Melanie Chisholm
Encyclopedia
Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974, Whiston
, Lancashire) is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C (or Mel C). She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls
, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice". She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album Northern Star which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, Reason. Melanie was victorious in her battle against depression and the eating disorder, and released her third studio album two years later in 2005, Beautiful Intentions
which became her second most successful album commercially. In 2007 she released her fourth studio album This Time
sporting a new indie sound. Shortly after the release of This Time, Melanie along with the four other members of the Spice Girls, confirmed their return as a band for their The Return of the Spice Girls
World Tour. After the tour ended, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child and gave birth in February 2009. Melanie then signed on for a six month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play "Blood Brothers". Her fifth studio album The Sea
was released in September 2011.
Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT
- and ECHO awards, has sold more than 12 million records as a solo artist and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones
by a female artist. She is also the only female to reach UK Official Singles Chart
at number one as a part of quartet, quintet, duo and as a solo artist.
, Whiston
. Raised originally in Rainhill
, Merseyside
and then Widnes
, Cheshire
she attended Fairfield High School where she studied singing and dancing. After leaving school at age 15, Chisholm studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts
in Sidcup
, Kent. During college, she replied to an advert in The Stage
by Chris and Bob Herbert, who were looking to form a new girl group, later to become the Spice Girls. She left college just short of completing her three-year course and gained teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern Theatre Dance with the ISTD.
, Geri Halliwell
, Emma Bunton
, and Victoria Beckham
(at that time Victoria Adams), shot to fame with the release of "Wannabe
". Because Mel C usually wore a tracksuit
with her hair in a ponytail and sporting the attitude of a tomboy
, she was called Sporty Spice. After the release of their successful debut album, Spice
, the group released their second studio album, Spiceworld that also became successful as its predecessor. During the promotion of the album, Halliwell left the group and the four remaining members, including Chisholm, began working on their third studio album.
on the song "When You're Gone". Her debut album Northern Star was released in 1999. A track from this album ("Ga Ga") was included on the Big Daddy soundtrack before her own album's release. Singles "Goin' Down
" and "Northern Star
" were met with promising success, but the third single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring TLC
member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
, became her first UK number-one single as a solo artist, also a number-one single in the Netherlands, a Top Five hit in Germany and No.2 in Australia. Chisholm released a fourth single from Northern Star, a dance remix of "I Turn to You", and earned herself a second number-one single in both the UK and the Netherlands. "I Turn to You" reached No.2 in Germany, No.11 in Australia and eventually climbed to the top of the Billboard dance chart in the United States. Northern Star was re-released with the single versions of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You", and eventually peaked at number four on the United Kingdom album chart and number six in Germany.
"If That Were Me
" was chosen as the fifth and final single from Northern Star and proceeds were donated to a charity for the homeless; it peaked at number eighteen in the UK. Northern Star is certified three times platinum in the United Kingdom for shipping 900,000 copies, platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 copies, gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies, and gold in Australia for selling over 35,000 copies. Chisholm then went on her Northern Star World Tour, performing in countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
At the same time, Spice Girls released their third and final studio album, Forever
. After the album's release, the group went their separate ways.
(New Radicals
, Ronan Keating
), Marius De Vries (Madonna
), Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys
, David Arnold (Björk
) and Matt Rowe, co-writer of the Spice Girls
' "Wannabe". The lead single from Reason was "Here It Comes Again", which peaked at number seven in the UK, with the album entering the UK album chart a week later at number five, but quickly fell off the chart. The album also entered at number 12 in Germany and No.21 in Switzerland.
Other singles from the album were "On the Horizon
" (UK number fourteen, written with Gregg Alexander), "Let's Love" in Japan (where the song accompanied a Toyota
commercial
), "Yeh Yeh Yeh
" in mainland Europe and, finally, a UK double A-side of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", which achieved a disappointing UK chart position of number twenty-seven. After a series of disappointments and the relative failure of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", Chisholm parted ways with her label, Virgin Records
. Reason has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.
