Dear Poptastic Spicy Readers,
Great news! This year, we are getting at least three solo Spice
Girls singles! The first has already happened with Melanie C (aka Sporty
Spice). Her duet "Loving You" with Matt Cardle was released last month. Today, Melanie
B (aka Scary Spice) released her song "For Once In My Life." And next
month, Geri Halliwell (aka Ginger Spice) will release her single "Half Of Me." It’s a good time to be a Spice Girls fan!
Now, let's do some Spice Girls music history.
Spice Girls: Emma, Geri, Melanie B, Victoria and Melanie C
The Spice Girls are Emma Bunton (aka Baby Spice), Geri
Halliwell (aka Ginger Spice), Melanie B (aka Scary Spice), Melanie C
(aka Sporty Spice), and Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice).
The Spice Girls first single "Wannabe" was
released in the UK in the summer of 1996 and spent seven weeks at #1. "Say You'll Be There" followed
in the fall and stayed at #1 for two weeks. And "2 Become 1" was a #1 hit for three weeks in December. Their album "Spice" was also a #1
album. In 1997, they released the double A-side "Mama"/"Who DoYou Think You Are" as the last single from the debut album and it also spent three weeks at #1. And in 1997, they
released the first three singles in the USA, with "Wannabe" going to #1 for four weeks.
They also released some promotional singles to promote their
Pepsi endorsement. The songs were “Step To Me” and “Move Over.”
In the fall of 1997, "Spice Up Your Life" was the
first single from the second album "Spiceworld." Their movie
"Spiceworld: The Movie" and the sophomore album "Spiceworld"
both made a splash. Two more singles came with "Too Much" and
"Stop." And the group started their world tour in the spring of 1998.
"Stop" was the only single up to this point that didn't go to #1 in
the UK. It went to #2.
However, in May of 1998, Geri abruptly quit the group during
the European leg of their world tour. The Spice Girls continued on with just
the four members. The next single was supposed to be a double A-side
"Never Give Up On The Good Times"/"Viva Forever." However,
since Geri quit, "Good Times" was scrapped as a single and "VivaForever" was released as the video with computer animated Spice Girls fairies
was already complete. Another #1 UK hit.
While on tour in America in the summer of 1998, Melanie B took some time out to
record a solo track with Missy Elliott. The result was "I Want You Back" and it went to #1 in the UK. In the fall, Melanie C recorded a duet
with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams with the song "When You're Gone." It
went to #3 in the UK charts. And by December, the Spice Girls were back with a
third UK Christmas #1 song: "Goodbye."
The beginning of 1999 was all quiet. And then in May Geri
launched her solo career with the single "Look At Me." It went to #2
in the UK. Her album "Schizophonic" went to #4. Melanie B had got
married and briefly changed her name to Melanie G and she released a cover of the Cameo
song called "Word Up." It stalled in the UK at #14. Melanie C
released the first single called "Goin' Down" from her debut album
"Northern Star." Both single and album went to #4.
Geri released her second single "Mi Chico Latino"
and landed her first solo #1. But that fall, the record companies placed two Spice
Girls singles out on the same day. There was a chart battle (named Spice Wars) to see which song
would get to #1. The songs were Geri's "Lift Me Up" and Emma's cover
of "What I Am" with Tin Tin Out. Geri went to #1 and Emma went to #2.
Melanie C released a ballad called "Northern Star" and it went to #4.
That was it for 1999.
The year 2000 started off with a bang as the Spice Girls got
the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Brit Awards. Geri also performed her
fourth single "Bag It Up." Another #1 hit. Melanie C shot back with
her single with Lisa Lopes "Never Be The Same Again" and it was her
first #1 hit. That summer, Melanie C remixed her song "I Turn To You"
into a dancefloor anthem and that went to #1, too.
Victoria was up next with her collaboration with True Steppers
and Dane Bowers with a song called "Out Of Your Mind." The song was
heading for #1, but went to #2 after a posh chart battle with Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Melanie B released the song "Tell Me" and her album
"Hot." The single went to #4 and the album charted at #28 ... very
low for a Spice Girl.
But that year, the Spice Girls had been recording their
third album without Geri and it had more of a pop/RnB feel to it. The first
single was a double A-side "Holler"/"Let Love Lead The Way"
and it was yet, another #1. The album "Forever" went to #2 — their
first album not to hit the #1 spot. Melanie C released the last single from her
debut album. The song was "If That Were Me." It went to #18 in the
UK.
The next Spice Girls single was supposed to be "Tell Me Why." A song lyrically aimed at Geri for leaving the group. Remixes and
promos were sent out, but the group didn't have time to promote it due to
everyone wanting to concentrate on solo careers. Thus, no more singles from the
album "Forever."
Melanie B started off 2001 with her single "Feels So Good." It went to #5 in the charts. Emma released her song called
"What Took You So Long?" from her debut album "A Girl Like
Me." The song stayed #1 for two weeks — a first for a solo Spice. Her
album went to #4. Geri covered The Weather Girls song "It's Raining Men" for her next single and it also spent 2 weeks at #1 in the UK. Melanie B
released a ballad called "Lullaby" and it went to #13.
