singles. I'll Be There served to launch the album, which followed two weeks later. Both single & album peaked at #7 in the UK charts! I'll Be There managed an overall total of around 40,000 copies (an indication of how horrible sales levels were that year - it was the 153rd best seller of the year!). The music video was given a black and white treatment, and was shot in Paris.

Posted by: vibe Jan 28 2018, 05:03 PM

Great single !!!

My third fav from Emma.

Posted by: Maz! Jan 28 2018, 05:08 PM

The video is so beautiful wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 5 2018, 01:09 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 28 2018, 04:37 PM) *
14 years ago...
Monday 26th January 2004 - Emma Bunton - 'I'll Be There'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9xImcenGrI

It's been 14 years since the release of Emma's 7th single - I'll Be There! Emma & 19/Univeral approached the release of her second album (Free Me) with caution, preceding its release with three singles. I'll Be There served to launch the album, which followed two weeks later. Both single & album peaked at #7 in the UK charts! I'll Be There managed an overall total of around 40,000 copies (an indication of how horrible sales levels were that year - it was the 153rd best seller of the year!). The music video was given a black and white treatment, and was shot in Paris.


ONE OF HER BEST cheer.gif

Also, it produced one of best songs of her career, the underrated b-side So Long

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU12DCz-TVI

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Feb 5 2018, 02:05 PM

Can't even remember that one laugh.gif

Posted by: Michael Andrew Feb 6 2018, 11:43 AM

The B side 'So long' is gorgeous. It just drips with class. heart.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 11 2018, 04:30 AM

14 years ago...
Monday 9th February 2004 - Emma Bunton - 'Free Me'



Emma's second solo album, 'Free Me', was released 14 years ago this week! It includes the singles 'Free Me', 'Maybe', 'I'll Be There' and 'Crickets Sing for Anamaria'. The album is heavily influenced by music of the 1960s, with a mixture of pop, motown and bossa nova sounds running throughout its 12 tracks. It seemed Emma had really found her niche, because the album & its singles were like nothing else in the charts at that time.

'Free Me' entered the UK albums chart at #7, with first week sales exceeding 33,000 copies. This made it the second fastest selling solo Spice album, behind 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' (which shifted 35,000 in its opening week). As of 2009, 'Free Me' had sold 142,000 copies in total, making it Emma's best selling album in the UK. 'Free Me' received critical acclaim, which wasn't a usual outcome for a solo Spice record!

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 11 2018, 12:11 PM

Such a shame it didn't manage to go top 5 being the second fastest selling album! Our girls have really been unfortunately with charting positions for their albums at times. Then downloads have also worked against them chart position wise.

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 11 2018, 04:51 PM

Free Me is the best Spice-related album and it really was the album that restored my interest in Emma and the group too!

Shame she stopped promoting it and went on another massive iatus before Life in Mono (which is the second-best Spice related album!).

I am so grateful this album is my life 🙏🏼

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Feb 14 2018, 02:32 PM

Free Me is a masterpiece it's on the level of Northern star perfection

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 20 2018, 10:11 PM

17 years ago...
Monday 19th February 2001 - Mel B - 'Feels So Good'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxkVAMvwoQU

It's been 17 years since the release of Feels So Good by Mel B. It became one of her biggest hit singles, reaching #5 in the UK with impressive first week sales of 55,000 copies. It went on to sell over 142,000 copies in total, and was the 85th best selling single of 2001. Despite being a hit, Feels So Good did little to revive her debut album Hot, which only managed to return to the UK Top 100 for two weeks (going no higher than #95).

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Feb 20 2018, 10:40 PM

Mel B doesn't exactly have much going for her solowise, but WHAT a song! wub.gif

Posted by: Michael Andrew Feb 21 2018, 02:58 PM

A strong effort from Mel B. The first three singles from the album were all great. If only she'd released 'Hotter' after this one!

Also, I so wish that artwork had been used on the album. So much more appropriate for her established fan base.

Posted by: Eduardo Feb 21 2018, 09:30 PM

I love "Feels So Good"!

By the way, was she trying to make some kind of allusion to the "Say You'll Be There" video with this artwork?

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Feb 21 2018, 10:26 PM

QUOTE(Michael Andrew @ Feb 21 2018, 02:58 PM) *
A strong effort from Mel B. The first three singles from the album were all great. If only she'd released 'Hotter' after this one!

Also, I so wish that artwork had been used on the album. So much more appropriate for her established fan base.


A STRONG EFFORT??

This is EASILY among the best Spice songs!!

Unbelievably good song, unreal!

Posted by: Michael Andrew Feb 23 2018, 05:36 PM

QUOTE(Eduardo @ Feb 21 2018, 09:30 PM) *
I love "Feels So Good"!

By the way, was she trying to make some kind of allusion to the "Say You'll Be There" video with this artwork?



It is very reminiscent of 'Say You'll Be There'! Maybe that's why I like it so much.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Feb 23 2018, 08:44 PM

It's much better than SYBT laugh.gif

In fact, a LOT of their solo songs are better than the group songs (except the ballads, Hollier/ LLLTW) come to think of it - but hype = sales

Posted by: Theo. Feb 24 2018, 01:59 PM

21 year ago today, the Spice Girls won their first ever Brit Awards for British Single of the Year ("Wannabe") and Video of the Year ("Say You'll Be There"). During the acceptance speech for the former award, Mel C called out Liam Gallagher who refused to attending, stating he'd punch them backstage if he bumped into them:



They also performed the now iconic medley of "Wannabe" and "Who Do You Think You Are" which itself won a Brit for most iconic performance at the BRITs in 2010:


Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Feb 24 2018, 04:40 PM

The whole thing was IKONEK - the Liam call-out, the performance, the costumes

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 24 2018, 09:46 PM

An iconic night in their history! wub.gif I never get tired of that performance! I know a lot of the credit is aimed at Geri's look when it comes to its iconic status, but personally I think it goes beyond that. It's such an electrifying performance. heart.gif

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Feb 24 2018, 09:58 PM

It was Iconic indeed and they all looked amazing wub.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 25 2018, 12:37 AM

It's a shame in a way that Geri's dress gets so much attention because the performance itself is just WOW! The only thing that could make it better would be if it were live!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 25 2018, 12:42 AM

15 years ago...
Monday 24th February 2003 - Melanie C - 'Here It Comes Again'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT8m63PIN7E

15 years ago, Melanie C released 'Here It Comes Again', the first single to be taken from her second album 'Reason'. The single entered the UK charts at #7, making it her sixth Top 10 hit as a soloist. Supposedly Virgin were disappointed with that position, having projected it to enter at #2 behind Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' - but Melanie was only the fifth highest new entry of the week! As of 2009, 'Here It Comes Again' had sold just under 40,000 copies in total - 19,000 of which had been shifted in its first week on sale.

P.S. This single was released the day after my 15th birthday, so it came out half of my life ago... drama.gif I wouldn't mind being 15 again! cry.gif :')

Posted by: vibe Feb 25 2018, 10:10 AM

Nice enough song .

Posted by: sammy01 Feb 25 2018, 07:59 PM

One of my least favourite Mel C singles. It's so boring it just plods along, for a lead single it was so bad nothing to excite people for the album.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Feb 25 2018, 09:08 PM

Can't believe she went from Northern Star to that

Very plodding song, 'nice enough', but more Forever fodder than Robbie Williams

She needed to stick to the pop bops

Posted by: Eduardo Feb 25 2018, 10:51 PM

Here It Comes Again is one of my favorites!

I remember the first time I heard it, it was in a Sunday morning and it started playing on the radio (the song had some decent airplay in Brazil).
I had no idea she had a new song out -- oh, those days with limited internet connection -- , I was just so happy when I recognized her voice. wub.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 26 2018, 12:59 AM

I loved HICA at the time however it hasn't aged as well as some of her others for me, I find it a bit too long nowerdays. At the time I adored it though, her voice is magnificent!

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Feb 26 2018, 02:14 PM

Here It Comes Again was the perfect first single but the album tracks were a mess and the b-sides were much better tracks .




Posted by: sammy01 Feb 26 2018, 03:44 PM

Here it comes again is the biggest solo Spice girls flop when you think where she was and solo Spice girls were at that time.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 3 2018, 10:05 PM

3rd March -

18 years since their appearance and performance at the Brits 2000, winning Outstanding Contribution to music!

21 years since the UK release of 'Mama'/'Who Do You Think You Are'

wub.gif

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 3 2018, 10:29 PM

What were the singles/ B sides of Reason??

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 3 2018, 10:37 PM

Here It Comes Again
- Love to You
- Like That
- Living Without You

On the Horizon
- I Love You Without Trying
- Wonderland

Let's Love (Japanese release)

Melt / Yeh Yeh Yeh
- Knocked Out
- I Wish (Live from Re:Covered) [cover of Stevie Wonder]

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 3 2018, 10:57 PM

Yeh Yeh Yeh

That should have been first single!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 13 2018, 06:45 AM

9th March -

20 years since the single release of 'Stop'!






Stop is well known for being their first single to miss out on the top spot in the UK - entering and peaking at #2 behind 'It's Like That' by Jason Nevins & Run DMC.

As of March 2017 it had sold 420,200 copies, which means it is Gold certified.

This would be the final single released while Geri was still a member of the band during their heyday, however their next single Viva Forever still counts as being a 5 piece release.

The dance routine during the chorus surely has to be their most recognised dance routines? Iconic!

Posted by: vibe Mar 13 2018, 07:03 AM

My fav spice song smile.gif

I’ve been tk that street in Dublin and took photos 😂

Posted by: Jonjo Mar 14 2018, 12:13 AM

'Stop' is phenomenal. So, SO good. I was so shocked and extremely annoyed that it was the one to break their #1 run sad.gif

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 14 2018, 12:36 AM

One of their worst songs, but also one of their most iconic.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 14 2018, 12:40 AM

If that's the best girl band song ever, they must all be trash laugh.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Mar 14 2018, 01:33 AM

QUOTE(Shia LeMuffQueef @ Mar 14 2018, 12:40 AM) *
If that's the best girl band song ever, they must all be trash laugh.gif


You know what's trash? This type of comment rolleyes.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 14 2018, 01:41 PM

13th March -

18 years since the single release of 'Bag It Up'!






Bag It Up was the fourth and final single to be released from Geri Halliwell's debut album Schizophonic.

As of March 2015 it had sold over 260,000 copies in the UK, and is certified Silver.

It was her third consecutive #1 hit single in the UK!

Bag It Up was the only solo Spice song to be performed at the Brit Awards, noted as being raunchy and controversial (it featured a giant pair of inflatable legs!)

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 14 2018, 08:12 PM

All solo Spices should have performed at the Brits.

Lol at this getting to no.1 when Loo At Me, Out Of Your Mind and Innocent Girl didn't!

This also shows that this type of pop, Spicy music was still popular. Spice Girls should have stuck with this sound + Hollier.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 15 2018, 07:13 PM

Today's date is 20 years since Stop entered the UK charts at #2. https://twitter.com/bbcmusic/status/974223764438310912 I still remember listening to the chart show and being shocked/disappointed that they weren't #1! (Back then I didn't know about midweeks, and I was only 10 years old, so in my mind the #1 was their rightful position... #2 didn't compute laugh.gif ).

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Mar 15 2018, 07:42 PM

I love 'Bag It Up', I still hear that in gay bars a lot!

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 16 2018, 08:59 PM

QUOTE(Shia LeMuffQueef @ Mar 14 2018, 08:12 PM) *
All solo Spices should have performed at the Brits.

Lol at this getting to no.1 when Loo At Me, Out Of Your Mind and Innocent Girl didn't!

This also shows that this type of pop, Spicy music was still popular. Spice Girls should have stuck with this sound + Hollier.



Bag it up is far superior to NSAIG... Out of your mind and Look at me I'll give you them alongside When you're gone and Northern star.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 17 2018, 12:15 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 16 2018, 08:59 PM) *
Bag it up is far superior to NSAIG... Out of your mind and Look at me I'll give you them alongside When you're gone and Northern star.



Posted by: Michael Andrew Mar 17 2018, 10:56 AM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Mar 15 2018, 07:13 PM) *
Today's date is 20 years since Stop entered the UK charts at #2. https://twitter.com/bbcmusic/status/974223764438310912 I still remember listening to the chart show and being shocked/disappointed that they weren't #1! (Back then I didn't know about midweeks, and I was only 10 years old, so in my mind the #1 was their rightful position... #2 didn't compute laugh.gif ).



I always thought this was probably quite a contributing factor to Geri's departure. The media really jumped on it, saying the bubble had burst.

All their singles reaching the top 2 was still an incredible achievement. Hell, even top 10, is amazing.

If not for the backlash, perhaps they would've been around for a bit longer.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 17 2018, 03:10 PM

QUOTE(Michael Andrew @ Mar 17 2018, 10:56 AM) *
I always thought this was probably quite a contributing factor to Geri's departure. The media really jumped on it, saying the bubble had burst.

All their singles reaching the top 2 was still an incredible achievement. Hell, even top 10, is amazing.

If not for the backlash, perhaps they would've been around for a bit longer.



At the time I was convinced that this was why Geri left... I'm still sure it was a factor in her wanting to stick to the original 2 year plan. I think Geri envisioned them being a bit like Wham 2/3 years of huge success then a big finale going out on top. The other girls obviously wanted to carry on riding the wave of success, which is ironic as they took a break laugh.gif

Posted by: Michael Andrew Mar 17 2018, 05:07 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 17 2018, 03:10 PM) *
At the time I was convinced that this was why Geri left... I'm still sure it was a factor in her wanting to stick to the original 2 year plan. I think Geri envisioned them being a bit like Wham 2/3 years of huge success then a big finale going out on top. The other girls obviously wanted to carry on riding the wave of success, which is ironic as they took a break laugh.gif


Yeh I think you're right. Wham! was definitely Geri's model for success.

Her ambition was her greatest asset, but also her Achilles heal. She set such painfully high standards for herself and the band.

I'd say 'Stop' is still one of their most well-known songs. Even non-fans know the dance moves.


Posted by: Blond 2.0 Mar 17 2018, 07:57 PM

Everything about Bag it up was perfection

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 17 2018, 08:06 PM

QUOTE(Michael Andrew @ Mar 17 2018, 05:07 PM) *
Yeh I think you're right. Wham! was definitely Geri's model for success.

Her ambition was her greatest asset, but also her Achilles heal. She set such painfully high standards for herself and the band.

I'd say 'Stop' is still one of their most well-known songs. Even non-fans know the dance moves.



Easily and ironically I'd say after Wannabe it's their most popular hit despite being one of their lowest selling ones.

Posted by: sammy01 Mar 18 2018, 12:49 AM

I always think Geri left because the group was turning into a proper band. She was the weak link when it came to live concerts and singing live.

The other 4 loved that side, the only thing the 4 really did in 1999 was the mini christmas tour.

Maturing their sound, being taken more seriously and being a touring band, probably everything Geri wasnt about.

Posted by: schizo_spice Mar 18 2018, 01:02 AM

QUOTE(Blond 2.0 @ Mar 17 2018, 07:57 PM) *
Everything about Bag it up was perfection


Definitely it really is that Spice Girls hit that never was and certainly has more Spice about it than Holler ever will.

Geri owned it. If they do tour I'd love to see her perform it again.

Posted by: Shia LeMuffQueef Mar 18 2018, 01:36 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 17 2018, 03:10 PM) *
At the time I was convinced that this was why Geri left... I'm still sure it was a factor in her wanting to stick to the original 2 year plan. I think Geri envisioned them being a bit like Wham 2/3 years of huge success then a big finale going out on top. The other girls obviously wanted to carry on riding the wave of success, which is ironic as they took a break laugh.gif


I've always thought that too!!

It's too much of a coincidence really. It was at that exact point she went on auto-pilot.