Chisholm spent much of 2004 working on new material and setting up her own record company, Red Girl Records
. Without major label backing, her activities are decided on and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips. In April 2005, Chisholm released her third album, Beautiful Intentions
. The Adam Argyle-penned "Next Best Superstar
" was chosen as the lead single and was released simultaneously in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The single peaked at number ten in the UK and reached the top of the Germany radio airplay chart for several weeks. A second single, "Better Alone
", was released but later restricted to purchase from the iTunes Store
(for digital download) and from her official online shop. Chisholm released "Better Alone" in 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other European countries. The third single from her third album was "First Day of My Life
", a previously unheard Chisholm recording written by Guy Chambers
and Enrique Iglesias
. "First Day of My Life" topped the charts in several European countries. The single became one of the biggest hits of 2005 in parts of Europe, reaching number one position in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany for two weeks (Chisholms first No.1 single here), but it was never released in the UK. Beautiful Intentions has been certified gold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and platinum in Portugal, where it spent nine weeks at number one.
. It features writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who written six tracks for new album, Peter-John Vettese
, Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis
(amongst others). The first single released from the project was the international hit "The Moment You Believe
", primarily released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it became a top twenty hit. The single also peaked at number 1 in Spain for two weeks and was a hit in several other European countries. In the UK, Chisholm released the track "I Want Candy", which peaked at number twenty-four and featured on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The single peaked at number nine in Italy and Denmark. The second single from the album This Time was "Carolyna
", released in June in the UK and across Europe. Although it underperformed in the UK, it became a top five radio hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a top twenty hit in Italy. In October 2007 in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria Chisholm released the single "This Time
". A new version of the song was recorded for the release. It featured a B-side track called "We Love To Entertain You", which was used for 2007's Pro7 Starforce campaign in Germany.
In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a Greatest Hits
album release and a three-months world tour. When the tour reached its first two-day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December, another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City and a third solo performance in Toronto, Canada. In February 2008, Chisholm released her fourth album This Time
in Canada on 8 April 2008, followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single was "Carolyna". "Understand
" was released as a second single in Canada on 25 July. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.
presenter Zoe Ball
on a special New Year's Eve radio programme featuring the Great British Songbook of the 90s, make it the part of BBC
Special Christmas Season 2009.
In early 2011, Digital Spy reported that Melanie is working with DJ and club scene producer Jodie Harsh
. The report indicates that Chisholm's 5th album will move away from her previous rock led efforts going for a more commercial club oriented electronic approach, music in vein to her earlier smash hit "I Turn to You". In May 2011, Chisholm announced via her official website, that the first single of her new album entitled "Rock Me
" would be released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria 24 June 2011. The single has been chosen as the 'official' song for German TV channel ZDF’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" will be available worldwide on iTunes. Upon release, "Rock Me" went top 40 on the German singles chart. The second single "Think About It
" was announced on the singer's website. The video for "Think About It" premiered on MelanieC.net on 15 July 2011.The next singles from The Sea will be "Weak" for the UK (release November 6th), and "Let There Be Love" for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and east Europe(release December 2nd).
In 2011,Melanie C is supporting a homeless charity this Christmas by donating funds raised from her 2012 calendar.
playing herself alongside her bandmates. In 2000, Chisholm played herself in an episode of The Norm Show
while promoting her girl band's third studio album Forever
.
She revealed in an interview with Nylon Magazine
in December 2009, that she is interested in pursuing a serious acting career in film. In 2008 it was planned she would star in a sequel to the 1996 horror film The Craft
, but filming was terminated. In 2009, after having her first child, Chisholm signed to perform the role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical Blood Brothers by Willy Russell in London's West End'. She performed role for 6 months, commencing November 2009. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards
. Melanie reprises the role for a limited 2 week engagement at the Liverpool
Empire Theatre in November 2010.
is a racing driver and drives for Techspeed in the British Touring Car Championship.
Chisholm is friends with ex-Sex Pistols
guitarist Steve Jones
, who also played guitar on her first solo album Northern Star. Her favourite singers include Madonna
and Stevie Wonder
; her favourite film is Jurassic Park
. Chisholm is a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C.
