(Applause and cheering)
Bill: MELANIE "C" IS HERE. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
Melanie: NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
Bill: I HAVE A FEELING WHATEVER YOU SAY -- YOU CAN SNEEZE AND THEY'LL BE SCREAMING OUT THERE.
Melanie: IT'S FABULOUS. THANK YOU, CANADA!
Bill: EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD THIS HAPPENS.
Melanie: BUT THERE'S SOME PLACES, SPECIFIC PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CRAZY AND CANADA IS DEFINITELY UP THERE IN THE TOP THREE.
Bill: HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHY, WHY THIS PARTICULAR MARKET?
Melanie: BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL CRAZY. I'VE GOT FAMILY HERE.
Bill: WE KNOW THAT.
Melanie: I ALWAYS SAY THAT. HELLO, IAN. SEE YOU TOMORROW!
Bill: OCTOBER 26th, MARK THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR. THIS IS THE RELEASE OF THE NORTHERN STAR, THE DEBUT SOLO ALBUM. FIRST SEEDLINGS WERE PLANTED FOR THIS YEARS AND YEARS AWHILE. YOU WANTED TO DO THIS FOR AWHILE?
Melanie: YES, A LONG TIME. ALL THE SPICE GIRLS WANTED TO DO SOLO VENTURES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE EARLY DAYS BUT IT'S ONLY POSSIBLE NOW TO GO OFF AND DO IT. SO HERE IT IS. (Screaming)
Bill: THEY LIKE THAT. OCTOBER 26th. (Screaming)
Melanie: AND MELANIE, VICTORIA BECAME PREGNANT TOWARD THE END OF THE TOUR AND NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THEMSELVES AND I DECIDED THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY BABY.
Bill: THAT'S SWEET. THAT'S A GOOD WAY OF LOOK AT IT. YOU COULD HAVE GONE ON VACATION, TRAVELLED THE WORLD, HUNG OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS. INSTEAD YOU HEAD INTO A STUDIO TO WORK.
Melanie: MY JOB ISN'T LIKE A JOB, BUT IT WAS LIKE A HOLIDAY. I DID MOST OF IT IN L.A.
Bill: STUFF WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER BECAUSE MELANIE "G" CALLS YOU -- SHE'S GONE CALIFORNIA NOW.
Melanie: DO I SEEM CALIFORNIA? NO. I'VE GOT THE BOOBS! (Laughter)
Bill: WHICH MEANS IF YOU LIVE THERE, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO HAVE...
Melanie: THERE YOU GO.
Bill: IT'S A SILLY PART OF THAT CULTURE THEY HAVE DOWN THERE.
Melanie: UM-HMM.
Bill: YOU COMPARED THE SPICE GIRLS TO YOUR SOLO CAREER, ONE BEING A HOBBY, THE SPICE GIRLS...
Melanie: IT'S HARD TO CONCENTRATE WHEN THEY'RE SHOUTING OUTSIDE. HELLO, OUTSIDE. (Screaming) I LIKE THAT. ISN'T THAT A GOOD WAY TO AVOID A STICKY QUESTION? YEAH!
Bill: I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A RIOT BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING, WE'LL WALK TO THE WINDOW LATER AND YOU'LL SEE CRAZY STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE. THIS IS YOUR CAREER WHILE THE SPICE GIRLS IS A HOBBY.
Melanie: THIS WILL HAUNT ME THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT'S LIKE WHY DO YOU DO A HOBBY? BECAUSE YOU ENJOY IT. SPICE GIRLS HAS NEVER FELT LIKE A JOB. WE JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME. THAT'S POORLY WHAT I MEANT. I WASN'T DISRESPECTING THE SPICE GIRLS IN ANY WAY BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE SILLY BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE SPICE GIRLS AND WHY WOULD I DO THAT? WHEN YOU HAVE INTERVIEWS IN MAGAZINES, SOMETIMES THEY PUT THINGS SLIGHTLY OUT OF CONTEXT AND WANT IT TO READ THE WAY THEY WANT IT TO SOUND. SO IT WAS A BIT OF A WEIRD ONE.
Bill: IT WAS THE "Q" ARTICLE WHICH CAME OUT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE PHOTOS ON THE BEACH... WHAT BEACH WAS THAT?
Melanie: St. MARTIN.
