Printable version of thread

Posted by: Jay ☆ 20th April 2020, 10:52 PM

'Forever'
6th November 2000

1. Holler
2. Tell Me Why
3. Let Love Lead the Way
4. Right Back at Ya
5. Get Down with Me
6. Wasting My Time
7. Weekend Love
8. Time Goes By
9. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
10. Oxygen
11. Goodbye

---------------

A discussion thread for us to reminisce about the Spice Girls' third and final album 'Forever'!

Chat about everything to do with the 'Forever' era - the singles, album tracks, music videos, performances, B Sides etc! Feel free to post your own reviews / ranks.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 20th April 2020, 10:52 PM

Posted by: Piers 21st April 2020, 04:05 AM

Ultimately, I think they were probably right to strike out in another direction with new collaborators. I really like their unreleased pop version of Right Back At Ya...but after Mel C's Goin Down...and Victoria's Out of Your Mind...would it not have been odd that the group didn't evolve and grow like the individual members had? They weren't a nostalgia group yet. They still had the opportunity for reinvention.

Darkchild and Jam & Lewis were a good start...but I think they should have brought in another one or two fresh collaborators. Rick Nowels may have been a prime choice at the time...as he did awesome stuff with Mel C (and Geri later).

They initially had the right idea in having three Darkchild songs. Holler needed to happen. But he ended up with too much control. One of the main appeals of the group for me was seeing what genres they could explore. Darkchild made things too samey. Someone like Nowels could have given us a true rock Spice Girls track...and maybe some other dancey, guitary pop with a more mature edge than what they'd done before.

Anyway. That was longwinded, but I still do like the album we got. It's better than a lot of the big hit albums of that year...and I actually think Darkchild's work on Forever towers over the stuff he did for Michael Jackson and Britney around the same era. And I think Holler/Let Love Lead the Way, Tell Me Why, If You Wanna Have Some Fun, and Oxygen would have made an excellent singles run. (I realize that last one's divisive...but...whatever. I've always thought it was gorgeous)

Posted by: Spiceboy 21st April 2020, 01:46 PM

Aaah the black sheep of the Spice Girls albums

So I do like the album, and I have certainly grown to appreciate it much more over time. I also think moving away into a new musical style was the right for them too. However I agree with the statement above they should have had a range of collaborators on the album it is just too samey as a body of work and doesn't have that magical spark the first two albums have... and I think that is because they first 2 albums are much more varied, pop and rnb (as well as motown, jazz, latin etc).

I really wish the girls had collaborated with William Orbit, can you imagine if they came back with Pure Shores and Black Coffee instead of All Saints. I also think Rick Nowells would have been great to infuse that rockier sound which they explored on Pain Proof which even in demo form is excellent. Holler was and still remains incredible and Let love lead the way is a stunning song, that build up the music wow. I think something like (this is fantasy obviously lol):
1. Pure shores
2. Holler
3. Let love lead the way
4. Right back at ya (pop version)
5. Pain proof
6. Black coffee
7. If you wanna have some fun (seriously edited shorter)
8. Get down with me
9. All hooked up
10. Oxygen or Time goes by or another rockier finish song

Would have been much better. It's more varied with electronic, pop, rnb, rock styles infused throughout, and get rid of Goodbye that is a Spiceworld style track (should be on the Spiceworld re-release that should have happened). Obviously a few extra tracks could be included I just stuck to a 10 album format as that tends to work for them short and sweet leave you wanting more etc.

As it stands as an album itself there could have been alot more shelf life out of the actual album. I mean IYWHSF would have been a great single post H/LLLTW. It's a bit more poppy and would pull in the more Pop loving Spice Girls fans, then possibly a double a-side of something like Time goes by / Get down with me could have given them another top 5 hit surely. They would have also helped the album to keep selling and possibly pushed it closer to double platinum rather just the platinum status it achieved.

Ultimately the girls have nobody to blame but themselves for the failure of the album as it had a decent enough start they just didn't maintain to ensure it continued to be successful. I mean if Geri and Melanie C could end up with double platinum and triple platinum albums with their opening sales Forever could easily have achieved it with proper promotion.

Don't even get me started on the USA

Finally - THAT cover, words can't even... I mean... no... I can't... ewwww... what...were....they....thinking???

Posted by: vibe 21st April 2020, 06:51 PM

Underrated by many

It’s still a great album without a bad song.

It just needed one more smash like holler tho. I don’t think another single release would have topped the charts. Prefer the album version of TMW compared to the remix . TMW should have been the next single tho .

Posted by: Jade 🐠 21st April 2020, 06:56 PM

Definitely a step down from the previous albums but I love 'If You Wanna Have Some Fun' and 'Oxygen'

Posted by: SamJudd 21st April 2020, 08:50 PM

Posted by: schizo_spice 21st April 2020, 09:16 PM

Oxygen has always been in my top 3 of Forever.

Its a very beautiful song.

Posted by: Mr.X 21st April 2020, 09:48 PM

I love this album, it's a great R&B record that given the right attention could have sold much more and get more credit nowadays. I agree that it was too drastic a departure from their previous sound and image perhaps, but alas it's still a great record.

I wish it would have gone something like:

- They release Goodbye in 1998 for Christmas alongside a delux edition of Spiceworld

- Spring 2000, they release Holler after the song is premiered at the Brits.

- For Holler's video and overall performances, they ditch the leather look and continue with the colourfull looks and styling they still had around then (like the Brits type of costumes) apart from Victoria who has long hair again. The video is the same, but with different (better) clothes and styling.

- They then go a few months without releasing anything, but instead go on summer festivals tour around Europe, Canada and USA and a couple in Central and South America

- Release Right Back At Ya (pop version) in October with a fun but more mature type of look, and various performances in TV chat shows, huge promo, etc

- Forever Spice (album) is released in November with the album being a mix of pop and R&B songs from the Matt/Biff sessions and the best tracks from the Darkchill/American sessions too. Something like this:

1. Right Back At Ya (pop version)
2. Holler
3. Let Love Lead The Way
4. Tell Me Why
5. W.O.M.A.N.
6. Wasting My Time
7. A Day In Your Life
8. Weekend Love
9. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
10. Get Down With Me
11. Oxygen
12. Pain Proof

- Release W.O.M.A.N. in February/March 2001 with Right Back At Ya (rnb version) as a bside

- Go on a Forever Spice Stadium tour across UK, Europe and USA, with a few arenas in Brazil, Argentina, China and Australia

- Release If You Wanna Have Some Fun with a new single mix and video set in a club, and Let Love Lead The Way as a double A side with a similar video concept *but better executed*. Forever More Spice (delux) is released alongside the single, with new packaging and a few other tracks like Go Go Go, Treasure, Time Goes By and Too Hot as bonus tracks.

- Unofficially break up and do all the solo stuff ONLY then

Ta ra

Posted by: vibe 22nd April 2020, 09:45 AM

^ this campaign is 🤮

Posted by: Mr.X 22nd April 2020, 10:00 AM

What would you have done then?

Posted by: Jay ☆ 22nd April 2020, 10:03 AM

That would have been a much more enjoyable and fulfilling era, Mr.X! If only!

Posted by: Mr.X 22nd April 2020, 11:49 AM

Agreeeeee. Even if you choose different songs as singles, I think the template screams BIG WORLDWIDE BAND, you know, like they used to be before they decided to focus too much on their solo works...

I was thinking about this the other day, and just how saturated we all were with solo projects, let alone the general public lol The fact that they didnt release anything after the Brits was WILD as there was plenty of demand still then for them as proven by the Christmas tour and Brit awards histeria (yet again!).

Mel B and Mel C's focus on solo music killed the group, and of course then Victoria and Emma also followed suit... A shame. Really wished they had focused on the group a bit more that era... A bit of touring and a couple more singles at the very least would have been great... ah well..

Posted by: Spiceboy 22nd April 2020, 12:18 PM

I think he means 'sick' as in awesome? At least that's how I read it as your campaign is awesome!

They wouldn't have over-saturated the market in 2000/2001 then too, both Geri and Melanie C would have had successful album campaigns, 2001 would have been a Spice Girls focus with Geri also releasing her second album... she might have had more success with it were there not another 3 girls releasing music at the same time too. 2002 would have been busy with Emma, Victoria and Mel B releasing but then that was bound to happen at some point...

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 22nd April 2020, 02:50 PM

Spiceworld was so good that Forever was always going to be disappointing, i still think its their weakest by far of the 3 albums but it has its good points. Once released it was only half arsed promoted by them which didnt help at all. I still wish it could make platinum but i dont think it ever will unless it gets some form of anniversary re release.

Posted by: colinn 22nd April 2020, 05:06 PM

I definitely think they missed the boat by not releasing in 1999. There was still so much good will towards them and enough time for them to be missed but not overshadowed.

In my mind, I envisage a surprise debut performance at 99 VMA's. Imagine a performance a la Fifth Harmony, throwing 'Geri' off the stage. The Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) that would've occurred!

I think a campaign from September 99-March 2000 would've been a great way to go out. If they had went out on top, I suppose public perception wouldn't have been as bad and they could've returned some years down the line, but alas we'll never know.

Posted by: Spiceboy 22nd April 2020, 08:07 PM

Forever is certified Platinum, even if it's sales are below platinum due to shipping sales being the certifications back then.

Posted by: schizo_spice 22nd April 2020, 08:22 PM

They wouldn't have been as tacky as to do that.

Posted by: Spiceboy 22nd April 2020, 10:04 PM

Very true... would have been a proper moment though

Posted by: tommie 23rd April 2020, 12:35 PM

Posted by: vibe 23rd April 2020, 02:03 PM

That destiny’s child did not sell anything , that def was not the inspiration .

Posted by: tommie 23rd April 2020, 02:34 PM

No, No, No was a decent-sized hit, they just ended up dumping the album once the second single flopped.

With that said, just because something didn't sell in amazing numbers doesn't mean it held no influence.

Posted by: vibe 23rd April 2020, 05:07 PM

I love No No No !

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th April 2020, 10:22 AM

I listened to this album again today and I have to say it does get a hard time (from me even). It really is a solid album I found that I like every track on it (although I wasn't having fun as they keep going on and on "haaave some fuuuun" lol).

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th April 2020, 10:33 AM

I do love the album. Of course it was never going to be the standard of Spice/Spiceworld, but still a good album.

I think the lack of Matt/Biff and Absolute did show. And even though they collaborated with Eliot Kennedy again it was only for one track.

I wish they’d keep some of the 1999 songs they’d recorded with Matt and Biff rather than Rodney Jerkins/Darkchild dominating some much.

Ideal tracklist would have been 10 songs - 4 from Matt and Biff (including Goodbye) 3 from Darkchild (Holler, LLLTW and Tell Me Why) 2 from Jam and Lewis (Oxygen and IYWHSF) and Eliot’s Right Back At Ya

They really missed a trick releasing it so late, 3 years after Spiceworld but I guess we got Schizophonic and Northern Star in ‘99 at least

Posted by: Jay ☆ 26th April 2020, 11:44 AM

Are you having funnnnnnnnnnnnnn are you having funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn?

Posted by: sammy01 26th April 2020, 12:22 PM

Forever is such a solid album start to finish. Holler is top 3 Spice Girls, LLLTW is absolutely gorgeous and Emma has never sounded better. Goodbye is a masterpiece too. Of the album tracks I love the little 1, 2 punch if get down with me and wasting my time together. Tell me why has brilliant production and sounds fresh now.
Weekend love the rap is very jarring and the drip noise in Oxygen is so irritating but I can happily listen to the album through without skipping a track.

Forever is a solid 8 or 8 and a half album. It is just Spice is a 10 and Spiceworld a 9 and a half

Posted by: Jay ☆ 26th April 2020, 12:48 PM

Nice to see some praise for these two songs because often on DenDen they were two of the most criticised tracks on the album. Something I find interesting but strange is that people criticised them for sounding the same as each other, but I've never really understood that as I find them pretty different in terms of mood!


Agreed Sometimes it's all I can focus on if I play that track, it's such a strange production choice! It could be a much nicer track if the drip wasn't featured.

Posted by: Lukuzz 26th April 2020, 01:09 PM

Adore the whole album. Would love to see a rate of this album.

Posted by: Spiceboy 26th April 2020, 01:21 PM

Definitely a future topic, I've noted it

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 26th April 2020, 04:58 PM

Always loved Wasting my Time. In late 2000 it was my favourite album track along with Right Back At Ya.

I remember there being a song called 'Woman' and the lyric 'louder baby, louder baby', after attending the show in 1999.

I literally played the album in full and kept looking at the back of the CD to see the tracklist. I was convinced they'd changed the name of the song

Aged 9 I didn't know that not all songs make the final album

Posted by: Lukuzz 26th April 2020, 05:07 PM

Good good

Posted by: Mr.X 26th April 2020, 08:36 PM

YAS SPICEBOY

Posted by: Mr.X 26th April 2020, 08:37 PM

Such a cute story thanks for sharing. I, too, was really sad when it wasnt included in Forever tbh

And I LOVE YOU FOR LOVING WASTING MY TIME!!!

It's such a banger

Posted by: sammy01 26th April 2020, 08:42 PM

Holler is also one of their best videos, everything about Holler is 10/10.

Posted by: Spiceboy 26th April 2020, 09:06 PM

Erm WRONG Mod

Posted by: Piers 26th April 2020, 09:12 PM

I like Get Down With Me and Wasting My Time as solid album tracks...though I don't view them as potential single choices like some fans.

I think their problem is more in the context of the album. The novelty of the Spice Girls doing American-sounding r'n'b kinda wares off after Holler and Tell Me Why. By the time tracks 5 and 6 roll around, I think that's the point the album should have shifted off in some new, interesting direction. Instead it's...even more Darkchild-style r'n'b. Rodney Jerkins claimed at the time he wanted to do a rock song with them...and I think he should have to change up the album's dynamic. Frankly, he had Pain Proof sitting right there and might have been able to adapt it a bit to his style while retaining the guitars.

But as standalone songs? I do like Get Down With Me and Wasting My Time. As a minor criticism, I think the ad-libs feel a bit forced at times on both. But both are legitimately catchy, and I find myself humming them sometimes.

Posted by: schizo_spice 26th April 2020, 09:58 PM

The Jam and Lewis tracks really are the most interesting tracks on Forever. They are like a progression of the Spice Girls sound but without moving too out of left field like they did with the majority of the Jerkins tracks.

If You Wanna Have Some Fun (trimmed down to about 4 minutes) was the ideal single and Oxygen has a spark to it about it that Weekend Love and Time Goes By don't have. Times Goes By is such a basic ballad, it has absolutely no build up or melody.

Posted by: vibe 27th April 2020, 06:52 AM

IYWHSF is so over rated !! It could never have been a single and is one of my least fav tracks .

Posted by: Jay ☆ 27th April 2020, 07:32 AM

I'm never the wrong mod

Posted by: Mr.X 27th April 2020, 07:51 AM

OMG sorry I was high as a quite last night

Love yoooouuuuuuu

Posted by: Mr.X 27th April 2020, 08:13 AM

I agree with you on the fact that Get Down With Me and Wasting My Time being in the middle of the album does both songs no good service. Maybe if they had the pop version of Right Back At Ya instead of the R&B, that transition it would have been easier to accept for most fans?

Anyway this reminded me to go BOPPING to Get Down With Me and Wasting My Time during my exercises this morning

Posted by: Spiceboy 27th April 2020, 10:35 AM

High as a quite, that's a new one

Posted by: Spiceboy 27th April 2020, 10:36 AM

YASSSSSSSS

Posted by: Mr.X 27th April 2020, 11:05 AM

(although judging from this forums LACK OF taste, just watch Oxygen win this rate with Holler sitting outside of the Top3 )

Posted by: Spiceboy 27th April 2020, 11:34 AM

I actually think Holler will easily win the rating. Goodbye will come second.

Get down with me for top 5!!!

Posted by: Mr.X 27th April 2020, 01:45 PM

This is the only Top 4 that is acceptable in my house:

1. Holler
2. Wasting My Time
3. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
4. Goodbye
5. Let Love Lead The Way

Posted by: Spiceboy 27th April 2020, 06:32 PM

Are you high again you said top 4 and you've got a top 5!!

Also no

1. Holler
2. Get down with me
3. Goodbye
4. Let love lead the way
5. If you wanna have some fun

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 27th April 2020, 06:58 PM

To be fair, as Spice/Spiceworld are so perfect, Forever does usually create the best thread discussions as it's such a divisive album

Posted by: Lukuzz 27th April 2020, 08:00 PM

Tell Me Why deserves to be top 3

Posted by: Mr.X 27th April 2020, 09:37 PM

LOL no that was really just me being dense

Also, your top5 is cute, no shade, but it is wrong

Posted by: dj_tim_e 27th April 2020, 11:04 PM

I used to love Tell Me Why, particularly when I first had the album all those years ago...
However, after watching the American tour documentary the other week and, reading some stuff from that time, I've decided I don't like the blatant bitterness of the period and the knowledge that at least one or two of them were over Spice at that time.

My top 5 from Forever would now have to be:
1 Goodbye
2 Holler
3 Let Love Lead The Way
4 If You Wanna Have Some Fun
5 Get Down With Me

By the way, I made a mashup of sorts, combining If It's Lovin On Your Mind and 5ive's Don't Wanna Let You Go: https://youtu.be/LoDUd4tU6NQ if you want a listen.

Posted by: Hauspital* 30th April 2020, 05:50 PM

And onto this album today. Definitely a lot less familiar with this than the others so was excited to rediscover some gems - and it didn't disappoint! 'Holler' is definitely in their top 5 singles, what a start to the era *.* Really liked the first half of the album. 'Tell Me Why' and 'Right Back At You' are fabulous. My ranking that I updated as I listened was basically the tracklist order for ages It starts high and goes progressively down as it continues until the last few moments! I am here for the random ad-libs and raps thrown in throughout

1. Holler
2. Tell Me Why
3. Let Love Lead the Way
4. Goodbye
5. Right Back at Ya
6. Get Down with Me
7. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
8. Oxygen
9. Wasting My Time
10. Weekend Love
11. Time Goes By

Posted by: Jay ☆ 30th April 2020, 10:24 PM

Enjoyed listening to this with you and Maurice earlier!