, she named her label Red Girl Records
after LFC, and, her favourite players at the club ironically got christened Spice Boys
as a result of links with her and Simon Fuller
.
She has been in a relationship with property developer Thomas Starr since 2002, after meeting him during a holiday in Barbados that same year. They currently share a £1 million country home at Catbrook
, outside Chepstow
, Monmouthshire
.
In August 2008, it was announced that Chisholm and Starr were expecting their first child together. On 22 February 2009, Chisholm gave birth to a baby girl at the Portland Hospital
in London. The baby weighed 3.7 kg (8 lbs 3oz) and was named Scarlet Starr. Chisholm is the last of the Spice Girls to become a mother.
Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression and an eating disorder
, which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.
The singer is noted for her tattoo
s. Most of them are along eastern lines – among them a lotus flower, a phoenix and a dragon, and Tibetan symbols for love and happiness. She has 11 tattoos on her body with the last done in 2007 at Hanky Panky's
in Amsterdam.
Whiston, Merseyside
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 13,629...
, Lancashire) is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C (or Mel C). She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice". She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album Northern Star which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, Reason. Melanie was victorious in her battle against depression and the eating disorder, and released her third studio album two years later in 2005, Beautiful Intentions
Beautiful Intentions
Beautiful Intentions is the third solo album from singer-songwriter Melanie C. The first on her self-founded label Red Girl Records after parting ways with her old record label. The album has been Melanie's labour of love for a year, and she previewed several tracks on her Barfly mini tour in June...
which became her second most successful album commercially. In 2007 she released her fourth studio album This Time
This Time (Melanie C album)
This Time is the fourth studio album released by British singer/songwriter Melanie C. It was primarily released on 30 March 2007 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It was released in United Kingdom and some other countries On 2 April...
sporting a new indie sound. Shortly after the release of This Time, Melanie along with the four other members of the Spice Girls, confirmed their return as a band for their The Return of the Spice Girls
The Return of the Spice Girls
The Return of the Spice Girls was the second Europe-North America concert tour by British girl group the Spice Girls. This reunion tour visited five countries in both North America and Europe. This tour marked the group's first tour since 1999's Christmas in Spiceworld tour of the United Kingdom,...
World Tour. After the tour ended, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child and gave birth in February 2009. Melanie then signed on for a six month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play "Blood Brothers". Her fifth studio album The Sea
The Sea (Melanie C album)
The Sea is the fifth studio album by English recording artist Melanie C. Made under her own independent record label Red Girl Records, the album marks her first new material in four years, since the reunion with the Spice Girls and giving birth to her first child.Preceding the album's release,...
was released in September 2011.
Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
- and ECHO awards, has sold more than 12 million records as a solo artist and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
by a female artist. She is also the only female to reach UK Official Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number one as a part of quartet, quintet, duo and as a solo artist.
Early life
Chisholm was born on 12 January 1974 at Whiston HospitalWhiston, Merseyside
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 13,629...
, Whiston
Whiston, Merseyside
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 13,629...
. Raised originally in Rainhill
Rainhill
Rainhill is a large village and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, Rainhill was formerly a township within the ecclesiastical parish of Prescot, and hundred of West Derby...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
and then Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
she attended Fairfield High School where she studied singing and dancing. After leaving school at age 15, Chisholm studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts
Bird College
Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance is an independent performing arts school and college, based in the Greater London suburb of Sidcup...
in Sidcup
Sidcup
Sidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
, Kent. During college, she replied to an advert in The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
by Chris and Bob Herbert, who were looking to form a new girl group, later to become the Spice Girls. She left college just short of completing her three-year course and gained teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern Theatre Dance with the ISTD.
1994–1998: Spice Girls
In 1994, she joined the Spice Girls (then still called Touch) after the original fifth Touch member, Lianne Morgan had to leave the group. In 1996, Chisholm, along with Melanie BrownMelanie Brown
Melanie Janine "Scary Spice" Brown , often better known as Mel B, is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter...
, Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
, Emma Bunton
Emma Bunton
Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
, and Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
(at that time Victoria Adams), shot to fame with the release of "Wannabe
Wannabe (song)
"Wannabe" is the debut song by British pop group Spice Girls. Written by the group members with Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard during the group's first professional songwriting session, it was produced by Rowe and Stannard for the group's debut album Spice, released in November 1996...
". Because Mel C usually wore a tracksuit
Tracksuit
A tracksuit is an article of clothing consisting of two parts: trousers and a jacket usually with front zipper. It was originally intended for use in sports, mainly as what athletes wore over competition clothing and would take off before competition. In modern times, it has become commonly worn...
with her hair in a ponytail and sporting the attitude of a tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
, she was called Sporty Spice. After the release of their successful debut album, Spice
Spice (album)
Spice is the debut album by British pop group Spice Girls. Released on November 4, 1996 by Virgin Records, the album was recorded at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London between 1995 and 1996, by producers Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard, Eliot Kennedy and the production duo Absolute...
, the group released their second studio album, Spiceworld that also became successful as its predecessor. During the promotion of the album, Halliwell left the group and the four remaining members, including Chisholm, began working on their third studio album.
1999–2002: Solo career, Northern Star and the Spice Girls breakup
Chisholm took her first steps in establishing a solo career in late 1998 by singing with Canadian rocker Bryan AdamsBryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
on the song "When You're Gone". Her debut album Northern Star was released in 1999. A track from this album ("Ga Ga") was included on the Big Daddy soundtrack before her own album's release. Singles "Goin' Down
Goin' Down
"Goin' Down" is a pop–rock song written by British singer Melanie C, Julian Gallagher and Richard Stannard for Melanie C's debut solo album Northern Star . The song was produced by Marius De Vries and received a mixed reception from music critics...
" and "Northern Star
Northern Star (song)
Northern Star is a song written by British singer Melanie C and Rick Nowels. The song was produced by Marius De Vries. It is the title-track from her debut solo album and it was released as the second single in the winter of 1999. The single charted at number 4 in the United Kingdom, becoming her...
" were met with promising success, but the third single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Lisa Lopes
Lisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...
, became her first UK number-one single as a solo artist, also a number-one single in the Netherlands, a Top Five hit in Germany and No.2 in Australia. Chisholm released a fourth single from Northern Star, a dance remix of "I Turn to You", and earned herself a second number-one single in both the UK and the Netherlands. "I Turn to You" reached No.2 in Germany, No.11 in Australia and eventually climbed to the top of the Billboard dance chart in the United States. Northern Star was re-released with the single versions of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You", and eventually peaked at number four on the United Kingdom album chart and number six in Germany.
"If That Were Me
If That Were Me
"If That Were Me" is a 2000 single by Melanie C. It was the fifth and last single to be released from the triple platinum album Northern Star. The single entered the UK chart at #18.-Music video:...
" was chosen as the fifth and final single from Northern Star and proceeds were donated to a charity for the homeless; it peaked at number eighteen in the UK. Northern Star is certified three times platinum in the United Kingdom for shipping 900,000 copies, platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 copies, gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies, and gold in Australia for selling over 35,000 copies. Chisholm then went on her Northern Star World Tour, performing in countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
At the same time, Spice Girls released their third and final studio album, Forever
Forever (Spice Girls album)
Forever is the third and final studio album by the English pop girl group the Spice Girls, released in 2000. It is their only album without Geri Halliwell, who later reunited with the group for their Greatest Hits release in 2007...
. After the album's release, the group went their separate ways.
2003–2006: Reason, Red Girl and Beautiful Intentions
After a break from medias and public life and problems in her personal life, Chisholm released her second studio album, Reason, in March 2003. The album included production from a series of collaborators including Gregg AlexanderGregg Alexander
Gregg Alexander is an American singer/songwriter and producer, best known as the frontman of the New Radicals, who scored the international hit "You Get What You Give" in late 1998. Earlier in life he recorded two solo albums, Michigan Rain and Intoxifornication...
