Mr.X

for any Brazilian fans: if you buy it from this shop it comes with a free FOREVER totebag... I'm actually jealous, I love totebags and would totally get this if it shipped internationally! FanatikSPICE GIRLS: Forever LP Red & Black Marble (25th Annivers...PRODUTO EM PRÉ-VENDA: Prazo de entrega no Brasil: até 60 dias úteis corridos após o lançamento oficial do produto Lançamento: 07/11/2025 Origem: Inglaterra E...

OK girls we're getting into the solo trenches here 🥲 The third solo albums were at the point that everyone - bar Mel C - who hadn't given up yet, moved on from their solo careers at least for over a decade... It is also from here onwards that the group started to talk again properly and came around to the idea of a reunion! The failures of their solo ventures really brings the group together, everytime without fail 😋 Anyway, after the flop of Scream If You Wanna Go Faster, Gerita Halliwell was dragged back into the studio to finish her recording contract and release a final album with Virgin/EMI. At first, she wanted to create this 'disco diva' type of sound that she believed would bring her back to the top. However, after the first single Ride It failed to go #1 (a constant sour point for Geri!) and her Geri Live tour being cancelled for lack of ticket sales, the record lable sent her back to the studio and demanded a more 'Geri Halliwell' type of record. The result was a mess, and Desire sadly was the first single from her to totally miss the Top10, stalling at #22, and made no noise whatsoever. It did however tap into a sound that was quite popular at the time by the likes of Goldfrapp and Rachel Stevens. On the other hand, Mel C was head on with the first campaign as an Independent Artist, having set up her own record lable after being dropped from Virgin. While the first single from her third album, Next Best Superstar got to #10, the album stalled outside of the Top20 and she cut her costs with her second single, Better Alone, which as an angry ballad, by only releasing it on her website (thus not counting towards the charts) after radio support fell through... It is a Mel C-favourite though as she re-released it and even recorded a new video for it its German release (only for it to flop completely again!). Finally, Emma was riding high initially on the back of an initially successfull campaign with Downtown getting to #3 and she seemingly being everywhere. However, the album stalled at #60 (at the time, the lowest of all Spice-related chart positions!) and Emma was then enthrusted with the task of turning her album's fortunes around. All I Need To Know opens the album and it was seen as Emma's take on a more orchestral sound. Critically successful, it barely made a dent in the charts either, and Emma closed shop as a solo artist for the next 12years! What do we think girlies? Which single do we overall prefer? Geri Halliwell - Desire B-sides 1. True Love Never Dies | Listen Remixes: 1. Desire (Bimbo Jones Remix Vocal) | 6:30 | Released in Desire UK CD2 2. Desire (Bimbo Jones Remix Edit) | 3:23 | Released in Desire (Bimbo Jones Remix Edit) Digital Single 3. Desire (Shanghai Surprize Remix) | 7:10 | Released in Desire UK CD2 Melanie C - Better Alone Bsides 1. Warrior | B-side to Better Alone | Listen 2. Runaway | B-side to Better Alone & First Day of My Life | Listen Mixes: 1. Better Alone (Pop Mix Edit) | 3:24 | Released in Better Alone European Maxi CD, 2005 2. Better Alone (Pop Mix) | 3:54 | Released in Better Alone UK Maxi CD, 2005 3. Better Alone ('Amazing' Dub) | 7:44 | Released in Better Alone UK Maxi CD, 2005 Emma Bunton - All I Need To Know bside: 1. Midnights & Martinis | B-side to All I Need To Know | Listen Remixes: 1. Downtown (Element Remix) | 6:23 | Released in Downtown CD1, 2006

What I have been told is that there are licensing issues and it is 'hard' to get different producers to agree but I am sorry, this is their record label and management team JOB! Do your jobs!!! I genuinely think that Emma and Mel B look fond onto the album but the others couldnt care less (Geri because she wasnt involved, Victoria because she is no longer involved and Mel C because she hated that era and her own body issues of then), so they do nothing as they always need all the girls to approve of things. It's on them all... Now they have ignited the WOMAN and 'Christmas is around the corner' discourse, they will get even more mauled if they do nothing for Christmas outside of more merch...