Holler in first place where it belongs! Great to see Tell Me Why so high, it's a clear highlight for me too. Love to see Get Down with Me in the middle... a lot of fans think it's one of the worst tracks, I've always thought it was enjoyable.... so funky!

Time Goes By and I oop!

Posted by: schizo_spice 30th April 2020, 11:11 PM

Can you imagine if Tell Me Why had been a single as planned. Would've seemed so out of place on the Greatest Hits.

Holler somehow fits fine but Tell Me Why would never have sat well on there.

Posted by: Piers 1st May 2020, 03:23 AM

I like Tell Me Why...and think it should have been a single just based on the fact it's a good song. Memorable chorus. Darkchild doesn't overstay his welcome.

I do wonder what the subject would have done for the song, though. With it obviously being about Geri, it may have drummed up enough controversy to make a big hit.

At the same time...it is a bit of a bummer that they'd taken the high road on the subject on Goodbye...only for this song to come along and kinda say "...but this is how we really feel..."

I get that the group had the right to be frustrated with Geri. But. Looking at the context of 1999/2000/2001...is it possible the group could have come off as mean by releasing this as a single? Typically, their music was so positive. Their ire had only been directed at inconsequential dudes who did wrong and now have to be shown the door. Now...it would be directed at a former member. Would it have been a good look? By this point, Mel C had put down Geri's singing ability several times...Victoria said she didn't like Geri's music...and even Emma didn't like Look At Me. I think Geri was starting to look like the innocent party being picked on...and never firing back. If the song was a single, you know everyone would ask Geri what she thought of it. I wonder what she would have said...

Final thought. Do we think the girls would have even admitted in 2000/2001 that Tell Me Why was about Geri? Yes, a few have admitted it since then. But I can kinda imagine them being asked the question in 2000/2001 and responding with aloof non-answers. "At the end of the day, people will think it's about what they want it to be about." Something like that.

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 07:28 AM

Tell me why remix is on all forms of the digital Greatest Hits release. It is track 16 after goodbye with 2 other remixes (Wannabe and SYBT).

So essentially it is seen as the single that never was, the radio is the remix that was done for it for radio back in the day.

Posted by: Mr.X 1st May 2020, 07:39 AM

Tell Me Why remix on the GH is not that great tbh. It's a great remix but not as a single.

Personally I think with a cute single edit it would have been a great single and stand greatly alongside the rest of their discography, but I think they would have struggled to sell it unless they would really throw themselves at it.

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 08:02 AM

I'm not massively keen on the Tell me why remix, I love the original though. It would have been a good single I think.

Posted by: schizo_spice 1st May 2020, 09:45 AM

Yeah I meant the actual CD though which is the definitive track listing. The digital version you can add or remove anything yourself and that remix was just a bonus anyway.

I'm glad Tell Me Why isn't on the CD/Vinyl

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 02:51 PM

I'd say in 2020 the digital tracklist is the definitive one now. It will do more downloads and streams than cd sales now.

Posted by: Spiceboy 1st May 2020, 04:03 PM

No the CD is the definitive tracklisting easily. Maybe if the GH was released today then yes, but it wasn't it was released in 2007 when CD albums still very much dominated the market. Tell me why (remix) was always a bonus download track.

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 04:14 PM

Give it 5 years and CDs wont exist.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 1st May 2020, 04:25 PM

We've seen Mariah's, Janet's and Madonna's fan bases sending some of their albums up the iTunes chart worldwide and it's created positive press for those artists. I wonder if Spice Girls fans could come together to download an album of theirs in a specific week? It would definitely need promotion on Spice Circle Facebook group / SpiceGirlsNet and other social media pages.

Posted by: Liam.k. 1st May 2020, 04:30 PM

I was totally expecting Forever to end up surging the iTunes charts tbh, I could see the fans making it happen.

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 04:31 PM

If it were to happen I'd say it be Forever, the positive press would be great for it.

Posted by: Mr.X 1st May 2020, 04:37 PM

YES let's do a Forever campaign!!!!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 1st May 2020, 05:00 PM

Lmao I meant to post that in the General Discussion thread! Posting it in here must be a sign that it should be Forever.

Sammy or Mr.X would you like to post about the idea on Spice Circle?

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 05:17 PM

I think it would be better if we got Sam, Craig or Chris to post it on Spice Circle, they hold more clout than me.

Posted by: Spiceboy 1st May 2020, 05:28 PM

How do we do this if we have already downloaded them though?

Posted by: Jay ☆ 1st May 2020, 05:28 PM

That seems sensible, if you have a chat with them then maybe we can get the ball rolling

I reckon starting the campaign on Monday might be a good idea? New releases would have died down a bit and it might get more attention.

Posted by: sammy01 1st May 2020, 05:40 PM

What how did I get to be the one to sort it? I dont even have iTunes, how much is Spice, Forever and Spiceworld on itunes?

Posted by: Mr.X 1st May 2020, 08:31 PM

I'm a trouble maker there, no one will follow my lead

Posted by: Spiceboy 1st May 2020, 09:42 PM

Yeah you still haven't told me what comment got deleted???

Posted by: Mr.X 2nd May 2020, 07:30 AM

Oh I cant even remember what I wrote, probably that Geri was a Tory lol just jokes...

Honestly sometimes I mute the group for days cos whilst I am there for funs and giggles but mostly to see if any 'unreleased' stuff gets out, it's also incredibly annoying as a group..

BUT this is a thread about Forever, let's keep it that way

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd May 2020, 09:23 AM

It just dawned on me that they are really going to be releasing Forever on vinyl ( ) with this awful cover... IMAGINE



Not only it is awful, but they will also be giving that peado and harrasser Terry Richards some new coins to release this....

If there was ever a time for them to do something different with their releases, this would be it. I think we should petition for them to change the cover. They did it for the Greatest Hits, there's no reason why they shouldnt for Forever (unless there's a legal reason )

Posted by: Michael Andrew 3rd May 2020, 11:21 AM

I was thinking the exact same thing. Terry Richardson clearly gave no sh*ts about our girls.

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 12:17 PM

They should just use that big orange chair thing photo, it should have been the album cover out of that photo shoot anyway... That or the Holler cd cover would have been fine covers.

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd May 2020, 02:16 PM

The Holler single cover always screamed album cover to me, it would have been better. But it is still a Terry Richards photo, so I would rather not.

What other covers or pictures would you rather have?

And should we send a fan petition to the label to get the album cover changed?

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 02:42 PM

I always thought that the Holler single cover screamed album cover too, it's different to the first two which is good for a 4 piece Spice Girls but then it's still fun and a bit chaotic which suits the girls down to a tee.

I saw an incredible cover that I used to use for my itunes (before the computer went kaput) I'll see if I can find it!

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 03:12 PM

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 03:14 PM

It took me way to long to figure out to do that!!

Posted by: Piers 3rd May 2020, 03:16 PM

Beyond a lot of the photos being unflattering, it's still super weird to me how much the Terry Richardson shoot does not reflect the vibe of the album. The cover of that album doesn't make me expect Holler and Tell Me Why. It makes me expect...rich wives at a dinner party singing jazz standards around a piano?

I remember reading an article years ago that dealt with the Virgin executives being confused and concerned over Richardson ditching professional equipment for the shoot to take many of the shots on dozens of cheap disposable cameras. This is one of those moments, you'd think someone at Virgin or one of the girls themselves would step in and course correct things...instead of just throwing the single worst shot on the album cover.

Anyway. The orange couch photo IS the best thing to come out of Richardson's photo series. But if we're talking about photos not by Richardson...maybe the vinyl cover could be a shot by their longtime photog Dean Freeman? Did he take their Christmas tour program shots? There again...the pics don't reflect the content of the album...and they predate Forever by a year...but at least they're pretty shots. There was another really pretty shot taken of them on the set of Let Love Lead the Way. Not clear on if that was by Richardson...but I'm sure someone in here would know.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 3rd May 2020, 03:38 PM

That looks more modern and sleek, and I like that it has them in the letters I wonder if they decided they couldn't do the 'in the letters' theme as a 4 piece, or if they didn't think that deeply about it, they just wanted a change? I think them in the letters still looks effective, even though the 'I' is unfilled.





I agree with you both that the 'orange chair' was probably the best picture they could have used, from their sessions with him, although I'm not keen on Victoria's look in that picture. Here it is for anyone who doesn't know the picture we're talking about:



When it comes to the actual cover, I'll never understand how the 4 of them and everyone at Virgin thought... "yep, that's the one!" I wonder if any of them dislike it now, or if they don't see what we see when it comes to that artwork?

I found this fan made version using the Holler picture, and I find it better than the actual album cover (pretty much anything would be, lol). I think the white background and the Spice Girls logo / FOREVER font (which I've never particularly liked) is bland looking. It needs more colour!

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 03:47 PM

That is already so much better just with a different image

Posted by: schizo_spice 3rd May 2020, 04:22 PM

I agree about using the Holler cover only a non blurry version. That shot was spicy.

I wonder how Mel C felt about being barely in that shot on the single cover or was she past caring? Probably.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 3rd May 2020, 04:40 PM

I wonder! More of Melanie C was included on the French CD, at least.


I do quite like the Holler cover, it's rather striking...



...but sometimes I wonder why the designers didn't include 'Let Love Lead the Way' on the cover. Or 'Holler' on the other one!



I suppose the idea was to make them seem like separate singles at a glance, but I always found that a bit strange. Another aspect of these singles that I found weird was that one spine said "HOLLER (RADIO EDIT) LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY (RADIO EDIT)", while the other simply said "LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY".

I probably shouldn't overthink the designs of singles from 20 years ago. It just seemed a bit sloppy to me.

The aforementioned French CD referenced both Holler and Let Love Lead the Way, while having more emphasis on the Spice Girls logo:



While this Australian CD also included both song titles:



^ I think I prefer this picture to the blurry picture used for Holler/Let Love Lead the Way CD2!

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd May 2020, 07:19 PM

That Let Love Lead The Way cover is shocking... probably worse than the Forever cover itself.

I liked the new logo in pink actually!

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd May 2020, 07:22 PM

Personally though, I never thought that orange S picture was good for a album cover. It feels more like a back cover type of picture, and I agree about Victoria - she looks very odd there.

There were some lovely shots from that session though:





but even those don't seem to make justice to either Holler or the album as a whole.

More colour was needed. The album is so vibrant!

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 07:45 PM

I do love that second picture, think that could have made quite a beautiful album cover.

Posted by: Piers 3rd May 2020, 07:51 PM

^ I do actually like that side profile shot from their Interactive CD-ROM. It's a pretty shot...though I don't think it's dynamic enough for an album cover. It would have made a decent single cover, though.

And yes, I agree about the Let Love Lead the Way cover too. It's a nice enough picture of Emma. But the rest of them are so naturally beautiful that's it's puzzling Richardson managed to take such 'off' shots of them. Victoria practically looks like she's cast in shadow for the witness protection program.

It's got the harsh lighting and shadowed faces of a picture taken outside with a disposable camera...which, I suppose, is exactly what it is. I guess Richardson was going for a particular aesthetic. But. What can I say? Back when I was in high school, we went into a wooded area to take my prom pictures...and my mom did a better job with a disposable camera than Terry Richardson. I would have been glad to have loaned her to the Spice Girls for their album shoot. She's very nice and provides cookies.

Posted by: Spiceboy 3rd May 2020, 09:11 PM

Should have got your mum to do my wedding photography my photographer didn't provide cookies!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 4th May 2020, 05:34 PM

I listened to the album again today and I didn't actually dislike it as much as I sometimes think I'm going too

Apart from Goodbye (1998) and a few of the tracks from the 2000 sessions, a majority of the album was written/recorded in 1999, so it's still technically a 90s album to me I just wish they'd taken a few away and made it a bit more diverse like the other albums were.

I mean Holler, LLLTW, Tell Me Why and IYWHSF are all great and fun but there's too much Darkchild Production on there and it gets a little but samey in the middle.

I have to admit I was never a fan of Time Goes By, but I definitely don't think it's the worst album it just wasn't Spice/Spiceworld.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 4th May 2020, 05:51 PM

I am the same as you! I think it's because it tends to be spoken of quite negatively, so we're almost conditioned into thinking that it's something we shouldn't enjoy lol. Yet when I play it, I enjoy it a lot. Maybe not what the general public wanted, and maybe an album that lacked some of the spiciness~ we were used to. It's a good album!

Sometimes I think it would have been better received had it been their fourth album. They needed something to bridge the gap between Spiceworld and Forever, make that transition seem more natural.


I do find it funny to think at times that Holler was written, produced, recorded and even performed in 1999, meaning that its certainly has roots in the 90s. Yet they didn't get around to releasing it until October 2000! I suppose they must have done some production tweaks in 2000... like I assume 'Spice Girls Darkchild 2000' at the start was a late addition to the production hmm.


I always find this time line quite fascinating to look at:

2nd August 1999 - Abbey Road Studios - Stannard/Rowe
1 "Woman"
2 "Treasure"
3 "Go, Go, Go"
4 "Overnight"
5 "Too Hot"

16th August 1999 - Steelworks Studios - Kennedy/Lever
5 "Right Back At Ya"
6 "A Day In Your Life"
7 "Give You What You Want" (Also known as "If It's Lovin' On Your Mind")
8 "Pain Proof"

25th August 1999 - Whitfield Street Studios - Rodney/Fred Jerkins
9 "Holler"
10 "Let Love Lead The Way"
11 "Weekend Love"

21st September 1999 - Whitfield Street Studios - Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis
12 "Oxygen"
13 "If You Wanna Have Some Fun"
(They didn't start working on the album again until April 2000, recording more tracks with Rodney/Fred Jerkins. It would have been around this time that a decision was made regarding the album's direction (i.e. scrapping the pop sessions & going fully R&B).

10th April 2000 - Miami - Rodney/Fred Jerkins
14 "Tell Me Why"
15 "Get Down With Me"
16 "Time Goes By"

17th July 2000 - Whitfield Street Studios - Fred Jerkins
17 "Wasting My Time"
("Right Back At Ya" re-worked with new vocals and production. Eliot wasn't happy with his song being reproduced, referring to the new version as being a "plodding, boring, bottom drawer R&B song")



Can't believe it's 5 years since Right Back at Ya [Pop Version], A Day In Your Life, Give You What You Want and Pain Proof leaked! I'm really glad they did because it offered an interesting insight into the initial direction of the album. I am sure we'll never hear those first 5 songs listed, which is a real shame.

Posted by: Spiceboy 4th May 2020, 06:19 PM

Erm can we have more appreciation for the Forever I posted

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 4th May 2020, 06:20 PM

I definitely agree Jay with the gap between the two albums. 3 years was too big and the sound was a jump too far.

If the third album had been released in November, 1999 they could have brought out the double A side Holler/LLLTW followed by the album, do a full UK tour over Xmas and January and then release another single just before the BRITs which would have also kept the album afloat. Then the Spring 2000 sessions could have gone towards a fourth album in late 2000 before going into the solo careers.

Posted by: Michael Andrew 7th May 2020, 10:24 AM

I love your version of the cover

That empty 'I' would've been so painful at the time though. Haha!

Still a million times better than what we got. I particularly like your evolution of the "SPICE" typography.

Posted by: Spiceboy 7th May 2020, 11:19 AM

Ok I should clarify I just meant that I shared it, I can't in anyway whatsoever take credit for designing it I do not have anywhere near that talent

Thanks for the kind words though I'm sure whoever made it will appreciate them

Posted by: Mr.X 7th May 2020, 11:31 AM

GOD I forgot about some of those unreleased tracks... Hopefully one day they will surface!

How sad that no singles/albums were released in 1999. What a wasted opportunity. They had Right Back At Ya (pop version) right there which would go really well in 1999 and maybe a couple more across Christmas 1999 and Spring 2000.

Hopefully one day these will leake or - GHASP - show up on a future release

Posted by: Mr.X 7th May 2020, 11:37 AM

I like it but I think this would be better as a Holler cover since the pictures come from that. The design is also cool but very 2000s, which I think is an issue for an album cover which is meant to be more timeless than single ones.

Posted by: Spiceboy 7th May 2020, 02:45 PM

When you look at the amount of songs listed they could easily have got an album out in 1999, would have had good promotion just on the Brits in 2000 alone if they released in the Xmas market to give it a boost alongside the Christmas tour.

1. Right back at ya
2. Give you what you want
3. A day in your life
4. Woman
5. Treasure
6. Go, go, go
7. Overnight
8. Too hot
9. Pain proof
10. Goodbye

Maybe add My strongest suit on there too, which should so have got a release would have been an easy 9th #1 for them at the time. I guess they all had too much going on with solo projects etc already and couldn't dedicate the time properly to the group. I'm not totally complaining as we got Northern Star anyway but they could easily have spread out promotion of NS and a third album in 1999.

Posted by: schizo_spice 7th May 2020, 02:59 PM

I get the feeling Mel C wanted that period to launch her solo career only and would never have agreed to releasing a group album then. We know she wasnt happy during the 99 tour and Brits.

By the time the Brits had passed things only worsened with her no longer joining the others to record.

I think it's a miracle Forever ever got released with Mels contribution.

Posted by: Mr.X 7th May 2020, 04:41 PM

If I write an open letter for the Spice Girls and their management to ask them to not include Terry Richardson's pictures on the vinyl or any future releases of the album, would you sign it?

I dont want to publish it online, it would be a private fans only letter to the group, explaining the reasons why, and avoiding it becoming a press scandal. I would ask people to sign here, on Spice Circle and maybe a couple of other forums (please give suggestions).

What do you tihnk?

Posted by: JaneJ 7th May 2020, 05:16 PM

No harm to try even though I don't think they would care but in case they listen.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 9th May 2020, 02:01 AM

It's worth a try! I wonder which picture they could use instead?

Britney's Glory artwork has randomly been changed as of yesterday and the fans are loving it, so it shows it can be done. Of course Spice Girls Greatest Hits was changed too although I can't say that was the most welcome of changes really.

I have to admit though that there is a part of me that would like the Forever vinyl to have the original artwork, mainly because I think it would be quite amusing to see such a horrible artwork on a 12"

Posted by: Piers 9th May 2020, 02:46 AM

My favorite shoot of them from the Forever era came from a magazine, I believe. It's been so long, I can't remember which magazine. But someone in here will know. Mels B and C have long hair. Emma's wearing shades. Victoria's in a white lace dress. I think they were against a kinda beige background. To me... it's the photoshoot from that time that best captures the vibe of Forever. Maybe a decent album cover could be pulled from those images?