(New Radicals
New Radicals
New Radicals were an American pop rock band active in the late 1990s, centered on frontman Gregg Alexander, who wrote and produced all of their songs and was the sole constant member...
, Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
), Marius De Vries (Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
), Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys
The Blow Monkeys
The Blow Monkeys are a British new wave band that formed in 1981 as a new wave-oriented act. The first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow" was released in 1982. They subsequently recorded more commercial pop rock hit makers, and finally became a dance group, shortly before splitting up at the...
, David Arnold (Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
) and Matt Rowe, co-writer of the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
' "Wannabe". The lead single from Reason was "Here It Comes Again", which peaked at number seven in the UK, with the album entering the UK album chart a week later at number five, but quickly fell off the chart. The album also entered at number 12 in Germany and No.21 in Switzerland.
Other singles from the album were "On the Horizon
On the Horizon
"On the Horizon" was the second single to be released from Melanie C's second album "Reason". After the poor chart position of "Here It Comes Again", and "Reason" falling down the chart quickly, fans and critics alike were looking to see this single be a success. Unfortunately, things couldn't get...
" (UK number fourteen, written with Gregg Alexander), "Let's Love" in Japan (where the song accompanied a Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
commercial
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
), "Yeh Yeh Yeh
Yeh Yeh Yeh
"Yeh Yeh Yeh" is a song by Melanie C, and was the third and final single from Chisolm's second solo album, Reason , as a double A-side with "Melt". The original plan was to release "Yeh Yeh Yeh" as the third single, but shortly before this could happen, Chisolm injured her knee in TV show The...
" in mainland Europe and, finally, a UK double A-side of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", which achieved a disappointing UK chart position of number twenty-seven. After a series of disappointments and the relative failure of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", Chisholm parted ways with her label, Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Reason has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.
Chisholm spent much of 2004 working on new material and setting up her own record company, Red Girl Records
Red Girl Records
Red Girl Records is a London, UK based independent record label founded by Melanie C, after parting ways with her record label Virgin Records. All of Melanie's activities are decided upon and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips.-Studio albums:*2005:...
. Without major label backing, her activities are decided on and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips. In April 2005, Chisholm released her third album, Beautiful Intentions
Beautiful Intentions
Beautiful Intentions is the third solo album from singer-songwriter Melanie C. The first on her self-founded label Red Girl Records after parting ways with her old record label. The album has been Melanie's labour of love for a year, and she previewed several tracks on her Barfly mini tour in June...
. The Adam Argyle-penned "Next Best Superstar
Next Best Superstar
"Next Best Superstar" was the first single from Melanie C's third solo album, "Beautiful Intentions". Released on 4 April 2005, this was first single that Melanie released where she didn't have a writing credit, as this song was penned by Adam Argyle...
" was chosen as the lead single and was released simultaneously in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The single peaked at number ten in the UK and reached the top of the Germany radio airplay chart for several weeks. A second single, "Better Alone
Better Alone
"Better Alone" is a single from Melanie C's third album Beautiful Intentions. The song is a piano-backed ballad which covers themes such as independence and emancipation from a stifling relationship....
", was released but later restricted to purchase from the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
(for digital download) and from her official online shop. Chisholm released "Better Alone" in 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other European countries. The third single from her third album was "First Day of My Life
First Day of My Life (Melanie C song)
"First Day of My Life" is the third single from Melanie C's third solo album, Beautiful Intentions. It was released on 30 September 2005 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Later it was released internationally and peaked at number-one in Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain selling over...
", a previously unheard Chisholm recording written by Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers is an English songwriter and record producer, perhaps best known for his long partnership with Robbie Williams.- Biography :...
and Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
. "First Day of My Life" topped the charts in several European countries. The single became one of the biggest hits of 2005 in parts of Europe, reaching number one position in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany for two weeks (Chisholms first No.1 single here), but it was never released in the UK. Beautiful Intentions has been certified gold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and platinum in Portugal, where it spent nine weeks at number one.
2007–2008: This Time and the Spice Girls reunion
In early 2007, Chisholm released her fourth album, This TimeThis Time (Melanie C album)
This Time is the fourth studio album released by British singer/songwriter Melanie C. It was primarily released on 30 March 2007 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It was released in United Kingdom and some other countries On 2 April...