For sure, but the fans don't forget it lol we would also do the same if it was the other way around. And no, Little Mix weren't more provocative than the Spice Girls. Just different times/styles lol

I'm sorry but even if she did, the comments she made were terrible even for its time. Little Mix were as sexual and as 'naked' as the Spice Girls were back in their day. It's awfully conservative of her to say that and quite frankly not very girl power. The Spice Girls catered to 10 year old girls as well and they literally performed as if they were naked in their concerts, sang about sex (2 Become 1, Holler, Wannabe), did 'provocative' photoshoots, etc... Have you seen The Face magazine where they were in their underwear, for instance? Yes, they also preached about girl power and empowerment, that 'girls should be able to wear what they like and express themselves however they like'. So did Little Mix! They were indeed crap comments she made, and she should own up to them!

They are indeed getting roasted online, not just on their own socials, but on other posts too... these threads are full of dissapointment from loads of people

I totally agree, and sadly this morning I have decided to cancel my purchase. I don't need a Forever tshirt and I will buy the vinyl at a later point when it is in discount... I also stated very clearly why I canceled: because it feels very disrespectful to the album and to the fans. Another thing that f***ing annoys me? NOT ONE OF THEM have even shared the news on thier socials. Similarly, with Spiceworld25 I think only Emma and Mel C shared it on their instagram stories... If they don't care, then we shouldnt either...

Yeah I just saw that too. I mean, it's sad but they are right... she was mean to a lot of pop girlies back then, not just about Little Mix but Christina and Girls Aloud too, for being 'sexy' and provocative. She never really addressed that, to my knowlege, so fans will not forget lol

I think it is fairly positive to assume they are not necessarily expecting a huge seller or even to make the Top200. They know this album would need a bit more work and editions and promo to get to that. They simply don't think it is worth spending their time and resources on, so they throw this out probably because they already have the design from the 2020 edition (looks the same!) and the licenses for those 4 pictures, so it's almost cost 0. But they get to at least say they put out 'something'... It's stupid really, because if they really cared and did a 2CD and a digital release with remixes they already have (like the Tell Me Why ones, the Lostboy one from 2019 of Holler), it would at least sell a bit better and I could see it doing ok even if it was from the fans who simply wanted to complete the set. Not doing that is the real damage here. They could still point towards a bigger thing 'for Christmas' and include WOMAN in that or whatever, for sure, as that will probably fair better. They deserve the lashings. I don't understand why they don't get one or two girls who are seemingly doing f*** all right now (Emma and Mel B) to currate the anniversary of an album that both of them seemingly love... That's what Girls Aloud are doing - Nicola is curating the anniversary releases. And would it really bother them so much to go out and do an interview or two about it?

This has been described as a possible very very early attempt at If You Wanna Have Some Fun as it samples 'A Night to Remember'

I did laugh at the description of 'we know you wanted bsides, demos,..... etc' it's like they were basically saying ' guys we know this is shit but trust us, we have better coming' LOL

They do hint at something special coming for Christmas, and the language used is very much a WOMAN reference too. To be honest, I will buy the vinyl and the tshirt (for once) as at least it is music related rather than years of pointless merch we got, and this feels well made at least. And now they have said about the Christmas expectations, I will wait for whatever might be coming next... A lack of a digital release of a 2CD to complete the set with the other two is a shame though, a trully sad situation for the fans.

Yes!! It will be a bit steep until we get some more though as the next one would be Mama and that is only at 46million ☹️ and Holler is finally almost at 30million at least, but it should be at well over 200million!!!

Since the vinyl is starting to hit online shops, I would imagine they will come out with an annoucement today or tomorrow... But at this point I am not even expecting a new digital release ☹️

(It does look gorgeous though!)

As far as we know, the Girls Aloud management team were very involved PLUS Nicola was also part of the curating team, picking tracks from the vaults and promoting.... It is dissapointing if this is all we are getting and I will eventually get it but wont rush to it

This is probably my ranking too! But I would also love to hear demos from the Darkchild and Jam/Lewish sessions, as well as the songs from the post tour 1998 sessions they did with Biff in Dublin... URGH!