She took a LOT of the band's spice with her.

They could easily have recorded Chico Latino or Bag It Up as the Spice Girls. She took the spice.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 9 2018, 02:05 AM

Oops at me not updating this since March! Here are release anniversaries that have occurred since I last posted (+ 'Reason' which I forgot to mention).

Albums
19 years ago - 7th June 1999 - Geri Halliwell - Schizophonic
17 years ago - 16th April 2001 - Emma Bunton - A Girl Like Me
17 years ago - 14th May 2001 - Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
15 years ago - 10th March 2003 - Melanie C - Reason
13 years ago - 11th April 2005 - Melanie C - Beautiful Intentions
13 years ago - 6th June 2005 - Geri Halliwell - Passion
11 years ago - 2nd April 2007 - Melanie C - This Time

Singles
20 years ago - 1st June 1998 - Spice Girls (as part of "England United") - (How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World
19 years ago - 10th May 1999 - Geri Halliwell - Look at Me
18 years ago - 20th March 2000 - Melanie C - Never Be the Same Again
17 years ago - 2nd April 2001 - Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long?
17 years ago - 4th June 2001 - Mel B - Lullaby
15 years ago - 26th May 2003 - Emma Bunton - Free Me
15 years ago - 2nd June 2003 - Melanie C - On the Horizon
14 years ago - 31st May 2004 - Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing for Anamaria
13 years ago - 4th April 2005 - Melanie C - Next Best Superstar
13 years ago - 30th May 2005 - Geri Halliwell - Desire
11 years ago - 16th March 2007 - Melanie C - The Moment You Believe
6 years ago - 13th May 2012 - Melanie C - The Night [EP]
1 year ago - 17th March 2017 - Melanie C - Hold On

drama.gif It's all so long ago! cry.gif (Apart from Hold On kink.gif )

Posted by: vibe Jun 9 2018, 08:53 AM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Mar 18 2018, 01:49 AM) *
I always think Geri left because the group was turning into a proper band. She was the weak link when it came to live concerts and singing live.

The other 4 loved that side, the only thing the 4 really did in 1999 was the mini christmas tour.

Maturing their sound, being taken more seriously and being a touring band, probably everything Geri wasnt about.


I completely agree she looked so uncomfortable on stage compared to the rest of them !!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 23 2018, 10:17 PM

More recent anniversaries:

13 years ago - 13th June 2005 - Mel B - Today
11 years ago - 18th June 2007 - Melanie C - Carolyna

Tomorrow...

7 years ago - 24th June 2011 - Melanie C - Rock Me

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Jun 24 2018, 03:21 PM

WOW rock me 7 years holy shit time flies blink.gif

Posted by: vibe Jun 26 2018, 09:24 AM

7 years !!! Damn .

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 26 2018, 10:22 PM

26th June 2012 - 6 years ago: Spice Girls reunite to announce their Viva Forever! musical



ohmy.gif An exciting day (at the time it'd been a little over 4 years since they'd last been pictured together as a 5). I remember so much focus being on Victoria's perceived distance from the other girls.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 28 2018, 12:33 PM

28th June 2007 - 11 years ago: Spice Girls reunite and announce Return of the Spice Girls tour!



The excitement I felt on that day was immense - I spent it all online, on DenDen / reading news articles / watching news channels. laugh.gif The press conference. wub.gif

It really seemed like it was never going to happen, with Melanie C being so adamantly against the idea of it. Thank goodness she had a (rather sudden) change of heart!

11 years on and I'm still not keen on Geri's dress. kink.gif Melanie C looked the best!

Looking back, it's weird to think that it was only six and a half years between the end of the Forever era and that reunion. It felt like such a long time, but I suppose that's because I was so young (I was 12 when they went on hiatus, and 19 when they got back together). Six years doesn't feel like much to me any more. kink.gif I mean we're not far from it being 6 years since they last performed together at the Olympics.

One more very " drama.gif " thing that occurred to me - the 2007 reunion is now the half way point between the release of Wannabe, and the present day. In fact Wannabe to reunion was a slightly shorter period of time, approx 10 years and 50 weeks.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Jun 28 2018, 02:35 PM

Mel C looked the best that night wub.gif

Posted by: Jade Jun 28 2018, 02:42 PM

No way has it been that long already ohmy.gif I read the newspaper from a very young age so I remember those photos and the hype behind the reunion as clear as day. The annoying part is that I didn't get into the Spice Girls until 2008, aged 10, mere months after the tour ended... cry.gif so I've always hoped that they'd reunite at least one more time after missing out. My parents did go to the Return of the Spice Girls tour though so I at least have their tickets in amongst my Spice collection laugh.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 8 2018, 10:08 AM

Wannabe was released 22 years ago today in the UK!





2 years since the disaster that was GEM :')

Posted by: vibe Jul 8 2018, 06:44 PM

Wow

Posted by: pippa Jul 9 2018, 06:28 PM

Who would have thought how their lives were going to change when it was released and how huge they would go on to become.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 20 2018, 10:17 PM

‘Viva Forever’ was released as a single 20 years ago today wub.gif

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jul 22 2018, 01:25 AM

Great song, still love it.

Posted by: Spiceboy Jul 22 2018, 06:07 PM

Best song ever! wub.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Jul 22 2018, 06:07 PM

Best song ever! wub.gif

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jul 24 2018, 12:42 AM

Their best song after the mega brill spice up your life.

Posted by: Michael Andrew Jul 24 2018, 09:35 AM

Viva Forever was such a weird moment. A beautiful, haunting song featuring the now absent Geri. And such an eerie video.

And then it takes the UK No.1 spot, after the media-branded 'disappointment' of Stop going to No.2.

It seemed like it was over. Then, for a moment, Viva Forever suggested it wasn't... Until it all went quiet and eventually fizzled.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Aug 12 2018, 07:35 PM

Happy Olympics Day! 6 years ago today! yahoo.gif w00t.gif dance.gif cheer.gif biggrin.gif


Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 13 2018, 04:04 AM

wub.gif What a magical performance! So exhilarating! Can't believe it's been 6 years since then.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 13 2018, 10:57 AM

Performance of the night... easily wub.gif

Posted by: ThePensmith Aug 13 2018, 05:22 PM

I remember watching this at my sister's when we were having a barbecue. I saw nothing else of the Olympics but this I made sure I did! They totally rocked it biggrin.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 5 2018, 02:48 AM

Today's date (5th September) marks 7 years since the UK release of Melanie C's fifth studio album 'The Sea'! ohmy.gif


Posted by: Michael Andrew Sep 5 2018, 08:51 AM

As a fan, 'The Sea' was game changer for me.

I was over the moon when this album arrived. Melanie really committed to a strong sound and I see it as a return to form. My faith was restored.

I'm sad for her that it wasn't as successful as it deserved to be. It should've made enough money to finance a big budget follow-up straight away.

Posted by: vibe Sep 5 2018, 03:15 PM

Her second best album !!!

I may start a sea survivor to celebrate 5 years .

Posted by: Maz! Sep 5 2018, 05:38 PM

One of my least favorite spice solo albums unfortunately.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Sep 5 2018, 11:17 PM

It's my fave after Northern Star

Posted by: Theo. Sep 6 2018, 02:20 PM

Happy 1 year anniversary to the Buzzjack Spice Girls forum cheer.gif A huge thank you to Jay and Maz! for successfully reviving the forum and making it into one of Buzzjack's finest heart.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 6 2018, 03:54 PM

wub.gif Aww thank you Theo! That year went by very quickly drama.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 6 2018, 04:52 PM

Happy Birthday to the most overrated Spice-related album cheer.gif

After all these years, it is still a bunch of pish that should have been released back in the 90s and stayed there tongue.gif

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Oct 23 2018, 07:23 PM

Happy 18th Birthday, Holler/Let Love Lead The Way!

The Girls final release before the 2007 reunion. The single was certified Silver and was the groups 9th and final UK chart topper smile.gif


Posted by: vibe Oct 23 2018, 09:55 PM

2 tubes lol

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 23 2018, 11:31 PM

Holler is their most underrated song. It's such a gem wub.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 24 2018, 12:07 AM

Lmao I'd never noticed "2 tubes" before!

18 years! cry.gif wub.gif I was 12 when this came out. I remember how excitement I felt throughout this short lived era, more vividly than what came before... the Spice Girls were finally back! Memories of recording the radio premiere on cassette and listening to it over and over, and then taping the video premiere and watching that repeatedly! I even remember the store I bought the CDs from. It was great to see them back at #1 in the singles chart. A shame it all went pear shaped so quickly. 👀

For me, Holler has stood the test of time as being one of their greatest songs... I don't care what anyone says x cool2.gif Also one of their very best music videos too. I honestly don't think they needed to play it safe by making it a Double A Side, I believe Holler would have got to #1 by itself - although having said that I do really like Let Love Lead the Way anyway, and it helps pads out their rather short singles discography.

Posted by: Mack. Nov 2 2018, 12:23 PM

It is 15 years since 'Maybe' came out.





This was the second single from Emma Bunton's second solo album 'Free Me'. This charted at #6 in the UK.


What are your views on this now?


Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Nov 2 2018, 01:23 PM

It remains her absolute best, what a tune!

So camp.

Posted by: Mr.X Nov 2 2018, 01:31 PM

It remains the best Solo Spice single and one of the best songs of the last 20 years in my opinion! An underrated gem x

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Nov 2 2018, 03:56 PM

I thought Maybe was released on October 13th?

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 2 2018, 05:54 PM

QUOTE(Spice Girls Net @ Nov 2 2018, 03:56 PM) *
I thought Maybe was released on October 13th?

It was! heart.gif

Yesterday: 19 years since the releases of Lift Me Up by Geri and What I Am by Emma! ohmy.gif

Posted by: Buttered Muffin Nov 27 2018, 06:03 PM

Hollier 18 Year Anniversary
When was this, Nov 25th?? Obviously it has two anniversaries: since it was on tv and since it was released. It has been EIGHTEEN YEARS since the most famous ever double A-side was on tv, and now I think? 18 years since its release week!!

Posted by: Mr.X Nov 28 2018, 12:34 AM

WHAT A BOP cheer.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 28 2018, 10:42 PM

QUOTE(Buttered Muffin @ Nov 27 2018, 06:03 PM) *
Hollier 18 Year Anniversary
When was this, Nov 25th?? Obviously it has two anniversaries: since it was on tv and since it was released. It has been EIGHTEEN YEARS since the most famous ever double A-side was on tv, and now I think? 18 years since its release week!!

You're a month late haha, it was released Monday 23rd October 2000. Forever followed on 6th November.

Posted by: Buttered Muffin Nov 28 2018, 11:00 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Nov 28 2018, 10:42 PM) *
You're a month late haha, it was released Monday 23rd October 2000. Forever followed on 6th November.


WHAAAT!!! ohmy.gif

Ooh no wait, that makes sense as they were planning on releasing If You Wanna Have Some Fun in time for Christmas.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 14 2018, 08:31 PM

14th December 1998 - 20 years since the release of Goodbye ohmy.gif




Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 15 2018, 10:11 AM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Dec 14 2018, 08:31 PM) *
14th December 1998 - 20 years since the release of Goodbye ohmy.gif





And today is 21 years since the release of Too Much!




Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 16 2018, 02:28 PM

2 Become 1’s 22nd anniversary is today!




Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 17 2018, 09:24 PM

Not these three anniversaries being a tumbleweed moment on BuzzJack, tssk x

All of their Christmas #1 singles being 20+ years old now. cry.gif

Posted by: ThePoguesmith Dec 19 2018, 06:18 PM

I found these on my Mixcloud travels recently - the top 40 rundowns from Christmas 1996 and 1998 with Mark Goodier on Radio 1 when '2 Become 1' and 'Goodbye' were Christmas number one!

1996: https://m.mixcloud.com/1869300/uk-top-40-bbc-radio-1-mark-goodier-22nd-december-1996/

1998: https://m.mixcloud.com/1869300/uk-top-40-radio-1-mark-goodier-20th-december-1998/

Posted by: tommie Dec 20 2018, 11:35 PM

2 Become 1 is so about getting a condom on. Just listen to those lyrics.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Posted by: ThePoguesmith Dec 21 2018, 02:49 PM

QUOTE(tommie @ Dec 20 2018, 11:35 PM) *
2 Become 1 is so about getting a condom on. Just listen to those lyrics.

Merry Christmas!!!!


They said so themselves it was about safe sex laugh.gif



It still makes me think of Christmas though, even though it's not a Christmas song. The video is one of my favourites of theirs too.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 2 2019, 05:02 AM

1 year ago today, the Spice Girls reunited at Geri’s house & shared pictures/Instagram story videos! Could this have been the final time we see them together as a 5 piece? Time will tell ;o

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 9 2019, 05:02 AM

15 years ago - 9th February 2004 - Emma released her incredible second album Free Me! heart.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 10 2019, 09:25 AM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Feb 9 2019, 05:02 AM) *
15 years ago - 9th February 2004 - Emma released her incredible second album Free Me! heart.gif


AND THE WORLD WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN wub.gif yahoo.gif


Posted by: ThePensmith Feb 12 2019, 04:21 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Feb 9 2019, 05:02 AM) *
15 years ago - 9th February 2004 - Emma released her incredible second album Free Me! heart.gif


Hands down still the best solo Spice album for me. Only 'Life In Mono' and 'Northern Star' come close to its brilliance - even now the production and the songs have held up so well.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Feb 16 2019, 03:33 PM

WOW time flies anyway

Free Me = Perfection


Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 19 2019, 04:57 PM

19th February 2001 - 18 years ago - Mel B - Feels So Good was released!



It entered the UK charts at #5 with first week sales of 55,000 copies, and had sold 142,000 as of June 2017.

~

Other recent anniversaries:

11th February 2002 - 17 years ago - Victoria Beckham - A Mind of Its Own

12th February 2007 - 12 years ago - Emma Bunton - All I Need to Know

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 20 2019, 10:33 AM

Amazing. IMAGINE any of them now opening with 55k sales on the first week.... Them were the days tongue.gif

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Feb 20 2019, 11:54 AM

I love 'Feels So Good'. heart.gif

Free Me is indeed by far and away the best solo Spice album.

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 20 2019, 09:45 PM

Northern Star disagrees wink.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 20 2019, 10:54 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Feb 20 2019, 09:45 PM) *
Northern Star disagrees wink.gif


NOPE. Northern Star knows its place very well and Northern Star is very content with being #3 in the Solo Spice Album Rank of Best Albums of All Time cheer.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 20 2019, 11:48 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Feb 20 2019, 10:54 PM) *
NOPE. Northern Star knows its place very well and Northern Star is very content with being #3 in the Solo Spice Album Rank of Best Albums of All Time cheer.gif



laugh.gif Northern Star is content with being the best solo album in sales, chart position and quality dance.gif yahoo.gif cheer.gif tongue.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Feb 21 2019, 10:49 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Feb 20 2019, 11:48 PM) *
laugh.gif Northern Star is content with being the best solo album in sales, chart position and quality dance.gif yahoo.gif cheer.gif tongue.gif


Norther Star is a good enough album to understand that even if it got to a better sales and chart position than Free Me and Life in Mono, it's quality has not aged very well in most places, so Northern Start knows and is happy with 3rd place w00t.gif Northern Star is a great album indeed heart.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 21 2019, 11:51 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Feb 21 2019, 10:49 AM) *
Norther Star is a good enough album to understand that even if it got to a better sales and chart position than Free Me and Life in Mono, it's quality has not aged very well in most places, so Northern Start knows and is happy with 3rd place w00t.gif Northern Star is a great album indeed heart.gif



Nope Northern Star could be released today and still sound fresh wub.gif

To be fair, so could Free Me wub.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 28 2019, 11:39 PM

24th February 2003 - 16 years ago - Melanie C - Here It Comes Again was released!


Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 1 2019, 12:20 AM

My gosh!! I remember absolutely adoring this when it came out, was sure it was going to be a huge hit. As time has gone by it hasn't aged as one of my favourites at all, yet if it randomly comes on I can't help but belt it out haha

Posted by: tommie Mar 1 2019, 01:40 AM

I remember not liking it at all. Too MOR.

Posted by: tommie Mar 1 2019, 01:40 AM

n/m delete

Posted by: SamJudd Mar 1 2019, 02:24 AM

Melanie C - Here It Comes Again - The beginning of her downfall (solo career wise), wasn't the strong comeback single we needed and doesn't compare to any of the 'NS' singles, and its crazy that this sold less than all of them even 'ITWM' which only managed a #18 peak, (those X-Mas sales helped with a not bad #53k for a low top 20 single). She waited way too long to release a follow-up and sadly everybody forgot about her, and to put it simply this or the follow up just didn't cut it, plus those terrible early 00's sales didn't help matters.

I always wished that 'The Sea' was released back then instead of 2011, and maybe could have continued her solo success for a couple of more years ('Think About It') could have definitely fared better back then than this (along with 'Weak' & 'Burn' as follow ups).

Maybe if 'HICA' came out in 2001 or even 2002 along with the album, then it may have done better, because it sounded more like from that time, as by 2003 it sounded out of date.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 9 2019, 09:00 AM

9th March 1997 - 22 years ago - Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are entered at #1 in the UK!

9th March 1998 - 21 years ago - Spice Girls - Stop single was released!



Posted by: Maz! Mar 10 2019, 05:42 PM

After 21 years I still feel sad about Stop not getting to #1

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 10 2019, 05:48 PM

#StopToTheTop2019!

Posted by: sammy01 Mar 10 2019, 06:05 PM

Stop for platinum!

Mama to get a nice boost this Mother's day please.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Mar 10 2019, 06:12 PM

Justice for Holler/LLLTW too biggrin.gif

Holler for Gold

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 10 2019, 06:17 PM

QUOTE(Spice Girls Net @ Mar 10 2019, 06:12 PM) *
Justice for Holler/LLLTW too biggrin.gif

Holler for Gold

If only! wub.gif wub.gif

Posted by: rowork Mar 10 2019, 06:29 PM

QUOTE(Spice Girls Net @ Mar 10 2019, 06:12 PM) *
Justice for Holler/LLLTW too biggrin.gif

Holler for Gold


THIS! wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Mar 10 2019, 08:11 PM

QUOTE(rowork @ Mar 10 2019, 06:29 PM) *
THIS! wub.gif


I wish!! It will take forever though... probably not in the next 10 years at this rate sleep.gif

Posted by: sammy01 Mar 10 2019, 08:27 PM

I guess we just have no idea how big the boost will be to their catalogue come the tour. Also what their plans are post tour.


Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 14 2019, 08:09 PM

Melanie C - Reason, her second album, was released 16 years ago this week! (10th March 2003). It charted at #5, and to date it is the last solo album by a Spice Girl to chart in the UK Top 5.



It was for sure a huge step down from the quality of Northern Star, but in its own right I don't think it's as bad as some fans make it out to be, it's ok. My favourite album track is 'Positively Somewhere'.

The album cover is one of my least favourite Spice artworks. I've always disliked that 'Reason' isn't printed on the front cover, because it just gives the impression that it's a self-titled album to me. kink.gif I'll always dislike the strangely photoshopped stomach/waistband too. Just... not good.

Posted by: vibe Mar 14 2019, 09:03 PM

How could anyone at virgin and Melanie herself release this after NS . It is knowhere near as good , first week sales were decent but then it bombed. The material was not
Good enough . Lots of fans think releasing years after NS was the issue , this is slightly true but the album quality is poor. It is very dreary , it took me over 10 years to appreciate.

Posted by: vibe Mar 14 2019, 09:03 PM

How could anyone at virgin and Melanie herself release this after NS . It is knowhere near as good , first week sales were decent but then it bombed. The material was not
Good enough . Lots of fans think releasing years after NS was the issue , this is slightly true but the album quality is poor. It is very dreary , it took me over 10 years to appreciate.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 14 2019, 09:27 PM

I never ever noticed the stomach waistband thing until you just pointed that out Jay and now I'm wondering how on earth I never noticed!!

I genuinely do really like this album, it's very consistent (bar Soul boy which is a bag of crap) however it's not at all commercial and was a huge step down from Northern Star. I don't understand why she didn't collaborate with the same producers as her first one when that worked out so well.

I do think it could have sold slightly better had it been released in 2001 instead of in 2003 the wait was too long, but it was never going to sell much more it just wasn't strong enough compared to her previous material. There was no NBTSA or ITTY or NS on this record. I am slightly shocked by On the horizons poor performance though I thought it was a pretty solid single.

Posted by: Mr.X Mar 14 2019, 10:57 PM

The album that really changed it all for her. It is not a good album, but it does have some stand outs. Home is gorgeous and so was Wonderland, Reason, Positively Somewhere (although a bit off...) but the rest just kind of sits there.

Soul Boy is her worst song.

Never understood either why she didnt collaborate again with at least some of the NS producers and instead focused on really mediocre talent. Oh well..

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 14 2019, 11:10 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Mar 14 2019, 10:57 PM) *
Never understood either why she didnt collaborate again with at least some of the NS producers and instead focused on really mediocre talent. Oh well..



THIS so much THIS! I mean she worked with William Orbit why on earth didn't she work with him again? Also Rick Nowels did amazing work with her Northern star, Closer, I turn to you, Feel the sun. Then Hex Hector did an incredible remix of ITTY like get those people back already!! blink.gif wacko.gif


Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 14 2019, 11:11 PM

Also agree with you that era did produce some amazing songs. Home is stunning as is Positively somewhere, reason, wonderland and I love you without trying wub.gif I also thought that I want you back from the Northern Star era would have worked nicely on this album.

Posted by: tommie Mar 15 2019, 08:34 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 15 2019, 12:10 AM) *
THIS so much THIS! I mean she worked with William Orbit why on earth didn't she work with him again? Also Rick Nowels did amazing work with her Northern star, Closer, I turn to you, Feel the sun. Then Hex Hector did an incredible remix of ITTY like get those people back already!! blink.gif wacko.gif


I can see why they didn't get Hex Hector back - his sound is VERY late 90s, early 2000s. His sound became dated and fast.

The funny thing about Soul Boy is that it appears to be a track that her record label/A&R made her record ie they probably saw it as potential single material.

Posted by: Voodoo Mar 16 2019, 02:00 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 15 2019, 01:10 AM) *
THIS so much THIS! I mean she worked with William Orbit why on earth didn't she work with him again? Also Rick Nowels did amazing work with her Northern star, Closer, I turn to you, Feel the sun. Then Hex Hector did an incredible remix of ITTY like get those people back already!! blink.gif wacko.gif

Hmmm... She did work with Rick on I Love You Without Trying & On the Horizon.

Some of the B-sides, such as Love to You, were stronger than the album tracks.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 16 2019, 02:37 PM

QUOTE(Voodoo @ Mar 16 2019, 02:00 PM) *
Hmmm... She did work with Rick on I Love You Without Trying & On the Horizon.

Some of the B-sides, such as Love to You, were stronger than the album tracks.



Two of my favourites from that era... proved my point yahoo.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 21 2019, 08:17 PM

13th March 2000 - 19 years ago - Geri Halliwell - Bag It Up

20th March 2000 - 19 years ago - Melanie C feat. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes - Never Be the Same Again


Both #1 hit singles in the UK!


Posted by: SouthernStar88 Mar 21 2019, 08:45 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Mar 21 2019, 09:17 PM) *
13th March 2000 - 19 years ago - Geri Halliwell - Bag It Up

20th March 2000 - 19 years ago - Melanie C feat. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes - Never Be the Same Again


Both #1 hit singles in the UK!



Wow, love these singles... what a wonderful time that for their solo carreers...

Posted by: tommie Mar 22 2019, 08:59 AM

Great songs and so wildly different from each other - one is camp pop extravaganza and the other is full-on R&B with Mel C at her most lesbionic high.

I'm honestly surprised they didn't try to launch Never Be The Same Again in the US.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 22 2019, 10:05 AM

Not launching NBTSA in the USA was a huge mistake. It was perfect for the US market two girls from two of the biggest girls bands in the USA and the RnB that was huge over there. Melanie C didn't really get the push she deserved over there, ITTY got a bit of traction (got to #1 on the dance chart and even won a Grammy) but apparently the record company never acted on it which Mel was annoyed about. Then When you're gone was also great for the US radio with it's rockier vibe plus Bryan Adams has had quite a bit of success over there.

Real shame Northern Star could have done well in the USA if there had been a proper push with it.

Back on topic, a great time to be a solo Spice Girls fan with back to back solo #1's wub.gif and top 5's flying about everywhere wub.gif wub.gif wub.gif

Posted by: Alberto! Mar 23 2019, 01:45 PM

I always surprise myself when I go check NS credits and actually, only ONE song in it is produced by William Orbit, which is GO! (lovely but hardly an iconic moment).

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Mar 23 2019, 03:41 PM

QUOTE(Alberto! @ Mar 23 2019, 01:45 PM) *
I always surprise myself when I go check NS credits and actually, only ONE song in it is produced by William Orbit, which is GO! (lovely but hardly an iconic moment).


Go is amazing and it was the perfect opener for the album

Posted by: Alberto! Mar 24 2019, 07:30 AM

I agree. It was just a way to say that no actual single nor any other album track are produced by Orbit, which is weird just because in my head that was her 'Ray of Light'. Which still makes sense because of Marius De Vries, but for some reason I always assumed it was a Mel C x William Orbit album.

Posted by: tommie Mar 24 2019, 07:59 AM

Honestly, for the longest time I thought Northern Star and I Turn To You (album version) were produced by Orbit.

I assume it's because they made such a big deal out of her working with William Orbit at the time when he was hot property it would've made more sense if he actually produced more of the album than just the opening track.

Posted by: vibe Mar 24 2019, 08:21 AM

Rick Nowels wrote on both Ray Of light and NS.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Mar 25 2019, 04:09 AM

Love the song now as much as I did back then.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 25 2019, 10:56 AM

Never be the same again! Still my favourite solo Spice Girls single wub.gif It's just perfect wub.gif

Posted by: Euphorique Mar 25 2019, 02:43 PM

Bag It Up is easily my least fav Geri single

NBTSA is a classic, but it comes only as my third favorite single from that album, after NS and ITTY

Posted by: pippa Mar 25 2019, 03:57 PM

Never Be The Same Again and Spice Up Your Life are my 2 ultimate tracks from the entire Spice Girls catalogue both as a group and solo.

Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 25 2019, 04:22 PM

QUOTE(Euphorique @ Mar 25 2019, 02:43 PM) *
Bag It Up is easily my least fav Geri single

NBTSA is a classic, but it comes only as my third favorite single from that album, after NS and ITTY



I've always felt Northern star the single deserved so much more, I mean it sold pretty well going silver but it should have been a top 3 hit it's so beautiful wub.gif

Posted by: Piers Mar 26 2019, 05:02 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Mar 22 2019, 04:05 AM) *
Not launching NBTSA in the USA was a huge mistake. It was perfect for the US market two girls from two of the biggest girls bands in the USA and the RnB that was huge over there. Melanie C didn't really get the push she deserved over there, ITTY got a bit of traction (got to #1 on the dance chart and even won a Grammy) but apparently the record company never acted on it which Mel was annoyed about. Then When you're gone was also great for the US radio with it's rockier vibe plus Bryan Adams has had quite a bit of success over there.

Real shame Northern Star could have done well in the USA if there had been a proper push with it.


I remember a bit of conversation about this in the fan forums back in 2000. Supposedly, Never Be the Same Again was sent to US radio in 2000. Fans at the time were claiming Z100 in New York was playing it...and there were a few other claims of hearing the odd play of it across the country.

The problem was, the album had already been released months earlier without any attention being drummed up by a single...and failed to enter the top 200. Her US promo appearances were especially odd. She showed up here looking like a completely different person to who we saw the previous year. She sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow a time or two for some reason. I remember her doing Northern Star on Letterman...but she didn't release that song. So. Yeah. Her US prospects apparently looked too grim for Virgin to even try with NBTSA.

I Turn To You actually was released as a single here...but it was in 2001...months after the song landed on the dance charts. So. That too was strangely incompetent in its handling.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 14 2019, 11:08 PM

How could I forget to post about Emma's 18 year anniversary for What Took You So Long? ohmy.gif Although today's date is the 18th anniversary of its 2nd week at #1 in the UK. biggrin.gif


2nd April 2001 - 18 years ago - Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long?






Also a few April anniversaries for Melanie C:

4th April 2005 - 14 years ago - Melanie C - Next Best Superstar
11th April 2005 - 14 years ago - Melanie C - Beautiful Intentions
2nd April 2007 - 12 years ago - Melanie C - This Time




I always end up feeling a bit sad.gif to see how awfully long ago their releases were.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 16 2019, 05:05 PM

16th April 2001 - 18 years ago - Emma Bunton - A Girl Like Me

18 years since the release of Emma's debut solo album ohmy.gif!!


Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 30 2019, 10:43 PM

It’s Raining Men was released 18 years ago today, 30th April 2001! ohmy.gif

UK stats:
The final Spice related #1
Two weeks at #1
Geri’s fourth #1 solo single in a row (and her 11th #1 overall, including 7 with the Spice Girls)
13th best selling single of 2001
121st best seller of the 2000s decade


Posted by: Eduardo May 1 2019, 12:42 AM


Posted by: vibe May 1 2019, 07:18 AM

I was so surprised at the time at how huge this was. I totally couldn’t hear her singing this when I heard she was covering it.

But it worked so well.

Amazing promo and video smile.gif

Posted by: Michael Andrew May 1 2019, 09:31 AM

This era started with such promise! Then the follow up singles came.

I wanted them to release 'Feels Like Sex' and 'Circles Around The Moon' after IRM.

I always imagined 'Circles' to have an animated video like the intro to Bewitched TV series.

Even 'Don't Call Me Baby' has more going for it as a single than 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster'.

For me, it was a fairly strong album, poorly represented by the choice of singles.

Posted by: schizo_spice May 1 2019, 09:54 AM

Circles Round the Moon would've been a fantastic single choice.

Feels Like Sex wouldn't so glad that was replaced by It's Raining Men.

I still think Scream was a great single choice aswell I don't understand why it underperformed.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn May 1 2019, 10:08 AM

One of the WORST cover versions ever. Truly disgraceful. puke.gif

Posted by: Michael Andrew May 1 2019, 10:22 AM

QUOTE(schizo_spice @ May 1 2019, 10:54 AM) *
Circles Round the Moon would've been a fantastic single choice.

Feels Like Sex wouldn't so glad that was replaced by It's Raining Men.

I still think Scream was a great single choice aswell I don't understand why it underperformed.


I just think, after the first chorus, you've heard all SIYWGF has to offer. It's definitely a perfect album opening track though.

I wish I could connect to it more. But I don't listen and think "Yeah, I wanna go faster."

Which is weird, because I definitely wanted to "Bag It Up". And I had no idea what that one meant.

Posted by: Mr.X May 1 2019, 10:37 AM

QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ May 1 2019, 11:08 AM) *
One of the WORST cover versions ever. Truly disgraceful. puke.gif


Thank you! It's so f***ing lame lol The original is so much fun and gorgeously sang and produced. Geri stripped all the fun or talent from it wacko.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ May 1 2019, 12:21 PM

I think she did a good job with her cover! The song is not exactly a work of art imo, so I hardly consider her version as being sacrilegious to the original. Both are fun.

It’s no surprise to me that her version was a huge hit on arrival, in numerous countries.

Nowadays it’s holding up as one of the most streamed Spice related songs - 14.4m on Spotify and 11m on YouTube.