. It features writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who written six tracks for new album, Peter-John Vettese
Peter-John Vettese
Peter-John Vettese , also known as Peter Vettese, is a British keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer....
, Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis is a British dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress...
(amongst others). The first single released from the project was the international hit "The Moment You Believe
The Moment You Believe
"The Moment You Believe" is a 2007 ballad, which became the first single in Europe from Melanie C's fourth album This Time. Written with and produced by Peter Vettese, it has been soundbed for the spring advertising campaign for German TV show Nur die Liebe zählt...
", primarily released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it became a top twenty hit. The single also peaked at number 1 in Spain for two weeks and was a hit in several other European countries. In the UK, Chisholm released the track "I Want Candy", which peaked at number twenty-four and featured on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The single peaked at number nine in Italy and Denmark. The second single from the album This Time was "Carolyna
Carolyna
"Carolyna" was the second single to be taken from This Time, the fourth solo album of British singer Melanie C in both UK and European territories. Released on 18 June 2007 in the UK and around this period elsewhere...
", released in June in the UK and across Europe. Although it underperformed in the UK, it became a top five radio hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a top twenty hit in Italy. In October 2007 in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria Chisholm released the single "This Time
This Time (Melanie C song)
"This Time" is the fourth and final international single from Melanie C's fourth solo album of the same name, releasing in UK the same week with Spice Girls re-united for the world tour in Los Angeles....
". A new version of the song was recorded for the release. It featured a B-side track called "We Love To Entertain You", which was used for 2007's Pro7 Starforce campaign in Germany.
In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)
-Background:The plan to reform and release a greatest hits had long been speculated by the media, but its planned release was first confirmed by Melanie Brown in June 2005. Speaking just before a planned reunion for Live 8 , she stated: "We'll get back together because we all want to. I know...
album release and a three-months world tour. When the tour reached its first two-day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December, another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City and a third solo performance in Toronto, Canada. In February 2008, Chisholm released her fourth album This Time
This Time (Melanie C album)
This Time is the fourth studio album released by British singer/songwriter Melanie C. It was primarily released on 30 March 2007 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It was released in United Kingdom and some other countries On 2 April...
in Canada on 8 April 2008, followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single was "Carolyna". "Understand
Understand (Melanie C song)
"Understand" is the second and final domestic Canadian single from Melanie C's fourth solo album This Time.-Music video:Melanie C mentioned during her appearance on the MuchMusic Video Awards that she would be using footage shot at the awards show for the video of "Understand".The video was aired...
" was released as a second single in Canada on 25 July. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.
2009–present: The Sea
In May 2009, Chisholm announces the release of a DVD with her concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester (2008), in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation. The DVD also includes two new songs: "Blue Skies All the Way" and "Paris Burning". The Mirror reported in July 2009 that Melanie is to release a new album in 2010, however an album failed to materialise in 2010 and Chisholm has since confirmed via her Twitter feed that she is back in the recording studio and aiming for a release date in 2011. In December 2009, she joined BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
presenter Zoe Ball
Zoë Ball
Zoë Louise Ball is an English television and radio personality, most famous for becoming the first female host of the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show and for her earlier work presenting the 1990s children's show, Live & Kicking.-TV career:The daughter of the children's TV presenter Johnny Ball and his...
on a special New Year's Eve radio programme featuring the Great British Songbook of the 90s, make it the part of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Special Christmas Season 2009.
In early 2011, Digital Spy reported that Melanie is working with DJ and club scene producer Jodie Harsh
Jodie Harsh
Jodie Harsh born Jay Clarke Canterbury, Kent in 1985, is a London based DJ and Promoter.-Background:Clarke attended the London College of Fashion...
