Over the last three years, fans of Melanie Chisholm have seen her
appearance change dramatically. From Sporty Spice, to Sexy Spice, and now
to Rock Spice.

But is her latest image really all rock?

No. Not in my opinion. And certainly not after listening to her solo
album, Northern Star.

Melanie has, quite simply, grown over the last few years. From Sporty
Spice to Solo Spice, she has emerged from being the shy, quiet,
in-the-background Spice Girl to this animated, in-your-face, woman of many
talents.

And she just keeps getting better.

I decided to write this review of Northern Star now because I have now had
the chance to completely reassess my thoughts on each song. So without
further ado, here is my review of Northern Star, song by song.

1. Go: When I first heard this track, I thought it was quite good. I liked
the drums in it, I liked the way it was different to Going Down yet still
quite upbeat. I like the lyrics, and she has handled it really well both
musically and lyrically. However, lately, although I still love every
track on her album, this is one song which has gone from being quite good,
to just okay. Not my favourite track on the album, but definitely not my
least favourite either.

2. Northern Star: This song is, quite simply, beautiful. I love the way it
starts straight away rather than having a musical introduction and the
lyrics are so touching. I cannot hear this song without singing along, and
I don't know what anyone else thinks, but to me it has a very Madonna-esque
type feel to it. It reminds me a lot of the Madonna song "Live To Tell"
which is one of my favourites by her. Lyrically, it is fantastic. Musically,
it is amazing. This beautiful ballad is definitely my second favourite song
on the album.

3. Going Down: I always liked this song. Right from the very start. But
every time I hear it, I love it more and more. It gives me such an
adrenaline rush and, contrary to what a lot of people have been saying, I
think it was a GREAT single to release first from the album.

4. I Turn To You: If ever there was a song that screamed out to be remixed
and played at a nightclub, it's this one. Remixing aside, though, this is
a beautiful song, with fantastic lyrics and a deeper meaning. I have heard
tell that this song is written for her mother primarily, but also her
friends. It makes sense, with lines such as, "I turn to you, like a flower
leaning toward the sun...I turn to you, cos you're the only one...who can
turn me around...when I'm upside down". I wouldn't mind someone writing a
set of lyrics like that about me!

5. If That Were Me: Powerful set of lyrics, and my GOD Melanie does an
amazing job with them. I love this song because it is obviously about an
issue so close to Melanie's heart and this is evident in how powerfully
she sings this song. Not a favourite, but close.

6. Never Be The Same Again: Okay. At first, my reaction to this song was,
"Eh, it's okay, but it could definitely do without the rap that Lisa Lopes
did. I started out H-A-T-I-N-G that bit with a passion, now I think it
actually works really well with the rest of the song. I honestly don't
think it is the best rap Lisa has ever done, but as for the actual song,
my GOD!!! Melanie's voice, the lyrics, her voice....I just happen to think
she sounds so BEAUTIFUL (all throughout the album and) in this song. When
she sings, "Come On...come on" I just go absolutely "Ga Ga". I also happen
to be extremely convinced that this song unearths a lot of issues that
have been the topic of speculation with our Melanie these days...

7. Why: Like I said, I love the whole album and this song is no exception.
But apart from the fact that I think she sounds great and I can quite
easily relate to the lyrics, it is definitely the song I listen to least
of all.

8. Suddenly Monday: I cannot listen to this song without wanting to get up
and dance to it. I think it is very show tuney, jazzy, and really fun and
upbeat. This is one of the ones I can listen to loads and not get sick of
it. It was loads better at the concert, in my opinion, but I guess that
was because it was longer and I was staring at Melanie all night...

9. Ga Ga: This is a great song, I love the lyrics, and the music works
really well with the whole song. I think this is another one of those
songs that just gets better each time I hear it. I like the almost
grunge-rock feel to it that makes it easy to get into.

10. Be The One: I love this song. It is my fourth favourite track on the
album. I particularly love the "Ooh-ooh" bits she does throughout and I
think her voice is absolutely gorgeous in this song. This is another song
she handles really well and I think this song should be released as her
next single or at least released as a single at some point.

11. Closer: My favourite song. Without a doubt, this is the most beautiful
song I have ever heard. It is a song I am sure nearly EVERYONE, if NOT
everyone, can relate to. A few people I know prefer the acoustic version
from the Northern Star Documentary better but I absolutely ADORE the album
version, and think that the instrumental bits add more feeling to the
song. I really, really, really LOVE the way she sings this song, and
suspect very strongly that it was written for a certain someone....This
song is by far and away the best song on the album. In my opinion, that
is. When my friend Lisa told me that Melanie was nearly in tears when she
sang this at her Sydney concert, it made me love this song that little bit
more. I think THIS should be the next single she releases. Without a
doubt.

12. Feel The Sun: When I first heard this, I honestly didn't think a lot
of it. I thought, "Yeah, it's okay. Not her best song, though" After the
concert on 1/11/99, this is now one of my favourites. It may have had a
lot to do with the fact that she had tears in her eyes when she sang it on
Monday night, it may have had a lot to do with the fact that this song
means so much to her, it may be a lot of things. All I know is that this
song has slowly but surely climbed from being my second-least favourite
song on the album to my third favourite song on the album. I really love
the lyrics, and the music works beautifully with the whole feeling of the
song. It also, in my opinion, has quite a Madonna-esque influence to it,
although I cannot think of the song it so reminds me of. Her performance
of this song at the concert (and maybe that little t-shirt lift on the
line, "This angel's my salvation) is definitely what moved the song so far
up the list. I love it, and I think it is a fantastic song to choose as
last on an album that is so fantastically wonderful.

Northern Star is an album that I recommend EVERYONE should have. It has
such a diverse range of music-styles, such wonderful lyrics, and such
emotion put into it. You would be hard up to find an album out there that
would replace it in my CD player any time soon.