U.K. solo star and Spice Girl Mel C joined her fans for a live chat on Thursday, March 29. We have the full transcript!
Animal56:
Hi Mel!
My daughter and I both think your spiffy! (I think your are
beautiful too! Shh!). Our question is: What do you think of
Canada?
Mel C: I love Canada and I've spent quite a bit of time here. I've got family in Toronto and I also came because of the Spice Girls, all my fans have been really supportive. But Alberta always seems to be cold when I'm here. I have to come back when it's warmer.
Allyson:
Hi Melanie ....I just wanna tell you that your the best
singer and your my idol!!!!well here's my question: I have
heard that maybe you will make a song with Madonna well i
really don't know if this is true and only you can tell
...but i think this can be too much good ...well c ya in
april in montreal!!!!!
Love ya AllysoNxx A big fan!!!
Mel C: Thank you!
I'd love to do a song with Madonna and I hope that one day that will be possible but there are no plans at the moment.
Christine :
What kind of sound is gonna be on the new album? Is it
going to be similar to Northern Star?
Mel C: I think its going to be similar in a lot of ways mainly because I want to keep it quite eclectic, I'm going to work with some of the same people and some different people too. I don't wanna say yet who cause I'm not sure yet. I don't want to jinx it.
James:
do you prefer playing small or large shows?
Mel C: It's very different and very enjoyable for different reasons. In a large venue...the size of it makes you become more animated and free but small venues have better acoustics and its more intimate with the crowd. I think that's my favourite.
Joy:
What's one song you're really looking forward to singing on
the tour? Do you have an special memories connected with
it?
Mel C: Actually, probably the best song in the show because its such a great big hit and its a dance song..I always look forward to I Turn To You.
Tenille Jackson:
Hi Melanie!
I just wanted to say that I love the new video for
"If That Were Me" and I can't wait for another solo album
from you. My question is, what has been the most
significant moment of your life thus far?
Thanks
Mel C: Wow!
I think my life so far has been so amazing, I've been so blessed, the Spice Girls were amazing, but being successful as an individual is something that's really important to me...it makes me feel like I'm able to carry on and continue working in music for the rest of my life hopefully.
Jenni:
Hi, Melanie. How do you feel about the "Popstars" shows
around the world? What do you think of Hear'Say and Eden's
Crush? Thank you.
Mel C: The only one I'm familiar with is Hearsay, I watch the show, I thought it was quite difficult for the people involved. I thought they were very exploited, it was a great big publicity stunt.
It makes pop music in a very bad state cause its so contrived and manufactured. The kids in the groups are very talented but the people behind them are exploiting them. I wish the kids all the luck in the world but I don't really like the ones behind them who are actually making the money.
Jamenda:
How does it feel to be a solo artist and also be in a
group? Plus, so you have any advice to give to anybody who
would like to become a pop star like you?
Mel C: First of all, I feel very lucky to even...to be a Spice Girl...also, to be able to go on and have a solo career alongside it is lucky.
As far as aspiring to a music career, I think really you need to have lots of faith in yourself,keep trying, lots of people will tell you you're rubbish but it happened for me so it can happen for me too.
Heleen and Marloes:
are there any plans to collaborate with other artists?
Mel C: There are lots of people I'd like to collaborate with. I'd like to work with Dr. Dre and Eminem, I'd love to work with Lenny Kravitz one day and of course Madonna, but I don't have any plans as yet.
Bergen:
Thanks for sharing the great voice! It's one of my
favourites.
Can you tell me, who are a few of your favourite voices,
past or present?
Mel C: WOW!
Ummm, Annie Lennox, I love Fiona Apple, Aretha Franklin, Whitney, Mariah, Christina Aguilera, Tina Turner, I like people who are individual, an individual style.
Stevie Wonder, Oh my God I love his voice.
Paula:
Hi Melanie, I love your solo album!!
just wondering if you really are "sporty" (you look like
you are
in great shape) and what sport do you like to play?
Mel C: I used to be very sporty when I was younger. When I was at school I was in gymnastics, football, hockey but now I go to the gym, I lift weights and I do yoga. I'm not as sporty but I'm still quite active.
Harry Wong:
Hey Melanie! I am one of your BIGGEST fans and I'll be
watching you perform here in Vancouver. I was wondering
what are some of your goals and what you'd like to
accomplish in the future of your career?