. The report indicates that Chisholm's 5th album will move away from her previous rock led efforts going for a more commercial club oriented electronic approach, music in vein to her earlier smash hit "I Turn to You". In May 2011, Chisholm announced via her official website, that the first single of her new album entitled "Rock Me
Rock Me (Melanie C song)
"Rock Me" is a song by English singer-songwriter Melanie C from her fifth solo album, The Sea. It was released as the album's first single on 24 June 2011 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Written by Melanie C, Dave Roth and David Jost, it serves as official theme song for German TV channel...
" would be released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria 24 June 2011. The single has been chosen as the 'official' song for German TV channel ZDF’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" will be available worldwide on iTunes. Upon release, "Rock Me" went top 40 on the German singles chart. The second single "Think About It
Think About It (Melanie C song)
"Think About It" is a song by English singer-songwriter Melanie C from her fifth studio album, The Sea. It was released as the first single from the album on September 4, 2011 and was written by Adam Argyle and collaborative team Cutfather...
" was announced on the singer's website. The video for "Think About It" premiered on MelanieC.net on 15 July 2011.The next singles from The Sea will be "Weak" for the UK (release November 6th), and "Let There Be Love" for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and east Europe(release December 2nd).
In 2011,Melanie C is supporting a homeless charity this Christmas by donating funds raised from her 2012 calendar.
Acting career
In the early to mid 1990s Chisholm made several appearances in television commercials and music videos while trying to pursue her music career. It was not until The Spice Girls became popular that she made regular television appearances and played herself in many commercials. In 1997, Chisholm's feature film debut came in Spiceworld The MovieSpiceworld (film)
Spice World is a 1997 British musical comedy film directed by Bob Spiers, written by Kim Fuller and Jamie Curtis, and starring the best-selling pop girl group the Spice Girls...
playing herself alongside her bandmates. In 2000, Chisholm played herself in an episode of The Norm Show
The Norm Show
The Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran from 1999 through 2001 on the ABC television network.-Synopsis:...
while promoting her girl band's third studio album Forever
Forever (Spice Girls album)
Forever is the third and final studio album by the English pop girl group the Spice Girls, released in 2000. It is their only album without Geri Halliwell, who later reunited with the group for their Greatest Hits release in 2007...
.
She revealed in an interview with Nylon Magazine
Nylon (magazine)
Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
in December 2009, that she is interested in pursuing a serious acting career in film. In 2008 it was planned she would star in a sequel to the 1996 horror film The Craft
The Craft (film)
The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain...
, but filming was terminated. In 2009, after having her first child, Chisholm signed to perform the role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical Blood Brothers by Willy Russell in London's West End'. She performed role for 6 months, commencing November 2009. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards
Laurence Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
. Melanie reprises the role for a limited 2 week engagement at the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
Empire Theatre in November 2010.
Personal life
Her younger half-brother Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill (racing driver)
Paul O'Neill is a auto racing driver from Widnes of Irish parentage, and the half-brother of 'Sporty Spice' Mel C.-Career:...
is a racing driver and drives for Techspeed in the British Touring Car Championship.
Chisholm is friends with ex-Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
guitarist Steve Jones
Steve Jones (musician)
Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
, who also played guitar on her first solo album Northern Star. Her favourite singers include Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
; her favourite film is Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
. Chisholm is a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, she named her label Red Girl Records
Red Girl Records
Red Girl Records is a London, UK based independent record label founded by Melanie C, after parting ways with her record label Virgin Records. All of Melanie's activities are decided upon and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips.-Studio albums:*2005:...
after LFC, and, her favourite players at the club ironically got christened Spice Boys
Spice Boys (footballers)
The Spice Boys was a media term used to describe a group of Liverpool F.C. footballers in the mid-late 1990s, seen typically as being composed of Jamie Redknapp, David James, Phil Babb, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore and Jason McAteer...
as a result of links with her and Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S...
.
She has been in a relationship with property developer Thomas Starr since 2002, after meeting him during a holiday in Barbados that same year. They currently share a £1 million country home at Catbrook
Catbrook
Catbrook is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Catbrook is located six miles south of Monmouth and one mile north west of Tintern.- History & Amenities :...
, outside Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
.