Posted by: Spiceboy May 1 2019, 01:42 PM

I thought Geri did a fantastic cover of the song, I prefer her version to The Weathergirls which I find a bit screechy tbh.

It was a great start to her second album era such a shame she followed up with SIYWGF when she had much stronger tracks to go with:

It's raining men
Circles around the moon
Strength of a woman
Calling / Don't call me baby

That's the single selections I would have gone with, I adore Calling however it wasn't really strong enough on it's own. Thank god Feels like sex wasn't released that would have flopped big time.

Posted by: Michael Andrew May 1 2019, 02:43 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ May 1 2019, 02:42 PM) *
I thought Geri did a fantastic cover of the song, I prefer her version to The Weathergirls which I find a bit screechy tbh.

It was a great start to her second album era such a shame she followed up with SIYWGF when she had much stronger tracks to go with:

It's raining men
Circles around the moon
Strength of a woman
Calling / Don't call me baby

That's the single selections I would have gone with, I adore Calling however it wasn't really strong enough on it's own. Thank god Feels like sex wasn't released that would have flopped big time.


I could definitely see every gay and his mum singing to 'Strength of a Woman' in the car.

And you're probably right about 'Feels Like Sex'. It might've been quite shocking at the time. Probably should've used one of her metaphors on that one.

Posted by: Spiceboy May 1 2019, 03:21 PM

QUOTE(Michael Andrew @ May 1 2019, 03:43 PM) *
I could definitely see every gay and his mum singing to 'Strength of a Woman' in the car.

And you're probably right about 'Feels Like Sex'. It might've been quite shocking at the time. Probably should've used one of her metaphors on that one.



"Every gay and his mum" laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif I cried laughing laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: tommie May 1 2019, 04:04 PM

It's a shame EMI never did try to make a proper greatest hits from Geri really - she did have four number one singles, a further four top tens and a top 40. It could've done OK with a well thought out tracklist. Now I believe there's only that digital "Playlist" collection out, though it might have sold more than LA State of Mind.

Posted by: ___∆___ May 5 2019, 08:22 AM

Ah the whole ‘It’s Raining Men’ era was so epic for me as a Geri/SG fan and follower.

I remember the album signing at Virgin where you had to win wristbands to meet her - I ended up winning 3 times so went through 3 times laugh.gif

When she performed IRM at the National Lottery I got audience tickets and me and my friend tried to leave as soon as she performed as we had another friend waiting outside in a car to try and follow Geri - the security stopped us from leaving so I had to fake an illness to get us out laugh.gif We followed Geri’s car and when we pulled up next to her at the traffic lights we were screaming how much we loved her etc., anyway much to our amazement her driver pulled over and we spent 20-30 minutes talking and getting pictures and stuff signed, one of my best moments/memories of following the girls. Geri spoke about it a few weeks later on a blog entry on her website.

Posted by: Piers May 5 2019, 03:14 PM

I get that a singer of limited vocal range going toe to toe with the Weather Girls is a bit...eyebrow raising...but Geri's cover of It's Raining Men really does do something interesting with the song. It gives it a whole different energy...and that's more than what a whole lot of hit covers do.

It's Raining Men isn't my favorite single by Geri...it wouldn't even be in my top 5. But it's my favorite of her eras because of her willingness to just totally go for broke with the performances. There's an infectious enthusiasm to what she was doing then. She seemed to love every second of being out on stage. It was epic pretty much every time she performed it.

But it did cast a shadow on the rest of the album. I actually think Scream and Calling were great singles. But after IRM, their performances just came off as...sleepy. The marketing wasn't as thought out and clever as IRM either. Nothing was on the same level.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net May 10 2019, 01:07 PM

Geri released 'Look At Me' 20 years ago today! biggrin.gif

It reached #2 on the UK singles chart and was certified Gold for sales of 400,000

It also topped the charts in New Zealand and reached the Top 10 in Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Euro chart, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia and Spain smile.gif


Posted by: Jay ☆ May 10 2019, 02:22 PM

Certified gold for shipments, but not sales, unfortunately!

drama.gif at this being 20 years ago! Loved it at the time, still consider it to be one of her best moments. Fun video too. Such a shame it missed #1 essentially because EMI made a daft decision with formats & prices.

Posted by: schizo_spice May 10 2019, 04:32 PM

Yeah its such a shame they didn't do two formats she would've had five consecutive number 1s in a row.

Still love Look at Me as much today as I did 20 yrs ago. The perfect pop comeback.

Posted by: vibe May 10 2019, 06:33 PM

Look At me is her best song .

Still frustrates me that the record company gave away the number 1 because of no 2 cds.

Posted by: Spiceboy May 10 2019, 10:05 PM

It’s incredibly frustrating that they basically threw away the #1!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 8 2019, 12:24 AM

Geri’s Schizophonic album was released 20 years ago! drama.gif!!! 7th June 1999!



As if the first solo album is 2 decades old. cry.gif

I think this is by far her strongest album, I wouldn’t consider it to have any duds. Her singles run of #2/#1/#1/#1 was incredibly impressive. What an era! wub.gif

A pity that the planned reissue a few years ago never came to fruition. Would be amazing if it was released on vinyl - could be released with both covers, one with a red vinyl and one with a white vinyl. *Dreams into existence*

Posted by: Mr.X Jun 8 2019, 11:08 AM

I have grown to like it over the past couple of years though it is not an album I regularly listen to. It's good and some excellent pop songs.

Posted by: tommie Jun 8 2019, 11:32 AM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jun 8 2019, 12:24 AM) *
A pity that the planned reissue a few years ago never came to fruition. Would be amazing if it was released on vinyl - could be released with both covers, one with a red vinyl and one with a white vinyl. *Dreams into existence*


Now now, she had a very good reason to put the kibosh on that. After all, the record buying public could've confused it with her fourth album that she released that very same year.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 28 2019, 08:51 PM

12 years ago on this date, 28th June 2007... the Spice Girls reunited! The first time they'd been seen together as a 5 piece for 9 years, and almost 7 years after the Forever album.

It weirdly feels like it was yesterday but also like it was a lifetime ago at the same time...



It was overwhelmingly exciting to see them together again. wub.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Jun 28 2019, 10:25 PM

Jesus Christ why is Geri so obsessed with wearing household items? First of all a tea-towel sewn on her black dress at the Brits, then her Nan's Curtains when they reunited... laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Jun 28 2019, 11:26 PM

They looked way better on this year reunion

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jul 4 2019, 02:17 PM

20 years ago today two iconic moments happened

Posh and Becks married in Dublin and Geri performed at Party in the Park in front of 100,000 people in Hyde Park, London




Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 4 2019, 05:56 PM

Happy Anniversary to both moments *.*

Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 8 2019, 10:17 AM

23 years ago today: Wannabe released!

What is more shocking for me is the fact that it’s already been 3 years since the 20th anniversary. drama.gif The fans were strongly anticipating that milestone anniversary, hoping that it would be the perfect excuse for a reunion. As we know that ended up being a bit of a messy time in Spice history (GEM... eek). Even though it was very disappointing at the time, at least now we can say it was for the best in the long run!

The past 3 years feel like they’ve really flown by for me. It puts into perspective how everything they achieved in their heyday happened incredibly quickly. 3 years after Wannabe: Geri had already been out of the group for over a year & had released a solo single and album. Mel B & Victoria became mums & had married their partners. Melanie C and Mel B had also released solo singles.

Posted by: Mr.X Jul 8 2019, 01:16 PM

A total tune. I dont listen to it and not really my kind of track, but when listening to it with other people it is always a blast!

It deserves to be the iconic track that it is !

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 15 2019, 03:14 PM

View this post on Instagram


12th August 2012... just over 7 years ago since this iconic performance wub.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 15 2019, 03:43 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Aug 15 2019, 04:14 PM) *
View this post on Instagram


12th August 2012... just over 7 years ago since this iconic performance wub.gif



This was EVERYTHING wub.gif Such an important part of Spice Girls history.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 15 2019, 03:45 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jun 28 2019, 09:51 PM) *
12 years ago on this date, 28th June 2007... the Spice Girls reunited! The first time they'd been seen together as a 5 piece for 9 years, and almost 7 years after the Forever album.

It weirdly feels like it was yesterday but also like it was a lifetime ago at the same time...



It was overwhelmingly exciting to see them together again. wub.gif



Looking at this with fresh eyes I think Victoria looks ridiculous laugh.gif At the time I thought she looked good but seriously the footballs laugh.gif blink.gif

Mel B looks quite rough as well, she certainly got more polished, Geri looks totally utterly ridiculous. Emma looks good, so pregnant heart.gif wub.gif . Melanie C looks amazing though, she rarely looks the best as her costumes tend to less showy than the others but she looks damn sexy here wub.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 15 2019, 04:12 PM

Definitely agree that Melanie looked the best that day wub.gif Effortless!

I guess we'll never know what Geri was thinking when it came to that dress... kink.gif A choice :')

I don't think I was ever overly fond of Victoria's image back then, but as the years go by it looks more and more strange to me! Certainly unrecognisable from the Victoria of today. Would love to know what she thinks of her style from back then.

Agree that Mel B's look isn't the best, it doesn't seem very "her".

Emma looked lovely. wub.gif


Overall it's certainly not one of my favourite looks of the group, but with all the excitement on the day I didn't really focus too heavily on their style!

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 15 2019, 04:17 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Aug 15 2019, 05:12 PM) *
Definitely agree that Melanie looked the best that day wub.gif Effortless!

I guess we'll never know what Geri was thinking when it came to that dress... kink.gif A choice :')

I don't think I was ever overly fond of Victoria's image back then, but as the years go by it looks more and more strange to me! Certainly unrecognisable from the Victoria of today. Would love to know what she thinks of her style from back then.

Agree that Mel B's look isn't the best, it doesn't seem very "her".

Emma looked lovely. wub.gif
Overall it's certainly not one of my favourite looks of the group, but with all the excitement on the day I didn't really focus too heavily on their style!



I didn't really focus on the style either (apart from Geri which I'm sorry did she actually look in a flipping mirror before she left the house??) as I was like you too excited. Now though looking back it's interesting laugh.gif

With the Geri dress do you think they all agreed previously to wear black / red? I suppose Geri is wearing red... I always wondered with the reunion announcement this time when they all have a go at Geri for wearing the sparkly blue dress if that is a nod to her not following it the previous time...?

Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Aug 15 2019, 07:02 PM

I loved the first bit and the taxis, but the screeching of SPICE YP YA LIFE SPICE UP YA LIFE SPICE UP YA LIFE SPICE UP YA LIFE SPICE UP YA LIIIFE I didn't laugh.gif

Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Aug 15 2019, 07:03 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Aug 15 2019, 04:45 PM) *
Looking at this with fresh eyes I think Victoria looks ridiculous laugh.gif At the time I thought she looked good but seriously the footballs laugh.gif blink.gif

Mel B looks quite rough as well, she certainly got more polished, Geri looks totally utterly ridiculous. Emma looks good, so pregnant heart.gif wub.gif . Melanie C looks amazing though, she rarely looks the best as her costumes tend to less showy than the others but she looks damn sexy here wub.gif


Omfg I agree with ALL of this ;lol:

Posted by: ThePensmith Aug 16 2019, 04:41 PM

Geri released her second solo single 'Mi Chico Latino' on this day, 16th August 1999. A week later it entered the UK singles chart at number one, becoming her first of four solo singles to do so:





I did subscribe to the view that 'Look At Me' was her only decent solo single for a long time but with twenty years' distance I've got to give 'Chico' it's due, a great pop single with a Latin influence and she looked amazing in the video too.

Posted by: Piers Aug 17 2019, 04:17 AM

^ I kinda wonder if Geri should have launched her US solo career with Mi Chico Latino. Mind you, I personally really like Look at Me...but it was too unusual for US radio...and the general American audience was indifferent to the video's death of Ginger and rebirth. On that...I maintain my belief that Americans in the 90s were only invested in the group...and not the individual members. That only changed when Victoria and Mel B built their own brands in the US in the 2000s. Point being, I think Geri made a bold statement of "I'm back!" with Look at Me...and America flat-out didn't care.

Anyway. The single and album crashed and burned bad enough that no other attempt was made here.

But would she have had a better shot at the US market if she started with Mi Chico Latino? It was significantly more US radio-friendly. Sexy video. Great image during the promotional campaign. Also. Lift Me Up sounds like it'd fit squarely on Adult Contemporary radio of the time and may have worked as a decent follow. Would the two have set the charts on fire? Maybe not. But maybe her US prospects wouldn't have been over in a week either.


Posted by: Mr.X Aug 17 2019, 08:14 AM

I can't stand Mi Chico Latino. It's so cringe...

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 17 2019, 08:38 AM

Conversely it's my favourite Geri song and one of my overall favourite solo Spice songs wub.gif

I was on holiday in Guernsey with my parents (I was 11!) when Mi Chico Latino came out... I bought CD1 & 2 from Woolworths there. I got the misprinted CD2 disc - the disc had the same design as CD1 (blue and stated it had B Sides on it) but it actually did play the remixes. I'm glad I didn't take it back to the shop because I'm happy to have it in my collection! I ended up buying the correct pink disc version some years later.

I played those CDs every day on that holiday, so it always reminds me of it (which was actually a bit of a disaster, with bad weather and bad accommodation, but it's funny to remember kink.gif ). 20 years ago though drama.gif

It was a very well timed release considering that Latin Pop was having quite a moment in the summer of 99! I'm glad it was a UK #1 heart.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 17 2019, 09:01 AM

My favourite Geri single such a bop!

Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Aug 17 2019, 10:36 AM

It is a BOP and a very early 2000s defining summer ANTHEM but the Spanish is so so so soooo bad. She gave it the ooolll college try!

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Aug 18 2019, 11:35 PM

Masterpiece I still love it so much

Posted by: Jade Aug 18 2019, 11:38 PM

My favourite Geri song for sure! 'Viva Forever' is my favourite Spice Girls song too, so up with latin-pop clearly.

Posted by: ThePensmith Aug 19 2019, 10:29 PM

I love as well, having re-read "Just for the Record" this weekend (research for the fact I've written about 'Chico' for my blog's retro pop series about the charts of 1999 this week) that we have her mum's collection of slushy Spanish language romances to thank for her talky bits in Spanish on there. 'Donde ésta el hombre con fuego en la sangre?' indeed biggrin.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 21 2019, 10:56 AM

The last anniversary I posted about was Wannabe in early July, and then ThePensmith posted about Mi Chico Latino. Here are all the anniversaries that occurred between them!


21 Years Ago: 20/07/98 - Spice Girls - Viva Forever

19 Years Ago: 07/08/00 - Melanie C - I Turn to You

19 Years Ago: 14/08/00 - Victoria Beckham - Out of Your Mind (with True Steppers & Dane Bowers)

18 Years Ago: 30/07/01 - Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster

16 Years Ago: 06/08/03 - Melanie C - Let's Love [Japanese Release]

14 Years Ago: 01/08/05 - Melanie C - Better Alone [Online Release]

11 Years Ago: 25/07/08 - Melanie C - Understand [Canadian Release]

6 Years Ago: 18/08/13 - Melanie C - Loving You (with Matt Cardle)

3 Years Ago: 29/07/16 - Melanie C - Numb (with Sons of Sonix)


drama.gif

The first few in that list being that old doesn't actually phase me as much as realising that Loving You was 6 years ago already... feels more recent!

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 21 2019, 12:49 PM

6 years since the last top 20 solo Spice single... sad.gif wacko.gif

13 years nearly since the last top 10 though omg huh.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 29 2019, 06:25 PM



27th August 2001 - Take My Breath Away released! It reached #5 in the UK charts. Such a pretty song! heart.gif

Emma was a couple of thousand sales behind Louise, but 4,000 ahead of #6. I wonder if Emma might have made it to #4 with a CD1 & CD2 combo rather than CD & DVD.

