From worldpop:

MELANIE C WORLDPOP INTERVIEW

Where I Wannabe


With Melanie C clocking up more column inches than ever, worldpop set about
sorting the truth from the rumours. Melanie told us what's really going on
in Spiceworld, why she's released a charity single and who her money's on
for Christmas No 1 .

The single, the second album and breaking America

worldpop: Why are you giving the proceeds from your new single If That Were
Me to charity?
Melanie C: I always wanted the royalties to go to charity because the song
was inspired by homelessness. The lyrics are simple but very
self-explanatory. Myself and my friends give spare change to homeless people
but how's that going to help? We need to do something more constructive and
help people have more pride in themselves. The charity I'm giving the money
to, www.kandu-arts.com, is about getting people back on their feet, it's
about music and TV, so they've got something to live for as well as
somewhere to live.

worldpop: This is the last single from Northern Star. Are you working on the
second album?
Melanie C: Not yet. Things are always floating through my mind but I'm not
back in the studio until this time next year. I'm going to America in the
next few days to do some radio stuff because I'm No 1 in the dance chart
over there. I'm going to try and break America - Brits abroad once again!
Then I'll be back next year touring the UK again in February, then the rest
of the world, then back in the studio!

worldpop: Are you going to use the producers you used on the first album?
Melanie C: I'd like to work with some of the same people, well all of the
same people! I really love the album and I couldn't do any better, but there
are new people who are interested in me. The artists and producers I want to
work with are very diverse in their musical styles. That's the way I like to
write because it doesn't give you any boundaries. But I don't plan anything,
we just go in and do it.
 The truth about the Spice Girls

worldpop: Lots of people reckon the Spice Girls are splitting up.
Melanie C: I'm really bored of having to clear up all these stories. When we
released Wannabe everybody thought we were a one hit wonder and here we are
three albums and nine No 1s later. Yeah, we're all doing solo stuff but I
hope the MTV Awards showed that we're still together, we're still very much
a band. You're either built up by the press or you're getting battered by
them. It's very sad this country's like that but it's something you have to
accept. They'll continue to write it but the fans know the truth.

worldpop: You were quoted as saying the MTV performance could be the Spice
Girls' last.
Melanie C: That's not true. I don't know where that came from. You read
stuff that you've never actually said. It's just very tedious. There's not
going to be a tour next year, we haven't got time to fit it in. But that
doesn't rule out the possibility of a tour the year after. We don't know
what the next single's going to be. We've got to discuss that so you'll have
to wait and see!

Christmas plans

worldpop: Who's your bet for Christmas No 1?
Melanie C: I think it would be great if Eminem could get to No 1. Everyone's
talking about Stan, aren't they? It's a great track. I don't know whether
Spice Girls will be able to release a single in time for Christmas but I
think a fantastic No 1 would be Time Goes By from the Forever album.

worldpop: How are you spending Christmas?
Melanie C: I'm going home for Christmas as ever. I'm going to see my mum and
dad and my family and friends and then I'm going on a little bit of a
holiday. Time to relax after a hectic year.

worldpop: Where are you going?
Melanie C: I'm not going to tell you! The paparrazi are going to follow me
wherever I go but I'm trying to keep it secret for as long as I can!

Interview: Tammy Hoyle

Watch the interview