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Music Reviews

Melanie C. Pics: Lee Allen.

Melanie C review

Melanie C might have played to a smaller crowd at the Waterfront in Norwich than she has been used to, but her rock-edged performance won over a surprised new fan in Lee Allen.

The last time Melanie C came to Norwich she played to a sellout UEA in 2003, so it's unsettling to see that the ex-Spice Girl is performing to a crowd a third of the size in a ludicrously hot Waterfront.

In the last two years, she's weathered a few changes. She has parted company with Virgin and has released a new album, Beautiful Intentions, on her own label, Red Girl.

But the one fact that hasn't altered is that she still has fans as loyal as ever lining the front row.

Devotees from Liverpool, London and Holland had travelled to Norwich for her gig after a clutch of dates were shelved when Melanie lost her voice.

Late arrival

Tonight, however, they are not disappointed. The star of the show arrives on stage 10 minutes late and the crowd erupts, notching up the decibels far beyond those which should be achieved by a 470-strong crowd.

Her unpunctuality was not due to a diva strop, but because her beloved Liverpool FC had beaten Chelsea to reach the Champions League final.

Starting with the blistering title track from her latest and third album and following up with Yeh, Yeh, Yeh from 2003's Reason LP, it was clear to see this was not going to be a pop show.

The difference between Mel C the sporty Spice Girl and Melanie C the solo artist is huge. Her voice has grown in power, while her sultry stage presence punctuates the fact that this is where she feels at home.

Victorious result

Addressing the crowd for the first of many chats, she is bursting with excitement about the football results and chants of 'Liverpool' ring out from the crowd.

Melanie C makes the temperature soar.

It’s a strange feeling to stand so close to someone who just a few years ago was probably recognised by people from almost every country in the world and was on TV and radio non-stop.

Despite being at the summit of fame, she comes across as a lovely down-to-earth girl who just so happens to have been in the biggest girl group of all time.

Throughout the night we are treated to hits like Ga Ga, Never Be The Same Again and Goin' Down.

Finishing up with You'll Get Yours from the new album, the fans leave very sweaty but ecstatic after getting to see their heroine in such a small venue - and she certainly gained one more recruit to her fanbase.

I was astounded at how good and polished she was. As I was leaving, it was plain that I wasn't the only one astounded at her performance when someone said to me she's probably the best thing to come out of Liverpool, even better than The Beatles!

Melanie C played the Waterfront in Norwich on Tuesday 3 May 2005.

last updated: 05/05/05

Have Your Say

Tell us what you thought of the Norwich gig.

xtian of philippines
i just hope she come here in philippines.... i love her
Wed May 10 11:31:42 2006

esther marie joensen
I think melanie c is great and cool to and i love her music very much i hope she will go one for a long time to come.
Tue Apr 18 19:09:13 2006

Faloola Chong
Yay Towny still a Mel C fan! Mel is great! I think 2006 is gonna be Mellies year!
Tue Jan 24 15:05:17 2006

christine spearing
mel c is the coolest singer I love her .
Wed Oct 19 15:06:57 2005

Stella
Melanie C is awesome! No doubt about it, her credibility and voice speak for themselves. Beautiful Intentions is by far her greatest work yet. I love every song and the lyrics are so easy to relate to.
Tue Oct 11 03:39:01 2005

Lesley Ng
I'm from Malaysia and although I've not been to the gig she came here to promote her album. I just wanna say she looks fantasic. It was the first time I got a chance to see her in person ever since I started liking her years back. Her songs are fantasic and i can't wait for her to come to Malaysia again! YOU GO GIRL!
Wed Sep 21 08:13:50 2005

f-tou
I love her!
Tue Aug 23 16:16:18 2005

kelly
iv been and seen mel c 4times now and when she runs on that stage uno she is gonna be at her best coz u carnt get no better she is amazing lv ya mel x
Mon Aug 15 09:23:58 2005

Sinuhe, Brazil
Melanie C is a great singer, she's really amazing!
Sat Jul 9 11:46:11 2005

Pat Gallagher
I just want to say that she is great! Her music never fails to disappoint. Her music is just fantasic and I have turned all my friends into fans, so go buy the album.
Fri Jul 1 14:39:13 2005

Roy
I have seen melanie 4 times now the waterfront gig was her best gig I love the beautiful intentions album by far her best . I am praying she gets in the charts with better alone she needs to be reconised as a grate artist. