They started recording Spiceworld in the beginning of June and the album was released 5 months later in November. Which means Forever could have came out in January 2000 since recording sessions started in the beginning of August 1999. More then likely they could have made a mid December 1999 release date just in time to get those Christmas sales.

 

This was probably the original plan, with a view to go for a break in 2000 (there were even stadiums booked in 2000 but nothing ever materialised right?).

 

Shame. Holler would have smashed in 1999, and the album would have sold much better :huh:

The girls definitely took a break at probably the most inconvenient time in pop. I don't know if it was the same way everywhere in the world...but in the US, 1999 just felt like a major shift in pop music. Maybe the most dramatic shift in pop music all at once that I've seen. Britney, BSB, and NSYNC ascended to a whole other level of fame here...and they got a bigger media push in the US than I remember the Spices ever getting. Those three acts dominated...but a ton of similar acts also suddenly emerged. The Max Martin sound (or something that sounded a lot like it) was everywhere. While it would have been nice to get Forever in November of 1999, I do wonder if the girls even being absent for the first half of the year would have made it impossible for them to catch up. I remember thinking the Spices and Hanson (who'd dominated 1997...and whose popularity had carried through 1998) seemed like practically ancient history by mid-1999.

People blame Geri completely for the group's downfall but it was the pregnancies that did the most damage.

 

If not for the pregnancies Mel C wouldn't have went solo so soon and there would've been no break after Goodbye.

 

1999 could've been an active year for the group and Geri.

 

It is what is of course and I'm glad Northern Star exists.

MAKD EAAAY

 

MAKE WAAAAY

 

MAKE WAY

 

I am coming with the Spice Girls 98-2001 SOLUTION - exclusive to here SOON!

 

Also lol flop @ Forever

MAKD EAAAY

 

MAKE WAAAAY

 

MAKE WAY

 

I am coming with the Spice Girls 98-2001 SOLUTION - exclusive to here SOON!

 

Also lol flop @ Forever

 

oh great... I cant wait :rolleyes:

People blame Geri completely for the group's downfall but it was the pregnancies that did the most damage.

 

I think I understand what you are trying to explain, but surely you could have phrased that better. While I'm sure the SGs don't lurk on here, I'm sure MB and VB wouldn't appreciate the context of that phrasing. The responsibilities of parenthood supersede those of a career.

 

I think I understand what you are trying to explain, but surely you could have phrased that better. While I'm sure the SGs don't lurk on here, I'm sure MB and VB wouldn't appreciate the context of that phrasing. The responsibilities of parenthood supersede those of a career.

 

 

I don't think there was anything wrong with what Schizo said, and he is bang on the money. Both Emma and Melanie C wanted to continue with the group at the end of the tour but Victoria and Mel B needed time off for babies.

 

Ultimately in my opinion it was all their own solo egos that was the downfall of the band, they could have worked around everything else, that and their lack of motivation towards the group any more.

I don't think there was anything wrong with what Schizo said, ... that and their lack of motivation towards the group any more.

 

You did a great job at supporting my point: "Their lack of motivation towards the group" sounds much better than citing that the pregnancies did the most damage.

The girls definitely took a break at probably the most inconvenient time in pop. I don't know if it was the same way everywhere in the world...but in the US, 1999 just felt like a major shift in pop music. Maybe the most dramatic shift in pop music all at once that I've seen. Britney, BSB, and NSYNC ascended to a whole other level of fame here...and they got a bigger media push in the US than I remember the Spices ever getting. Those three acts dominated...but a ton of similar acts also suddenly emerged. The Max Martin sound (or something that sounded a lot like it) was everywhere. While it would have been nice to get Forever in November of 1999, I do wonder if the girls even being absent for the first half of the year would have made it impossible for them to catch up. I remember thinking the Spices and Hanson (who'd dominated 1997...and whose popularity had carried through 1998) seemed like practically ancient history by mid-1999.

I agree with everything you said here. 1999 was a huge shift in pop music. It would have been interesting to see how If You Wanna Have Some Fun or Woman as the lead single would have done in late 1999/early 2000. Holler would have been a great 3rd or 4th single to keep the album campaign fresh. Having Holler as the lead single was too much of a shift in sound in my opinion. They should have led with a more pop sounding song.

I agree with everything you said here. 1999 was a huge shift in pop music. It would have been interesting to see how If You Wanna Have Some Fun or Woman as the lead single would have done in late 1999/early 2000. Holler would have been a great 3rd or 4th single to keep the album campaign fresh. Having Holler as the lead single was too much of a shift in sound in my opinion. They should have led with a more pop sounding song.