1- TOO CLOSE- Blue (83,886)
2- LET’S DANCE- Five (43,000)*
3- FOLLOW ME- Uncle Cracker (41,000)*
4- STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU- Louise (36,000)*
5- TAKE MY BREATH AWAY- Emma Bunton (34,000)*
6- 21 SECONDS- So Solid Crew (30,000)*
7- LET ME BLOW YOUR MIND- Eve Ft Gwen Stefani (29,000)*
8- TAKE ME HOME (A GIRL LIKE ME)- Sophie Ellis Bextor (28,000)*
9- TURN OFF THE LIGHTS- Nelly Furtado (28,000)*
10- LITTLE L- Jamiroquai (26,000)*

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 16 2019, 04:25 AM

September anniversaries so far:


Albums:
05/09/11 - Melanie C - The Sea [8 years ago]
10/09/12 - Melanie C - Stages [7 years ago]

Singles:
04/09/11 - Melanie C - Think About It [8 years ago]
06/09/16 - Melanie C - Anymore [3 years ago]
14/09/98 - Mel B - I Want You Back (feat. Missy Elliott) [21 years ago]

Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 17 2019, 12:11 AM

17/09/01 - 18 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl15xG3cHd4

18 years since Victoria's first "proper" solo release! ohmy.gif

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Sep 20 2019, 04:23 PM

Spice Girls performed at Wembley Stadium 21 years ago today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj1RSsbg3No

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 20 2019, 04:46 PM

Iconic!

Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Sep 21 2019, 04:16 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Sep 17 2019, 01:11 AM) *
17/09/01 - 18 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl15xG3cHd4

18 years since Victoria's first "proper" solo release! ohmy.gif


Why do I remember this as a summer song?! Let me guess: summer promo, video on over the summer, and then releasing it in September when everyone was bored of it?

Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Sep 21 2019, 04:17 PM

Stuck In The Middle was a much better song, though. Emma was never gonna beat it.

Posted by: tommie Sep 21 2019, 04:34 PM

QUOTE(Algernon Monqueef @ Sep 21 2019, 04:16 PM) *
Why do I remember this as a summer song?! Let me guess: summer promo, video on over the summer, and then releasing it in September when everyone was bored of it?


Can't Get You Out Of My Head was also technically released in September, but is mostly remembered as a "summer song". It's the way things worked in ye olden times kid.

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 22 2019, 10:07 AM

QUOTE(tommie @ Sep 21 2019, 05:34 PM) *
Can't Get You Out Of My Head was also technically released in September, but is mostly remembered as a "summer song". It's the way things worked in ye olden times kid.


Aaahhh the good old days when acts released the single 1 MONTH AFTER the song and video were out. That gave them time to perform on shows, build an audience, etc. But back then, there were also a lot more TV shows and platforms for music acts than today...

Posted by: Euphorique Sep 22 2019, 01:47 PM

QUOTE(Algernon Monqueef @ Sep 21 2019, 05:17 PM) *
Stuck In The Middle was a much better song, though. Emma was never gonna beat it.


Totally disagree there.

Posted by: Euphorique Sep 22 2019, 01:48 PM

QUOTE(tommie @ Sep 21 2019, 05:34 PM) *
Can't Get You Out Of My Head was also technically released in September, but is mostly remembered as a "summer song". It's the way things worked in ye olden times kid.


I actually much think of it as a fall song. Maybe cause it reached it peak in September and October.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 1 2019, 09:58 PM

A couple of Melanie C anniversaries:

20 Years Ago: 27/09/99 - Melanie C - Goin' Down
14 Years Ago: 30/09/05 - Melanie C - First Day of My Life

And it's 18 years today since Victoria Beckham released her debut album!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 4 2019, 01:36 PM

Poor Victoria, barely anyone cared for the album in 2001 and now they don't 18 years later cry.gif

Like That, IOU & I Wish - career highlights!

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 4 2019, 02:44 PM

TBH she only got herself to blame, releasing it with those two front singles. WTF, two of the worst songs on the album lol

Like That and Not That Kind of Girl still bop though, as does I Wish!

Posted by: SamJudd Oct 4 2019, 06:58 PM

I bought Victoria Beckham's debut album when it came out & thought it was pretty decent, there were some great tracks on there (the 2 singles, 'Like That', 'Girlfriend' 'Midnight Fantasy'& 'I Wish'). It was a mistake not including 'Out of Your Mind' as this did fit the Garage/Pop sound of the album & was a smash hit, the biggest of career and could have given it that slight edge.

It was a shame that the press weren't willing to give her chance as the production on this album really worked well with her vocals & she sounded pretty good on a lot of these tracks. Stopping after just 2 singles was a real waste because neither of them flopped they both went top 10 & there were quite a few potential singles on here. I even liked them 'Not Such An Innocent Girl' was a fun bop with a cool music video & 'A Mind Of It's Own' was a light track with some nice warm vocals & some beautiful melodies that show another side to her.

'Like That' or my personal fave 'Midnight Fantasy' would have been my choices for single #3, the former features some great vocals & cool Garage & slight synths which would have been a great contrast to the other 2 singles & may have given her another hit. While the latter was just more pop and very catchy & just plain fun.

Then for single #4 have 'I Wish', this was apparently gonna be the 3rd single (which I felt would have been too soon, this would served better as the final single with its nice minimal feel to it with some really fitting vocals that could have closed out the era pretty nicely.

My single run =

1. Not Such An Innocent Girl
2. A Mind of It's Own
3. Like That
4. I Wish


Posted by: Algernon Monqueef Oct 4 2019, 07:05 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Oct 1 2019, 10:58 PM) *
A couple of Melanie C anniversaries:

20 Years Ago: 27/09/99 - Melanie C - Goin' Down
14 Years Ago: 30/09/05 - Melanie C - First Day of My Life

And it's 18 years today since Victoria Beckham released her debut album!


18 years since I listened to it ALL THR TIME!!

It aged so badly and is full of 2000s sounds and rnb, of course, and thr vocals didn't age well AT ALL due to the much better autotune these days, but yeah. It was great for its moment.

Posted by: Michael Andrew Oct 5 2019, 12:02 PM

'Like That' was my favourite from VB's first album. I could imagine J-Lo recording that at the time. Would have been a good follow up to NSAIG. It sounds more grown-up and credible.

All the ballads were way too cheesy for me though. I remember being shocked that AMOIO didn't bomb.

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 5 2019, 01:46 PM

QUOTE(Michael Andrew @ Oct 5 2019, 01:02 PM) *
I remember being shocked that AMOIO didn't bomb.


It did bomb tongue.gif

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 8 2019, 03:03 PM

Like That was my favorite too and still is cheer.gif Too bad she didn't release open your eyes it's much better than VB

Posted by: Spiceboy Oct 8 2019, 04:26 PM

I was (and still am) so disappointed with the VB album. Only more so when I listen to Open Your Eyes, which is supposed to be fan mixed and is still vastly superior.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 12 2019, 07:08 PM

9th October 2000 - 19 years ago, Mel B released her debut album 'Hot'!


Posted by: Mr.X Oct 12 2019, 07:11 PM

Nice! I've been bopping to Word Up, Tell Me and Feel Me Now recently ah

Posted by: sammy01 Oct 12 2019, 08:04 PM

Hot is a decent album it has like 5 or 6 absolute killer songs and some filler. Releasing right before Forever was an awful decision, she should have had an album out Oct or Nov '99.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 12 2019, 11:06 PM

Two incredible songs share the same anniversary of 13th October heart.gif


1997... Spice Up Your Life by Spice Girls, 22 years ago!




2003... Maybe by Emma Bunton, 16 years ago!




wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 13 2019, 10:59 AM

Two of the most iconic Spice-related singles ever (in my mind at least tongue.gif )

I shall be bopping to both today wub.gif

Posted by: pippa Oct 13 2019, 11:16 AM

Age has been very kind to Spice Up Your Life.
Complete career highlight from the Spice Girls.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 14 2019, 12:23 AM

Today marks 23 years since the release of Say You'll Be There! (14th October 1996)



heart.gif

Posted by: pippa Oct 14 2019, 06:22 PM

Say You'll Be There never hit the highs of so many of their other singles, an enjoyable song but not in their top tier singles.

Posted by: Maurice! Oct 14 2019, 07:39 PM

QUOTE(pippa @ Oct 14 2019, 08:22 PM) *
Say You'll Be There never hit the highs of so many of their other singles, an enjoyable song but not in their top tier singles.

Get your ears checked and don’t come back to this forum before you did!
Say You’ll Be There heart.gif heart.gif heart.gif

Posted by: HauntedHaus Oct 14 2019, 08:31 PM


Posted by: Spice Girls Net Oct 18 2019, 11:55 AM

Happy Birthday, Northern Star! Released 20 years ago today on October 18th, 1999! cheer.gif

3x Platinum in the UK and nearly 4 million sales worldwide.

The album produced 2 #1 hits (NBTSA, I Turn To You), 2 Top 5s (Goin' Down and Northern Star) and the Top 20 (If That Were Me)

This album still sounds incredible and is one of my favourite solo spice girls records and albums of all time.

Happy Anniversary!


Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 18 2019, 12:58 PM

Happy anniversary Northern Star wub.gif As far as I’m concerned this album/era is the pinnacle of solo Spice Girls (just ahead of Schizophonic and Free Me).

It’s a shame nothing in particular has been done to celebrate this particular anniversary. I want it on vinyl cry.gif

Posted by: schizo_spice Oct 18 2019, 01:26 PM

Schizophonic and Northern Star both being 20 doesn't half freak you out. Time waits for no one Haha

The first two released albums and for me still the two best. Free Me is close runner up.

Posted by: pippa Oct 18 2019, 03:25 PM

An anniversary edition would have been welcomed, very strong debut and even stronger follow up with Reason.

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 18 2019, 03:30 PM

QUOTE(pippa @ Oct 18 2019, 04:25 PM) *
An anniversary edition would have been welcomed, very strong debut and even stronger follow up with Reason.


You ok hun? smoke.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Oct 18 2019, 04:54 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Oct 18 2019, 04:30 PM) *
You ok hun? smoke.gif


laugh.gif I thought the exact same thing laugh.gif

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 18 2019, 04:55 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Oct 18 2019, 03:30 PM) *
You ok hun? smoke.gif



rotf.gif rotf.gif rotf.gif

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Oct 18 2019, 04:58 PM

Northern Star heart.gif what a masterpiece heart.gif heart.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 18 2019, 05:32 PM

View this post on Instagram

QUOTE
20 years ago today I released my first solo album, Northern Star. I am still to this day, deeply proud of the record. It will have a special place in my heart forever xx


wub.gif

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Oct 19 2019, 03:49 PM

Really good album and she really surprised everyone with both the material and success.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 22 2019, 09:17 PM

Recent anniversaries:




2 years ago - 20th October 2017 - Melanie C - Room for Love

3 years ago - 21st October 2016 - Melanie C - Version of Me

12 years ago - 22nd October 2007 - Melanie C - This Time (Single)

Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 23 2019, 12:43 AM

19 years ago - 23rd October 2000 - Spice Girls - Holler / Let Love Lead the Way

cheer.gif wub.gif



Holler... forever a bop!

Posted by: Maurice! Oct 23 2019, 08:41 AM

19 Years bloody hell, time goes so fast!

Posted by: schizo_spice Oct 23 2019, 11:25 AM

That Holler cover should've been the album cover. I know its blurry and far from perfect but it at least had some Spice infused into it.

Posted by: Spiceboy Oct 23 2019, 04:46 PM

QUOTE(schizo_spice @ Oct 23 2019, 12:25 PM) *
That Holler cover should've been the album cover. I know its blurry and far from perfect but it at least had some Spice infused into it.



Out of the pictures we got I totally agree. I would liked to have had another cover with them in the letters though!

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 23 2019, 10:56 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Oct 23 2019, 05:46 PM) *
Out of the pictures we got I totally agree. I would liked to have had another cover with them in the letters though!


Same. Holler's picture was great!

I never really understood the grainy quality though, which was even worse in Let Love LEad The Way. I guess they were trying to go a bit vintage with the filters but it just looked like an out of focus photo lol cry.gif

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Oct 23 2019, 11:30 PM

This really was the start of the end sadly.

Posted by: isanka Oct 24 2019, 12:14 PM

The first DVD i bought. I did not even have a DVD player biggrin.gif

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5V4dyRyC8Jg/VTu_cb9i6WI/AAAAAAAABpc/VYY0Kmahp9Y/s1600/288.jpg

Posted by: isanka Oct 24 2019, 12:17 PM

I remember from a magazine or the Brit Award saying that the new song will be call Holla Holla, something like that.

Posted by: SouthernStar88 Oct 25 2019, 06:55 PM

Love this (double)single heart.gif ...how many bittersweet memories...

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 3 2019, 06:22 PM

3rd November 1997 - 22 years ago - Spiceworld album release! heart.gif


Posted by: Jade Nov 3 2019, 06:25 PM

Happy birthday to an iconic album wub.gif I can't say I remember it being released as I was only 3 months old kink.gif discovered it in 2008 I think and instantly loved it all, except 'The Lady Is A Vamp'. HOWEVER, that finally clicked on tour this year! So I just stan it from start to end now.

Posted by: tommie Nov 3 2019, 07:50 PM

In all honesty, I'm kind of surprise they didn't get more trashed for essentially re-doing Destiny's Child debut album cover for Forever:



Yes, I'm a aware wearing black against a white backdrop isn't original in itself, but that, along with similar font and also working with US producers it just seems like it gets too close for comfort.

Posted by: sammy01 Nov 3 2019, 07:56 PM

So annoyed but not shocked their social media has posted about Spiceworld anniversary 🙄

Posted by: schizo_spice Nov 3 2019, 09:46 PM

I remember getting it from Woolworths on release weekend and on first listen being instantly in love with Stop and praying it would be a single.

Was so excited when Geri announced it as a forthcoming single on the Audience with Show.

Love all ten tracks, their best album, best single selection, best artwork, best memories.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 4 2019, 11:34 PM

I had to wait until Christmas Day 1997 for my copy! My first ever CD. wub.gif

Almost forgot: today's date, 23 years ago... the UK release (and presumably elsewhere in Europe?) of their first album Spice!

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 8 2019, 10:20 AM

Completely forgot to mention the 19th anniversary of Forever! Released 6th November 2000!

Other recent anniversaries...

12 years ago: 5th November 2007 - Spice Girls - Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)
8 years ago: 6th November 2011 - Melanie C - Weak

Posted by: isanka Nov 8 2019, 12:04 PM

Time go so fast.

Posted by: pippa Nov 8 2019, 01:47 PM

If Forever had achieved a higher level of success do you think they would have still split?

Posted by: ThePensmith Nov 8 2019, 02:39 PM

QUOTE(pippa @ Nov 8 2019, 01:47 PM) *
If Forever had achieved a higher level of success do you think they would have still split?


So hard to say. On the one hand they might have done one more tour for the fans, a greatest hits and then split. But then with their focus all being splintered in different directions i.e with their solo careers there wasn't that same team camaraderie anymore. Their vibe and their bond was as a five.

Posted by: pippa Nov 8 2019, 03:45 PM

The bond was 5 but the recent reform of 4 worked strongly.
The problem with the time after Spiceworld and up to Forever their focus and style of music was splintered and that would have became stronger if Forever reached higher levels of success.
That said, if Forever was huge they would have likely stayed together longer even if it was to prove they could succeed just aswell with or without Geri.
Forever,didnt have the magical Spice Girls feel, and, it lost the fun element of the sound of the Spice Girls.