Bill: YOU'RE ALWAYS WEARING TRACK PANTS AND TO SEE YOU IN A BATHING SUIT, IT'S LIKE HOLY COW!
Melanie: THANK YOU. I HAD A BODY DOUBLE.
Bill: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THESE PICTURES BUT WOW! ANYWAY, ONE THING PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE FIRST SINGLE BECAUSE IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU BEFORE. IS THAT MORE TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL TASTE AS OPPOSED TO THE POP SPICE GIRLS...
Melanie: HOPEFULLY IF PEOPLE GIVE THE ALBUM A LISTEN, THEY'LL SEE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS GOING ON. THAT'S ONE TYPE OF MUSIC I LISTEN TO, BUT I LIKE TO LISTEN TO ALL TYPES OF MUSIC. BUT I LIKE ROCK BANDS.
Bill: BUT IT'S NOT INDICATIVE OF THE RECORD. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN THERE...
Melanie: PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO THE SPICE GIRLS THINK IT MIGHT NOT BE TO THEIR TASTE, BUT THERE'S POP, R&B, DANCE, ACOUSTIC STUFF... SOME ROCK TRACKS AS WELL BUT NOTHING TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE SPICE GIRLS.
Bill: AWE THE SONGS WERE CO-WRITTEN BY YOU. ARE YOU IN LOVE? SOME OF THEM SOUND LIKE YOU ARE AND SOME SOUND LIKE YOU JUST GOT OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP AND DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON VERY MUCH.
Melanie: ALL OF THE SITUATIONS I TALK ABOUT ON THE ALBUM ARE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, SITUATIONS I HAVE BEEN IN AND EMOTIONS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH. IT'S A BIT OF A DOCUMENTARY OF MY LIFE KIND OF THING. IT'S OVER THE LAST -- I WOULD SAY 20 YEARS... BECAUSE BETWEEN 1 AND 5, I DIDN'T REALLY CARE. (Laughing)
Bill: THE BALLADS, THE WAY YOU APPROACH THE MICROPHONE TO SING CERTAIN WORDS, IT'S VERY TENDER, LOTS OF EMOTION GOING ON OUT THERE, WHICH MAKES ME THINK YOU'RE A TRUE ARTIST THAT WAY, TO EMOTE THOSE EMOTIONS. WHERE IS YOUR HEAD SPACE BECAUSE LISTENING TO IT WITH HEADPHONES, IT DOES TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE.
Melanie: WELL, THANK YOU. THAT IS GREAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE. WHEN I SING, I'M IN MY OWN WORLD. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME ON THE ALBUM TO JUST EXPERIMENT AND USE MY VOICE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND APPROACHING MANY DIFFERENT STYLES. BUT IT'S GREAT, THAT YOU CAN STICK ON YOUR HEAD PHONES AND USE EVERY VOWEL AND EVERY CONSONANT. AND I LIKE TO CREATE SOUNDS AS WELL AS PUTTING ACROSS WHAT THE SONG IS ABOUT WITH THE LYRICS.
Bill: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS FEATURE MEL "C" OVER THE NEXT HOUR AND LOTS OF YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE. WE'RE GOING TO PLAY GOING DOWN RIGHT NOW. WAS THIS WRITTEN FOR SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR? YOU'RE MAD AT SOMEONE, VERY ANGRY.
Melanie: IT WAS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME, YES. I'M NOT SAYING ANYMORE. (Laughing) MAKE IT APPLY TO YOU.
Bill: NO ALLUDING TO ANYTHING?
Melanie: IT WAS ABOUT A GUY I LIKED AND HE DIDN'T LIKE ME.
Bill: BASTARD!
Melanie: ARE YOU ALLOWED TO SAY THAT ON THE TELLY?
Bill: I AM; YOU'RE NOT. NO SWEARING, MELANIE.
Melanie: OKAY.
Bill: SO MUCH MORE WITH MEL "C" LIVE IN MUCH.
(Music break)
Bill: IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THERE'S NO POINT IN ME TALKING... THERE WE GO. THAT WAS NICE. THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE SMIDGEN, A LITTLE TASTE OF THE HALF-HOUR DOCUMENTARY WE'RE AIRING NEXT WEEK. WATCH FOR THAT. YOU RECORDED IN L.A. MEL SAID YOU HAD GONE CALIFORNIA BUT SHE WAS JUST JOKING, THOUGH?