 

Totally agree with you both.

 

They should have led with Right Back At Ya, then If You Wanna Have Some Fun, Let Love Lead The Way, Holler... A perfect single's run :heart:

Totally agree with you both.

 

They should have led with Right Back At Ya, then If You Wanna Have Some Fun, Let Love Lead The Way, Holler... A perfect single's run :heart:

 

Which version? :teresa:

If the album couldn't be mixed and mastered in time for a November/December 1999 release then they should have at least released the first single in November 1999. This would have built anticipation for the release of Forever in late February/early March 2000.

 

As of right now my single choices would have been

 

Go Go Go

If You Wanna Have Some Fun - lead album single

Holler

Treasure, Overnight or Oxygen - whichever is the best ballad. Let Love Lead The Way and A Day In Your Life are not single worthy to me.

You did a great job at supporting my point: "Their lack of motivation towards the group" sounds much better than citing that the pregnancies did the most damage.

 

What’s the big deal? It’s the truth. Not my fault if you are so easily offended by the truth.

 

I’m sure they are today very glad it happened the way it happened as they love Phoenix and Brooklyn obviously but at the time it put a hault to their momentum and changed the course of their path as a group. It did indeed cause the most damage.

What’s the big deal? It’s the truth. Not my fault if you are so easily offended by the truth.

 

Don't get it twisted, boo: I never denied it had an impact on the group. You clearly disregarded my acknowledgement of the balancing act of responsibilities of parenthood vs being in a pop group. It's the way you described it that could have been phrased in a more sensitive way.

 

The pregnancies certainly had an impact on the trajectory of the group! One which I feel was a factor in things winding down at a time when they arguably shouldn't have (from the perspective of the longevity and success of the Spice Girls)... but hey, that's history. :cool: In a way it is funny to think that Mel B and Victoria's life decisions were a factor in Melanie C thinking "ok... I'll use this time to record a solo album". The songs I Turn to You and Never Be the Same Again, #1 hits, may never have existed if Mel B and Victoria had resolutely put their careers first or simply didn't feel ready to become mothers at that stage in their lives. Fatalistic!

The songs I Turn to You and Never Be the Same Again, #1 hits

 

Would have traded all their solo catalogue, all of it, for one more Spice album -_-

Would have traded all their solo catalogue, all of it, for one more Spice album -_-

 

 

I wouldn't trade Northern Star album for anything.

I wouldn't trade Northern Star album for anything.

 

Really? Not even for a Spice 1999 album? Or another Spice album today?

 

Don't get me wrong... Northern Star is good, but it is not even close being worth throwing the whole group in the bin (like Mel C did). Not even Free Me or Life in Mono are worth that either.

Edited May 25, 20232 yr by Mr.X

People blame Geri completely for the group's downfall but it was the pregnancies that did the most damage.

 

If not for the pregnancies Mel C wouldn't have went solo so soon and there would've been no break after Goodbye.

 

1999 could've been an active year for the group and Geri.

 

It is what is of course and I'm glad Northern Star exists.

 

I don't agree with this, sorry. The pregnancies meant they cut the tour short (a pattern in the Spice Girls) from going to Asia and South America as there were plans to do that. But thats life. The pregnancies were done by 1999, and the group had plans to release an album later that year, after the pregnancies, as was the original plan of recording that summer and release in the winter, coinciding with the Christmas tour.

 

What brought the group's downfall ultimately was a culmination of Simon being sacked, Geri leaving and Mel C refusing to release another group album in 1999 to focus on her shitty solo career, whilst the other girls also looked into doing solo albums since the group was relegated to second (final) place.

 

That's what killed the group, their egos.

Edited May 25, 20232 yr by Mr.X

Northern Star is good, but it is not even close being worth throwing the whole group in the bin (like Mel C did).

Melanie did not "throw the whole group in the bin". Victoria & Mel G (as she was known at the time) went to have their babies, so she made one of her own (in the form of Northern Star). Did you expect her to sit an entire year at home and do nothing? The best treatment to depression is to keep being busy. And that's exactly what she did.

 

Also, let's not forget that Mel G was keen to kickstart her own solo career. She released Word Up in the first half on 1999. If it hadn't flopped, I'm sure she would have released Hot much sooner.

Edited May 25, 20232 yr by Voodoo