Melanie Chisholm

Melanie C
Melanie Chisholm in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Jayne Chisholm
Also known as	Melanie C. Sporty Spice
Born	12 January 1974 (1974-01-12) (age 37) Whiston, Lancashire, England[1]
Origin	Merseyside, England, UK
Genres	Pop, pop rock, britpop, dance
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, businesswoman, actress
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Virgin Records Red Girl Records
Associated acts	Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Website	melaniec.net

Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974, Whiston, Lancashire^[1]) 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".^[2] Her fifth studio album The Sea was released in September 2011.

Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT- and ECHO awards^[3], 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.

Early life

Chisholm was born on 12 January 1974 at Whiston Hospital, Whiston.^[1] Raised originally in Rainhill, Merseyside^[4] and then Widnes, Cheshire she attended Fairfield High School^[5] where she studied singing and dancing.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Music career

1994-1998: Spice Girls

Main article: 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 Brown, 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.

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 Adams 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.

2003-2006: Reason, Red Girl and Beautiful Intentions

After a break from medias and public life and problems in her personal life,^[6] Chisholm released her second studio album, Reason, in March 2003. The album included production from a series of collaborators including Gregg Alexander (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.^[7] Reason has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.

Melanie C performing at a music festival in Germany, 2006

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.^[8]

2007-2008: This Time and the Spice Girls reunion

In early 2007, Chisholm released her fourth album, This Time. It features writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who written six tracks for new album,^{[9][clarification needed]} 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.^[10] In February 2008, Chisholm released her fourth album This Time in Canada on 8 April 2008,^{[11][dead link]} 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.

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.^[12] In December 2009, she joined BBC Radio 2 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.^[13]

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".^[14] 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.^[15] On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" will be available worldwide on iTunes.^[16] Upon release, "Rock Me" went top 40 on the German singles chart.^[17] 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).

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 Movie 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.

Personal life

Her younger half-brother Paul O'Neill 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.^[3] Her favourite singers include Madonna and Stevie Wonder;^[3] her favourite film is Jurassic Park.^[3] Chisholm is a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C., she named her label Red Girl Records after LFC,^[3] and, her favourite players at the club ironically got christened Spice Boys as a result of links with her and Simon Fuller.^[18]

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.^[19]

In August 2008, it was announced that Chisholm and Starr were expecting their first child together.^[20] 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.^[21]

Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression^[6] and an eating disorder,^[22] which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.

The singer is noted for her tattoos. 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.^[23]

Discography

Main article: Melanie C discography

• 1999: Northern Star
• 2003: Reason
• 2005: Beautiful Intentions
• 2007: This Time
• 2011: The Sea

Filmography

Films

• 1997: Spiceworld The Movie ... Herself (Lead Role)

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 Night ... Herself
• 2011: Celebrity Juice ... 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 Square
• 2000 – Northern Star UK Tour
• 2001 – Northern Star World Tour
• 2003 – Reason UK & Ireland Tour
• 2004 – The Barfly Mini-Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions European Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions German Tour
• 2008 – This Time Canadian Tour
• 2011 – The Sea Tour^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Bio IDMb
2. ^ "Mel C transforms from Sporty Spice to dowdy West End stage Mama for Blood Brothers role" 22 October 2009, Daily Mail
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "List of music awards nominations for Melanie Chisholm". IMDb. 17 December 2007. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004822/bio. 
4. ^ "I'm a Celebrity...I grew up here!" 28 November 2008, Daily Mail
5. ^ "Widnes-born former Spice Girl Mel C has new single chosen as anthem for Women’s World Cup" June 30, 2011, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
6. ^ ^{a b} "Mel C 'depressed'". BBC. 18 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/970176.stm. 
7. ^ "Mel C goes alone after being axed". BBC. 17 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3379885.stm. 
8. ^ "Timeline" Official web site
9. ^ Adam Argyle web site
10. ^ "Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm’s LA Gig". Celebrity-Gossip.net. 7 December 2007. http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/spice-girl-melanie-chisholms-la-gig-202875/. 
11. ^ CapitolMusic.ca
12. ^ "Mel C rocks with baby" 5 July 2009, Daily Mirror
13. ^ "The 90s" BBC Radio 2 web site
14. ^ "Mel C 'recording dance album' ", Wednesday, 2 February 2011
15. ^ "Rock Me" 6 May 2011, News at Chisholm web site
16. ^ "'Rock Me' Worldwide iTunes Release" 8 June 2011, Melanie C.net
17. ^ "MELANIE C: Rock Me (2track)" Music Line.de
18. ^ "Mel C" FourFourTwo.com
19. ^ "Former Spice Girl loves Welsh tranquillity". icWales.co.uk. 18 December 2007. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2007/04/29/former-spice-girl-loves-welsh-tranquillity-91466-18984843/. 
20. ^ Blackler, Zoe (22 August 2008). "Sporty Spice Mel C is pregnant with first child". The Times (UK). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4588220.ece. Retrieved 12 May 2010. 
21. ^ BBC: Spice Girl Mel C has a baby girl
22. ^ "Sporty Spice battles with eating disorders and depression". contactmusic.com. 18 December 2007. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/sporty%20spices%20battles%20with%20eating%20disorders%20and%20depression_1049870. 
23. ^ "Lucky Number 11" Perez Hilton web site

External links

• Official website
• Melanie Chisholm discography at Discogs
• Melanie Chisholm at Allmusic
• Melanie Chisholm at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Chisholm, Melanie Jayne
Alternative names	Mel C, Sporty Spice
Short description
Date of birth	12 January 1974
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death