That summer, Geri released the title track of her second
album "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster." The album went to #5 and the
single went to #8. Emma followed with her single "Take My Breath Away" which went to #5.
Geri followed with the last single from her sophomore album with a ballad called "Calling." It went to #7. Emma released the last single from her debut with a remixed version of "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight." The single stalled at #20, making it the lowest Spice-related single at the time. Victoria would be the only Spice Girl to release a single in 2002. It was the last from her debut album and the single was "A Mind Of Its Own" and it went to #6.
Melanie C came back in 2003 with the lead single "Here It Comes Again" from her sophomore solo album "Reason." The
single went to #7 and the album #5. Emma followed with her lead single
"Free Me" from her second album with the same name. Just the opposite
of Melanie C, Emma's single went to #5 and the album #7. Melanie C's next single was the poppy "On The Horizon." It went to #14.
Melanie C also released the Japanese-only single
"Let's Love." Emma's next single was "Maybe" and it went to
#6 in the UK. Melanie C's next single was the double A-side "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh." The single stalled at #27. Victoria ended the year with a double A-side single
"Let Your Head Go"/"This Groove." It was released two days
before the end of the year so it charted in 2004 at #3. This would be the last
solo effort from Victoria, as her second album "Open Your Eyes" was never officially released.
Years later, it was leaked on the Internet and it was a brilliant album — a
real shame it was never released. Victoria is also the only Spice Girl never to
have a #1 solo single. But she does have her husband and four kids and a clothing
line to keep her busy.
Emma started 2004 with the third single "I'll Be There" and it charted at #7. Emma followed that up with the fun single "Crickets Sing For Anamaria" and it went to #15. Geri ended the year with a single called "Ride It" and it charted at #4.
Melanie C started off 2005 with
her single "Next Best Superstar" taken from her album "Beautiful
Intentions." Melanie C was now releasing music on her own record label.
The single went to #10 and the album #24. Geri released her second single
"Desire" and her third album "Passion." The single stalled
at #22 and the album at #41. This ended Geri's solo career as neither sold like
her previous material. Geri went on to write kids books and be a talent judge on reality shows. She also has a daughter.
That summer, Melanie B released a single called
"Today" and an album called "L.A. State Of Mind." The
single went to #41 and I don't think the album charted. That ended Melanie B's
solo career. She has been a talent judge in Australia and USA. She has two daughters and she even had a
reality show for a while. Melanie C released two more single in Europe, but not
in the UK: "Better Alone" and "First Day Of My Life." The
latter went to #1 in Germany and Switzerland. That was it for 2005.
In the fall of 2006, Emma participated in Strictly Come
Dancing. She also released a cover of Petula Clark's song "Downtown."
It went to #3 in the UK. Her third album "Life In Mono" came out in
December at it charted at #65. In February of 2007, Emma released the second
single — a ballad called "All I Need To Know." It charted at #60.
Thus, ending Emma's solo career.
The next month, Melanie C released two singles: "The Moment You Believe" for Europe (#15 in Germany and #14 in Switzerland) and
a cover of "I Want Candy" for the UK (#24). Both were from her album
"This Time." Two more singles from the album followed:
"Carolyna" (UK #49) and "This Time" (UK #94). Melanie C
released one more single in Canada in
2008 from her "This Time" album. The single was "Understand"
and it didn't chart.
The big news in the fall of 2007 is that the Spice Girls
were releasing a Greatest Hits with two new songs! And Geri was back with them.
Their new single "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" went to #11 in
the UK. It was the first Spice Girls single not to hit the Top 10, and the only
the second single not to hit #1. But it was seven years after their last hit. The Spice Girls went on another world tour. And it was Spice
mayhem all over again. Shows were sold out. They had 17 sold out shows in
London. It lasted three intense months. The second new song "Voodoo"
was intended to be the next single. But since the first single didn't make the
Top 10, it wasn't released.
All was quiet until Melanie C returned in 2011 with album called "The Sea" (UK #45). It featured the singles "Rock Me" (Germany #38), "Think About It" (UK #95), "Weak" and "Let There Be Love." In the spring of 2012, Melanie C collaborated with DJ Jodie Harsh and released a dance EP called "The Night" (UK #156), which featured the single "Set You Free" (UK #159).
The Spice Girls did reunite again for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London where they performed a medley of songs at the closing ceremony.
Later in the fall of 2012, Melanie C released an album of
musical theatre covers called "Stages." The first single was “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” The second single was the duet with Emma called "I Know Him So Well" (UK #153).
Also in 2012, a musical based on the Spice Girls songs opened in London. The musical is called "Viva Forever."
That leads us to 2013 ...
Melanie C's duet with Matt Cardle "Loving You" (UK #14) was released on iTunes last month. Melanie B's "For Once In My Life" is released today and it is FANTASTIC! And Geri Halliwell's "Half Of Me" out in October. Victoria says she is done with music. So, c'mon Emma!
Here is Melanie B's new video! Enjoy!~
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Go to iTunes and but Melanie B's new song today!
P.S. Go to iTunes and but Melanie B's new song today!
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