Melanie: YEAH.
Bill: WHY CALIFORNIA?
Melanie: I STARTED IT IN ENGLAND AND THEN I WENT OVER TO L.A. TO MEET ANOTHER WRITER THAT I WANTED TO WORK WITH AND WHILE I WAS THERE I BUMPED INTO SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE AND THERE'S SO MANY STUDIOS THERE AND GREAT MUSICIANS AND THE WEATHER WAS GREAT AND I THOUGHT, "M'MMM... THINK I'LL STAY HERE." IT WAS NICE TO FOCUS AND GET RID OF THE DISTRACTIONS AT HOME. I WANTED TO FOCUS...
Bill: ONE OF THE DISTRACTIONS COMING FROM TABLOIDS BECAUSE THE THEORY IS YOU CAN JUST FOCUS...
Melanie: I LOVE ENGLAND; IT'S MY HOME, BUT ONE OF THE DOWNFALLS IS THE TABLOID PRESS.
Bill: SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF L.A. IS YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS WITH ANTHONY KEETIS...
Melanie: I DON'T THINK HE WAS THERE VERY LONG. HE WAS AWAY ON TOUR. BUT I MET HIM A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS WITH THE SPICE GIRLS AND WE HAVE BEEN RIENDS EVER SINCE, BUT NOTHING ROMANTIC. (Laughter)
Bill: WHAT DID YOU SAY BEHIND ME? RODNEY WILLIAMS... ANOTHER NAME PEOPLE ARE TOSSING. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?
Melanie: (Laughing) NO.
Bill: IT MUST BE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE PAPER ALL THE TIME... YOU MUST WANT TO LAUGH.
Melanie: IT'S FRUSTRATING BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU, IT'S VERY FLATTERING SO YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN.
Bill: I BELIEVE NICK HAS THE MICROPHONE.
New Speaker: HI, MELANIE. IS THERE ANY PRESSURE OF BEING NUMBER ONE BECAUSE OF THE HUGE SUCCESS OF THE SPICE GIRLS? AND WHAT DOES "NORTHERN STAR" MEAN?
Melanie: IT'S QUITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SONG FOR ME. I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO RELY ON, SOMETHING THAT'S CONSTANT AND TO GUIDE ME THROUGH. I THOUGHT THE NORTHERN STAR WAS A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE OF THAT, AND IT WAS A GREAT ALBUM TITLE AS WELL, AND BEING FROM THE NORTH OF ENGLAND, IT'S A BIT OF A PLAY ON WORDS AND BIT OF A JOKE, TOO. AND THE NUMBER ONES, THE ONLY PRESSURE I PUT ON MYSELF IS TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE. WITH THIS ALBUM, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD AND I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE MADE A BETTER ALBUM AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, SO IT'S NUMBER ONE FOR ME AND I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT. (Applause and screaming)
New Speaker: THANKS.
Bill: I HAVE AN E-MAIL FROM KAYLA AND HER FRIEND TOLD HER THERE'S A RUMOUR GOING AROUND YOU MIGHT LEAVE THE SPICE GIRLS. IS THAT TRUE? YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT FOR FIVE YEARS NOW?
Melanie: WE WERE ALWAYS CALLED A ONE-HIT WONDER, BUT IT'S RIDICULOUS. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF LEAVING THE SPICE GIRLS. WE'RE ON OUR THIRD ALBUM AT THE MOMENT AND HAVE DONE A FEW SONGS THAT ARE REALLY GREAT, AND MORE IN THE SPRING SO NO PLANS TO LEAVE. I'M A SPICE GIRL FOREVER! (Applause and screaming)
Bill: THERE WAS LIKE THE 15 MINUTES OF FAME WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN UP FROM THE SECOND SINGLE ON THE DEBUT ALBUM...
Melanie: EXACTLY.
Bill: THAT'S FUNNY. SPICE WOMEN NOW, DO YOU THINK?
Melanie: NO.
Bill: BECAUSE THIS ALBUM DOES...
Melanie: I FELT THAT WHEN THE GIRLS GOT PREGNANT AND MARRIED, I THOUGHT, "OH, NO, THEY'RE GROWING UP AND GETTING ALL SENSIBLE," BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME, MADDER THAN EVER.
Bill: WE HAVE A PHONE CALL FROM BILL IN MARKDALE, ONTARIO. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR MELANIE?