Posted by: schizo_spice Nov 8 2019, 05:24 PM

I think a split was inevitable by that point due to solo careers. Melanie C had pretty much moved on from the group and Holler/LLLTW going to number 1 and the album number 2 didnt encourage her to carry on with promotion which was discussed before Xmas 2000 and she wasnt interested in carrying on. Victoria and Emma were recording solo albums at this point and Mel B had released hers.

Mel B and Emma were the two who would've carried on with B continuing to say the group would be back soon during her 2001 solo promotion.

Posted by: Spiceboy Nov 9 2019, 09:13 AM

Yeah I think even if the album had smashed hitting #1 and being a huge seller, they would have disbanded promotion asap. They might have released a second (third if you count Goodbye) single from the album, but I doubt it would have been promotion (ala IYWHSF in Europe).

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Nov 29 2019, 06:38 PM

Melanie C released the single ‘Northern Star’ 20 years ago today, as November 29th is the date available online, it seems it was released on Nov 22 judging by the official charts?? confused.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 29 2019, 09:44 PM

Northern Star was indeed out on Monday 22nd November 1999! Someone's put the wrong date on Wikipedia for some reason.

Posted by: Big Boobs Vjay! Nov 29 2019, 09:54 PM

Forever is one of the worst albums eever!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Nov 29 2019, 11:06 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Nov 29 2019, 09:44 PM) *
Northern Star was indeed out on Monday 22nd November 1999! Someone's put the wrong date on Wikipedia for some reason.


So annoying. I’m a week out 😂

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Dec 2 2019, 05:24 PM

12 years ago today since the Return of the Spice Girls Tour kicked off in Vancouver on December 2nd, 2007.

I was wondering if anyone had any credible or reliable sources regarding the DC and TLC tours apparently grossing over $70 million?

Thank you! 😊

Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 11 2019, 11:08 AM

^ Crazy that the Return of the Spice Girls tour is 12 years ago!

All the anniversaries from the past 4 weeks:

Singles
21 years ago - 23/11/98 - Melanie C - When You're Gone (with Bryan Adams)
20 years ago - 22/11/99 - Melanie C - Northern Star
20 years ago - 09/12/99 - Spice Girls - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) (as part of Artists for Children's Promise)
19 years ago - 27/11/00 - Melanie C - If That Were Me
18 years ago - 26/11/01 - Geri Halliwell - Calling
18 years ago - 10/12/01 - Emma Bunton - We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight
16 years ago - 10/11/03 - Melanie C - Melt / Yeh Yeh Yeh
15 years ago - 22/11/04 - Geri Halliwell - Ride It
13 years ago - 20/11/06 - Emma Bunton - Downtown
8 years ago - 02/12/11 - Melanie C - Let There Be Love
7 years ago - 11/11/12 - Melanie C - I Know Him So Well (feat. Emma Bunton)

Albums
13 years ago - 03/12/06 - Emma Bunton - Life in Mono
12 years ago - 12/11/07 - Spice Girls - Greatest Hits

drama.gif

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Dec 14 2019, 12:42 PM

Goodbye was released 21 years ago today on December 14th, 1998!

The Official Spice Girls Instagram and Twitter accounts have posted the single cover celebrating the anniversary, along with a link to Spotify!

Finally they've done something they should be doing on a regular basis.

Seeing as there's not much activity on the social media pages, they should be posting short clips, videos lyrics, celebrating anniversaries and
posting iTunes, music store and Spotify links.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 14 2019, 03:55 PM

^ Agreed! Glad that they've acknowledged Goodbye, hopefully it'll get a fair few streams today.

21 years though cry.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Dec 14 2019, 05:12 PM

Goodbye is, for me, their underrated CLASSIC! Everyone loves it and it deserves waaaaay more attention than it gets!

On a side note, I wish they would release Xmas remixes from all their 3 Xmas #1s as a special gift one year ah. I think Goodbye in particular REALLY lends itself to that...

Posted by: SouthernStar88 Dec 14 2019, 05:27 PM

QUOTE(Spice Girls Net @ Dec 14 2019, 01:42 PM) *
Finally they've done something they should be doing on a regular basis.

Seeing as there's not much activity on the social media pages, they should be posting short clips, videos lyrics, celebrating anniversaries and
posting iTunes, music store and Spotify links.




I totally agree…

I can't believe have passed 21 years..I received this single (2nd version) as a gift at Christmas '98...it seems like yesterday

Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 19 2019, 09:37 PM

It was lovely to see their social media acknowledge the Christmas #1 anniversaries:






Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jan 21 2020, 10:57 PM

22 years ago this week the Spice Girls were in America promoting Spiceworld: The Movie.

This interview was filmed on Janaury 16th, 1998. Refreshing that the interview talks about their success, career, movie etc rather than gossip


Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 21 2020, 11:40 PM

Ooh, thanks for posting that! That was a nice little interview, the interviewer was very positive and complimentary.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jan 22 2020, 12:13 AM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 21 2020, 11:40 PM) *
Ooh, thanks for posting that! That was a nice little interview, the interviewer was very positive and complimentary.


Yes he definitely was. Seen quite a few interviews from this day but not this particular one smile.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 12 2020, 03:54 PM

I've been a bit lazy when it comes to this thread, oops!

As mentioned in the My Happy Place topic, Emma's most recent album was released 1 year ago today!

Also, 19 years ago What Took You So Long? was #1 in the UK chart. Still one of my absolute favourite solo Spice songs and it totally deserved those 2 weeks at #1! A moment heart.gif

Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 17 2020, 10:20 PM

Emma Bunton's debut album was released 19 years ago, Monday 16th April 2001!


Posted by: JaneJ Apr 18 2020, 01:38 PM

I still have the cassette lol 19 years already, oh dear.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 18 2020, 02:04 PM

It feels like it's only about 10 years old.

Posted by: JaneJ Apr 18 2020, 02:47 PM

QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Apr 18 2020, 09:04 PM) *
It feels like it's only about 10 years old.


Right? Feels like the early 2000s wasn't that long ago.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Apr 18 2020, 02:51 PM

I sometimes forget that the year 2000 was 20 years ago 😂

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 18 2020, 03:37 PM

Emma hasn't put put a bad album. A girl like me was a solid debut.

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 18 2020, 05:18 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Apr 18 2020, 04:37 PM) *
Emma hasn't put put a bad album. A girl like me was a solid debut.


It's very average in my opinion, some glorious songs but some very poor ones too. It's on the level of This Time in terms of could have been much better. She redeemed herself with Free Me and Life in Mono and then went back to distinctly average with My Happy Place.

Posted by: schizo_spice Apr 18 2020, 06:17 PM

A Girl Like Me loses it in its second half for me.

First half is pretty solid though.

High On Love is a lovely pop song and would've made a nice fourth single.
.

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 18 2020, 06:24 PM

QUOTE(schizo_spice @ Apr 18 2020, 07:17 PM) *
A Girl Like Me loses it in its second half for me.

First half is pretty solid though.

High On Love is a lovely pop song and would've made a nice fourth single.
.



I agree with this completely alot like My Happy Place, first half is pretty solid second half loses it.

Posted by: Mr.X Apr 18 2020, 08:31 PM

A Girl Like Me has 4 great songs in it. The rest are mediocre at best, unfortunately...

My Happy Place has 3 amazing songs, 1 ok and the rest are just bad lol

She has hinted recently that she is going to do a new album and that she now feels more confident with her writing music. Here's hoping wub.gif

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 18 2020, 09:03 PM

I think as new album tagged on to a greatest hits like olly murs you know I know would be a great move for emma and mel c aswell.

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 19 2020, 08:46 AM

You are all being way to harsh on Emma, apart from 2 become 1 with Robbie her songs aren't bad. Some songs are average or boring for sure but they aren't bad songs.

A girl like me is a solid album 5 or 6 stand out tracks the rest you can play through without skipping thinking 'I cant bare to listen to this song'.

Posted by: vibe Apr 19 2020, 08:48 AM

A Girl Like Me has 4 good songs . The rest I don’t even listen too.

My happy place I can actually listen to the whole way through . It is a pleasant album , just cheaply produced.


Posted by: Mr.X Apr 19 2020, 10:41 AM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Apr 19 2020, 08:46 AM) *
You are all being way to harsh on Emma, apart from 2 become 1 with Robbie her songs aren't bad. Some songs are average or boring for sure but they aren't bad songs.

A girl like me is a solid album 5 or 6 stand out tracks the rest you can play through without skipping thinking 'I cant bare to listen to this song'.


TBH with you, I think there is a good album somewhere within My Happy Place, and Emma does sound lovely throughout it which helps. But it's badly produced, it sounds cheap as hell and songs like 2 Become 1, Here Comes The Sun and Don't Call Me Baby just sound like expensive karaoke to me....

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 19 2020, 02:27 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Apr 18 2020, 09:31 PM) *
A Girl Like Me has 4 great songs in it. The rest are mediocre at best, unfortunately...

My Happy Place has 3 amazing songs, 1 ok and the rest are just bad lol

She has hinted recently that she is going to do a new album and that she now feels more confident with her writing music. Here's hoping wub.gif


Erm I’m sorry A Girl Like Me has one amazing song on it What took you so long is sublime wub.gif

My Happy Place I agree 3 amazing songs but I think 2 ok (or good) songs but the rest is naff. Out of interest what are your amazing / OK songs? Mine are
1. Too many teardrops
2. I wish I could have loved you more
3. Baby please don’t stop
4. I only wanna be with you
5. Emotion

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 19 2020, 03:09 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Apr 19 2020, 11:41 AM) *
TBH with you, I think there is a good album somewhere within My Happy Place, and Emma does sound lovely throughout it which helps. But it's badly produced, it sounds cheap as hell and songs like 2 Become 1, Here Comes The Sun and Don't Call Me Baby just sound like expensive karaoke to me....


2 become 1 is an abomination, Robbie sounds like he recorded his part on the loo having a shit and the production is awful.

Here comes the sun is meh, I get it I get why she likes it but keep your kids away from your music.

The rest ranges from great to bland, her voice sounds great throughout. I happen to love the laid back Ibiza vibe if Don't call me baby.

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 19 2020, 03:43 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Apr 19 2020, 04:09 PM) *
2 become 1 is an abomination, Robbie sounds like he recorded his part on the loo having a shit and the production is awful.

Here comes the sun is meh, I get it I get why she likes it but keep your kids away from your music.

The rest ranges from great to bland, her voice sounds great throughout. I happen to love the laid back Ibiza vibe if Don't call me baby.



To be fair Here comes the sun, All I need to get by and Don't call me baby are ok I guess. The songs themselves are great it's just her versions leave alot to be desired and why anyone would choose to listen to them over the originals I don't know, they offer nothing to the album just complete fillers.

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 19 2020, 06:28 PM

My happy place is certainly a front loaded album, interesting decision to put the 2 originals right at the start of the album.

Emotions is a gorgeous little number that saves the 2nd half of the record.

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 19 2020, 07:12 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Apr 19 2020, 07:28 PM) *
My happy place is certainly a front loaded album, interesting decision to put the 2 originals right at the start of the album.

Emotions is a gorgeous little number that saves the 2nd half of the record.



Saves is a very strong word... not the right word either laugh.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Apr 19 2020, 08:14 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Apr 19 2020, 02:27 PM) *
Erm I’m sorry A Girl Like Me has one amazing song on it What took you so long is sublime wub.gif

My Happy Place I agree 3 amazing songs but I think 2 ok (or good) songs but the rest is naff. Out of interest what are your amazing / OK songs? Mine are
1. Too many teardrops
2. I wish I could have loved you more
3. Baby please don’t stop
4. I only wanna be with you
5. Emotion


You are right about What Took You So Long? actually wub.gif

My Happy Place's only great songs are:

1. Too Many Teardrops
2. Baby Please Don't Stop
3. I Wish I Could Have Loved You More

then she has a good song: You're All I Need To Get By

The rest is pointless and badly produced covers blink.gif

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 19 2020, 08:18 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Apr 19 2020, 09:14 PM) *
You are right about What Took You So Long? actually wub.gif

My Happy Place's only great songs are:

1. Too Many Teardrops
2. Baby Please Don't Stop
3. I Wish I Could Have Loved You More

then she has a good song: You're All I Need To Get By

The rest is pointless and badly produced covers blink.gif



You're all I need to get by... seriously?? Lol nope. I love Marvin Gaye's version of that song though so that might be clouding my judgement....

Posted by: Piers Apr 19 2020, 08:33 PM

I guess I like A Girl Like Me better than most.

To my ears What Took You So Long, Take My Breath Away, High On Love, and Better Be Careful sounded like the obvious singles...and would have made a strong chart run. I think High On Love is the second best song on the album...and it (along with Better Be Careful) deserved a top 10.

I think most of the rest is solid album material. To me, the only truly 'meh' songs are Been There, Done That and She Was a Friend of Mine. With those two...coupled with two 'fine' covers...I get the album's not perfect. But I don't think What Took You So Long is the lone redeemer of it either.

I do think out of her material she'd done, though...both Invincible and Free Up Your Mind (perhaps with a punchier, slicker mix) are quite a bit better than the songs I mentioned above. Not sure the full story on Invincible...as it ended up being released as a single by another artist in that same general time period. Emma had a better shot at making the song famous.

I do find it unusual throughout the course of the album, she manages to have material that's both mature for her image....AND material that sounds even younger than the Spice album material from five years before. Not a complaint, really. It's possible an entire album of guitary lite-pop may have become boring.

Posted by: Mr.X Apr 19 2020, 08:34 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Apr 19 2020, 08:18 PM) *
You're all I need to get by... seriously?? Lol nope. I love Marvin Gaye's version of that song though so that might be clouding my judgement....


It's nowhere near as good as Gaye's original, for sure. But it's not a bad cover, it is well sang but it's just a bit pointless ah

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 20 2020, 10:36 AM

Did a girl like me go platinum?

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Apr 20 2020, 11:36 AM

I listened to that album in full once and almost fell asleep.

'Take My Breath Away' is a cute song.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Apr 20 2020, 01:38 PM

QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Apr 20 2020, 11:36 AM) *
Did a girl like me go platinum?


It went Gold in the UK which is 100k

Total sales are 125k +

Platinum in the UK is 300,000 so it would need to double its sales and a bit

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 20 2020, 02:20 PM

I thought it sold far better than that, I actually thought it was verging on platinum.

Posted by: schizo_spice Apr 20 2020, 03:01 PM

Both A Girl Like Me and Scream If You Wanna Go Faster sold under 200k

This wasnt great for 2001 standards and showed the fanbase was starting to get fed up of solo spice.

Then again both enjoyed huge number 1 hit singles that year so interest was still there as single acts.

Victoria bombed with both her single and album.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 20 2020, 03:57 PM

I know northern star went triple platinum, did geri,s debut go platinum?

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 20 2020, 04:15 PM

QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Apr 20 2020, 04:57 PM) *
I know northern star went triple platinum, did geri,s debut go platinum?


Yes Schizophonic went platinum:

3x platinum - Northern Star
1x platinum - Schizophonic
Gold:
- Reason
- Scream if you wanna go faster
- A girl like me
- Free me

None of the rest certified although I’m sure Hot, VB and Life In Mono should be eligible for silver as they all sold over 50k so must have shipped 60k???

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Apr 20 2020, 04:40 PM

Ya i would say a few of those should have silver or be very close now. I love northern star, its my second fave solo spice album after reason, i know many dont rate reason at all but i still love the album and wish it had done better.

Posted by: Mr.X Apr 20 2020, 04:41 PM

QUOTE(schizo_spice @ Apr 20 2020, 03:01 PM) *
Both A Girl Like Me and Scream If You Wanna Go Faster sold under 200k

This wasnt great for 2001 standards and showed the fanbase was starting to get fed up of solo spice.

Then again both enjoyed huge number 1 hit singles that year so interest was still there as single acts.

Victoria bombed with both her single and album.


I think you are very right to point that out. People were exhausted with so much Spice related stuff. Not only the solos, as the main group album also suffered, but it was clear people were just not there anymore for it.