Would that be asking too much? Probably. I don't know that Forever was ever a beloved enough property for major changes and a redesign to happen now. I doubt anyone but the most die-hard fans even know that's Terry Richardson's work on Forever.

But if a change did happen...my guess is they'd probably just reuse the Goodbye single cover. I know it's not exactly the right era. But it's probably the single most famous image of the four piece.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 9th May 2020, 03:15 AM

Had to rack my brains to remember which magazine it was, but I got there in the end - Esquire! Great pictures! It doesn't seem like Melanie C has an equivalent picture unfortunately.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 9th May 2020, 08:36 AM

I have the equivalent image of Melanie C on Facebook but the image post won’t work for me with the link

Try this https://www.facebook.com/SpiceGirlsNet/photos/a.492668344107293/942256769148446/?type=3

Posted by: Mr.X 9th May 2020, 08:52 AM

Yeah that photoshoot is fire.
Personally, I would imagine the vinyl would just be with the Goodbye photoshoot or maybe just the FOREVER and logo font, so it kind of matches better with the other vinyls covers?

We could propose that, I think? Or should we stay out of proposing specific ways they can do it and just ask for Terry to be removed?

Posted by: Mr.X 9th May 2020, 09:05 AM

Also, where should we send the letter to? Simon? The girls? The label?

Posted by: Jay ☆ 9th May 2020, 01:07 PM

Completely forgot about that image! Thank you

I could imagine those 4 pictures being arranged on an album cover like this 5 Seconds of Summer album: https://rockntipo.com/242131-large_default_2x/comprar-cd-online-5-seconds-of-summer-calm-deluxe-ltd.jpg

Maybe Emma top left, Melanie C top right, Mel B bottom left and Victoria bottom right?


I’m not sure who would ultimately be responsible for such a decision, but this is the contact address for UMC, who appear to be responsible for the vinyl reissues: https://www.umc-music.com/contact/

Posted by: Spiceboy 9th May 2020, 02:18 PM

I think just using the Goodbye cover would be perfectly fine. Its more iconic than the Forever image and it's also white like all their other cd covers (I'd quite like to keep the white background for all their vinyls lol). Plus it's what they did with the GH they used SUYL single cover...

Posted by: Jay ☆ 9th May 2020, 03:26 PM

Here's what it would look like, assuming they kept the era's logo:

https://i.imgur.com/LWZCneq.png


Alternatively they could keep it looking like the Goodbye cover's font, not sure about it though:

https://i.imgur.com/cymHEKz.png

Posted by: Spiceboy 9th May 2020, 04:45 PM

I actually love that

Posted by: Mr.X 9th May 2020, 04:57 PM

I like both options. I think it would be best to simply ask for the Terri Richards pictures to be removed though and let them decide what to do instead, right?

I will get to writing the open letter soon and will share it here first for your comments/suggestions. xx

Posted by: sammy01 10th May 2020, 09:45 PM

If they changed the artwork for forever I'd no doubt download or buy a cd just for the new artwork.

Posted by: Mr.X 10th May 2020, 10:44 PM

Same though I probably will buy it anyway lol

Posted by: tommie 11th May 2020, 04:34 AM

Imagine if this campaign just leads them to cancel the vinyl instead of changing the cover...

Posted by: Mr.X 11th May 2020, 08:16 AM

It is not a campaign, nor is it a public statement. It is a polite request from fans.

Posted by: Michael Andrew 16th May 2020, 05:00 PM

Here's a 'Forever' cover design I've made using the diamond logo from the 'Greatest Hits' era and the 'Goodbye' shoot.

https://imgur.com/a/sfE7Xz0

Sorry still can't work out how to post images on here. If anyone wants to re-post it to help me out, please do.

I think the design could work using other photoshoots from 1999-2000 too.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 16th May 2020, 05:54 PM

https://i.imgur.com/TudTIs8.jpg

Posted by: Michael Andrew 16th May 2020, 06:00 PM

Aw thank you Spice Girls Net

Hadn't realised it would appear so big

Posted by: Jay ☆ 16th May 2020, 07:39 PM

That artwork looks amazing! The original logo is a nice touch. They all look so photogenic in the Goodbye artwork.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 16th May 2020, 07:55 PM

Goodbye photoshoot was so gorgeous and stunning

Posted by: Mr.X 16th May 2020, 08:09 PM

Oh that is stunning! I like both the SPICE logo and the Forever one

Amazing to see how much that sign could have been improved with a bit of colour on it. Someone shared one in red the other day and it just elevated the cover a lot.

Posted by: sammy01 16th May 2020, 09:18 PM

Goodbye was their best cover, it is such a beautiful picture. They all look so natural.

Posted by: vibe 20th May 2020, 10:33 AM

I am listening now and to be fair this album does not have one bad song it. But I have always loved it !!

My Ranking
1. Goodbye
2. Holler
3. Tell Me Why
4. Let Love The The Way
5. If You Wanna Have Some Fun (1st time dogging this song)
6. Get Down With Me
7. Right Back At Ya
8. Wasting My Time
9. Weekend Love
10. Oxygen
10. Time Goes By

This would have been a steady seller like NS if they released further singles.

Posted by: Spiceboy 20th May 2020, 12:22 PM

I agree that it would have sold a lot better had they kept promoting it and releasing further singles, could see it easily achieving double platinum over a years promotion.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 20th May 2020, 01:05 PM

It's definitely a shame that they gave up on it pretty much 2 weeks after its release lol. Considering the lack of singles and the very quick burst of promotion, I think it did well to get close to 300,000. It was kind of crazy that they didn't do some promo at Christmas time to encourage it to sell. They really just let it die.

I wonder what Virgin Records thought about Forever being almost immediately abandoned? The promo CD singles implied that Virgin had future releases in mind.

Posted by: Mr.X 20th May 2020, 11:38 PM

It's the biggest shame in their career, imo.

They had a great album on their hands but their minds were elsewhere. It is what it is, but ultimately a couple more singles and them behaving like they actually wanted to be there, would have helped.

Posted by: isanka 22nd May 2020, 12:33 PM

In term of contract, it's weird that Virgin let them abandonned the project so quickly.

Posted by: vibe 22nd May 2020, 02:28 PM

That cover is stunning !!

Posted by: schizo_spice 22nd May 2020, 06:44 PM

They were probably only obliged to release it which they did.

Further promotion was likely expected but not required.

Didn't they sign a new 3 album deal after Geri? Girls Aloud also signed a new 3 album deal after their last studio album.

Obviously these deals have a get out clause or else aren't required to be fulfilled.

Posted by: Piers 23rd May 2020, 05:41 AM

^ For some reason, I was under the impression they were under a five album deal from the get-go. I'm not sure where I heard that now. So. Take that with a grain of salt.

But if my understanding of such things is correct, the contract wouldn't so much require them to release all the albums...as much as it prevents them to release music under another label until the contract is met.

And, yes...I agree with schizo_spice's take, the single releases probably weren't required under the contract. I'm not sure labels *expect* their artists to spend ages recording an album only to immediately lose interest and abandon it two weeks after release.

Anyway. I would be curious what the Virgin top brass made of all this. They'd just paid for some of the top producers in the world to do the album...top directors to handle the videos...a top photographer to do the album art (not saying he did a good job, just saying he was high profile) and the group just dumps it? Virgin had some big names at the time...but my guess would be the girls, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey would have been considered their biggest acts as of 2000. The label couldn't have been happy.

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd May 2020, 08:33 AM

I think the 5-album deal was confirmed right? I never heard of a new deal after Geri left, thought it probably made sense I guess. A lot of artists also re-negotiate their deals after some success (look at Cardi B who is currently doing that), so maybe they went through a process of renegotiation in some form too.

Certainly the quantity of singles, I believe, is dependent on an album's success or the success of the previous single. I remember reading that Emma's lable would be interested in a single after Crickets if Crickets would sell more than 35,000 copies (so it could recuperate its costs).

After Forever floped (to their standards), it was probably a mutual decision by them and the lable to pull a plug on it, as they probably lost confidence that spending more money on new singles, videos, promo would'nt be worth it and further cement the group as flops. Plus, it was clear that teh group itself was done by then, so them dropping it all was probably for the best of everyone (apart from the fans obvs)...

Posted by: vibe 23rd May 2020, 11:30 AM

I guess they let them abandon forever because they made them millions before hand !

Posted by: Piers 23rd May 2020, 05:41 PM

To be totally honest, though, Virgin does share in *some* of the blame.

If I remember correctly, the Holler video debuted in America about two weeks AFTER the album had already crashed and burned on the chart. The album's poor showing gave MTV/VH1/radio no incentive to even give the song/video a fighting chance. How many people at Virgin had to be asleep behind the wheel to let THAT happen?

Though. Of course. It is more the girls' fault. They spent all this money, time, and resources developing an album targeted at the American market...and then just dumped it in the US...with no video proceeding it...without a single performance...without so much as a single appearance from the full group even speaking about it. Holler wasn't actually even released as a physical single in America...an odd move considering Spice Up Your Life, Too Much, Stop, and Goodbye managed to climb into the top 20 because of physical single sales.

Anyway. It's all 20 years ago now. But. Totally honest. I'm hard pressed to think of another act on their level in the 20 years since who dropped the ball *this much* on an album release.

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd May 2020, 09:19 PM

You are very right. The way they released in America was WILD. They literally just dumped it and Emma and Victoria showed up for a couple of interviews and that was IT.

A supposedly America-focused album didnt get a proper seen to there at all. It's funny to think that it actually reached #39 which considering the dedication from the group in that country (and pretty much everywhere else in the world), it's probably an excellent result.

I still think that the whole Forever was the biggest faux pas of their career. Bigger than firing Fuller back in 1997, as it literally killed them as a group. A shame, because the album deserved better.

Posted by: sammy01 23rd May 2020, 09:41 PM

No sane artist gives up on an album that a record label are willing to put more promo, singles and effort into. It just shows how too big egos and too big for their boots the girls had become.

I mean if BMG paid for a video and new single release from My happy place Emma wouldn't be turning it down now.

I believe Geri gave up on Scream too, maybe this just shows the huge success and sales they got from the start made them not have a very good outlook on releasing music unless it was selling a zillion copies.

Posted by: Piers 23rd May 2020, 09:53 PM

That may be true. It's rough, though...because they were the top selling act in America in 1997...and their first two albums sold well all through 1998 and even into 1999. It's hard to even imagine this sort of drop in modern terms. Could we even picture, say, Billie Eilish (who just had a big year) having her next album arrive at #39 on the chart? And even that's not a totally accurate comparison as Eilish doesn't have the level of cultural impact the Spices did in the 90s...

Those Emma/Victoria appearances were a somewhat bizarre thing too. They had very few appearances they could make in such a short time...so they end up on The Daily Show? An American political talk show? It...wasn't exactly the crowd that was going to buy a Spice Girls album. It didn't exactly help that Victoria told host Jon Stewart he wasn't funny...and the conversation devolved into a debate as to what is and isn't comedy.

Anyway. I think we could all write a book on all the ways Forever went sideways. But. One more thing I wanted to bring up...

Did anyone else find the album booklet with lyrics super weird? It was, like...stapled together...but you didn't flip through it like a little book. You had to turn it to where it was...up and down. That's how my copy was, anyway. I haven't gone through it in ages...but I seem to remember Emma and Victoria looking...sunburned...or something...

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd May 2020, 09:54 PM

Yeah... their egos got in the way big time. Their solo careers really devastated the group's chances of success after 1999...

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 06:56 PM

The forum listening party for the 'Forever' album will begin at 8:00pm / 20:00 BST!

As we simultaneously listen to Forever, comment along in this thread! Show your appreciation for your favourite songs, tell us your favourite tracks. Which album tracks were missed single opportunities? Any favourite lyrics and favourite vocal moments? Share all of your thoughts!

Enjoy yourself! See you all at 20:00 BST!

If you're able to, use your favourite streaming service to play it (it contributes to their sales)! This is optional though, if iTunes is better for you that's ok! I will also post YouTube links throughout the listening session.

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 06:58 PM

I'm here! Intrigued about what's in store with this album but I'm trying not to have any preconceptions!

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 06:58 PM

Ready to go

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:00 PM

Track 1: Holler

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:00 PM

Holler was THE moment on tour last year, I've had such a huge amount of love for it since then!!

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:01 PM

HERE and playing x

'Holler' is incredible and one of their best singles. Probably in my top 3 We have nothing but love for R hollier x

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:01 PM

Welcome Liam ! This is certainly an interesting place to start your Spice journey

Hiya Joseph *___* Edit: and Bal!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:02 PM

Holler hasn’t aged and it’s always been a favourite. Definitely the best on the album

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:03 PM

'Holler' is a decent track, but it's hard not to think they lost a lot of their identity with this one. What made 'Wannabe' so special was how different it was to anything else in the charts; 'Holler' jumps on the sound popularised by Destiny's Child/TLC.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:04 PM

Holler This was love at first listen for me. It certainly divides the fan base! It's actually in my Top 5 singles of theirs, argh! I find it so catchy.

As Joseph says, this was a MOMENT on the tour last year

One of their best music videos too! A great start to what would prove to be a very short era

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:04 PM

Track 2: Tell Me Why

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:06 PM

I use to find Tell Me Why just ok when the album came out and then I went off it. Now, I love it. It’s really grown on me over the last few years. Emma and Victoria really shine on this one.

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:06 PM

Love Tell Me Why, especially the Thunderpuss Remix of it.

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:07 PM

Tell My Why is brilliant! Sounds great coming after Holler too.

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:07 PM

'Tell Me Why' is brilliant! It's my second favourite on the album

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:07 PM

This one's pretty catchy, I'm liking the bass!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:08 PM

Hi! Completely agree with that, just ahead of Goodbye for me.

Tell Me Why is definitely one of the highlight tracks on the album for me. I feel like it would have made a good single, but the message of it (feelings of bitterness towards Geri) might have been a bit awkward for all of them once she returned to the group So probably for the best that it was left as a deep cut~. The Thunderpuss remix is a bit of a stomper too x

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:08 PM

Track 3: Let Love Lead the Way

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:09 PM

I loved LLLTW equally as much as Holler when they released the double a side single, but the live version of it on the 2019 tour made me fall in love with it even more and appreciate it.

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:10 PM

Let Love Lead the Way clicked after tour as well, even though it's not one of their best ballads it's still a really cute track! Not sure it slots in so well at this part of the album

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:10 PM

Found new love for Let Love Lead The Way thanks to the Spiceworld 2019 version that was absolutely stunning

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:11 PM

'Let Love Lead the Way' is my third fave, in fact a lot of the tracklist is in order of stength for me ~ I love their harmonies and the ad-libs in this.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:11 PM

NO START AGAIN I MISSED HOLLER

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:12 PM

'Let Love Lead the Way' is a cute ballad. Probably wouldn't stand up well as a single on its own but it provides something a bit more recognisably Spice as an A-side to 'Holler'.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:13 PM

Let Love Lead the Way is a lovely song, one of their least memorable songs amongst the singles of course, but still a great song to me. It's always a nice moment on tour too.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:14 PM

Track 4: Right Back at Ya

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:14 PM

Let love lead the way is lush! I always rate it down near the bottom of the Spice Girls singles list but then I listen to it and think wow their singles discography is SO strong!

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:14 PM

RBAY is good but after hearing the pop version, the R&B production has murdered this song and i mean in a bad way.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:14 PM

Hi!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:15 PM

I much preferred the version I heard Live at Earls Court so I was rather disappointed with the studio version. It’s still fun and spicy but Darkchild did ruin it I think. 🤭

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:15 PM

I do like RBAY however I prefer the pop version of it to this version! It screams a come back single though wonder why it wasn't considered as a double a-side with Holler?

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:16 PM

'Right Bact At Ya' is so sassy and fierce *.* it's smooth R&B at its best!

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:17 PM

Mel B's rap *.* this is another great song!

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:17 PM

Another good track! Shall have to check out this pop version after the listening party.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:18 PM

Interestingly Let Love Lead the Way was initially planned to be the comeback single just by itself I'm glad they brought Holler into the mix (and ended up giving it the stronger push of the two), because their singles run is sorely lacking in uptempo numbers as it is, and Holler set the tone of the era as being something a bit different for them.

The Spice Girls really do enjoy a ballad, wanting to launch Forever with one, and then leading the Greatest Hits with Headlines

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:18 PM

I think Mel B's raps feel a lot harsher on Forever than they ever did on Spice / Step to me...

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:18 PM

Track 5: Get Down with Me

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:19 PM

Get Down With Me is one of my faves of this album, it's a bop

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:19 PM

Love Get Down With Me. One thing someone pointed out earlier in a Forever reviews in this thread was this song should not have been followed by Wasting my time - it did seem to merge into one long song

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:19 PM

Get Down with Me has aged well for me! It's funky and boppy, definitely one of the catchier songs of the album. I've come around to the idea that it might have made a nice single, maybe towards the end of the era (had it been a normal 4 singles kind of campaign).

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:20 PM

'Get Down With Me' is so groovy and funky ~ The first half of this album is so strong and consistent.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:20 PM

Seriously!?!? Why? What is wrong with them they are the Spice Girls they represent FUN PARTY TIMES. Don't get me wrong their ballads are beautiful but stick to Christmas (with the exception of VF) for the ballads and uptempo otherwise or as an accompany a-side to a stomper

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:21 PM

Yet another solid track *.* Probably my least favourite of the five so far but still good!

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:21 PM

Get Down With Me is SUCH a tune... this SHOULD have been the single released after H/LLTW

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:21 PM

Track 6: Wasting My Time

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:21 PM

Interesting! Yeah I think 'Holler' was needed to show their new sense of direction, although I have to say the album so far is much poppier than I was expecting! I think I actually prefer everything so far to 'Holler'!

'Get Down With Me' continuing the standard of good songs!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:22 PM

Who was the one who treated you so bad that you felt that you had to do to me what she had done to you?

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:22 PM

Wasting My Time is a real Waste Of Time, No Mel B on this track either

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:22 PM

The first filler track here It's nice enough, but far from a favourite!