Mel C: For me, I've been so lucky to achieve so many of my dreams, but I never stop dreaming. My goal is to maintain a successful solo career and hopefully surpass it and be happy.
The second album will be out in 2002, maybe fall.
Nick:
I love your tattoos! Where do you get them done, how many
do you have, and do you plan on getting any more? Where
will you get your next one?
Mel C: I've got 10 , I have them in different places, I got quite a few in L.A., one in Italy, one in London, one in Amsterdam, one in Manchester.
I don't have any plans at the moment for another one but I might change my mind.
Usually my favourite are my latest ones - on my wrist, they say love and happiness in Tibetan.
SSC:
Hi Melanie! Glad you're chatting with us! What did you
think of working with Bryan Adams on "When you're gone"
Mel C: I'm very happy to be chatting!
I adore Bryan. I was very flattered to sing on a track with him. Since then we've become really good friends. He's taught me so much. I'm happy to be good friends with a good Canadian.
w & j:
Melanie, we'll be at your Toronto gig...how would you
describe your live shows?
Mel C: If you like the album you'll love the show. We play all the songs, some of them are a bit different live. It's a real emotional roller coaster. My stuff is very different in style, I just hope to make you as exhausted as I am by the end of the night. It's got lots of energy and emotion and a wicked band.
Youm:
Hi Melanie! What music cd in your cd player right now?
Mel C: I was in the gym today and I was listening to The Offspring. I like them, I'm quite hooked on the first one (cd) it gets me motivated.
L.K. from Canada:
What are the worst habits you have?
Mel C: Well, I used to crack my knuckles but I stopped that...ummmmm...actually I'm a bit of a perfectionist, everything I do, it's never good enough, I always think I should have done better. That can be annoying for people around me.
chris hannam:
next time the spice girls tour do you think that you will
mix the show with solo and spice material?
Mel C: That's something that we've discussed. I don't think we'd ever do that really. We feel they're really separate projects. If the Spice Girls tour again it will be a Spice Girls show.
The story so far is all Spice Girls are concentrating on solo careers but nobody has left the band, we're still together but we have no plans at the moment.
Christine :
Hey Mel!! Thanks a bunch for asking my question
I got another one, how long does it take you to write a
song?
P.S YOU ROCK!! & Can't wait to see u in 12 days
Mel C: That really depends, some songs, Wannabe we wrote in about 20 minutes.
But sometimes it can take a day, 3 days, you can start it and come back to it a week later. It depends. Generally, the best songs are the ones that just happen very quickly and they just flow really quickly.
Jen:
Hiya Melanie!!!
I saw you at MuchMusic back in December and you were
wicked!!! Is there one thing you would change in the past?
If so what would it be?
Mel C: I don't think so, I'm in a really great place right now. I'm proud to be able to tour as a solo artist. I don't think I've made career mistakes.
I have personal things like I wish I hadn't had that donut.
Chad :
Any opening acts for the tour? Are you planning on
"discovering" a new group or artist as so many performers
are doing now?
Mel C: What I'm doing in Canada is using some local talent. They'll be various plans playing at the gigs. Its been difficult to find people who are available and appropriate. But there are lots of people I'd like to tour with.
TJ Millin :
He Mel!!!
Being from Liverpool did the Beatles any influence on you?
Mel C: I was very lucky when I was young that my mom and step-dad are both musicians so I was introduced to a lot of great music early on and the Beatles were one of the bands I listened to. I still listen to them quite a lot. I used to listen to a lot of Stevie Wonder and Motown stuff, Deep Purple, quite an unusual mixture, Ike & Tina Turner.
joel:
Hi, how are you, what do you do after a show?
Mel C: IAfter the show, generally there aren't too many parties I can go to cause I've got to jump on a bus. I like to take it easy. I like to sit on the bus and giggle about the show and relax because its been a long day.
Catou:
I'd like to be a singer, do you have any advice?
Mel C: My advice would be to her: If you're serious about being a singer, you need to protect your voice. Don't smoke, don't drink too much. Exercise your voice. Don't let yourself get cold. Then, professionally, keep singing and meet lots of people and keep trying and good luck!
Mel C: I just want to thank everybody for logging on. I hope my answers were sufficient and I'm very excited to be here in Canada and I hope to see lots of you at my show.