The fact that some singles did really well in 2001 such as WTYSL and IRM means that those two were really good songs that really connected with the public, not necessarily to do with their status as Spice Girls. Honestly, beyond summer 2000, all sales for all of them were pretty bad for their standards apart from WTYSL, IRM and maybe Feels So Good which managed over 100k. Across the board, for all of them should have just taken a break from all the solo crap that was everywhere at the time. They really saturated the industry without focusing on the main attraction (the group), so no wonder people got bored...

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Apr 20 2020, 04:15 PM) *
Yes Schizophonic went platinum:

3x platinum - Northern Star
1x platinum - Schizophonic
Gold:
- Reason
- Scream if you wanna go faster
- A girl like me
- Free me

None of the rest certified although I’m sure Hot, VB and Life In Mono should be eligible for silver as they all sold over 50k so must have shipped 60k???


Nice! I really wish they had been certified too

Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 20 2020, 07:27 PM

QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Apr 20 2020, 05:40 PM) *
Ya i would say a few of those should have silver or be very close now. I love northern star, its my second fave solo spice album after reason, i know many dont rate reason at all but i still love the album and wish it had done better.



I love reason I think if you replace Do I and Soul boy with any two of the Reason B-sides it’s flawless... (which I may have done on iTunes laugh.gif )

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 20 2020, 07:50 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Apr 20 2020, 05:15 PM) *
Yes Schizophonic went platinum:

3x platinum - Northern Star
1x platinum - Schizophonic
Gold:
- Reason
- Scream if you wanna go faster
- A girl like me
- Free me

None of the rest certified although I’m sure Hot, VB and Life In Mono should be eligible for silver as they all sold over 50k so must have shipped 60k???


Hot by Mel B is certified silver as it shipped 60k and certs were done on shipments back in the day.

Life in Mono is probably less than 5k away from a silver certification.

Posted by: sammy01 Apr 20 2020, 08:08 PM

Schizophonic is also certified 2 times platinum based on shipments too. That must have been a massive over shipment though as it probably hasn't crossed 500k in sales yet.

Posted by: Piers Apr 21 2020, 03:40 AM

It's a really odd thing to think back and remember...from October 2000 through October 2001, four of the girls released albums...and so did the group. All FIVE (and the group) released singles in that stretch.

I'm too lazy to add up all the single/album sales from that year span. But I'm sure altogether they'd make up a pretty respectable number. Some of the fanbase was still there. It's just...ALL of them stretched it so thin at once. The record label shouldn't have allowed it to happen like that.

And yes. I have wondered if the solo careers could have had more longevity had the group not fallen apart in the way it did. We'd waited ages for a third group album only for them to abandon it immediately and start up that "we're focusing on solo for now!" talk. Mel B even said some nutty things about perhaps releasing more Forever singles in 2002. It wasn't enough to lose me as a fan (hey...I'm still here). But. I mean. It was annoying...

Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 21 2020, 04:20 AM

I wish they had been more dedicated to the group when the time came to promote Forever! sad.gif Mel B's album being timed so close to Forever was the most ridiculous scheduling ever. Melanie C still wasn't ready to let go of the Northern Star era (and to be fair this was understandable considering it was such a big success). Emma was putting the finishing touches to her debut album, while Victoria was recording as well. They were clearly all itching to jump ship and fully focus on solo careers, but I wish they'd been a bit more patient. Group and solo releases colliding was messy. At least the remaining four members of One Direction finished all their group commitments before they embarked on their solo careers.

I agree that all of them releasing so closely together was over-saturation for the market. Particularly a market that was 100% physical products. I doubt a lot of their young fans could afford every release, so choices had to be made... and clearly many Spice fans passed on Hot and Victoria Beckham, and Emma's debut didn't exactly do great things despite having a #1 lead single!

All of this came within 24 months:

13/03/2000 #01 Geri Halliwell Bag It Up
20/03/2000 #01 Melanie C Never Be the Same Again (feat. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes)
07/08/2000 #01 Melanie C I Turn to You
14/08/2000 #02 Victoria Beckham Out of Your Mind (with True Steppers & Dane Bowers)
25/09/2000 #04 Mel B Tell Me
09/10/2000 #28 Mel B Hot
23/10/2000 #01 Spice Girls Holler / Let Love Lead the Way
06/11/2000 #02 Spice Girls Forever
27/11/2000 #18 Melanie C If That Were Me
19/02/2001 #05 Mel B Feels So Good
02/04/2001 #01 Emma Bunton What Took You So Long?
16/04/2001 #04 Emma Bunton A Girl Like Me
30/04/2001 #01 Geri Halliwell It's Raining Men
14/05/2001 #05 Geri Halliwell Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
04/06/2001 #13 Mel B Lullaby
30/07/2001 #08 Geri Halliwell Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
27/08/2001 #05 Emma Bunton Take My Breath Away
17/09/2001 #06 Victoria Beckham Not Such an Innocent Girl
01/10/2001 #10 Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckham
26/11/2001 #07 Geri Halliwell Calling
10/12/2001 #20 Emma Bunton We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight
11/02/2002 #06 Victoria Beckham A Mind of Its Own


That's 23 releases - 5 albums (as Piers noted, that was 4 different solo Spice Girls releasing an album within a year, and a group album), as well as 18 singles!

It's pretty impressive that most of these releases achieved great peaks, but I think this period of time was ultimately damaging for their long term prospects. There's a lot more I could say about those scheduling decisions, but this post is getting very long already! The one thing I'll say is that Victoria really should have avoided releasing singles until Emma and Geri's eras had come to a close. Virgin was way too confident to schedule her debut album as a Q4 release. She would have had 2002 all to herself if she'd waited!

Posted by: Jay* Jun 29 2020, 05:17 AM

8 years ago - Spice Girls reunite to announce musical [26th June 2012]

9 years ago - Rock Me by Melanie C [24th June 2011]

13 years ago - Spice Girls reunite to announce reunion tour [28th June 2007] ... this now represents the mid-way point of the 5 of them knowing each other, given that they formed 26 years ago

15 years ago - L.A. State of Mind by Mel B [27th June 2005]

21 years ago - Word Up by Mel B [28th June 1999]

24 years ago - Spice Girls performed Wannabe on GMTV on London’s South Bank [28th June 1996]

Posted by: sammy01 Jun 29 2020, 07:51 AM

The reunion in 2007 was so exciting at the time but my god looking back what a mess that photoshoot and o2 press conference look was.

I'd love to hear Geri's reasoning behind wearing what she did especially when the code was to wear black. Victoria was well on her way to being a social influencer the way her look and career was going. Mel B looks like your average council estate mum dressed up for her birthday, Emma was very heavily pregnant.

Mel C looked great though but her fringe looked rubbish on tour with a ponytail.

Posted by: McAndrew Jun 29 2020, 08:11 AM

I won't hear a word against that fringe. Melanie looked absolutely smoking hot.

Posted by: schizo_spice Jun 29 2020, 09:23 AM

I'm not a huge fan of what Geri wore but wearing all black would've looked so boring and un Spice Girls for their first public appearance as five in 9 years.

Posted by: sammy01 Jun 29 2020, 09:43 AM

I'm pretty sure the reasoning for Geri wearing that was to stand out and there was no way she couldn't be put in the middle then.

It is no wonder the 2007 reunion didn't bring them as close together as 2019 when Geri pulls a stunt like that first day. Mel C must have literally thought here we f***ing go again with the attention seeking and antics nothing has changed.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jun 29 2020, 09:51 AM

As Jay says, I think it’s crazy that the 2007 reunion is basically halfway between Emma joining in Summer 1994 and right now in 2020 😫

Posted by: McAndrew Jun 29 2020, 01:25 PM

I reckon Emma was looking at Geri thinking, "I wish someone had told the pregnant lady that we were allowed to wear a moo moo." Haha

Posted by: Chemistry Jun 29 2020, 01:30 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jun 29 2020, 09:43 AM) *
It is no wonder the 2007 reunion didn't bring them as close together as 2019 when Geri pulls a stunt like that first day. Mel C must have literally thought here we f***ing go again with the attention seeking and antics nothing has changed.


So true laugh.gif

I remember watching the livestream of the press conference and it being SUCH a moment, properly excited. Looking back, it does feel the 2019 reunion was planned way better and the girls also seemed to enjoy themselves (and each other) a lot more.

VB her blonde bob really was a choice, as was Geri's outfit.

Posted by: sammy01 Jun 29 2020, 02:28 PM

The problem with 2007 was it was far too serious, grown up and trying to be slick. The Spice Girls work best when they are being fun and poking fun at themselves. The only time the 2007 reunion struck the perfect tone was the Tesco adverts which were fun and them poking fun at themselves. Signing the side of a plane, Cavalli, Victoria Secret etc are just not really spice girls. I'm pretty certain it was Victoria's influence and her not being involved in 2019 meant they could be fun and less slick.

The 2018 announcement had them poking fun at Geri not wearing the dress code from 2007, Emma poking fun at their ages 'Girls am I too old for bunches' and them playing off the always constant they have fallen out tabloid stuff. The tour was joyous, fun and inclusive. Little Miss was much more on brand than Virgin 1 planes and the Walkers advert was again a laugh.

I'm confident of the 4 going forward striking the right tone. You only have to look at VB over the musical and her looking like she was being forced at gunpoint to endorse something that should have been fun and a celebration.

It does make me worry for the annimated movie which she will be involved in too, it really needs to be fun and almost self parodying like Spiceworld the movie.

Posted by: Spiceboy Jun 29 2020, 05:21 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jun 29 2020, 10:43 AM) *
It is no wonder the 2007 reunion didn't bring them as close together as 2019 when Geri pulls a stunt like that first day. Mel C must have literally thought here we f***ing go again with the attention seeking and antics nothing has changed.



laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif Why do I totally believe this!

Posted by: Liam.k. Jun 29 2020, 05:32 PM

I had no idea what the 2007 photoshoot was that's being referred to here but having Googled it I'm guessing it's this:


Posted by: sammy01 Jun 29 2020, 05:43 PM

Yes that is the one, the brief was to wear black.

Posted by: Liam.k. Jun 29 2020, 06:14 PM

A very Geri thing to do - you hit the nail on the head perfectly when you say it meant she would have to be in the middle of the group photos.

Posted by: Spiceboy Jun 29 2020, 06:16 PM

Tbf Mel B also strayed from the black with the red!

Posted by: Andrew. Jun 29 2020, 06:21 PM

Screaming at Geri, idk if I love her hogging the limelight accidentally on purpose or not :') Compared to the 2018-19 reunion, the styling for 2007...wasn't it laugh.gif

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jun 29 2020, 06:25 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jun 29 2020, 06:43 PM) *
Yes that is the one, the brief was to wear black.


Victoria ✅
Melanie C ✅
Emma ✅
Mel B - Halfway There
Geri - NO! 😆

Posted by: Mr.X Jun 29 2020, 06:26 PM

TBH if the memo is DRESS ALL BLACK, im glad at least a couple of them went against that.

Who the hell thought it was a good idea to have THE SPICE GIRLS in full black?!

Posted by: JosephStyles Jun 29 2020, 06:27 PM

The real crime of 2007 is THIS Geri outfit


Posted by: sammy01 Jun 29 2020, 06:30 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Jun 29 2020, 07:26 PM) *
TBH if the memo is DRESS ALL BLACK, im glad at least a couple of them went against that.

Who the hell thought it was a good idea to have THE SPICE GIRLS in full black?!


Did you not see the 2007 reunion it was all about fashion and being grown up and sleek.



Posted by: Andrew. Jun 29 2020, 06:33 PM

QUOTE(JosephStyles @ Jun 29 2020, 07:27 PM) *
The real crime of 2007 is THIS Geri outfit


Tbh I'd take Geri's over the others, that photoshoot was not their finest moment ohmy.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Jun 29 2020, 06:35 PM

QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jun 29 2020, 07:30 PM) *
Did you not see the 2007 reunion it was all about fashion and being grown up and sleek.

Thats what I am saying! It was totally wrong.

Posted by: vibe Jun 29 2020, 06:47 PM

Looking back tho the clothes were horrid !!

Posted by: schizo_spice Jun 29 2020, 07:08 PM

Poor Emma with her injury aside I liked how they looked here (yes Geri was always a fan of white tongue.gif )


Posted by: Spiceboy Jun 29 2020, 10:01 PM

QUOTE(schizo_spice @ Jun 29 2020, 08:08 PM) *
Poor Emma with her injury aside I liked how they looked here (yes Geri was always a fan of white tongue.gif )




I agree I loved this look... this is how they should have looked for the reunion (obviously Emma would be pregnant and not with a twisted ankle... and a different dress for the bump lol). Melanie C with that scarf though wub.gif

Posted by: Jay* Jun 30 2020, 02:59 AM

They certainly had some interesting looks for 2007! Re: the press conference look, at the time it was only Geri’s dress that struck me as being an odd choice, but over the years I came to think that it’s only Melanie C who fit the brief with an outfit that looks great, she’s styled really well.

Did this photo occur on the same day? Or just within the same week?



I wonder whether Geri’s outfit there was one she’d considered for the press conference before she deviated? Can’t say for certain because Victoria, Emma & Melanie C have different black outfits on here. Anyway this photo shows what an “all in black” Spice Girls could have looked like on the reunion day.

They look nice... but it’s not very Spicy. I guess none of them were in the frame of mind of wanting to recreate/update their 90s looks at that point. That seems like a bit of an odd choice for a nostalgic reunion tour & Greatest Hits album. Sometimes I wonder if 2007 was just too early for it all to be happening (even though the fans had been desperate for a reunion for many years already, and it really did feel like it had been a long time coming!).

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Jun 30 2020, 07:14 AM

The press conference was June 28th and the photoshoot was the following day (June 29) 😊

Looking back at the 2007 reunion there were so many things that were better about the 2019 reunion. Like you say, maybe 2007 was a bit ‘too early’. The 90s nostalgia thing hadn’t kicked in yet, but generally for the Spice fans we were all ready.

Posted by: Jay Something Aug 14 2020, 10:51 AM

View this post on Instagram


Forgot to mention this, but 12th August marked 8 years since their incredible Olympics performance. drama.gif This performance never becomes boring for me. wub.gif

Posted by: Jay Something Aug 14 2020, 10:55 AM

Oh and today marks 20 years since the release of Out of Your Mind, Victoria's first single ohmy.gif



Here's all the recent anniversaries that I didn't mention since I had last updated this thread (some were mentioned in other threads):

24 years ago: 08/07/96 - Spice Girls - Wannabe
22 years ago: 20/07/98 - Spice Girls - Viva Forever
20 years ago: 07/08/00 - Melanie C - I Turn to You
19 years ago: 30/07/01 - Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
17 years ago: 06/08/03 - Melanie C - Let's Love
15 years ago: 01/08/05 - Melanie C - Better Alone
12 years ago: 25/07/08 - Melanie C - Understand
4 years ago: 29/07/16 - Melanie C - Numb (with Sons of Sonix)

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Aug 14 2020, 12:41 PM

Such an iconic month (August 2000) getting ‘I Turn To You’ and ‘Out of Your Mind’. Both iconic in their own right for me. ITTY has aged better but OOYM was and still is very underrated.

*we won’t talk about the #1 and #2 positions and how she was robbed by Sophie Ellis Bextor. We won’t go there*

Posted by: Jay* Aug 14 2020, 01:06 PM

cry.gif It still seems odd to me that Victoria was midweek #1 throughout the week, but then ended up a rather significant 20,000 copies behind after Saturday.

An interesting thing to note about Spiller - Groovejet is that it was included on the Now 46 compilation album, which was released on 24th July 2000 - three whole weeks before it was released as a single. Now 46 sold 458,000 copies in those 3 weeks, and a further 58,000 copies in the week the Spiller single became available - so over half a million people owned the song via that album. Yet Groovejet still managed to sell 200,000+ in its first week on sale!

