Reading the book as far as I have I would say Mel C is the most savvy these days of all the Spice Girls. I think she is the one most aware of how things come across, I wouldn't say it makes her false but just very good at playing the game these days.

 

Like if all were asked the same contriversial question, Geri would say what she thinks (which sadly these days is an upper class mentality behind it) even if it comes across badly. Emma would just avoid wishing not to offend anyone. Mel B would say something she thought clever but wasn't thought through. Where as Mel C's answer I feel would be the correct or 'right' answer even if that isn't exactly how she 100% feels but she knows how to play the game.

 

It is such a contrast to the early 2000's Mel C who would be blunt to the point of rude and very opinionated.

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Edited September 19, 20222 yr by Voodoo

Also I feel like she pretty much confirms Glastonbury in it, the main question is will Victoria be there or not. I guess Victoria must be on the fence and the other 4 are signed up.

I think Victoria would do Glastonbury.

Victoria would be a fool not to do it. Imagine if she didn't take part in the Olympics ceremony. It wouldn't have been the same.

After reading most of it now my review of it is -

 

The detail is great in a lot of parts and it is good to get some insight into things that have been very vague over the years.

 

I'm glad she admits This Time isn't great and was rushed and VOM was done on a very tight budget. You can tell on both records and it was obvious and welcome what the cash injection from SW19 did for Melanie C the album.

 

You can tell there are some issues we will never get the proper details about like the failed 2016 reunion. Though it was refreshing to see her say there was almost a reunion in 2014. I feel like I've said that many times and people are dubious but an arena tour was pretty much sorted until it broke down.

 

She could have easily cut out about 40 pages if she didn't go on a tangent for 3 pages at a time to then finish each time with 'but that is for later'. It was slightly confusing at times as the tangent would have very little to do with the actual story being told.

 

I'm surprised she was so brief about the sexual assualt before Istanbul, I expected that to be explored more when I had read it was part of the book.

 

Mel b features a lot, it is obvious she is closest with Mel B these days.

 

I would say I still think this book isn't the full truth on things and I think Mel C at 70 and way after any potential for Spice Girls reunions had gone would write a much more explosive book, which she still might. This very much didn't rock the boat like I feel a Mel C autobiography might do, imagine had she released one in 2002!

Audio is what is is, but what a great interview

I cried a bit too

Never seen Melanie like that

 

Melanie will be appearing on the Late Late Show in Ireland next friday night to promote the book, ahead of the book signing on Saturday morning in Dublin.

Officially announced:

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Im looking forward to seeing her on the show, i know she is on to promote the book but it would be great if she performs a song aswell.

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My book from smiths finally got delivered today.

Fair play to Mel she is putting in the work promo wise.

Goodness me that was such an great interview. I cried a little watching it I felt so sorry for her especially when she said she would say sorry to her younger self and then choked up. :cry:

 

It is really sad to know how unwell and unhappy she was for most of her commercial success, I feel so much more thankful that she got to be more present and happy within herself for other moments such as Olympics, 2019, Melanie C going top 10 etc, hopefully they help fill some of that pain she will doubtless always feel at knowing she didn't get to truly enjoy what in her own words were the best years of her life.

She is also scheduled to appear on Aussie TV this week:

 

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The interview aired today. It was filmed at her home.

 

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Edited September 23, 20222 yr by Voodoo

Some updates from

 

Amazon UK

 

88 in Books (Top 100 in Books)

1 in Business Biographies & Memoirs (Books)

1 in Popular Music

1 in Rock & Pop Musician Biographies

Following today's promo, the book gets a new peak in Amazon's main book chart:

 

 

:cheer:

The book has some little errors:

 

- “we shot the video for our second single, “Say You’ll Be There” in the Mojave Desert in September 1997” (although earlier in the book it correctly says the single was released on 14th October 1996)

- “I was possibly at my thinnest when we shot [spiceworld the Movie] in the Summer of 1998” (despite correctly saying on the previous page that the movie was released in December 1997)

 

I suppose unless the proof reader was a fan they’d maybe overlook wrong years, but that’s a bit sloppy. Melanie C herself can get them wrong; in that podcast interview from yesterday she said Wannabe was released in Summer 1997.