Caller: YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SOUND IN THE NEW VIDEO. HAVE YOU TRIED TO GET THE SPICE GIRLS TO MAKE VIDEOS LIKE THAT?
Melanie: WE ONLY REALLY JUST GOT TO WORK ON THE THIRD ALBUM. I THINK SPICE GIRL, WE LIKE TO KEEP IT QUITE POPPY AND QUITE FUN. WE HAVE A LITTLE ROCK INFLUENCE ON A COUPLE OF TRACKS BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER GO IN THAT MUCH OF A ROCK DIRECTION. BUT WE'LL SEE. MAYBE I'LL TWIST THEIR ARM.
Bill: THE DECISION FOR THE FIRST SINGLE, "GOIN' DOWN" WAS A BIG DEPARTURE. WAS THAT ONE REASON, TO GET IT OUT OF THE WAY, A SIDE NEVER SEEN?
Melanie: I THINK MAYBE IT WAS A SUBCONSCIOUS THING BECAUSE I WASN'T TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT BUT AS SOON AS I WROTE THE SINGLE, I KNEW IN MY HEART I WANTED IT TO BE THE FIRST SINGLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY. THERE'S NO REASON BEHIND IT. JUST ONE OF THEM THINGS.
Bill: WE'LL TALK A BIT ABOUT THE SPICE GIRLS BEFORE WE GET TO THE VIDEO . . . CAN'T TALK ABOUT SPICE GIRLS AND NOT MENTION GIRL POWER BECAUSE YOU PUT GIRL POWER ON THE MAP, TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS. IS THIS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF GIRL POWER. YOU SAID IT'S STRENGTH, INDEPENDENCE, CONFIDENCE, SEXINESS.
Melanie: MOST DEFINITELY. IT'S GOING OUT AND ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS OR TRYING TO. THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M DOING HERE. I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE SPICE GIRLS. WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH. BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO HAVE A GO AT.
Bill: WE'LL DO "SAY YOU'LL BE THERE." AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE AFTER THIS. (Applause)
SYBT Music Break
Melanie: THIS IS MY MODEST L.A. TRAINING COLLECTION BECAUSE ALL MY TRAINERS ARE AT HOME. I CAME WITH THREE AND I'VE BEEN HERE LEE MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN... SEVENTEEN. THAT'S ABOUT IT. \M I'm happy without ya \M (Applause and cheering)
Bill: WELCOME BACK. HANGING WITH MEL "C" HERE... (Applause and screaming) THAT'S GOOD. MEL APPRECIATES IT, BUT DON'T BLOW OUT HER EARDRUMS. THAT'S A SNIPPET OF A DOCUMENTARY WE'RE AIRING NEXT WEEK. 17 PAIRS YOU PURCHASED WENT UP TO 30 BY THE END...
Melanie: IN THE 20s ANYWAY.
Bill: YOU TOOK THEM ALL HOME?
Melanie: NOT ALL OF THEM. I HAD TO LEAVE SOME BEHIND. THEY WOULDN'T FIT IN MY CASE.
Bill: THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW CLIPS I HAVE SEEN WHERE WE CAN SEE YOUR FEET. YOU'RE ALWAYS WEARING RUNNING SHOES. THAT WAS GOOD. WE'LL TAKE MORE PHONE CALLS AND STUFF COMING UP REAL SOON BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WALK OUT THERE. HANG ON OUT THERE. (Screaming)
Bill: THE EXPECTATIONS FOR SALES FIGURES FOR...
Melanie: I CAN'T HEAR YA! (Screaming) (Melanie laughing) GO ON.
Bill: SHE LOVES YOU, TOO. THE EXPECTATION SALESWISE IS THROUGH THE ROOF AND THE SALES FIGURES IN REALITY DIDN'T MATCH THE PROJECTIONS. DOES THAT CONCERN YOU, THAT KIND OF STUFF?
Melanie: NO, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT I JUST FEEL THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM AND IF PEOPLE LISTEN TO IT WITH AN UNBIASED EAR, IT SHOULD DO WELL.
Bill: SO SUCCESS ISN'T NUMBERS; IT'S JUST HAVING THIS HERE?
Melanie: I WANT IT TO DO WELL, YOU KNOW. I WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE IT -- (Inaudible shout from the crowd)
Melanie: NICE.