If only the label that released Out of Your Mind had felt brave enough to release it a week later instead, and go head to head with Madonna... because it seems likely that Victoria would have won that battle, and that would have been major!

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 14 2020, 05:32 PM

Imagine if she had held Madonna's comeback off the top how iconic would that have been wub.gif

Posted by: Chemistry Aug 15 2020, 06:20 AM

Melanie C, Sophie, Madonna and Victoria all battling for the #1 in the same month, talk about iconic, especially considering the fact now they (would) struggle to even hit the top 100. Take me back to those times, please!

It's a shame she ended up at #2 in the end (even though I do prefer Groovejet), but this still did so, so well sales wise. People always make fun of her solo career and just don't realise what a moment this was. The 21th best selling single of the year 2000 is no joke.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 15 2020, 08:56 AM

Yeah I agree If this ain’t love is the better song I love it ❤️

Posted by: Jay* Aug 16 2020, 10:31 AM

21 years since the release of Mi Chico Latino ohmy.gif



Also 21 years ago today, Spice Girls recorded these tracks:

Right Back At Ya
A Day In Your Like
Give You What You Want
Pain Proof

... which leaked 5 and a half years ago!

Posted by: Chemistry Aug 16 2020, 01:06 PM

One of the ultimate summer bops and definitely one of the, if not the, best solo Spice songs.

Posted by: schizo_spice Aug 16 2020, 01:57 PM

Mi Chico Latino is timeless.

I've noticed it seems to be her single that gets the most respect aswell.

Posted by: vibe Aug 16 2020, 02:11 PM

Respect ? I love it but her spanish pronunciation has always been panned.

Wonderful video tho.

Posted by: schizo_spice Aug 16 2020, 02:23 PM

Some pan it most in my experience dont have a problem with it.

They just enjoy it for the incredible pop song it is.

Posted by: Mr.X Aug 16 2020, 05:37 PM

Im going to be quiet on Chico Latino and let you girlies have some fun reminiscing without me remind you of how trully awful it is, for once cool.gif

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Aug 16 2020, 05:41 PM

Hopefully it will go Gold sometime next year. My favourite Geri single

Posted by: Piers Aug 17 2020, 03:53 AM

A little late to the party to discuss this one...but had a few memories about Out of Your Mind. I remember back when an audio clip first showed up on the Spice fan sites. I totally didn't get it. The mix was a bit different. More chaotic. My reaction was completely...what...is...this...? But. I caught her Party In the Park performance...and I started to come around to the song. Then the video came out and was gorgeous. The rough edges of the song seemed to have been smoothed out, and I ended up really liking it.

The chart battle was always a curious thing to me. While I like the song, OOYM didn't necessarily sound like a huge hit to me. Not a #1 contender, anyway. That may be my US perspective creeping in. That style of music never totally took hold of the music charts here. So. To me...it always seemed like an interesting little track...taking on something that sounded hugely commercial (Groovejet). On the flip side, I *did* think Not Such An Innocent Girl sounded like a big hit. So. What do I know?


Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 17 2020, 10:26 AM

Mi Chico Latino is my favourite Geri single I love it 🥰

Posted by: dancinqueen Aug 18 2020, 06:51 PM

I remember buying her debut album and being excited. I listened to it once and thought she was crazy to leave the Spice Girls ti produce such predictable stuff. No live performances, the dancing was cheesy and it made me cringe. That’s when I realize Geri Halliwell aka Ginger Spice only worked when she had the other four to compensate her lack of talent. Mi Chico Latino is so average. Geri best song remains Viva Forever, as she was the one really behind the idea for the song.. irony, she doesn’t have any solo verses.

Posted by: Jay* Aug 18 2020, 06:56 PM

Melanie C's duet with Matt Cardle - Loving You - was released 7 years ago today!


Posted by: dancinqueen Aug 18 2020, 07:30 PM

The last solo hit. A respectable #14.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Aug 18 2020, 08:01 PM

I really like loving you, i was surprised it got so high at the time.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 18 2020, 09:32 PM

Very likely the last ever solo top 20 hit... top 100 even cry.gif blink.gif laugh.gif

It's annoying that they didn't do more to promote on release week and instead went to Germany to promote it wtf!? Also that a physical single wasn't released I mean they could have shifted another 5-10k in physicals between their fanbases easily. Would have easily made top 10 with the extra push.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Aug 18 2020, 11:04 PM

I saw them both perform that at G-A-Y on release week, ahhh the memories!

I remember at the time due to pre-orders I was expecting it to be a huge top 10 hit, but that didn't happen and dropped heavily. sad.gif Still a good song!

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Aug 19 2020, 02:45 PM

I think loving you was number 7 in the first midweeks, and i was like is this a mistake as neither matt or mel were having hits, i really liked them working together as im a big fan of matts material and mels aswell so it was an ideal duet for me.

Posted by: vibe Aug 19 2020, 04:06 PM

I saw them at g-a-y and collapsed the next morning when the song was in the I tunes top 10 !!

Posted by: Jay* Aug 31 2020, 09:15 PM

Released 19 years ago this week ohmy.gif


Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 1 2020, 10:51 AM

I have grown to appreciate TMBA so much more over the years it's quite a beautiful song. At the time I wasn't hugely impressed with it, I think coming off the back of WTYSL it felt quite weak.

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 1 2020, 11:12 AM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Sep 1 2020, 11:51 AM) *
I have grown to appreciate TMBA so much more over the years it's quite a beautiful song. At the time I wasn't hugely impressed with it, I think coming off the back of WTYSL it felt quite weak.


Agree with this. At the time it felt like a step down, which is a shame. Frankly, I think I found a new appreciation for this track, specially after seeing it live at Albert Hall last Christmas heart.gif

Posted by: Jay* Sep 5 2020, 03:19 AM

'The Sea', Melanie's fifth album, was released 9 years ago today! 'Think About It' was released alongside it.

These anniversaries continually make me feel so " drama.gif ", can't believe this era is so close to being a decade ago.




Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 5 2020, 09:14 AM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Sep 1 2020, 12:12 PM) *
Agree with this. At the time it felt like a step down, which is a shame. Frankly, I think I found a new appreciation for this track, specially after seeing it live at Albert Hall last Christmas heart.gif



Yeah I think TRAH gig also helped me to really appreciate it, that was such a moment ❤️

Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 5 2020, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(Jay* @ Sep 5 2020, 04:19 AM) *
'The Sea', Melanie's fifth album, was released 9 years ago today! 'Think About It' was released alongside it.

These anniversaries continually make me feel so " drama.gif ", can't believe this era is so close to being a decade ago.






The chart positions for these two still upset me to this day 😢

Posted by: Voodoo Sep 5 2020, 01:11 PM

Happy anniversary to Melanie's amazing masterpiece! The album and the entire era felt so magical. Everything connected beautifully. It really was a labor of love. Motherhood has definitely changed Melanie for the better. wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 5 2020, 04:12 PM

One of her worst singles in my opinion sleep.gif

Posted by: Babyboy Sep 6 2020, 11:54 AM

Think About It is one of my fav from Mel. Also the album is really good.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Sep 6 2020, 01:10 PM

'Burn' is obviously the clear highlight.

Also I really like 'Take My Breath Away' from Emma!

Posted by: McAndrew Sep 6 2020, 01:50 PM

I really liked Emma's first three singles. I think the quality is there. But at the time, I did think it strange how TMBA sounded so much like a Corrs song, which was a bit off-brand for a spice girl.

Thinking back to Geri's very successful, very Ginger Spice debut album, and Mel B's successful early singles being intrinsically Scary Spice (her being the most like her character anyway)... I wonder if Emma would've had more longevity if she'd gone a bit pop in the beginning. I mean, Britney is basically dressed as Baby Spice in 'Baby One More Time' video. I can imagine quite a different debut for her.

Obviously 'Free Me' would've smashed, had it been Emma's debut. So I know that would have been the ideal.

Posted by: Jay* Sep 12 2020, 09:18 PM

Melanie C's album Stages was released 8 years ago this week (and I've still not heard it in full kink.gif )

Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 12 2020, 09:48 PM

QUOTE(Jay* @ Sep 12 2020, 10:18 PM) *
Melanie C's album Stages was released 8 years ago this week (and I've still not heard it in full kink.gif )



You BAD fan Jay!!


It's not worth listening to in full tbh laugh.gif I think I've listened to it all the way through twice laugh.gif

Posted by: vibe Sep 13 2020, 10:22 AM

I like stages , I don’t love all of it but I’m pleased it got a release.

Posted by: tommie Sep 13 2020, 10:25 AM

Add me to one of those who never even listened to Stages and really has no interest to; then again I don't think I'm the target audience.

Posted by: Voodoo Sep 13 2020, 10:40 AM

I like Stages. My highlights from it are the opener Maybe This Time, the duet I Know Him So Well, the mesmerizing I Don't Know How to Love Him, the beautiful Both Sides Now, the classic I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself and the dreamy I Only Have Eyes for You. wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 13 2020, 11:59 AM

QUOTE(tommie @ Sep 13 2020, 11:25 AM) *
Add me to one of those who never even listened to Stages and really has no interest to; then again I don't think I'm the target audience.


Agree! I listened to the two singles and then listened to teh first 2mins of Both Sides Now and couldnt really listen to anymore. Both Sides Now is one of the best songs ever written and she absolutely murdered it.... dry.gif

It put me off completely from the album ah

Posted by: vibe Sep 13 2020, 04:29 PM

I only have eyes for you is my fav .

Posted by: Jay* Sep 14 2020, 10:32 AM



The first ever solo Spice single was released 22 years ago today! 😨

Posted by: Chemistry Sep 14 2020, 10:59 AM

Still one of the absolute best. It's still sounds super fresh and should have been bigger. I know it went to 1 but it seems quite forgotten by now.

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 14 2020, 02:23 PM

Best solo Spice debut, by 100 miles!

It is a perfect song, with a perfect video. There were reports that Missy was going to produce Mel's album and I could totally imagine that. I wonder if that was just a rumour or if it was going to happen and then didnt?!

A shame that the single isnt on iTunes, it is only available as part of that soundtrack and even then, you can only get it if you buy the whole album sleep.gif

Posted by: sammy01 Sep 14 2020, 03:12 PM

Stages is absolutely woeful, her voice, the tracklisting, the artwork. It is all trash.

I want you back is one of the best solo spice offerings. It feels like an extension of scary spice but ramped up including the video.

Posted by: Jay* Sep 18 2020, 05:55 PM

19 years since Not Such an Innocent Girl was released (Monday 17th September 2001), also meaning that it's 19 years since Kylie's Can't Get You Out of My Head!


Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 18 2020, 06:47 PM

I want you back is a stunner it has aged so well. While I know it went to #1 and was a silver seller it deserves to be bigger and more remembered. Such a shame it didn't get a US push aswell with Missy on it, could have been a good introduction to solo Mel over there. The same goes for Melanie C on When you're gone with Bryan Adams, both those songs sound made for US radio!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Sep 18 2020, 07:37 PM

That was such a memorable time for pop. All the solo spice stuff was happening, Victoria and Kylie’s releases that week really stand out and I was obsessed with Hear’Say at the time too 🤭

Posted by: Geri WAP Sep 18 2020, 10:47 PM

Victoria deserved so much more as a solo artist, the press and public gave her a hard time..

Posted by: Jay* Sep 19 2020, 11:07 AM

Mel B released her single For Once in My Life 7 years ago today! ohmy.gif


Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 19 2020, 12:05 PM

Will this be the last single we ever see of Mel?? Quite a catchy track really.

Posted by: Jay* Sep 22 2020, 01:34 AM

View this post on Instagram


22 years ago! Imagine getting to see them for just £23.50 *_*

Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 22 2020, 07:03 AM

£23.50 I mean everyone says that back then it was a lot more money than it is today but it’s still not a patch on what they charged this time round! Miss the days when it wasn’t ridiculously expensive to go to concerts, I only go see my favourites now where’s I would see so many more were the prices more reasonable.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Sep 22 2020, 08:13 AM

My tickets were £50 each!

Although my Mum bought them rolleyes.gif

Posted by: tommie Sep 22 2020, 10:28 AM

QUOTE(Jay* @ Sep 19 2020, 11:07 AM) *
Mel B released her single For Once in My Life 7 years ago today! ohmy.gif



Such a shame she couldn't get a proper label interested in her third album - it did seem like she recorded a lot of interesting tracks post-LA State of Mind. I suspect she became a bit too obsessed with "making it" in the US and put all her effort there instead of markets that might've been interested.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Sep 25 2020, 03:17 PM

Mel B released ‘Tell Me’ 20 years ago today 😱

UK chart position - #4
Sales - 110,000

I still have my cd single ☺️


Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 25 2020, 04:47 PM

She was so stunning! wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 25 2020, 08:14 PM

Tell Me is a total BOP and completely underrated. Is it her best song? No. But it was funky and cool, I think.

The video was excellent too. In fact when it comes to videos, Mel (almost) never dissapointed.

Wish she had done it live a few times, instead of miming it all. But otherwise, an underrated Spice classic.

Posted by: Spiceboy Sep 25 2020, 08:30 PM

QUOTE(Mr.X @ Sep 25 2020, 09:14 PM) *
Tell Me is a total BOP and completely underrated. Is it her best song? No. But it was funky and cool, I think.

The video was excellent too. In fact when it comes to videos, Mel (almost) never dissapointed.

Wish she had done it live a few times, instead of miming it all. But otherwise, an underrated Spice classic.



I'm guessing almost is there thanks to Today? laugh.gif

Posted by: Jay* Sep 25 2020, 08:56 PM

20 years ohmy.gif Definitely one of her best songs wub.gif

Posted by: Mr.X Sep 25 2020, 10:49 PM

QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Sep 25 2020, 09:30 PM) *
I'm guessing almost is there thanks to Today? laugh.gif


teresa.gif

Posted by: schizo_spice Sep 26 2020, 02:47 PM

Tell Me is OK but all wrong as album launcher.

Feels So Good definitely was the right choice to launch, Virgin felt the same Mel B however wanted Tell Me.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Sep 26 2020, 03:26 PM

I did really like 'Tell Me' at the time briefly, but it's not something that I've paid any real attention to since the year 2000.

'Feels So Good' on the other hand though...

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Oct 9 2020, 10:39 AM

Mel B released her debut solo album ‘HOT’ in the UK 20 years ago today and included
the #1 single ‘I Want You Back’, the Top 5 hits ‘Tell Me’, ‘Feels So Good’ and the Top 20
hit ‘Lullaby’.

The album was certified Silver by the BPI and has sold over 53,000 copies

Happy 20th Anniversary!!


Posted by: Alberto! Oct 9 2020, 01:08 PM

I wonder what up-to-date UK figures are for Hot.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Oct 9 2020, 01:13 PM

QUOTE(Alberto! @ Oct 9 2020, 02:08 PM) *
I wonder what up-to-date UK figures are for Hot.


The album has sold 53,676

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 9 2020, 01:13 PM

QUOTE(Alberto! @ Oct 9 2020, 02:08 PM) *
I wonder what up-to-date UK figures are for Hot.


Total Sales: 53,676 [Source: BuzzJack] (8th May 2020) by the wonderful Jay

Doubt it has sold any more than that since then to be honest...

Posted by: Spice Girls Net Oct 9 2020, 01:15 PM

It would be great if a few of us could stream the album or download this week to celebrate?

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Oct 9 2020, 01:21 PM

**wrong thread

Posted by: Mr.X Oct 9 2020, 02:25 PM

QUOTE(Spice Girls Net @ Oct 9 2020, 02:15 PM) *
It would be great if a few of us could stream the album or download this week to celebrate?


great idea! I will get my Mel B on cheer.gif

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