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:22 PM

I basically like the album version of Right Back At Ya...but the Earls Court version and the leaked demo sound like a far more natural fit to me.

On the album, the revisions to the way the verses are sung (mainly Victoria's) have always just sounded off to me. I'm also irrationally irked by Emma's ad-libs being the exact same the first two times we hear the full chorus.

On the flip side...I find the leaked demo to be perfection. I think Darkchild's better off handling production duties for songs he also wrote...so it's in his style from the get-go.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:23 PM

Love Wasting my time. Such a good groove and I’ve always enjoyed it. One of the strongest album tracks

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:24 PM

Wasting my time is a bit of a filler but it reflects that the album is strong as it's still a solid track!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:25 PM

Wasting My Time was my favourite album track when the album came out! Not a popular opinion, for sure. I don't think it's my favourite any more, but I do love it. I can't say I particularly understand why fans felt this was identical to Get Down with Me, for me it has quite a different vibe to it.

It's certainly a very Melanie C heavy track. It would have been nice if Mel B had contributed some vocals, but I suppose it's interesting to have a Spice Girls trio song!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:25 PM

Track 7: Weekend Love

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:26 PM

Wasting My Time definitely the weakest thus far but not bad! Just doesn't quite stand out as much.

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:26 PM

Another nosedive in terms of quality. 'Weekend Love' is a bit to twee for me. Nice enough, but not a standout.

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:26 PM

Weekend Love is cute but that Mel B rap is just horrendous

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:26 PM

Melanie C and Emma the only two who contributed to every Spice Girls track

I find the inclusion of a track without Mel B on the album ridiculous though seriously

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:27 PM

I prefer the pop version too! Mel B's rap fits in much better with that original production. I find it kind of interesting that her exact same take of that rap was kept for the R&B version, whereas other vocals were re-recorded!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:27 PM

I'm not sure if Liam is ready for this forthcoming rap. Hold tight!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:28 PM

I remember listening to the album around the time of the 2007/08 reunion and when I revisited Weekend Love I seemed to enjoy it but was completely thrown off by Mel B’s rap. It seems to come out of nowhere 😆

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:28 PM

Weekend Love, I actually rated this as one of my favourites back in the day but now I rate it as the weakest track on the album. It's ok as an album track though and it comes on in the car I'm all... "A WEEKEND LOVE IS ALL IT WAAAAS" with the window down

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:28 PM

'Weekend Love' is the weakest so far, but it's still passable.

I certainly wasn't expecting to like as many as all of the first six tracks though!

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:29 PM

Mel B bringing it *.*

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:29 PM

That is such a weird moment in a track of this nature, but I kind of appreciate the sheer oddness of it. G'won Mel B x

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:29 PM

Just heard it! Wasn't expecting that in the middle of this track!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:29 PM

Track 8: Time Goes By

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:30 PM

Time to have a lovely and peaceful 5 minute nap x

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:30 PM

Time Goes By is a bit bland and boring for me

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:31 PM

I love time goes by, it's so restful and the music is lovely. Melanie's vocals too

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:32 PM

😂

I love the WHOLE Spice discography - singles, album tracks, b sides etc but this is probably the ONLY one I’ve never enjoyed or really listened to much 🙈

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:32 PM

'Time Goes By' (so slowly listening to this). Easily the weakest song on the album!

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:33 PM

Time Goes By is cute but definitely the weakest so far oops.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:33 PM

It does seem weird that she couldn't find the time in her schedule to lay down some vocals for it! A bit sloppy really. I wonder what she was doing instead? If my memory is correct, Wasting My Time was recorded in April 2000. The finishing touches were being put to the Hot album by then!

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:33 PM

Oh stop all of you bitches!! I'm re-falling in love with this album .... I'll fall out of love with it when i hear "are you haaaaving fuuuuun!" for 20mins

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:34 PM

Hmm, this one's a bit bland. Album quality starting to drop it seems.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:34 PM

Track 9: If You Wanna Have Some Fun

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:35 PM

I always thought Time Goes By would have made a lovely wintery single, all in the snow singing away! Also thought it would have really suited a Royal Variety performance in stunning gowns!

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:35 PM

I love If You Wanna Have Some Fun so much . With a great readio/single edit this could,ve become a hit for them.

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:35 PM

So. Between their three studio albums AND their Greatest Hits, Time Goes by is the only group song I don't like. Didn't like it on first listen. It's never grown on me.

The opening keyboard sounds like some church youth group talent show. I never think the song sounds especially genuine (something the group does so effortlessly in all their other ballads). There are some nice enough vocals here and there...but a lot of the ad-libs sound awkward to me...and I think Mel C's vocals starting at about 3:40 are the least flattering she sounds on literally any Spice Girls track.

It was always interesting to me that Mel C loved this one so much. Even when she was completely over being in the group, she still wanted this thing to be a single...and later admitted to not liking the incomparably superior If You Wanna Have Some Fun.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:36 PM

If the album had stayed poppy and funky and included Woman and not Weekend Love and Time Goes By it would still be a great Spice Girls album

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:37 PM

I agree, with a shorter radio edit, maybe a slight remix to the chorus, it would have been a great follow up single to H/LLTW. Leans more to their poppy side which would have appealed to more fans.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:37 PM

One of my favourites, a funky/cheeky song. Definitely single potential with a radio edit. The only thing that lets this song down is that it goes on for a bit too long - it's like the producers had no idea how to finish off the track... are you having funnnnn? are you having fun???????

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:38 PM

If you like Voodoo your opinion becomes invalid

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:38 PM

Is it just me or is there quite a lot of Victoria vocals on this album? Obviously the lines are shared between four members instead of five now, but she feels so much more prominent than any of the Spice Girls singles prior to this.

'If You Wanna Have Some Fun' is better than the last two tracks but not as essential as the first half.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:39 PM

Victoria sings A LOT more on this album for sure. Each album she get's more prominent.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:40 PM

Track 10: Oxygen

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:40 PM

'If You Wanna Have Some Fun': this is sounding very good on this listen! A bit of a pick me up after the past few numbers ~

'Oxygen' is a bit of a bore oop.

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:40 PM

Agreed that If You Wanna Have Some Fun went on a bit too long but it was a good track, picking the quality back up!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:40 PM

If You Wanna Have Some Fun sounds contemporary compared to some of the other album tracks and Emma and Mel B’s vocals are great on it. An edited version would have made a great follow up single after Holler/LLLTW

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:41 PM

I find that Jam n' Lewis often did super long album songs. It's true of a lot of Janet Jackson's big hits. Even Mel B's Feels So Good is overlong on the album. That one got trimmed up pretty perfectly for the radio edit...and I think the same could easily have been done for If You Wanna Have Some Fun. I love this one. It's easily my next favorite on the album after Holler and Goodbye.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:41 PM

It's dragging on I'm no longer having fun

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:42 PM

'If You Wanna Have Some Fun' got more catchy as it went on actually, kinda reminds me of Janet Jackson.

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:42 PM

I like Oxygen but the drips you hear in it are annoying me

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:42 PM

Same producers

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:43 PM

Guess I'm lucky for a change being deaf as I can't hear clearly enough to pick up the drips at all I love the chorus of Oxygen

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:43 PM

I have to be in the mood for Oxygen. It’s not the weakest track on the album but it’s near the bottom for me along with Weekend Love and Time Goes By

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:44 PM

Oxygen - it's a nice ballad, but the 'drip' sound effect in the chorus REALLY lets it down, it's horrible, cheap and distracting.

I like each girl having her own verse. Each verse shows that they were in different stages of their life in terms of relationships.

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:44 PM

Oxygen is nice! The drip sound effect though... whose idea was that

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:45 PM

Track 11: Goodbye

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:45 PM

That'll explain it!

'Oxygen' is another dull one. You just need 'Let Love Lead the Way' and 'If You Wanna Have Some Fun' to swap places and it's first half = upbeat, second half = ballads.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:45 PM

I never noticed this! Well spotted... who sings which verse? I'm guessing Victoria is the one after the first chorus?

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:46 PM

The problem was FOREVER had too many ballads

Posted by: Maz! 24th May 2020, 07:46 PM

Goodbye As much as i love it, it doesn't fit with the rest of the album and i see it as a add on.

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:46 PM

Oxygen seems to be a major divider among fans (seems to come down to that water drop)...but I've always found it to be gorgeous. To me, it sounds like a Spice Girls classic. Another track that deserved far better. I like it even better Let Love Lead the Way.

Posted by: JosephStyles 24th May 2020, 07:46 PM

Goodbye is gorgeous not sure it fits on this album at all really, it feels much more classic Spice than the rest of the album, but I love it nonetheless.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:46 PM

Goodbye is a classic for me, one of their strongest singles A nice way to end this album, despite the fact it is a bit of an outlier.

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:47 PM

'Goodbye' is a great album closer (on their last album ). It is quite dated, but at the same time, that adds to its appeal and the nostalgia it creates.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:47 PM

It's SO out of place at the end of the album, so classic spice sounding unlike the rest of the album.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 07:47 PM

Tbh thank goodness it didn't seem to cross anyone's mind to have Darkchild remix Goodbye for the album

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:47 PM

'Goodbye' propping up quality of the ballads! It's not one of my go-to Spice Girls singles but it is a lovely, warm track, obviously extra poignant with Geri's departure in mind.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:48 PM

The gap between Spiceworld and Forever was 3 years

I absolutely love Goodbye so I wish we’d had a 3rd album in 1999 in between SW and Forever just to bridge the gap a bit in terms of the sound they went with in 2000. It was quite a jump.

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:49 PM

I think 'Goodbye' fits well on the album, it does have a more classic Spice Girls feel but there's something slighty R&B-infused about it - I think it's the harmonies.

Posted by: HausofGhibli 24th May 2020, 07:50 PM

This was the ranking I did about a month ago, and I don't think it's changed with this listen:

1. Holler
2. Tell Me Why
3. Let Love Lead the Way
4. Goodbye
5. Right Back at Ya
6. Get Down with Me
7. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
8. Oxygen
9. Wasting My Time
10. Weekend Love
11. Time Goes By

A good album, but not great. I like all of them down to about #6 or #7!

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:50 PM

I think it's 'fine' in the same way I think One of These Girls is 'fine'. I don't have major opinions on either and wouldn't say much to defend them. Neither would make my top 30 Spice Girls tracks.

I do like Voodoo a few light years better than Times Goes By, though.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:51 PM

God the thought

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 07:52 PM

Thank you Jay for organising these listening parties 🎉

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:52 PM

I'm not listening no no no!

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 07:53 PM

Oh gosh. Can you imagine...that lovely chorus overlapped with a ton of unnecessary ad-libs...and Rodney Jerkins wistfully whispering "Darkchild 2000" over the track?

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 07:56 PM

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 07:57 PM

I enjoyed that! A shame about the second half of the album but the first six tracks were all solid! Even on first listen, there's a few of them I could see placing higher than 'Holler' in my album rank, which I wasn't expecting as I naturally assumed 'Holler' being lead single meant it represented the best.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 08:11 PM

Oh my! :| Melanie has extremely questionable taste at times


Victoria definitely has a strong presence throughout Forever! I think she pushed herself vocally, in a good way, she has some lovely moments on various tracks. While she's the first to admit she wasn't the strongest singer in the group, I think she has a nice tone and I think she should be quite proud of her contribution to this album (not that 'Forever' has probably crossed her mind in years )


That would have been so funny, but awful I'm glad they had the sense not to touch an established single!


Which would of course have been the correct assumption to make I'm glad you enjoyed listening to it! Hopefully you'll find a moment to check out their first two classic albums. Spiceworld is full of great pop moments, I'd say it's their most accessible album. Spice may surprise you with some of the directions certain tracks go in!


That's right!

Melanie C
There will come a time
I know I'm gonna need
Someone I can trust, someone who'll fight for me
That's the way I love

Emma
This is my time to work things out
What i want from this life
There will be someone out there for me
That's the way I love

Victoria
Even when we're so far apart
I still feel you in my heart
'Cos you've given me the greatest gift of all
That's the way I love

Mel B
The way I love ain't easy
But could it ever be for me
The situation seems so insane
It's all about feeling without insecurities
That's the way I love

Posted by: Jay ☆ 24th May 2020, 08:19 PM

That was great fun once again, thanks everyone for listening and commenting along!


I think it's a fine album and didn't deserve the mostly bad reviews and bad reception it received at the time of its release. There's some solid tracks in there, and even on the less good ones they at least give us some of their greatest vocals.

My main criticism of the album, as Piers has touched upon, is the extreme overuse of ad-libs. I don't think I've ever heard another album that is packed with as many ad-libs as can be heard on Forever! Sometimes less is more. I feel like it works on some tracks, like Holler and Let Love Lead the Way, but on others it crosses the line of being unnecessary.

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 08:23 PM

It is a decent track itself, but it felt like the following tracks took the R&B sound and 'Spiced' it up with their classic pop hooks and personality. I'll definitely give their first two albums a listen, already intrigued about the hint towards their debut!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 24th May 2020, 08:27 PM

Have you never heard the first and second albums before?

If so, I am very envious. I'd love to relive those albums for the first time again

Posted by: Liam.k. 24th May 2020, 08:30 PM

Not yet, no! I've of course heard all their singles as well as 'Never Give Up on the Good Times' (which is fantastic) but never checked out their albums for some reason!

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 08:38 PM

Yeah. The ad-libs are perfection on Holler. I think they're mostly perfection on Tell Me Why and Let Lead the Way (except for the Mel B ad-libs on the album version of the latter).

But I think they're overdone on tracks 4-8...though I do like most of those songs overall. I think Darkchild was used to working with r'n'b acts who did a lot of ad-libbing...and it didn't come as naturally for the girls. I think Emma equips herself the best. But Victoria in particular sometimes sounds awkward to me...just repeating little phrases. If I had the ability to audio edit the album, I feel like I'd trim some ad-libs out here and there. The Darkchild 2000 stuff also becomes practically parody after a while for me. I thought it sounded cool on Holler...I think *some* of it is cute on Get Down With Me (hey Scary, ya ready?). But he overstays his welcome, and it was absurd when he showed up in Weekend Love.

What's also odd is Rodney Jerkins did interviews talking about how he wanted to do songs with the group that would play well live. Yet...I've no clue how they would have done Get Down With Me or Wasting My Time live...as both are so heavy on Emma doing a solo...overlapped with Emma doing ad-libs...or a Mel C solo...overlapped with Mel C ad-libs.

Posted by: sammy01 24th May 2020, 08:40 PM

I cant imagine having not heard Spice and Spiceworld they were so ingrained in my brain as a child I cant imagine life not having those songs in it.

Posted by: Mr.X 24th May 2020, 09:39 PM

IM SORRY IM LATE AGAIN TO THE PARTY You can blame Boris on this one, as been talking with family from Portugal as tehy are so aghast about this weekends' political movements. Urgh the UK is such a mess right now.

But as usual, I bopped on my own Thank you so making this happen, it was great to listen to the album again all the way through - hadnt done it in a long while and WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE

Here is my take:

1. Holler. Stunning. This is Top5 Spice for me. I know many people didnt really get into it and I can appreciate why. But it is a really gorgeous song, excellently produced and sang.

Wild to think this was the first time that the Spice Girls ever released a song with a male voice all over it (not counting Luther Van Dross as that was a live cover). For me, it was a really special moment, that showed growthn and versatility to the band, and artistically it elevated them to new, different heights from what we were used to.

The only thing I would change from that era was the styling. The leather look didnt quite suit them, imo, and outside of the video and MTV performance, they used really bland costumes and jeans. A shame, as if they had carried on with the type of style they had earlier in the year (specially Brits), it would have looked amazing!

2. Tell Me Why. Wow. If Holler bangs the door open to a new style, Tell Me Why DOUBLES DOWN on that transformation. It's an amazing song, really clever and with great production. They all sound heavenly and damn, Victoria's opening verse is just When she gets it right, she really nails it in her own style. Here, she shines. So does Mel B.

Oh gosh, so does Emma. AND MEL C!

The ad libs are amazing and that breakdown is This is really growing on me, you know?! Not that it didnt before, but listening it to it now is giving me good feels

One thing: I never thought this is about Geri. I know it reads like it, but it never rang true to me. More like a failed love relationship.

3. Let Love Lead The Way LOVE

I've always liked this song, loved even. But always thought it wasnt one of their greatest ballads. It always felt somewhat lesser than its peers. No more. Last year's performance on tour was GORGEOUS. I had feels throughout it and Bunton crying on two of the shows I went during it, was a MOMENT. For me, this really stood the test of time and with time, I have grown to appreciate it even more.

I think Emma and Mel C both are incredible here. When both hit them notes live, it really shone bright. Emma's 'I know, I know, I know' is just heaven, and her BIG NOTE is I hope they always do it live on tour, they really sell it well. Geri was surprisingly good on this as well and you could tell she really loves it.

It was a bit criminal to have such a bad video to this though. The song really deserved better. Their styling was terrible (apart from Bunton who looked gorgeous), and the concept of the elements didnt work like it did in Holler.

4. Right Back At Ya. For me, the song that should have been a single before Holler, in it's pop/funk version.

Don't get me wrong, I like this r'n'b version. It's cute, but it doesnt do much for me, as it just kind of plods along. Mel B's rap is great and they all sound gorgeous on it. But it just sort of happens without much funfair, which is funny because the message is the opposite sentiment

I do like the lyrics though. They were really defiant and I like it, taking ownership of what they had achieved and their presence in the pop cannon. They should have kept the dance breakdown from the Christmas tour on it! Now THAT would have been cool.

5. Get Down With Me. This is such a great vibe. You can't help but bop along. Remove the man's voice and position it somewhere else in the album (towards the end, after If You Wanna Have Some Fun?) and it would have been better, I think.

Gosh they sound heavenly on this, don't they?! Victoria also kills it here, she sound hungry for the spotlight here. I like it. Emma carries this song (as usual). Her ad libs are also A VIBE!

The breakdown feels somewhat both needed at this moment, but also kind of unecessary, specially with the guy's voice there.

6. Wasting My Time. I know people love to hate this song, but I genuinely love it. The beginning kind of sounds a bit like 2-Pac's California and I AM HERE FOR IT

It's both really cleverly written and well performed. Emma's verse is and Victoria also shines here. There is maybe too much Mel C on it, which is really prominent, specially when you remember that Mel B isn't on this at all.