In August 2008, it was announced that Chisholm and Starr were expecting their first child together. On 22 February 2009, Chisholm gave birth to a baby girl at the Portland Hospital
Portland Hospital
The Portland Hospital for Women and Children, usually referred to simply as the Portland Hospital, is a hospital in Great Portland Street, London...
in London. The baby weighed 3.7 kg (8 lbs 3oz) and was named Scarlet Starr. Chisholm is the last of the Spice Girls to become a mother.
Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression and an eating disorder
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
, which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.
The singer is noted for her tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
s. Most of them are along eastern lines – among them a lotus flower, a phoenix and a dragon, and Tibetan symbols for love and happiness. She has 11 tattoos on her body with the last done in 2007 at Hanky Panky's
Henk Schiffmacher
Hendrikus Johannes Everhardus Schiffmacher is a Dutch tattoo artist who is also considered an expert within the field of body decoration, having curated exhibitions, written books and presented television shows on the subject...
in Amsterdam.
Discography
- 1999: Northern Star
- 2003: Reason
- 2005: Beautiful IntentionsBeautiful IntentionsBeautiful Intentions is the third solo album from singer-songwriter Melanie C. The first on her self-founded label Red Girl Records after parting ways with her old record label. The album has been Melanie's labour of love for a year, and she previewed several tracks on her Barfly mini tour in June...
- 2007: This TimeThis Time (Melanie C album)This Time is the fourth studio album released by British singer/songwriter Melanie C. It was primarily released on 30 March 2007 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It was released in United Kingdom and some other countries On 2 April...
- 2011: The SeaThe Sea (Melanie C album)The Sea is the fifth studio album by English recording artist Melanie C. Made under her own independent record label Red Girl Records, the album marks her first new material in four years, since the reunion with the Spice Girls and giving birth to her first child.Preceding the album's release,...
Television
- 2003: Bo Selecta ... Herself (Cameo)
- 2006: Dei-te Quase Tudo ... Herself (1 Episode)
- 2007: Keith Lemon's World Tour ... Herself (3 Episodes)
- 2011: Tonight's the NightTonight's the Night (TV series)Tonight's the Night is a BBC Saturday night entertainment television programme which stars on BBC One since 18 April 2009. It is presented by actor and singer John Barrowman.-Format:...
... Herself - 2011: Celebrity JuiceCelebrity JuiceCelebrity Juice is a British television comedy panel game show on ITV2 that has been airing since 24 September, 2008. The show is presented by Keith Lemon, with regular captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, alongside regular panellist Rufus Hound...
... Herself (22 September 2011, Series 6, Episode 4) - 2011: Breat Cancer Galleria Denmark ... Herself (29 October Denmark)
Stage Work
- 2009–2010: Blood Brothers ... Mrs Johnstone (London West End and Liverpool)
Tours
- 1999 – From Liverpool to Leicester SquareFrom Liverpool to Leicester SquareFrom Liverpool to Leicester Square was the first set of concerts by English singer-songwriter Melanie C. The tour ran from 27 September 1999 until 1 November 1999.-Setlist:*"Independence Day"*"Something's Gonna Happen"*"Northern Star"*"Be The One"...
- 2000 – Northern Star UK TourNorthern Star UK TourNorthern Star UK Tour was the second set of concerts performed by English singer-songwriter Melanie C. The tour ran from August 31, 2000 until October 1, 2000.- Setlist :-Band:*Fergus Gerrand - Drums/Musical Director*Paul Gendler - Guitar...
- 2001 – Northern Star World Tour
- 2003 – Reason UK & Ireland TourReason UK & Ireland TourReason UK & Ireland Tour was the seventh set of concerts performed by English singer-songwriter Melanie C. The tour ran from April 24, 2003 until May 12, 2003.-Setlist:*"Yeh Yeh Yeh"*"Let's Love"*"Here It Comes Again"*"Water"*"Lose Myself In You"*"Melt"...
- 2004 – The Barfly Mini-Tour
- 2005 – Beautiful Intentions European Tour
- 2005 – Beautiful Intentions German Tour
- 2008 – This Time Canadian Tour
- 2011 – The Sea Tour