Bill: GET IN LINE, BUDDY!
Melanie: WHATEVER. I JUST HOPE PEOPLE LIKE IT.
Bill: I'M ON THE LINE WITH A VIEWER FROM HALIFAX. DEVON IS ON THE LINE. CAN YOU HEAR?
Melanie: HI, DEVON.
Caller: HI. CAN YOU SAY HI TO THIS GUY WHO JUST LOVES YOU, KENT PLUMMER?
Melanie: WHAT'S HIS FIRST NAME?
Caller: KENT. HE'S LIKE A HUGE FAN.
Melanie: HI, KENT PLUMMER.
Caller: WE WERE JUST WONDERING IF YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A PUNK NOW TO GET THIS NEW AUDIENCE OR IF YOU WERE ALWAYS THAT WAY.
from the Audience: GET OFF THE PHONE!
Bill: DEVON, YOU'RE NOT VERY POPULAR HERE IN TORONTO.
Melanie: WATCH OUT FOR ME AND MY CREW! (Laughing) NO, I'M A PERFORMER AND CAN TAKE ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STYLES. IF YOU SEE THE SPICE GIRLS, YOU KNOW THAT WE DO THAT AND TAKE ON DIFFERENT PERSON SOWN NAS IN EACH SONG WE SING AND THAT'S PART OF BEING AN ENTERTAINER BECAUSE YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF IN DIFFERENT WAYS...
Caller: I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND YOU OR ANYTHING...
Melanie: YOU DIDN'T OFFEND ME.
Caller: WILL YOU EVER GROW YOUR HAIR BACK?
Bill: THANKS, DEVON. "Q" CALLED YOU PUNK SPICE NOW.
Melanie: THEY ALWAYS CALL ME SOMETHING.
New Speaker: BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD SUCH SUCCESS IN THE PAST, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO DO AS AN ARTIST?
Melanie: DEFINITELY. I HAVE THIS ALBUM NOW AND REALLY WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUT CONTINUING SUCCESS WITH THE SPICE GIRLS AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUING TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH A SOLO CAREER, TOO. THAT'S MY HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE.
Bill: THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, RUBY. ONE OF THE PRODUCERS ON THIS -- YOU HAD NINE IN ALL, I THINK NINE...
Melanie: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS NINE. IS THERE? IT WAS A FEW...
Bill: A LOT OF CO-WRITERS?
Melanie: QUITE A FEW PEOPLE INVOLVED. I WAS VERY LUCKY.
Bill: ONE OF THEM, MARIUS DE VRIES... HE HAD A COMMENT ABOUT MEETING YOU AND WORKING WITH YOU AND KNOWING THE SUCCESS YOU'VE HAD ALL THESE RECENT YEARS, THIS LEVEL, YOU'RE STILL NOT HAPPY, STILL NOT CONTENT.
Melanie: I AM HAPPY. I'M VERY HAPPY. BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER -- I'M NOT PREACHING, BUT FOR ME, I'M NEVER CONTENT BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO TRY AND IMPROVE YOURSELF. THAT'S MY AIM IN LIFE, JUST TO TRY AND BETTER MYSELF. BUT, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE, IF YOU DON'T -- LIFE IS NOTHING IF YOU DON'T KEEP STRIVING FOR ME.
Bill: IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY GO SO FAR AND THE SPICE GIRLS ARE THERE.
Melanie: NO, WE'RE NOT. FOR US, WE'VE ACHIEVED... WE'VE BEEN THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD, BUT WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE THAT, KEEP CREATING FANTASTIC USIC. YOU'RE ALWAYS WORKING HARD. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, "I CAN SIT BACK NOW."
Bill: GOOD WORK ETHIC. TODAY THE WORLD; TOMORROW THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
Melanie: THE MOON.
Bill: GOOD FOR YOU. MATT FROM BRADFORD CONGRATULATES YOU ON THE FIRST SINGLE AND SAYS HE LIKES YOU A LOT BETTER AS A SOLOIST, WHICH IS INTERESTING, BUT HE WANTS TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GERI'S SOLO ALBUM AND WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HER LEAVING THE GIRLS?