Get Mel B on the chorus at least, and a few lines, and the song would have been perfect.

7. Weekend Love You know, I always liked this. I think it is a cute, 4th single material type of track. Maybe with a single mix that kicks it up a notch, it would have been quite special. It was probably their most radio-friendly track on the album apart from Holler and LLLTW.

Emma's parts are just Victoria's ad libs also really shine here! Probably her best ad libs outside of Holler. All of them sound incredible here, to be honest. Lyrically it is one of their best, imo. Mel B's rap is hilarious though. It's quite naff as it is so different from the rest of the track and it is kind of jarring. But I quite like it.

8. Time Goes By. Ok here we go. This is one of my least favourite Spice tracks, ever. From the very beginning, it's just too slow and boring, I think. In a way, it was a very different way of doing ballads for them. I get it, and the genre is quite common. Maybe that is my issue with it, it just lacks a bit of personality and you could see any other group singing this.

They all sound incredible here though. All of them. Though Mel C's really high pitch 'wiiiiiiiiiil' kind of grains on me lol it feels a bit stretched, which is weird cos you know she could hit that note but maybe she was having a bad day

9. If You Wanna Have Some Fun YAY LETS PARTY This was soooo screaming to be a single. It's gorgeous and funky, and it would have gone down really well in February/March of 2001. I always imagined it with a shorter mix and a video set in a club.

A shame they never sang it live. I would have loved that and personally, I think it would have gone really well after Never Give Up On The Good Times last year on tour. IMAGINE one day they would surprise us with a rendition of it

Mel B's breakdown is GORGEOUS! Emma eats this whole, in one go. It's kind of her song and she backs pretty much every one of them, is teh most prominent in the chorus and those AD LIBS at the end OK they go on for too long but DAMN IT THEY ARE GREAT!! GET IT BUNTON, TAKE YOUR TIME, SPOIL US AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! DANCE YOUR ASS OFF! YEAH IM HAVING FUN THANKS FOR ASKING ok maybe that is lowkey enough now YES IM STILL HAVING FUN GOD DAMN IT!

10. Oxygen. OK this is nice. The drop still kind of ruins it, but whatever. It's still not amazing, but it's no Time Goes By lol

You can tell they are all into it. I remember reading somewhere that for this track, the producers asked the girls to each give their own interpretation of love for their own verses, and yuo can tell. It's a very 'group' song with a lot of individuality in it and they do it really well. In that regards, it is a very 'them' song. It just isn't produced well, I think. Good ideas, well written and expertly well sang, but boring beats...

11. Goodbye WOW. What a song. What a way to end the album.

This song will forever be special because of the context in which it was released. But also because it is TOP TIER Spice. It's up there with their best lyrically, vocally and production wise. I was so glad they continued with Matt and Biff after Geri left. They really got the group.

Mel B's 'Look for the rainbow in every storm' might just be the best lyric they've ever written. A stunning moment. Last year, they really brought a new quality to it, I think. Having Geri singing Victoria's line was outstanding (and unexpectely good), but Victoria really made her verse her own. Really, it is almost iconic. Gorgeous outro as well.

What a MOMENT in pop culture this song is, when you think of it. Just gorgeous. And that video

Overall

A fantastic album, that deserved much better than it got from everyone. It isnt perfect, but it's a bloody great ride, with amazing songs that still sound fresh today. And it is also great fun!

Posted by: Piers 24th May 2020, 09:46 PM

I know most wish some of the pop tracks could have been included...and while I really like most of the leaked pop tracks, I'm not sure the two approaches could have gelled together.

The girls' solo works managed to have many collaborators...without it seeming mismatched. But in the case of the Forever material, I flat-out don't know if I can imagine an album with Tell Me Why...alongside Pain Proof and the pop version of Right Back At Ya. To me...they just sound like two different groups. The leaked Eliot Kennedy songs have a higher energy...a different group sound. Darkchild's material to me sounds like it belongs to a group about ten years older. I think there's a reason Goodbye sounds so out of place on the album.

Anyone think the pop material actually could have existed with Darkchild's stuff? I guess there's a few things they could have done. Like...start with the Darkchild stuff and let the album go progressively poppier (with the Jam n' Lewis material serving as a bridge) until it reached Goodbye? Perhaps a Sugar n' Spice double album with two different sounds? I'm not sure. I kinda think the Darkchild material was so different in sound that it forced them to pick a direction rather than include it all.

Posted by: Spiceboy 24th May 2020, 11:23 PM

Omg you're in for a treat I'm quite jealous I'd love to relive my first time listening to the albums

Posted by: Mr.X 25th May 2020, 09:16 AM

I understand and kind of agree that they do overdo it on the ad libs. They, as a group, were all very keen on showing how much they could sing during that era. It was part of their promo as well, the whole 'we all gave it our best singing, we've grown so much vocally etc'.

But yeah, that and the male voices kind of give it a bit of a weird taste throughout ah

Posted by: Jay* 11th July 2020, 09:34 PM

I finally got around to having a go at making artwork using this photoshoot! Admittedly my photoshop skills are limited, but nevertheless I quite like the outcome of these:


With Spice Girls - Forever logo/font:




With just the Spice Girls logo (with the idea being that the 'Forever' title could run down the side of the CD, underneath the visible plastic tray)




Textless (Spice Girls - Forever could be on a hype sticker, or down the side of the CD):





JosephStyles has kindly made these mock ups, to show how they would look as CDs - I love these

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 11th July 2020, 10:31 PM

Love these, Jay.

Any shoot would have been better than the one we got for the album lol

Posted by: Jay* 13th July 2020, 04:56 PM

Agreed They did a couple of better photoshoots that took place quite close to the album’s release, so it was too late by then. I’m still curious about what the girls themselves think of the Forever album cover and if they actually like it. Then again I’m not sure whether they’ve ever commented on any of their artwork - I’d find that interesting!

The vinyl is supposedly coming in 4 months time, but there’s still no UK preorder. I’m kind of dreading that original artwork in 12” size, but also kind of amused at the thought of it lol.

Posted by: Mr.X 13th July 2020, 07:20 PM

Honestly I cannot BARE the thought of having that picture and font in large print...

I kind of got too busy to even bother writing taht open letter to them. Might revisit it soon.

Posted by: sammy01 15th July 2020, 10:16 AM

Imagine walking in HMV and seeing the Forever artwork on the vinyl stand, it is going to look so bad.
If they did an exclusive vinyl cover with a different photo that would surely help it sell to collectors.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 15th July 2020, 12:58 PM

I wonder if they changed the cover and went with a different 2000 photographer and shoot or just another image from the Terry Richardson one?

Posted by: Jay* 21st September 2020, 11:26 PM

It was nice to see a first time listener of Spice Girls reacting to Forever, and he really appreciated it!

Posted by: Mr.X 21st September 2020, 11:41 PM

Love this He KNOWS the bops and also gave me a new appreciation for Get Down With Me

Posted by: Jay* 22nd September 2020, 12:25 AM

Sal had my full support when he praised Get Down with Me and Wasting My Time *.*

Him calling GDWM 'Groove with Me' - apparently that title shows on iTunes when you rip a CD?

Posted by: Spiceboy 22nd September 2020, 07:08 AM

Get down with me the single that should have been 😍

Posted by: Sideout 22nd September 2020, 04:30 PM

It's kind of hard to judge Forever when we know there are scraped pop tracks in the vault. Until we are able to hear the Forever Biffco songs, we will never know if the record label and the girls made the right decision with not using them.

Posted by: vibe 22nd September 2020, 05:32 PM

The pop songs were rubbish they sounded live 5 rejects (boyband)

Posted by: Spiceboy 22nd September 2020, 05:41 PM

Pain proof was excellent!

Posted by: Mr.X 22nd September 2020, 05:50 PM

I agree with this I do love the pop version of Right Back At Ya and that was right that it was the only song that was released. The others lacked something unique. Pain Proof was the best out of the others but even then it was a bit 'meh', not up to standard with their pop catalogue.

Give You What You Want was terrible, terrible terrible and im glad it never saw the light of day. Sounded like a 5ive reject and lyrically it was just painful. A Day in Your Life needed better lyrics.

I think we can judge from those that they did indeed need better songs to release. I just wish they had worked on those songs a bit more to polish it up and made a pop-r&b album before Forever... But whatever...

I would like to hear the Biffco ones though, for sure!

Posted by: Sideout 22nd September 2020, 06:02 PM

Eliot Kennedy produced songs for Five so it's no surprise the production sounds somewhat similar. How many Max Martin songs sound the same? Judging 1999 demos with current year ears is probably why we will never hear the Biff pop tracks.

Imagine if Last Time Lover never made the debut album. If it leaked today fans would say it sounds like a TLC reject.

Posted by: Mr.X 22nd September 2020, 06:09 PM

I love Last Time Lover but it does totally sound like a TLC reject event back then

Posted by: tommie 22nd September 2020, 08:16 PM

MAX MARTIN SONGS ALL SOUNDS LIKE DENNIZ POP SONGS

Posted by: Sideout 22nd September 2020, 08:35 PM

Now this is the true tea. Denniz never gets enough credit. RIP

Posted by: sammy01 10th October 2020, 06:48 AM

There is a topic on Spice Circle with a lot of replies about doing a campaign and pushing as a fan base to make Forever chart in the top 100 on vinyl release week.

Hopefully we can build some momentum for it and have a #justiceforforever week.

If we are going to download Forever on itunes Friday 20th November it might be a good idea if us from Buzz Jacks all download it at the same time for the most impact. Like say either 0.10am Friday morning or 5pm Friday evening so hopefully it gets our sales off here all at the same time so registers a big boost.

Posted by: Jay* 12th October 2020, 02:30 PM

It would be great if this could be pulled off!

It might be a little more difficult on a Friday to contend with the new releases on iTunes, so Top 10 might not be possible. Although as far as I'm aware, the more of us that buy it at the same time, the more likely it is to place high up. I think maybe sometime in the evening would be better.

Now that the fan base seems energised by helping Melanie C get into the Top 10, I hope quite a lot of fans will be enthused to help Forever too.

It would be so nice to see it in the chart again! Top 100 would be incredible, but I'd be very happy with Top 200. Last year in the equivalent week (November 29th), #100 sold 1,452 copies, and #200 sold 925.

Posted by: Jay* 23rd October 2020, 12:32 AM

It has been 20 years since Holler/Let Love Lead the Way was released!





Can you believe it's 2 decades since the release of their final #1 single?

Holler is one of their best songs. Actually, it's one of the best songs of all time and that's a FACT Such a great video too!

Posted by: Pearll 23rd October 2020, 08:19 AM

The way Holler still slaps so damn hard...Phew! They really did that!

I wish we could had more performances of the that masterpiece...

I hated Let Love Lead The Way at first but it has grown on me over the years! I was 10 when Forever was released so...

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 23rd October 2020, 09:48 AM

I remember my Mum bought me the single on Monday evening from Woolworths and when she picked me up I saw the Woolworths bag in her hand and knew she had the single. It’s mad looking back but the true physical music era was so much more exciting. I cannot believe it’s been 20 years

Posted by: schizo_spice 23rd October 2020, 09:56 AM

It was an exciting time as it had been so long since Goodbye (nowadays less than 2 years seems like nothing haha)

I remember buying both it and I'm Over You by Martine McCutcheon from WH Smith (I'm Over You seems so forgotten nowadays)

Posted by: vibe 23rd October 2020, 11:02 AM

Martine was furious as she was also on virgin records and had to settle for number 2 !

Posted by: vibe 23rd October 2020, 11:03 AM

They should have followed with Tell Me Why as a single.

Posted by: tommie 23rd October 2020, 11:09 AM

In all honesty, had they continued to release singles from Forever I'm sure they would've had their first "flop" (as in short chart run + not reaching the top 3). It wouldn't have surprised me if they would've ended up charting in the lower top ten tbh...

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd October 2020, 11:41 AM

I meant at that point they had already 9 UK #1s which is more than 99% of music acts achieve. It's only natural that their selling power was wanning and I wish that the sodding press and themselves would realise that.

A couple more singles would have made the album sell better (hopefully) if they really committed to it, even if some of the singles werent going to reach #1... So what?! The lack of commitment was the problem.

Posted by: Spiceboy 23rd October 2020, 01:31 PM

Exactly I mean they had plenty of songs miss the top 2 (even top 10) as solo artists by that point so really who cares? The album selling would have made them more money in the long run. There was plenty of hype to have achieved another #1 single out of the album anyway they just abandoned it and let it die.

Posted by: sammy01 23rd October 2020, 02:50 PM

They could have gotten an easy #1 in the January doldrums we used to get in the physical era for sure.

Posted by: schizo_spice 23rd October 2020, 03:34 PM

I would have loved for Oxygen to be a Christmas single and If You Wanna Have Some Fun be a February or March release.

Posted by: SouthernStar88 26th October 2020, 08:52 PM

Last october 23 Victoria posted a story on Instagram thanking Emma for remembering with her post the 20th anniversary of Holler / LLLTW, she also tagged Melanie C and Mel B
I don't want to dream too much

Posted by: dancinqueen 27th October 2020, 12:56 PM

Poor Tory Spice 😂

Posted by: dancinqueen 28th October 2020, 01:39 PM

No worries, people. Forever The Album is Tory-free. Lots of black culture appropriation though. 😂
I can’t stop listening to Holler, it’s been a few days I’ve been living for Vicky B vocals.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th October 2020, 05:27 PM

Forever is such a MOMENT! Full of bops, no tories allowed

Posted by: Maz! 29th October 2020, 06:23 PM

Idk if the mods are planning anything but another listening party for the 20th anniversary is so needed.

Posted by: Mr.X 29th October 2020, 07:05 PM

Let's do that!!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 29th October 2020, 07:22 PM

There are plans for a streaming party celebration on the 6th but we are really pushing the vinyl release week for downloads and streams

Posted by: sammy01 29th October 2020, 07:31 PM

I'd rather wait for the 20th to coincide with the vinyl

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 30th October 2020, 01:59 AM

I hated the complete fall in sales with forever I always feel it happened so quick and that the album was over before it began. I'd live to see it get back in the charts again in some way.

Posted by: Mr.X 30th October 2020, 02:52 PM

If the vinyl release in the UK still goes ahead on the 20th November, we should do it then as it will have more of a chance of getting in the charts.
We need to get Spice Circle and the members of Popjustice involved though. Only way to get it noticed...

Posted by: Scary Spice(boy) 30th October 2020, 03:29 PM

I agree with this!

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 30th October 2020, 03:47 PM

I think it would be great to do another streaming party on the 6th just to celebrate the anniversary on release day just here on the forum for us fans.

However the week of Nov 20-26th should be everyone posting on social media, streaming, buying the vinyl, downloading etc and really giving it a push

Posted by: Mr.X 2nd November 2020, 11:33 AM

A couple of popular podcasts have released Forever-focused episodes, and they are quite special:

Track by Track

Right Back At Ya


Both are quite popular podcasts in general for pop music fans, and it is GREAT to see so much love for this album

Get a cup of tea, chill and listen (and then download another copy of the album )

Posted by: Chemistry 2nd November 2020, 11:44 AM

I LOVE the Right Back At Ya guys so much. Every episode of their podcast is just a brilliant and fun experience. Really glad they did the Forever tribute. I CAN'T at the story of Victoria confronting that guy and his girlfriend in a shopping centre.

Posted by: Liam.k. 2nd November 2020, 11:21 PM

Anniversary article / review on Forever by Albumism: https://www.albumism.com/features/spice-girls-forever-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective

Posted by: Jay* 3rd November 2020, 12:03 AM

Great to see that Forever is getting positive attention in podcasts and retrospective pieces! I hope there's more to come. I definitely feel like it's high time this album received positive reappraisal. It would be nice if that, and the vinyl release, help the fans/music lovers see the album in a different light.

Posted by: spiceboy 5th November 2020, 12:04 AM

A new front cover would help fans/music lovers to see it in a better light!

Posted by: Jay* 5th November 2020, 12:28 AM

Agreed! Although perversely I am quite excited to see the Forever artwork blown up to 12" vinyl size

Posted by: spiceboy 5th November 2020, 12:35 AM

Weirdly I am too, I think it looks better already and I don't know why

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 5th November 2020, 12:33 PM

Does anyone fancy doing a Forever streaming party on here tomorrow (just for us fans here on the forum)?

Would be nice to acknowledge the album on the actual anniversary even though we will give it a push during the vinyl release week.

Posted by: Jay* 5th November 2020, 07:01 PM

I would be up for it! Sometime in the evening?

Posted by: Mr.X 5th November 2020, 07:06 PM

I would be up for it but I am watching a theatre show from 6pm -9pm already so might not be around for it... But will certainly comment afterwards

Posted by: Maz! 6th November 2020, 10:12 AM

20 years ago today I went to pick up Forever at the local cd shop and the guy never heard of our girls and called them Spice curruls. Even my mum remembers this happening and still laughs about it.

Posted by: Alberto! 6th November 2020, 11:26 AM

I remember that in European countries CDs used to come out the Friday before the UK release, and I walked past a (closed) CD shop on Saturday night and was fuming I didn't go to buy it the day before, so I would have to wait til Monday afternoon when CD shops would open the following week XD

Posted by: sammy01 6th November 2020, 01:43 PM

Their social media is pushing the vinyl again for the 20th anniversary. Going by Amazon the pre-orders for Forever are much stronger than Spiceworld was. I'd be shocked if this doesn't make top 200, top 100 if we get behind it and download/stream the album come the 20th.

Posted by: Mr.X 6th November 2020, 02:06 PM

I'm READY to buy multiple copies during release week Do we have a full list of places you can get the album from?

Like, a list like this:

Amazon
iTunes
Deezer

anymore?

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 6th November 2020, 02:42 PM

The album is available from these sites (digital and vinyl)

HMV (vinyl)
The Sound of Vinyl (vinyl)
Record Store (vinyl)
uDiscover Music (vinyl)
Amazon (vinyl and MP3 download)
iTunes (MP3 download)
7 Digital (MP3 download)
Spotify (streaming)
Deezer (streaming)

Posted by: sammy01 6th November 2020, 02:55 PM

A little birdie told me Jay will be making a topic for the vinyl and getting behind it to get it to chart, with stats on sales needed.