Very different, and no, AI dont count

I think they mean the live version

I went with Emma for all three this time! Free Me is a stunning song both on record and live! And while It's Raining Men has a great overall package, I think the bsides and mixes of Free Me are just infinitely better imo... Bunton brought it all this time! The Mels really messed up their second albums, i'm sorry... Whilst Mel C's had some nice moments, I think Mel B really couldnt be arsed with it all lol

Alright girlies, it's time to decide which is our favourite singles from their second albums! These singles are all a bit of a mixed bag, both in terms of quality but also in what they represent in the girl's overall career. It's Raining Men was a huge hit, probably Geri's biggest ever, but ultimately it did very little to help the album (some might say it overshadowed it all together). Here It Comes Again was seen as a middle of the road comeback single overall, after an almost 4-year long wait since Northern Star album dropped and huge expectations from 'successful solo Spice' herself... She never really recovered from the reception to this and the album that followed, sadly... Neither did Geri, whose next singles were also seen as flops and their respective albums flopped compared with their previous. At the same time, Free Me seemed to bring a breath of fresh air and sound to Emma's career (and Solo Spice overall), which at that point seemed kind of over... whilst it opened the doors for her to be taken more seriously, it didn't particularly take over the charts either, but it did bring some much needed 'good critical reception' which was rare in Spiceworld. And then we have 'Today', the only single from Mel B's second album. Labelled as Melanie Brown (her THIRD 'stage name' change in a release at this point) and framed as a comeback with an album that she recorded 'in her kitchen', it was a very muted release overall and stalled at #41 on the charts. Mel B did one performance of it before declaring she 'was going back home to LA'. Let's not even talk about the faith of the album shall we? And yes, you will notice I did not include the iconic Let Your Head Go/This Groove as technically these was no second Victoria Beckham album, sadly (thought I think those might have won this competition alltogether lol) So what do we think HUNS? Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men Bsides: 1. I Was Made That Way | Listen 2. Brave New World | Listen Remixes: 1. It's Raining Men (Bold & Beautiful Glamour Mix Edit) | 4:47 | Released in It's Raining Men (The Mixes) UK CD2 2. It's Raining Men (Almighty Mix Edit) | 3:46 | Released in It's Raining Men (The Mixes) UK CD2 3. It's Raining Men (D-Bop's Tall & Blonde Mix Edit) | 6:55 | Released in It's Raining Men (The Mixes) UK CD2 Performance example: Melanie C - Here It Comes Again Bsides: 1. Like That | B-side to Here It Comes Again | Listen 2. Love To You | B-side to Here It Comes Again | Listen 3. Living Without You | B-side to Here It Comes Again | Listen Performance example: Emma Bunton - Free Me Bsides: 1. Tomorrow | Listen 2. Who The Hell Are You | Listen Remixes: 1. Free Me (Full Intention's Freed Up Mix) | 7:03' | Released in Free Me CD1, 2003 | Listen 2. Free Me (Full Intention's Sultra Mix) | 6:23' | Released in Free Me CD2, 2003 | Listen Performance example: Melanie Brown - Today Bsides: 1. Bad, Bad Girl | Listen 2. Music Of The Night (Perdido) | Listen Performance example:

Of course, but as you say Spiceworld25 sales that week was hindered by the CD delay! Yeah Forever would probably sell around what the Chemistry one did overall I would say. If it has a proper release and not just a vinyl, I am sure it will do ok numbers.

I just saw that the Girls Aloud anniversary editions got to: 2025: Chemistry No.71 (2,488 sales) Sound of the Underground (#42) What Will the Neighbours Say? (#35) This is considerably lower numbers than Spice25 and Spiceworld25 got to and YET they managed to do huge releases, properly with unreleased tracks, mixes, demos, etc. A shame that the same record label (and the girls) has decided that there isn't enough incentive for the Forever album to get the same type of treatment... URGH... I know we will be buying the Forever red-marble vinyl and we are yet to know what else (if anything at all) will be released, but damn it it hurts!

ahah that would be cute though and I would take it over nothing (but we will get nothing!)

My personal choices were: Song: Northern Star Video: Feels So Good Package: Mi Chico Latino (I HATE THIS BUT WHATEVER SHE DID A GOOD PACKAGE WHAT CAN I SAY!!?)