Melanie: WELL, IT'S QUITE A LONG TIME AGO NOW SO THERE'S NO HARD FEELINGS BETWEEN US AND GERI. WE'RE ALL STILL FRIENDS. AT THE TIME, WE WERE QUITE SHOCKED AND OF COURSE VERY SAD. I MISS HER DEARLY, YOU KNOW, AS A FRIEND. I DO STILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HER, THOUGH. BUT HER SOLO ALBUM, I THINK SHE'S DONE REALLY WELL. IT'S GREAT. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY MY KIND OF THING. BUT I LOVE "MUSICA LATINO." I LIKE THAT A LOT.
Bill: THERE'S BEEN CONTACT? WITH THE REST OF THE CAMP OR JUST YOU AND GERI.
Melanie: I'LL JUST SAY THAT.
Bill: OKAY. (Screaming) I THINK WE HAVE TO GO TO THE WINDOW JUST TO SAY HI. WANT TO DO THAT? (Screaming)
Bill: LOOK AT THIS. (Loud screaming)
Bill: WE'RE GOING TO COME RIGHT BACK. MEL'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. WE'RE GOING TO COME RIGHT BACK. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE COMING TO YOU RIGHT AFTER THIS. DON'T GO AWAY. (Screaming)
Break
Bill: MEL "C" HERE LIVE AT Much. OUT HERE SOAKING UP THE ATTENTION. YOU LOOKED HURT A SECOND AGO. WHY...
Melanie: I FEEL AWFUL BECAUSE THESE GUYS CAN'T COME INSIDE... (Loud screaming)
Bill: YOU HAVE A QUESTION? WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
New Speaker: ANGIE. I FLEW THREE HOURS FROM CALGARY JUST TO BE HERE.
Bill: A LONG WAY FROM CALGARY.
New Speaker: WHAT KIND OF MOOD WERE YOU IN WHEN YOU DID "NORTHERN STAR"?
Melanie: I THINK I WAS IN A REMINISCENT MOOD. I WAS IN CALIFORNIA ON MY OWN AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THAT THE SPICE GIRLS HAD ACHIEVED AND I AM VERY PROUD OF EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE. (Loud screaming)
Bill: WE'RE GOING BACK INSIDE. I ASSUME AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE CHECKING YOU OUT TOMORROW AT THE WAREHOUSE IN TORONTO. I UNDERSTAND IT'S WEBCAST, WHICH WILL BE PRETTY NEAT FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO CHECK OUT.
Melanie: YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
Bill: DOES IT SEEM TO BE STARTING OVER, AFTER HUGE STADIUMS LIKE WEMBLEY, AND NOW A -- WELL, IT'S NOT A SMALL CLUB.
Melanie: IT'S SMALLER. YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM DOING THINGS AT PLACES LIKE ARENAS. THAT IS FANTASTIC. BUT IN A SMALLER PLACE, YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE ENERGY. NONE OF IT GETS LOST. RIGHT IN YOUR FACE. IT'S MORE INTIMATE. I LIKE IT A LOT. IT'S GOOD.
Bill: IN SOMETHING LIKE WEMBLEY, CAN YOU SEE FACES AND MAKE CONTACT...
Melanie: YOU CAN SEE THE FACES AT THE FRONT BUT THE PEOPLE AT THE BACK ARE TINY DOTS. IT'S NICE TO BE MORE INTIMATE WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES.
Bill: YOU HAVE DOTTED THE WORLD WITH A SMALL CLUB TOUR NOW BUT THERE WILL BE A FULL-FLEDGED MELANIE "C" TOUR LATER ON?
Melanie: YES, IF THE ALBUM DOES WELL, I'LL BE DOING JAN YEAR IN EUROPE AND THEN I'LL BE BACK HERE, IN MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD, IN FEBRUARY.
Bill: CUE THE ALBUM SHOT THERE...
Melanie: IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT PICTURE.
Bill: OCTOBER 26th FOR "NORTHERN STAR." CHANTELLE FROM BURLINGTON IS ON THE PHONE NOW.
Caller: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. IF YOU COULD USE YOUR FAME AND POPULARITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS TO PROMOTE AN IMPORTANT WORLD ISSUE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Melanie: I FEEL THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY WORTHY CAUSES THAT WE SHOULD USE OUR CELEBRITY FOR, BUT THERE'S A SONG ON MY ALBUM I HAVE WRITTEN THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, HOMELESSNESS. IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM IN ENGLAND, AS I THINK IT IS IN A LOT OF PLACES, A LOT OF CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD. THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR... OR AGAINST RATHER.