I've got the vinyl pre-ordered, will stream on my Amazon Music and download from Amazon.

I think Forever is £3.99 on itunes so dirt cheap. Jay can post all the stats later but it took 57 downloads to chart on the official UK album download chart last week so we can certainly get it to chart on there as well as the vinyl and overall album chart.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 6th November 2020, 03:08 PM

Yes it's gonna be great if we can all get behind this.

I'm also going to share on Instagram, FB and Spice Circle and will also be collaborating with other big fan pages on FB with a big reach.

I've purposely waited until the week of the 20th to download the album on both iTunes and Amazon

Posted by: sammy01 6th November 2020, 03:17 PM

Great yeah a big push with all the fan social media accounts on the 20th would be great.

With us being in lockdown that might help too as it will definitely lower sales needed to be top 200, 100, 50 and so on.

Posted by: Spice Girls Net 6th November 2020, 03:21 PM

Streaming won't be the strongest compared to download sales and vinyls but how realistic is a Top 100 entry on the album chart?

Posted by: sammy01 6th November 2020, 03:34 PM

I think it would need fans to get behind it and download it as well. When Spiceworld vinyl was released it was #90 on the Monday midweek but had only 2 download sales that really let it down. It also never really did that we'll on pre-orders too. It never went above #8 on Amazon bestsellers where as Forever went to #1.

Posted by: dancinqueen 6th November 2020, 07:05 PM

I forgot how much I loved the uptempo tracks and how I despised the ballads. Time Goes By is extremely bad when it comes to vocals, you can get how limited their vocals abilities are for songs like that. Forever is top notch in terms of production and has some great moments like IYWHSF, Holler, LLLTW, TMW, RBAY, GDWM WMT. Oxygen is 🤢

Right Back At Ya still screams no.1, Mel B spoken part, Emma vocals, Mel C raspiness in the middle 8 and Vicky presence. Such a pity 😭

Posted by: Mr.X 6th November 2020, 08:10 PM

Right Back At Ya, released in Spring 2000 would have done really well, I think! Probably another #1, though probably the pop version would have done even better!

I agree on the ballads front, it's where the album lacks. LLLTW is the best on the album but even that one isnt exactly on par with the ballads on the other albums. Time Goes By is great for vocals, but overall the song is a bit of a slug to get through!

I wish they had released If You Wanna Have Some Fun as a single as well. With a nice single edit and a club video, it would have slapped!! Maybe they could have played the Mel C/Bunton game and release a whole differnt mix, more club-dance type of remix.

Im glad Forever is getting some much needed love for it, finally. It's always a thing that people learn to like things with time that didnt seem right when they first came out. But I feared Forever was meant to always be sidelined. Whilst it still is (doubt they will do much with it on tour, for instance), at least it is getting more recognition now!

Posted by: spiceboy 6th November 2020, 09:23 PM

I agree with everything except about time goes by. I adore that song it's so beautiful LLLTW is the strongest ballad though.

IYWHSF would have been ace as a shorted radio edit, the song is fab but it drags out FAR too long, Emma killing us all asking if we're having fun (Nooo I stopped having fun half an hour ago when you asked for the 20th time)

Posted by: Mr.X 6th November 2020, 09:32 PM

This Bunton shade is unwelcome but true

Posted by: Sideout 7th November 2020, 08:33 PM

The official radio edit of IYWHSF is much better than the album version.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4FOc1OOYFH8

Posted by: dancinqueen 7th November 2020, 08:54 PM

Is Emma asking if I’m having fun? Not sure about it 😈😛

Posted by: Sideout 7th November 2020, 08:56 PM

She only asks once in the radio edit haha

Posted by: dancinqueen 7th November 2020, 08:58 PM

That’s why! So disappointing. I need Emma to ask 1 billion times as in the album version 😂

Posted by: sammy01 7th November 2020, 09:13 PM

A clip from this would be good to push the vinyl on social media

Posted by: Sideout 7th November 2020, 09:30 PM

It would be awesome if they acknowledged some of the album tracks from Forever.

Posted by: sammy01 7th November 2020, 09:53 PM

IYWHSF seems universally loved they would be wise to use it somehow.

Posted by: dancinqueen 8th November 2020, 09:08 AM

Only if it’s the Emma Edit

Are you having fun!?????

Posted by: McAndrew 8th November 2020, 09:20 AM

I still desperately want a better remix of IYWHSF. I'm gagging for a bit more tempo on this track. It's just a little lethargic for me. Needs to be easier to dance to. I can imagine it could really go off.

It also needs to be shorter too, of course.

Posted by: Piers 8th November 2020, 05:53 PM

Is the version of IYWHSF that's in the video the same as the radio edit that was sent to stations? Cause. If it is. That effort's a major fail.

At a point, it just lurches to the end of the song like the album skipped. Beyond sloppy. Unacceptable. It wouldn't have been especially hard to put together a seamless shorter edit. I don't work in music, and I could do it in probably three minutes. You'd think people in charge of a multi-million dollar project could do the same? And to think this video was sent to MTV.

The video irks me too, really. Between Wembley, the Christmas shows, the tour doc, and behind-the-scenes of Holler/LLLTW...there was MORE than enough video of the four-piece Spices to cover a four minute clip. But...instead...half the thing is some weird recutting of history where we pretend extremely famous moments didn't have Geri? It's completely distracting.

Anyway. On the upside...20 years later, the actual song's still fab.

Posted by: Piers 8th November 2020, 06:14 PM

One more thought on Forever. I know the general consensus about the album has been..."Holler was the only potential #1 out of the new material." But I've never really thought that.

Holler sold below their previous singles...but it also did so with relatively little support from the group...and it arrived in an especially busy era of Spice material.

If the Spices had truly decided to hit the brakes on their solo stuff by fall 2000 (no Mel B album, no Mel C tour) and truly throw their support behind Forever, I think they could have racked up a few more #1s in at least Tell Me Why and If You Wanna Have Some Fun.

Victoria managed huge sales with Out of Your Mind...a song that's far less commercial than nearly anything on Forever. But. It had the right video...and a strong push from Victoria.

Plus, I figure Tell Me Why would have had the added built-in controversy of people speculating..."is it...or is it not about Geri?"

Posted by: vibe 8th November 2020, 06:47 PM

Out Of Your mind was totally commercial at that time.

I’m not sure any further release from Holler would have topped the charts.

However Tell Me Why would have been my next single choice.

Posted by: schizo_spice 8th November 2020, 06:49 PM

I'm very happy Tell Me Why wasn't released.

Posted by: sammy01 8th November 2020, 06:54 PM

Tell me why was the obvious next single to me in Jan. It is on the digital version of the GH, it has remixes.

Posted by: Mr.X 8th November 2020, 07:03 PM

Agree on all fronts! That edit and video were so bad, you could tell whoever did it and/or whoever commissioned it, did not give two shits about it... I always thought that video was only a web site video, not an official one?!

They had TONS of footage from the Forever era that they could have used more on the video. It looked like a fan with no editing skills made it on iMovie...

Posted by: Mr.X 8th November 2020, 07:09 PM

Also agree. If they had committed, the album would have done MUCH better. For a group that was constantly grifting and promoting, by the time they got to Forever (and still today), they never properly promote the group stuff. It's WILD TO ME!!

Like, stupid that both Mels were releasing and touring around at the time. Same with 2007 reunion - they kept pushing their solo shite, including Mel C releasing till the last minute to massive flop effect.

Same with 2019! They didnt do ANY interviews apart 2 days of promo for the announcement. NOTHING AT ALL near the tour. Why? Emma was pushing her bad album. Mel C was writing solo music at the same time and prepping for the Pride events.

Like, I am thankful, but they always treat the group stuff with as little care as possible, but always run solo projects over the group stuff, to be point of conflicting and damaging the group. It's boring...

Had the properly promote it, Holler and LLLTW could have done so much better in the UK and outside of the UK... instead, they barely did anything outside of the UK and even that was only for a week. Then they just abandoned the project. No wonder everyone else also moved on...

Tell Me Why and If You Wanna Have Some Fun could have easily gone #1 or even Top3 with proper promos. They have themselves to blame only..

Posted by: Piers 9th November 2020, 02:55 AM

I guess I don't have the full story on the IYWHSF video. I don't live in the UK. But I used to belong to some UK pop forums back then...and I remember people claiming the video got a little play on TV. I assumed Virgin commissioned it for a little extra album push. I'm fairly sure it showed up not long after the album release.

I actually don't remember whether it was on their old official site or not. I remember a few of that site's iterations...and there were certainly times it offered better content than other times. I remember watching the entire Earls Court concert song-by-song on their site in late 1999. By the time Forever rolled around, the redesign was pretty bare bones as I remember it. I just remember you being able to look at a few pictures from that era (all better than the actual album art)...and maybe the Holler and Let Leave Lead the Way videos?

Posted by: vibe 9th November 2020, 09:19 AM

The video was def played on UKTV.

Not for long and not in high rotation.

Posted by: Nina West 9th November 2020, 10:54 AM

Posted by: Chemistry 9th November 2020, 01:37 PM

I agree with your previous points, especially around Forever as they basically gave up straight after the album release, but promo in 2019 was definitely not needed. The did some promo (Jonathan Ross for example) when tickets were announced, but why would you do more work and promo when you know you'll sell anyway. It's not like they needed tickets to be sold, they were already selling like crazy. Ofcourse, as a fan, I would have loved to see more promo but it was not needed at all.

Posted by: sammy01 9th November 2020, 01:46 PM

I think for me as a group I'd just like to see a bit of effort sometimes. They only have 4 albums and one is finally getting released on vinyl in less than 2 weeks. Mel B hasnt posted anything about it or Victoria on their social media. The girls get sent a copy of the vinyl to keep but you know they won't bother to take a pic or a short video holding or opening it.

When Mel C did her Q&A things she had all sorts of merch and things, little video or pics of that stuff. Or just something like Mel C sipping a cuppa out of her little miss sporty spice mug sent to the official social media to post.

Just something, anything that isn't a throw back pic or some anniversary post on their social media. A video of Emma or Geri looking at a British award at their homes, just anything to show a little interaction from the actual girls.

Posted by: Mr.X 16th November 2020, 12:54 AM

Just a thought. It always bugged me a bit that Get Down With Me and Wasting My Time were placed back to back on Forever.

How about Wasting My Time moved to between Time Goes By and If You Wanna Have Some Fun! That seems a bit better to me, I just listened to that in that order and it flows well!

Posted by: Simon. 16th November 2020, 03:32 PM

Pre-ordered!

Posted by: Mr.X 16th November 2020, 03:46 PM

OK have been listening to it all day in this order and the album f***ING SLAPS EVEN HARDER THAN BEFORE

1. Holler
2. Tell Me Why
3. LLLTW
4. Right Back At Ya (pop)
5. Get Down With Me
6. Weekend Love
7. Time Goes By
8. Wasting My Time
9. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
10. Oxygen
11. Goodbye

Posted by: SouthernStar88 16th November 2020, 04:13 PM

I'm loving this album more than ever in the last few weeks

Posted by: Jay* 16th November 2020, 04:42 PM

Yay!


Ooh, I'll have to give it a listen that way!


I honestly think it's ageing very nicely!

Posted by: Mr.X 16th November 2020, 05:03 PM

It's BOP after BOP actually! Let us know what you think x

Posted by: sammy01 16th November 2020, 06:27 PM

I think changing the order is a good idea as it gets very mid tempo/ballad heavy at the end with only IYWHSF to break it up.

Posted by: Mr.X 16th November 2020, 07:19 PM

Agree! The middle is dance heavy and the end is ballad heavy. This way it breaks it up and the songs have more space to flourish, in my opinion. Try it!

Posted by: Mr.X 17th January 2021, 07:09 PM

Just seen this on Spice Circle and WHOA that apparently Time Goes By was planned for Christmas release?!

From Mel's own mouth (at around 1.47):



Also, great interviews and behind the scenes here! Wish they had done more interviews as a group though... it's odd that they did interviews in duos...

Posted by: Mr.X 17th January 2021, 07:16 PM

IMAGINE them releasing the worst, most disliked and boring song in the album

They had form, up until Headlines, in choosing the best songs for singles or at least the most clever singles (wink wink Mama) but Time Goes By would have absolutely done nothing and most probably do even worse than Headlines eventually did...

Not sure how truthful this is, probably more a case of Mel C suggesting it but I doubt it was actually ever considered a single as we know that the promo CDs that were sent out to radio in different parts of the world were the ones being considered.

Personally, if there was a ballad to be released after LLLTW, it should have been Oxygen at around Valentines Day and that would be it. I can see Weekend Love doing well as it is quite poppy and probably quite radio-friendly.

But Time Goes By?....

Posted by: vibe 17th January 2021, 07:27 PM

I can see why Melanie C likes TGB , its literally her solo number.

We all know that originally future singles were meant to be the promo release songs.

Posted by: sammy01 17th January 2021, 07:32 PM

I really love Time Goes By now, where as Right back at ya has aged like milk for me after loving it originally.

Posted by: Piers 17th January 2021, 07:41 PM

Yeah. I remember Mel C being really supportive of Time Goes By. Her opinions during the Forever era were a really odd thing, though. She was throwing her support behind a Time Goes By release...when she otherwise didn't want to have anything to do with the group. Meanwhile, it wasn't long before she was publicly stating that she didn't like If You Wanna Have Some Fun. After Goodbye and Holler, IYWHSF is easily my next favorite of the album. Meanwhile, Time Goes By is the only album track they did that I don't like (didn't like it on release...and it's never grown on me after 20 years). Furthermore, I actually think it's the least flattering Mel C's ever sounded on one of the group's album tracks. Her verses are fine. But her ad-libs over the chorus (a-uh-aaand I knoooow!)...just strike me as trying too hard. Not my taste.

But. Keeping in mind, in that era, Mel was also sacrificing time that could have been spent promoting Holler/Forever...promoting If That Were Me instead. And that, IMO, was easily the weakest track of Northern Star. So. Yeah. She had some interesting opinions.

Posted by: Lukuzz 17th January 2021, 07:51 PM

Totally agree with this. I didn't like Time Goes By at all 20 years ago but now I think its beautiful. And RBAY has aged badly!

Posted by: Mr.X 17th January 2021, 07:58 PM

She said she didnt like IYWHSF?! I dont remember that at all.

Yes, she sounds awful and insincere in Time Goes By, probably the worst she ever sounded in my opinion. But yes, we are talking about Mel C here, a popstar who repeatedly chose some of her worst songs as singles from her own albums...

I do wonder if this was ever even in consideration at all, it just seems like such an odd comment from her to make...

Posted by: Piers 17th January 2021, 10:22 PM

I'd be really curious to know the behind-the-scenes discussions about the future of Forever. Obviously, Emma was really vocal about liking IYWHSF. Mel B even claimed at the time that Weekend Love was her favorite off the album. I remember the old Worldpop site had an article in 2001 claiming Victoria was pushing for a release of Oxygen (though...there was so much fake stuff floating around at that time, I'm not sure of the validity of this one). But ultimately, I think the only time any of them explicitly suggested a further Forever single was Mel C with Time Goes By. To her credit, she didn't back off of it. She continued to compliment the song years later during her Reason promo.

Anyway. I guess someone within Virgin had to have had the conversation about Tell Me Why being next...since remixes were created (and fairly strong remixes, at that). What's kinda interesting in retrospect is that what should have been an obvious tabloid talker in 2000 was just about completely missed; Is Tell Me Why about Geri? Instead, all the focus was on the Westlife chart battle and Mel C throwing daggers at half the names in pop.

I remember the really popular rumor that Tell Me Why was getting an animated video because the group didn't want to be overexposed. Which. Being overexposed was the least of the group's worries at that moment. Of course, I'm not sure the animated video thing was ever really true, but I consider it plausible. It could have possibly been leaked out by Virgin PR as they tried to sell an album by a group who couldn't be bribed to be in the same room together at that point.

Posted by: Piers 17th January 2021, 10:34 PM

With Right Back At Ya, I still think it's worthy of being on the album. But...there are things that irrationally irk me about it. It probably bothers me more than it should...that Emma's ad-libs are copied and pasted from the first chorus to the second. I also don't like the vocal rearrangements of some of the verses...mainly Victoria's "...taste of what we all can achieve" and "...dreams into our reality". The fanbase had already been listening to the live RBAY for ten months at this point...and the album version has never sounded right to me.

I do think the chorus is the stuff of a classic pop gem, which is why I'd say it still belongs on the album...though I think the Darkchild team did a lazy job with it. The leaked pop version sounds incomparably better to my ears. I'd agree that version wouldn't fit naturally with the rest of Forever as it is. But if there was insistence on giving all the new material an American vibe, I actually think Jam n' Lewis would have done a much better job in updating the sound but letting the song keep its spirit.

Posted by: sammy01 17th January 2021, 11:06 PM

I'd assume Virgin were just trying to keep the Forever era going by considering an animated video for Tell me why. Seems highly plausible but they probably decided to cut their loses. I mean they made and sent the IYWHSF clips video to music channels.

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd January 2021, 01:48 PM

So I was going through discogs and found a couple interesting things... One is that in early 2001, Virgin was still somehow putting some fillers out for the Spice Girls, including this official promo focused on their R'n'B sound:

https://www.discogs.com/Spice-Girls-Best-Of-Spice-Girls/release/6903086

It indicates that the group was indeed going to be releasing If You Wanna Have Some Fun as the next single, contrary to the understanding that Tell Me Why was the second single... This is a Japan-only promo but at the same time, it indicates that in early 2001, they were still not officially done. Or maybe it was just Virgin's way of promoting the album that the group itself had left to die...

Obviously we know that either Tell Me Why and If You Wanna Have Some Fun were goint to be the next singles, just curious in what order that would have gone. Whilst Tell Me Why had some (AMAZING, problably their best ever) remixes commissioned, IYWHSF had a promo video as well and this type of promo too...

Also cute that pre-album release, the Forever sampler promos included Wasting My Time

https://www.discogs.com/Spice-Girls-Forever-/release/4625545

It probably means nothing but it is interesting that at least the label wasnt done with the album in pre-2001... Wish the girls had the same attitude lol

Posted by: sammy01 23rd January 2021, 02:12 PM

I'm sure Virgin were in constant contact with the girls in early 2001 hoping they would think a couple of months away from it they are missing it and Forever could start up again.