 

There’s a couple of of spelling errors at least (I recall one - “Banarama”) and towards the start of the book “Mum and Dad” is written rather than “Mum and Den” (“Dad” didn’t make sense in context).

 

I wonder if in the audio book she said all the above without picking up on them being errors?

 

Not an error but a curiosity - she says as a child she wrote “Melanie C Superstar” on school books for years. Had she really already thought of going by Melanie C as her stage name many years before it was a necessity because of Mel B? :thinking: I mean I’ll take her word for it!

 

~~~

 

I’m still not close to finishing, I’m only starting chapter 12 now. I’m actually a little surprised by just how Spice Girls heavy the book is. I wasn’t necessarily expecting to be past the half way point and for the book to still only have got as far as events in 1998. I’m happy to read all her Spice Girls stories though. I feel like she’s shared details that I don’t recall the previous three girls talking about in their autobiographies. Particularly regarding the process of recording the albums. Though it has been years since I’ve read them so I could be misremembering.

 

One part of this book did make me a bit :thinking: and that was when she recounted the Brits 96 incident, but only from her perspective of being too drunk to really remember it clearly & therefore she was kind of vague. I would have liked some context explaining just why Geri, Mel B & Simon were so furious, rather than Melanie sharing her bewilderment over it years later. Surely she could have asked Geri, Mel B or Victoria about their memories of this event to help provide this story with some more context. It doesn’t seem like her saying “f off” at Victoria was the sole reason. I feel like Melanie held back from giving the full story, which is kind of a shame when she’s clear that this was a pivotal moment. I mean, was she really disorderly at the Brits, did she say anything worse? It seems overblown for her to have received the threat of being kicked out of the band just for saying “f*** off”. Was there a problem with it being specifically aimed at Victoria, if so, why? The funny thing is that we actually have video footage of Emma saying “f*** off” to Mel B on the set of the Impulse commercial shoot, I assume there was no repercussions for that!

Audio is what is is, but what a great interview

I cried a bit too

Never seen Melanie like that

 

I listened to this yesterday. For the most part I enjoyed it because Melanie always gives really articulate answers, I could listen to her speak for hours honestly. However I do feel that this podcast maybe dwelled just a bit too much on “the bad bits”, like the line of questioning kind of pushed and pushed for her to get emotional.

 

I know this autobiography goes into her mental health issues and in turn that invites interviewers to ask her more about it, but I’m a little worried about it taking its toll? It must be draining. She ends up crying in this interview, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all, it’s more than understandable, but it seems like going over her past traumas isn’t so healthy. I hope it doesn’t get too much for her. I think sharing her story in her book is one thing, but having to go over and over it in interviews - and these interviewers are not therapists… I don’t know… it made me a little uncomfortable. Maybe it’s my overreaction. I just hope it’s not too distressing for her.

I have only read two chapters. I have found the first two chapters ok but how she is describing her life as poor / unfortunate when that is how i believe most people found life growing up.

I am not surprised there are errors but disappointing as she is perfectionist in many ways.

 

Did she write the book herself i cant see any information on a ghostwriter or a partner?

I have only read two chapters. I have found the first two chapters ok but how she is describing her life as poor / unfortunate when that is how i believe most people found life growing up.

I am not surprised there are errors but disappointing as she is perfectionist in many ways.

 

Did she write the book herself i cant see any information on a ghostwriter or a partner?

 

It feels very self written as sometimes it feels as if she is rambling on a bit about something not related at all that I assume would be cut or shortened if ghost written.

 

The childhood stuff is defo the least interesting, it can basically be summed up as 'I was a determined child who wasn't well off'.

 

I listened to the audiobook and I'm glad I did. I found it all really absorbing, thanks to Melanie's narration. She's very warm and sincere (and funny!).

 

She has been brave to discuss all the hardships and I appreciate that.

 

I loved hearing about her solo career, her approach to creating each album, dealing with limitations of self publishing and negotiating with affiliates. She's so clued up on it all.

 

I'd say the editor has let her down in a few places. I'm sure Melanie knows the facts, but there are human errors, which an editor should catch.