Caller: ALL RIGHT.
Bill: YOU MUST BE ASKED -- THANK YOU, CHANTELLE. YOU MUST BE ASKED TO DO A LOT OF BENEFITS?
Melanie: THERE ARE SO MANY CAUSES BUT WE ALWAYS DO WHAT WE CAN. YOU GET A LOT OF FLAK IF YOU'RE DOING THESE THINGS, "OH, YOU'RE JUST DOING IT FOR PUBLICITY'S SAKE," AND WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AS WELL.
Bill: ARE YOU OUT THERE? (Screaming)
Bill: TARA HAS THE MICROPHONE OVER THERE. SHE HAS QUESTION.
New Speaker: I'M TARA.
New Speaker: AND I'M RYAN. WE'RE YOUR BIGGEST FANS HERE IN TORONTO. (Screaming) WE WERE TALKING TO YOU A MONTH AGO ON THE WEB CHAT AND WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE LOVE YOU AND OUR WE IS...
New Speaker: YOU SPEAK OF THE SPICE GIRLS MILLENNIUM BASH. ARE YOU HAVING ONE? IF NOT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Melanie: WE'RE DOING SOME SHOWS, UNFORTUNATELY ONLY IN THE U.K. IN DECEMBER, THE SPICE GIRLS. THE NEW ALBUM WILL BE OUT IN THE SPRING AND THEN WE'LL BE HOPING TO TOUR THAT NEXT SUMMER, SO WE'LL BE ALREADY.
Bill: SO THE ACTUAL EVENING OF DECEMBER 31st?
Melanie: THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 31st, I'M GOING TO GO AWAY SOMEWHERE HOT, I THINK, SEEK THE SUN. I'M GOING TO SPEND IT WITH MY FAMILY. IT'S MY BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY. IT'S MY SPECIAL DAY.
Bill: SO YOU WON'T BE WORKING ANYWHERE?
Melanie: I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT I HAVE NO PLANS AT THE MOMENT.
Bill: WE'LL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS BREAK. DON'T GO AWAY. THANK YOU. (Applause)
Music Break
Bill: BRYAN ADAMS WITH MEL "C" HERE ON MuchMusic. THAT WAS YOUR FIRST VENTURE OUTSIDE OF THE SPICE GIRLS WITH A RECORDING, AWAY FROM THE SPICE GIRLS.
Melanie: YEAH.
Bill: BRYAN AND YOU MET SOMEWHERE?
Melanie: IN L.A. ACTUALLY. THAT WAS IN L.A., TOO. AND WE WERE ON TOUR WITH THE SPICE GIRLS LAST YEAR AND WERE STAYING AT THE SAME HOTEL AND WE GOT TALKING AND GOT ALONG REALLY WELL AND TOLD ME ABOUT THIS TRACK HE HAD AND THAT MY VOICE WOULD SOUND GOOD WITH IT AND I WAS SO FLATTERED. I HEARD THE SONG AND IT'S A GREAT SONG AND IT ALL HAPPENED FROM THERE.
Bill: WHEN ONE OF YOU VENTURED OFF, YOU FIRST WITH THIS, WHEN YOU GO BACK AND TELL THE GIRLS WHAT'S GOING ON, IS THERE ANY KIND OF LIKE...
Melanie: COMPETITION?
Bill: NO, BUT LIKE "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THEM FOR?"
Melanie: NO, NOT AT ALL. WE'RE ALL VERY, VERY PROUD OF EACH OTHER. I AM WHENEVER ANYBODY DOES SOMETHING. IT'S PART OF OUR SUCCESS, TOO, WHERE MELANIE HAD SUCCESS WITH THE MISSY ELLIOT TRACK AND THEN THE AUSTIN POWERS . . . WE FEEL REALLY PROUD.
Bill: THERE'S A SUPPORT SYSTEM THERE.
Melanie: YEAH.
Bill: I WONDER HOW MUCH OF THAT SUPPORT WAS THERE THROUGHOUT ALL THE TIME YOU HEARD FROM FANS, INDUSTRY, MAGAZINES, MELANIE "C" IS THE TALENTED ONE, THE BETTER SINGER OF THEM ALL. HOW DID THE GIRLS REACT TO THAT?