Posted by: spiceboy 23rd January 2021, 03:00 PM

Considering that the girls sold nearly 300,000 off the back of one single alone, I’m sure Virgin wanted to continue promoting the album and hoped the girls would get on board. The album of course was a flop by the girls standards but to practically go platinum (I know it got the status but not sales wise) off one single release is fairly good by anyone’s standards. If they had continued promoting it properly for a year it could have ended up with very healthy sales possibly double platinum.

Posted by: Mr.X 25th January 2021, 11:33 AM

This just came up on my suggested videos on YouTube and I dont think I have seen these before.

I LOVE IT probably the funniest segments of that era - GOSH we could have had it all but *you* turned your back

They are all hilarious but Emma saying 'Cindy Crowford is a lovely model with moles on her face' is HILARIOUSLY bad lol and Victoria 'I am erm... wind ' LOL

Posted by: Dill Doe 23rd February 2021, 07:45 PM

Impossible. The album was terrible and there was nothing else to release from it. They would have had to skip to the next album.

Posted by: Jay❄ 23rd February 2021, 08:30 PM

I thought you liked '(If You Wanna) Have Some Fun (Track Me Down & Get My Number... You Could Be the One) [Wink Wink/Nudge Nudge]'

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd February 2021, 08:34 PM

Sorry Jay, but the song is actually called '(If You Wanna) Have Some Fun (Track Me Down & Get My Number... You Could Be the One) [Wink Wink/Nudge Nudge] Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun'

Get it right, hun

Posted by: Dill Doe 23rd February 2021, 08:48 PM

No, it is as flat as a pancake!! Awful, awful sang!

Posted by: Jay❄ 23rd February 2021, 09:45 PM

Posted by: spiceboy 23rd February 2021, 09:47 PM

Puh-lease you forgot like half the "Are you having fun?" in that title

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd February 2021, 10:19 PM

You're right. It should be

'(If You Wanna) Have Some Fun (Track Me Down & Get My Number... You Could Be the One) [Wink Wink/Nudge Nudge] Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? Are You Having Fun? ARE YOU HAVING FUN?!'

Apologies.


Erm.... NOW ALSO WHO WAS SAYING THIS SONG IS BAD?! THAT FOREVER IS BAD?!?!?!? HELLO!!!=???[/color][/color]

Posted by: Dill Doe 23rd February 2021, 10:51 PM

It was I!

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd February 2021, 11:18 PM

Let's have it then



Explain yourself. Why do you come here to slander this incredible feat of creativity?

This incredible musical offer that radiates JOY and FUN and SEX An album so good, with EMMA f***ING BUNTON riding them vocals HIGH and even Victoria sounding decent

Why do you bring SHAME to this forum? This community?

Have you no mercy on us?!

Posted by: Dill Doe 23rd February 2021, 11:30 PM

What JOY? The album is utterly lifeless. It was written and produced, minus Hollier, the only good upbeat song alongside the only good ballads/ mid-tempos, Goodbye and LLLTW, in just TWO DAYS! There is no fun of this plodding, boring, bottom-drawer rnb trash. It has no singles except from the three above, one of which (if not all 3!!) was written by Geri before she left. It could easily be one of the worst girl band albums of all time.

Posted by: Mr.X 23rd February 2021, 11:54 PM

Oh where we go with the lack of taste and the conspiracy theories



Honey, this is a superb album. From the sassyness of Holler (get it right!) to the hard beats of Tell Me Why, the enchanting Let Love Lead The Way followed by the BOP CENTRAL CORE OF THE ALBUM, THE TRIPPLE THREAT of Right Back At Ya NO RIP - Get Down With Me (Groove With Me, the realest!) - Wasting My BOP Time poptastic Weekend Love with SMASH IN YOUR FACE MEL B'S RAP (skip Time Goes By) YOU GET YOUR ASS ON THE DANCEFLOOR AGAIN FOR If You Wanna Have Some Fun THEN GO GET A DRINK AND CHILL WITH YOUR HOT HOOK UP AND SING TO THEM ABOUT THEM BEING YOUR Oxygen AND THEN YOU CRY FLOODS OF TEARS WITH Goodbye

An album. A narrative. A lifestyle.

The end.

Posted by: Dill Doe 24th February 2021, 01:43 AM

And a giant turd that is the musical equivalent of a dried out saltine left out in the sun for a couple of days. Only two of those songs even have a melody. The rest are lifeless and plodding. Boooring! Thank you, Spices ... NEXT! Its main competition that year was Saints and Sinners, which is much better, and even that was just a 6/10.

Posted by: colinn 24th February 2021, 09:02 PM

Sure, it doesn't reach the heights of the first two, but it definitely has some great moments on it.

Wasting My Time has actually become one of my favourite Spice songs. Victoria sounds fantastic!

I actually think Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis would have been far better to the lead the album, and Dark Child produce a couple of tracks. The complete reverse of what actually happened. Oxygen & If You Wanna Have Some Fun definitely capture the Spice Girls sound (the latter could easily be on Spice) without re-treading old ground. Whereas with Dark Child, it sounded like he ran out of ideas and gave them rejects. The whole album merges into one (I feel as though Brandy's Moonlight suffers the same outcome). The Spice Girls were not known for that. They deserved better.

And I will say, Virgin Records have a lot of explaining to do. I'm not sure if it was the girls themselves who were unmanageable, but for them to let Mel B release a whole album one month before Forever and Melanie C release a single throughout the campaign was a disastrous. They should've dedicated September to at least the end of the year for Spice duties.

Posted by: Mr.X 24th February 2021, 09:17 PM

OMG MARRY ME Wasting My Time is Top10 Spice Girls

I kind of agree actually on the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis being the ideal team to lead on this album. The A&R department really messed up on that one. I have often wondered what the record would have sounded like had they produced it all. It did sound like they were the main ones who 'got' them.

Dont get me wrong, I LOVE the record. But yeah JJ & TL kind of really developed their sound in a more nuanced way and a sort of growing from the sounds the group already explored. Darkchild was the opposite, an almost total shift in sound.

For me though, they commit two faults in thier involvement. Both Oxygen and If You Wanna Have Some Fun are incredible songs that really showcase how awesome the group is.

However... Oxygen has that terrible water drop sound, which once you hear it, you can never not hear it again and it really can spoil it if you are not in the mood

And If You Wanna Have Some Fun, whilst a total sassy BOP, lasts about 1,40sec too long... Emma is of course, Flawless Spice, but we gotta admit that by the end of the track you're shouting YES IM HAVING FUN BUNTON WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! but whatever. You drink a G&T and you get over it and you STILL BOP!

Posted by: sammy01 24th February 2021, 09:45 PM

IYWHSF would have surely had a radio edit had it been released that chopped at minute off at least.

I pretty much love Forever bar 2 tracks. Right back at ya has aged like milk and I just can't listen to it now and Weekend Love is ruined by Mel B's rap. Time goes by gets a lot of hate but I think it's such a classy song and Get down with me is that little funky number.

Oxygen is a 6 but would be an 8 if that drip noise was removed.

Posted by: Mr.X 24th February 2021, 10:41 PM

Whatever. I'm putting my Forever vinyl on and I am bopping

Posted by: Sideout 25th February 2021, 12:36 AM

There is an official radio edit from the promo CD.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4FOc1OOYFH8

Posted by: vibe 25th February 2021, 08:07 AM

I love the Forever album but do agree there were no huge singles left after the first release.

Tell Me Why would have been a minor hit and kept the album selling.

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 10:49 AM

If You Wanna Have Some Fun would have been the next best hit. It probably would have done well (with proper promo!), and Tell Me Why would have been a minor hit, yes.

Weekend Love or Time Goes By (jesus) probably woudnt done well at all unfortunately,..

Posted by: Dill Doe 25th February 2021, 12:56 PM

All of those songs - every single last one - that you all mentioned have no melody and are lifeless. Oxygen is probably the worst song they have ever done. Smacking their lips and crooning some cheesy lyrics, whilst they leave a tap on in the background over a boring rnb beat, does not a good song make. They clearly put all their efforts into their solo albums, rushed Forever in a couple of days, and left the production to an rnb producer who had no idea what the Spice Girls sound was.

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 01:53 PM

Posted by: Jay❄ 25th February 2021, 02:04 PM

There's definitely melodies present throughout Forever, so I don't get that criticism. I actually think they threw in a few too many ad-libs on certain songs, which can start to feel a little overwhelming throughout the whole album listen. So I'd lean towards the songs being a little overcooked, not underdone. Sometimes less is more!

Michael I wish you'd stop asserting things that aren't factual. Forever wasn't a 2 day project. Writing and recording sessions were spread out from August 1999 to July 2000. Ironically it's Spiceworld that was their most rushed album, recorded haphazardly during filming for the movie, and yet that intensely quick recording resulted in a lightning in a bottle moment as one of the best pop albums ever... so... rushed albums isn't always a negative... but Forever wasn't rushed. If anything they spent too much time on it; we all know that ideally they should have had an album out in late 1999. But they focused on a change of direction and prolonged the recording and delayed the album.

Posted by: Dill Doe 25th February 2021, 02:24 PM

Those early sessions were for pop songs that they discarded, such as Woman, or for Holler/LLLTW. The others were all rushed. The level of quality of Hollier and LLLTW vs the rest of the album shows thay they needed more time with individual songs, and also to focus on POP/ ROCK. They would have had a decent pop album in 1999 ready to go. Obviously Geri was the main sound/ main writer behind the group, but they were all solid popstars.

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 02:43 PM

We all agree with the fact that they should have released an album in 1999. For me, that was their biggest set back for them, meaning it was 3 years since their last album by the time Forever came along. Too long specially with such a drastic change of sound and a line up missing one member.

BUT it is clear that the rest of the album wasnt rushed at all. Lots of cooking and producing went into it and as Jay says, perhaps at points it is a little too overcooked with the ad libs, the extra length of IYWHSF etc. I dont think the rest of the album seems underproduced at all.

You just dont like it, and that is fair, but I dont think you can call this album rushed at all lol

Posted by: Jay❄ 25th February 2021, 03:29 PM

August 1999 [Session 1] - (All songs were scrapped and have never leaked; one of the songs, WOMAN, was performed in December 1999)
August 1999 [Session 2] - Right Back at Ya (Recorded alongside other songs that were scrapped, but eventually leaked in 2015)
August 1999 [Session 3] - Holler, Let Love Lead the Way, Weekend Love
September 1999 - If You Wanna Have Some Fun, Oxygen
April 2000 - Tell Me Why, Get Down with Me, Time Goes By
July 2000 - Right Back at Ya (Reworked), Wasting My Time

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 04:21 PM

I do wonder if any other tracks from those sessions were ever recorded. Seems odd that only the songs we actually heard what was released plus 4 other demos and we know the titles of a couple more and that's it.

Seems off that the last 4 sessions only produced what we heard in the album and nothing more...

Posted by: Jay❄ 25th February 2021, 04:41 PM

I have wondered the same, it does seem odd! I don’t think we’ve ever had any information about whether those later sessions resulted in any other songs that went unused. In particular, booking more studio time in July just to work on one new song seems a bit wasteful.

We need an in depth interview with the producers solely about Forever!

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 05:11 PM

Yeah we do! They were so complimentary of the girls back then and since! Wish some other demos leaked from that era..

Posted by: Dill Doe 25th February 2021, 05:15 PM

They should have recorded the album earlier and not scrapped s single one from the August sessions. The awful Weekend love could be a filler track to finish off the album with 10 tracks. Everyone would have just skipped it.

Posted by: Among Haus 25th February 2021, 06:19 PM

Meekul

This album is a really nice listen - it's not as outlandishly POP as the others but they do the sultry R&B sound very well for the most part.

The worst thing about the era is the album artwork, now that is unforgiveable

Posted by: Jay❄ 25th February 2021, 06:33 PM

I guess you're not ordering it on vinyl any time soon?

Posted by: Sideout 25th February 2021, 07:41 PM

Spiceworld was recorded in 2 months (June & July 1997). It was released on November 3 1997. It only took 5 months to release the album after the first recording sessions.

The girls started to record Forever at the beginning of August 1999. So they probably could have had the album out in mid December 1999 to cash in on the Christmas sales.

Posted by: Mr.X 25th February 2021, 07:55 PM

Really wish that had been the case... It did look like it when the first few pictures came out in 1999 with them outside of the studios, but then........

I always thought that the Christmas Tour being planned for that time seemed like a good chance of it being to promote an album as well... But then I guess Melanie C was full on solo Spice by then so....

Posted by: tommie 25th February 2021, 11:15 PM

I mean, the biggest issue with Forever is that they sort of lost their individuality with producers like Darkchild since it sounded literally like they were told to produce them like Destiny's Child. I do think Forever has aged rather well, but when you look at it within the context of R&B records released in 2000 it does get lost in the shuffle.

Posted by: JaneJ 25th February 2021, 11:52 PM

So true. When you already got TLC and Destiny's Child, you don't need another copy cat. Their individuality is the whole key, it's what set them apart. Forever was quite bland to me, comparing to other albums in the market during that time.

Posted by: vibe 26th February 2021, 09:39 AM

^ Very good point Tommie

Posted by: Liam.k. 26th February 2021, 10:48 AM

This is exactly my issue with the album. In the mid-90s, you had britpop and R&B ruling the charts, then 'Wannabe' comes along and it's loud, slightly bratty and unashamedly pop. After that they had carved their own brand of pop and girl groups of all kinds started popping up. I get the need and desire to change things up, but why go from trailblazing to copying what everyone else were doing? If people wanted that sort of music, there were other groups they could turn to and they would do it much better.

I also agree with the other point raised in here that the album is very overegged with too many adlibs. Did they think they had to make up for being a vocalist down?

Posted by: Mr.X 26th February 2021, 11:09 AM

I agree with the sentiments that it was styled in a way that too closely resembled Destiny's Child and TLC for sure. But I dont agree with the lack of individuality from the members at all. They were all still very much their own characters, just in a different way.

There is plenty of the brash/in your face Spice attitude in the record, just in a differnt way. They still sing about girl power, friendship, being too good for some men and sex like they did before. Just that there are no 'Do It's or 'Wannabe's in the record and that is part of growth.

The main issues for me were the styling and the timing of the releases. I will mantain that had they kept the styling that we saw from around the Brits 2000 era, it would have been much more appealing as an era. In fact, they should have come out with Holler right there and then, before another couple of singles and a full album launch in the autum, in my opinion... Would have changed the game.

They had already performed Holler both at the Christmas shows and the Brits, so it was obviously going to be their first single. However, Mel C had to finish her touring or something like that

Posted by: Nina West 27th February 2021, 01:57 AM

Posted by: Nina West 27th February 2021, 02:17 AM

Posted by: Sideout 27th February 2021, 02:36 AM

I wonder if Image & Likeness and Seven Days are from this Recording session. They are the only registered unreleased songs in which we don't know what era they are from.

Image & Likeness only has the 5 girls as writers. Seven Days is written by the 5 girls along with Mark Taylor. Taylor's earliest writing credit is Cher's Believe, which was released in October 1998.

Posted by: Nina West 27th February 2021, 04:02 AM

'Image & Likeness' is listed from 97/98 & has all 5 girls as co-writers & it was probably from one the earliest recording sessions before Geri left & was probably scrapped before the proper sessions began.

'Seven Days' is dated from 1997 & has Sheppard Solomon & Mark Taylor as co-writers, but as for this, I'd guess its either a 'Spiceworld' outtake or like 'I&L', just a very early 3rd album session recording that got scrapped when Geri left.

Also there's another song from the 1999 Richard Stannard sessions called 'Overnight' which could have been recorded as well during that time, alongside 'W.O.M.A.N.', 'Treasure', 'Too Hot' & 'Go, Go, Go" & etc..

There's also another track listed from 1997 called 'Power of 5' which again could have been a 'Spiceworld' outtake or a very early third album outtake before Geri's departure.

Posted by: spiceboy 27th February 2021, 12:21 PM

Isn't Power of 5 from that Channel 5 advert? "1,2,3,4,5"

Posted by: Mr.X 27th February 2021, 12:26 PM

Yeah I think that's the Channel 5 advert song. Glad they never released it cos... well... it isn't that great is it

Posted by: Mr.X 27th February 2021, 12:29 PM

interesting about the schedules of the recording sessions. It seems like maybe a couple of tracks from 1998, 1999 and 2000 might be laying about that we never heard of before.

Remember that we never even KNEW about the A Day In Your Life, Pain Proof and Get What You Want until they were leaked! Who knows what more is out there?!... I seriously doubt that only those songs were around.

Maybe they recorded a couple more but never got to go past the demo stage. WHO KNOWS?! Yet again, we need a fan to sleep with Biff (mE! I will do it!) or Simon Fuller (not me, thanks) to get our mints on THE TRUTH!

Totally forgot about Image & Likeness and Seven Days! Always thought that those were from earlier sessions

Posted by: sammy01 27th February 2021, 12:49 PM

I'm sure there are so many songs sat in the vaults we don't even know exist.

Posted by: JaneJ 27th February 2021, 01:03 PM

They just really lost without Geri, the way they decided to change the direction along the way, it's not that easy. Darkchild pretty much killed the spice flavour and the spice girls there. Eliot was right his pop version was much better. Basically, they left their kid and teen fanbase and also failed to connect with the maturing one. The original concept was brilliant, had Geri stayed they would have gone with that idea, the thrid would have been another spice classic and a very nice build up to their solo careers. Sob.

Posted by: Mr.X 27th February 2021, 01:04 PM

Well, it is HIGH TIME someone open the bloody Spice Vaults and gift us all with some much needed unheard spice

Posted by: sammy01 27th February 2021, 01:11 PM

I don’t know but I've always assumed Victoria is probably the sticking point on that. I know Mel C says stuff like b sides are b sides for a reason but she isn't going to openly say we can't release anything without all 5 giving a yes and Victoria is a big no.

I just can't ever see Victoria agreeing to have those songs out there now as 'new' songs.

Posted by: Mr.X 27th February 2021, 01:19 PM

Oh that is a point I never considered actually... I seriously hope that is not the case otherwise... well...

Posted by: Dill Doe 27th February 2021, 03:26 PM

It would do as a pop album track!

Posted by: SpiceWorldItaly 27th February 2021, 03:53 PM

I think the Miami session from April 2000 have "depersonalized" Forever.
Tell Me Why, Get Down With Me and Time Goes By (the ones I like the least) objectively are not bad songs but they're not enough spicey...
In my opinion, with the remaining tracks and a few more from the remaining sessions (not W.O.M.A.N.) it could have been an album at the same level of the previous two
But we will never know so I enjoy it equally

I would have loved this tracklist:

Holler
Give You What You Want
Let Love Lead The Way
Right Back At Ya
A Day In Your Life
Wasting My Time
Weekend Love
Pain Proof
If You Wanna Have Some Fun
Oxygen
Goodbye

I'd be so curious to hear Treasure, Go, Go, Go and Too Hot

PS. photos from Forever Spice (I love that book) were taken during the recording sessions of August 2, 1999

Posted by: Nina West 27th February 2021, 04:07 PM

Posted by: Dill Doe 27th February 2021, 04:40 PM

The entire album needed to be scrapped. Nothing could have saved it as is.

Posted by: Mr.X 27th February 2021, 05:03 PM

Anyone not including Get Down With Me, Tell Me Why or Wasting My Time in their lists, whilst including the horrible 5ive-b-side tripe that is Give You What You Want is WRONG!!

Posted by: JaneJ 28th February 2021, 01:04 PM

It's not gonna be great as the previous two but the better tracklist would have made it a better album and given them better sales.

Here's mine,

01. Holler
02. Let Love Lead the Way
03. Right Back at Ya [pop version]
04. Wasting My Time
05. Give You What You Want (no one cares about 5ive outside the UK so it's fine, Mr.X )
05. A Day in Your Life
06. If You Wanna Have Some Fun
07. Pain Proof
08. Weekend Love
09. W.O.M.A.N.
10. Goodbye

W.O.M.A.N alone would have added a million more sale for them at the time, such a great and universal melody not to mention the girl empowering theme.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 01:22 PM

Give You What You Want is awful either in the UK or anywhere else. Glad it never got released ah

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 01:23 PM

It’s a throwback bop and it would have sounded fresh in 1999!

Posted by: JaneJ 28th February 2021, 01:31 PM

Posted by: SpiceWorldItaly 28th February 2021, 01:41 PM

Exactly!!!!!

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 01:59 PM

Naaaa.... It would have exactly what Forever did: label them as trying to copying someone else's sound (bloody 5ive's 'sound' lol) now that they 'didnt have Geri there' as if Geri's solo career really gave us any creative highlights to compare to lol

It is also terribly written. A lot of those lyrics are terrible, uncooked crap. I know it is a demo and thus it probably would have sound different if it was released but in its demo form, I can see why they chose not to release it.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 02:00 PM

Granted, of course I would have lapped it up back in 1999, but in hindsight, this is not one of the tracks I wish it had been released at all!

Posted by: JaneJ 28th February 2021, 02:43 PM

TLC and Destiny's Child were big international groups, If you listened to them you would know their sounds and they're far better than the girls on the RnB side. This is the same when I heard something quite similar to the Spice Girls sound, it's bland to me as well. 5ive was not international and their sound wasn't that bad considering it's teen pop music, it's catchy and the girls did it well or even better than them, plus it didn't overshadow the whole album like Darkchild did. About Geri, it's fine if you don't like her solo stuff, she's the weak link as a singer and performer but I love her stuff as a writer and ideas she brought to the group and I also liked some of her solos. They are not perfect on their own, they need each other.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 05:02 PM

Oh I agree that they are not perfect on their own. All of their solo careers and the quality of the music has shown that very clearly bar some examples - like NS, FM & LIM (bar the bonus tracks!).

Hence why they should just focus on the group for a while at least and bring their individual talents together!

In terms of the comparison to 5ive - they were HUGE across Europe too and specially in 1999, it would have been big scandal if the Spice Girls were seen to 'copy' their sound just like it was when everyone said they were copying TLC/DC.

And again, the content of GYWYW was just a bit too meh and the lyrics embarrassing!

ANYWAY LETS STREAM FOREVER AGAIN AND BE HAPPY!!!

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 05:29 PM

Also, I know Channel 5 was known for sex, but it is really weird when VB says, "seeeex?" and the others say, "Spice Girls!" They were neever known for using sex to sell, ever. That's part of what made then difderent ... until Headlines (Telling You All) (Friendship Never Ends).

And yes, W.O.M.A.N was a no.1 just waiting to happen! In 1999, that and Pain Proof would have both been pretty bog no.1s, probably aeound the 600k mark in total.

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 05:30 PM

Also, "it's a new generation" for just a fifth terrestrial tv channel Iconic!

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 05:41 PM

I honestly wouldn't have said that it was "Five's sound" to be copying, it was just where modern pop had shifted to by 1999.

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 05:45 PM

Victoria is not saying that lmao. She says "who said?".

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 06:31 PM

All I can hear is, "seeex?"! This is "and I won't energise" getting confused as, "and I won't tell ma dad" by the fanbase, all over again!

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 06:42 PM

That is a fresh take on that discourse hun, are you 100% sure you want to bring this up?! This debate often just creates a mess

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 06:44 PM

Absolutely! She was the creative force behind the band. Without her, they were lost, and it shows.

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 06:50 PM

This again!!!

The lyric IS, "and I won't energise". Look at her in the wind tunnel, refusing to beam up to the ship. It is a futuristic pyramid, after all, and there is a mothership spaceship out there above the pyramid. They enter for their trials of love/ fantasy games, but refuse to teleport away. This makes it only one of TWO songs to reference Star Trek to make the charts, and also just one of TWO Star-Trek referencing songs to hit no.1 as well. What other pop band could eeever get away with a Star Trek reference?? It also works to humanise their most otherworldly, mysterious character, the Posh, as she relates to Saturday night tv. It was a genius lyric if you look at it in the context of the futuristic video, the song, the person who sings it, plus the context of the time, which was all about technology and futurism at the turn of the 12th millennium.

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 07:05 PM

Only Victoria knows the truth about her mysterious lyric and she will never tell us what it is

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 07:06 PM

Because it's about Star Trek! Voyager was at the peak of its fame back then, but nowadays it is seen as less cool, especially after the Picard fiasco.

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 07:22 PM

I think Give you what you want sounds very dated now but that’s not a bad thing as such and if released as a follow up to Holler in 99 would have been a big hit, I would certainly have lapped it up. I am a fan of Forever it’s a good body of work but it’s my least favourite of the albums due to its lack of diversity, I would have preferred a mix of pop and RnB tracks personally. I wasn’t ready for the big shift in them at the time maybe if they had moved to it more slowly it would have helped.

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 07:26 PM

But in 1999, they could have just released W.O.M.A.N first and Pain Proof second instead! Give You (What You Want) (Love Thing) would have been fine as the third and last single from a pop third album. They then could have released a fourth rnb/pop one in 2000 with Hollier.

I think the covers and solos album showed that they knew they were a flssh in the pan, though, and that the original plan was to always split after the third album.

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 07:30 PM

I’ve no interest in WOMAN it sounded average at the Earl’s Court and the lyrics are naff. Pain proof on the other hand would have been perfect for a more grown up spicy sound mixed in with the likes of Get down with me and Holler. ❤️

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 08:00 PM

W.O.M.A.N needed a little refinement with its lyrics, but it is a big party bop up there with Spice Up Your Life! If Geri had still been with them, the lyrics would have been so, so much better, and it would have been a Spice classic. There would have been no g-strings in Geri's version.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 09:01 PM

No, it would have 'just like an apple cut down the middle' or some other incredibly cringe 'word play'.

The fact that fans consistently paint Geri as the one who could write lyrics or was 'the driving creative force' always makes me laugh. First of all, Geri has a knack for terrible lyrics. Her solo career proves that, through and through. Sound-wise, she was clearly trying to replicate the Spice Girls one in her first album.

Once she deviated from that, she was just naff and corny, as seen on her subsequent albums.

Forever is really well produced and written. The only 'iffy' song in there, lyrics wise, is Let Love Lead The Way where the lyrics are a bit too on the nose and not really well developed. Apart from that, the lyrics across the album are TOP NOTCH! Just because they dont have a 'zig-a-zig-ah' or similar, doesnt mean they are not well done.

Which for me is what the leaked demos are lacking mostly - good lyrics. Pain Proof was ok lyrically but still undercooked. Same with WOMAN and A Day in Your Life. Ultimately if they were to be released, they needed better lyrics.

Geri's solo output, lyrically, is at the level of the demos. The whole 'word play' you guys keep banging on about worked within the group because it was mixed with other talents/lyrical style'. Outside of the group? Not so good or clever at all.

And they were not 'lost' because of Geri leaving. They clearly were on a path to create great music and tehy did. They just did it differently without Geri, that's all.

Artists have to develop and try out new things. This is why, to me, it was so frustrating how they just left the album die. They should have committed to it and make it work. The legacy would have been even better!

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 09:03 PM

Well, I am so sorry for underminding Posh's talent. You are totally right, hun!

You should write this on Spice Circle. It will go down an absolute storm and maybe FINALLY the fandom can rest

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 09:34 PM

Omg I WILL!!

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 09:36 PM

It literally proves she was the driving force when her first two albums and Rid It literally sound like Spice records and have very similar lyrics... Meanwhile, Forever ended up as one of the worst albums in history without her.

Also, who is Geri WAP??? LOOOOOOVE the name!!!

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 09:39 PM

Now Geri is easily my least favourite Spice Girl however, I totally disagree with this. I think it's quite clear that Geri was heavily involved with the song writing if only because it has been said by the girls co-writers and producers that she often came up with lyrics and melodies... She is the only girl that this has been said about none of the others have ever been singled out for it. Of course it was a combination of flavours in the overall songs however it's pretty obvious from that alone that Geri played the biggest role in creating their songs.

I also disagree with the solo lyrics being all demo quality and cringe. Yes she has her moments, however there are plenty of lyrics that are very akin to the likes of Who do you think you are, 2 become 1, Viva forever, Do it, Saturday night divas etc.

I do agree they weren't lost when she left, they were lost as a group because none of them cared enough anymore... however that doesn't show through in the songs at all it was simply a change of style.

Posted by: Sideout 28th February 2021, 09:43 PM

People complaining about What You Want being crap because it "rips off" Five's sound, yet praise the songs on Forever that rips off TLC and Destiny's Child. I can't..............

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 10:07 PM

THIS!!! At least they were accomplished pop vocalists, too. They sound dull and dire on rnb tracks.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 10:16 PM

Please, this Halliwell revisionism is not it.

The only person who bangs on about Geri Halliwell is Geri Halliwell herself. Of course she was an integral part but you guys talk like she was the only one who ever wrote anything.

Both Mel C and Emma have often said how much they contributed to the song writing too. It's only Geri who centers herself in it every time. I don't doubt that she was heavily involved and often lead on it, but so what? So did the others.

Plus, we know that sometimes they would centre songs around particular girls. Their own producers have mentioned that, and the others girls have always been more modest about bragging about it. That's all I am saying!

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 10:19 PM

Geri Halliwell is the one woman equivalent of Lennon/McCartney!!! Now that's girl power

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 10:23 PM

And Give You What You Want is terrible. It will always be so.

Those Mel C's ad libs are terrible. 'pager number' I mean it was over from this line onwards!
The rhyming 'dear' with 'hear' is so lazy and the tone is all wrong.... that lyric 'but that dont mean it's a life time thing' sounds so awkward

They sound quite boring in it as well. It's probably my least favourite vocal from them, like ever. They sound a bit bored, which is sad cos it's such a fast track.

Burn it. Burn it in a trash can!

Posted by: Innuendo 28th February 2021, 10:28 PM

You ok X ? Give You Want You Want might have dated lyrics it surely was a great song and as much as I like Forever it definitely was the sound they should’ve comeback with x

Posted by: Innuendo 28th February 2021, 10:28 PM

Tea x

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 10:29 PM

Not true in interviews Biff has said how Geri was heavily involved and would often run in to the recording studio between takes with notes and lyrics that she had come up with. Then in the David Sinclair biography he writes about how when he interviewed the writers and producers they were all very vocal about Geri heavily contributing. Finally Paul and Andy said that they were given an ultimatum by the Spice Girls to either write with them for the 3rd album or to write with Geri and they decided to go with Geri because she was more creative so it was more exciting...

I am the last to play Geri's trumpet I'm not even massively keen on her, however I don't dispute she was a massive driving force for the girls and also likely the most involved creatively. I think the other girls getting more involved as time went on was one of the many factors that led to her leaving... the main part however was she wanted to do a Robbie and knew the first to leave would get all the attention.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 10:32 PM

Why is everyone PILING on me?!



Listen. I give Geri Halliwell all the flowers she deserves: as many as every other member of the group

Posted by: Innuendo 28th February 2021, 10:32 PM

Agree (Geri is one of my faves though)

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 10:33 PM

Ps I'm not saying the others weren't involved, they clearly were as evident by the fact that they have all continued to have writing credits in their own solo ventures, and also the RnB flavours on Spice certainly didn't come from Geri.

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 10:35 PM

Lol I actually find "pager number" to be an endearing lyric due to the fact that it seriously dates the song, that brief moment when pagers were considered as a cool/desirable item. Historic!

The song serves as a glimpse of where they were at during their transitionary period between the pure pop of Spiceworld and the R&B of Forever, that turn-of-the-century pop is so nostalgic and I enjoy it because of that. I just know I would have been obsessed with it had they actually released it in 1999!

I think it's a good song outside of the dated elements of it anyway, that chorus is so catchy and punchy!

#MrXPileUp

Posted by: Sideout 28th February 2021, 10:40 PM

At least all 4 girls were involved in the creation of What You Want. Mel C couldn't even be bothered on half of the Darkchild tracks. Mel B didn't show up to record Wasting My Time.

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 10:40 PM

THIS!!! The 3rd album was doomed with that ultimatum.

Posted by: Mr.X 28th February 2021, 10:51 PM

Typical of Gerita fans to make it all about her in the Forever thread Must touch a nerve or two

I give Geri all the credit she deserves, and maybe I was being butt hurt for her to derail all our childhood dreams and pissing off! I didnt know about those producer comments or maybe had forgotten. My memory of Geri is always her talking about it herself only in a manner that was like 'I wrote it all myself'.

But I shall concede! Sorry I was wrong

Forever is still a massive album full of BOPS and GREAT MUSIC and GORGEOUS VOCALS SO LETS STAN IT!

Posted by: Dill Doe 28th February 2021, 10:57 PM

It ... is the opposite of all that.

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 11:07 PM

Were pagers ever cool/desirable?

Posted by: Jay❄ 28th February 2021, 11:14 PM

For a hot second Remember Destiny's Child referenced it too!

Fun fact: I actually had a pager lol

Posted by: spiceboy 28th February 2021, 11:18 PM

So not a Gerita stan here Queen C on the other hand

Ps Totes agree about Forever, it's an album I've grown to love more as I've got older. I would have loved an album in 99 with a mixture of the flavours to bridge the gap to it though I didn't really appreciate it at the time bar a few tracks, I think mainly because the departure felt too big, plus the girls annoyed me with their lack of interest. Now I rate Holler and Get down with me as two of their best ever Spice tracks

Posted by: Mr.X 1st March 2021, 12:06 AM

I must admit that at first Get Down With Me didnt gell for me, but I've grown to really like it. It's groovy as hell, with some hard beats. Could have easily been a single too!

Actually, most songs in the album were taunted as potential follow ups to Holler/LLLTW...

Obviously we know the promos that were sent out to If You Wanna Have Some Fun, Weekend Love and Tell Me Why, but we also know that both Oxygen and Time Goes By were also mentioned at different points by some of the girls as potential follow up singles.

In all honestly, what would your ideal next single be?

I always liked the idea of them following up with If You Wanna Have Some Fun early 2001, bring the groove back for Spring

Posted by: Dill Doe 1st March 2021, 12:12 AM

Not one of those songs would have made top 40, let alone top 3... There were no singles left on that dumpster fire of an rnb dirge album. All the beats were plodding, boring, and tuneless. There was no saving it, and I am not surprised they chucked in the towel rather than flog some half-assed album they knew was no good. Geri was the Spice Girls, and she took their sound and lyrics with her when she went.

Posted by: Mr.X 1st March 2021, 12:26 AM

Honey... all that bad taste is going to give you a cramp!

Posted by: spiceboy 1st March 2021, 07:44 AM

Radio edit of if you wanna have some fun as second single and then get down with me as third. Flip between more poppier sound and rnb sound 😍

Posted by: Hide&Seek 3rd March 2021, 03:52 PM

There once was an album - Forever,
4 ladies made it together,
the change in direction,
made me lose my erection,
I play this CD...almost never.

Posted by: Liam.k. 3rd March 2021, 03:59 PM

That made me laugh out loud!

Posted by: Dill Doe 3rd March 2021, 04:24 PM

It is shocking that the Forever defenders think it even had ONE top 40 single left, let alone 2!!!

Posted by: schizo_spice 3rd March 2021, 04:52 PM

Tell Me Why not being a single was the best thing to not happen from the Forever era.

I believe some things are meant to be, that was one.

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd March 2021, 05:28 PM

Darling, clearly good things are not for everyone. About you loosing your mojo, well hun there's some blue pills that help with that (no shame!)

Forever is bop central and that's the tea

Posted by: vibe 3rd March 2021, 05:47 PM

Tell Me Why is a tune and should have been the next single!

Posted by: Mr.X 3rd March 2021, 06:03 PM

this is the right tea huns, listen up

Posted by: Dill Doe 3rd March 2021, 06:40 PM

100%! Imagine the press once it flopped massively everywhere! Westllshite would have attacked them relentlessly over a missed top 40 track, too. It was unheard of in those days, and no one else had gone from such success to such a huge flop era like that until Katy Perry or Furtado!

Posted by: tommie 3rd March 2021, 08:02 PM

LOL, they wouldn't have missed the top 40. At a stretch they might've ended up at #7 or something, which of course would've been seen as a disaster (though I do think their fanbase were probably still strong enough to carry them into the top five at least).

Posted by: Lukuzz 3rd March 2021, 08:05 PM

Correct!

Posted by: Dill Doe 3rd March 2021, 08:22 PM

The songs are atrocious!