Melanie: THEY PRINT A LOT OF STUFF AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S ONE PERSON'S OPINION. EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR FAVOURITE SPICE GIRL; KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO YOU CAN'T TAKE IT TO HEART.
From the Audience: I LOVE YOU!
Bill: BUT THEY'VE HEARD THAT, THOUGH...
Melanie: WHO?
Bill: THE GIRLS.
Melanie: BUT THERE ARE ARTICLES THAT SAY I SUCK, SO IT SWINGS IN ROUNDABOUTS, AS WE SAY AT HOME.
Bill: WE HAVE KAYLA STANDING BY WITH A MICROPHONE. OVER THERE. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
New Speaker: I'M GREAT. I'M KAYLA. I'M FROM RICHMOND HILL AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING ME FOR A SECOND MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.
Melanie: OH, THAT'S SWEET.
Bill: THAT IS SWEET, ACTUALLY. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
New Speaker: I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR WORKOUT SCHEDULE IS.
Bill: WE SEE YOU RUNNING ON THE BEACH IN THAT TAPE.
Melanie: IT REALLY DEPENDS, YOU KNOW. AT THE MOMENT IT'S QUITE NICE. WITH BEING ON TOUR AND I GET THE MORNINGS TO MYSELF AND SO SOMETIMES I'LL GO TO THE GYM OR WHEN I'M NEAR THE BEACH, I LIKE TO DO YOGA. I'M INTO LIFTING WEIGHTS AT THE MOMENT SO I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME IN THE GYM.
Bill: THANKS, KAYLA. IN ALL THE VIDEO, WE HAVE SEEN YOU DO KICKS. THERE'S A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF MARTIAL ARTS THAT YOU DO. HAVE YOU TRAINED IN THE MARTIAL ARTS?
Melanie: NOT EXTENSIVELY, BUT I GOT INTO THAT FOR "SAY YOU'LL BE THERE" BECAUSE WE TRAINED FOR THE VIDEO AND I GOT HOOKED. I HAVE DONE MORE KICKBOXING SINCE THEN, BUT I'M NOT THAT QUALIFIED. I SORT OF MAKE IT UP AS I GO ALONG.
Bill: YOU DON'T HAVE A BELT; YOU JUST KICK.
Melanie: I HAVE A BELT BUT I DIDN'T EARN IT. (Laughing)
Bill: HOW HIGH CAN YOUR FOOT GET?
Melanie: WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT, AREN'T WE NOW?
Bill: I DON'T KNOW. WHICH CAMERA DO YOU WANT TO SEE MEL... ALL THE CAMERA PEOPLE ARE SCARED. THEY'RE ALL POINTING AT EACH OTHER.
Melanie: WANT ME TO PICK OVER THERE? I'VE GOT ME JEANS ON; BLAME IT ON THE JEANS. HA!
Bill: THAT WAS GOOD. (Applause and cheering)
Bill: I'VE SEEN YOU DO ROUNDHOUSES -- THAT WAS GOOD! IT WAS A GOOD KICK. WHEN WE ASKED WHICH CAMERA, EVERYBODY WAS GOING, "NO, HIM!"
Bill: I'M GOING TO THE WINDOW IN JUST A SECOND... (Screaming) OH, WHAT THE HELL. WE'LL GO NOW.
Melanie: OKAY. (Continued screaming)
Bill: DON'T FORGET, WE ARE GOING TO WRAP THIS UP REAL SOON BUT MEL "C" AT THE WAREHOUSE TOMORROW HERE IN TORONTO AND LOOK FOR A FULL-FLEDGED WORLD TOUR WITH MEL. (Loud screaming) THIS IS NICE. THIS IS NICE. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS... DO YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR -- (Inaudible due to screaming) -- COMES AND GOES...
Melanie: I THINK A LOT IS ACCEPTED BECAUSE OF THE SPICE GIRLS AND SO I GIVE CREDIT... (Screaming continuing)
Bill: TO SEE SOMEONE TWELVE YEARS OLD AND THEN SOMEONE SIXTY...
Melanie:... (Inaudible due to screaming) ... SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Bill: (Inaudible)
Melanie: (Inaudible) ... IT'S GREAT. (Continued loud screaming)
Bill: THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. DON'T FORGET THE WAREHOUSE TOMORROW IN TORONTO. SEE YOU THERE.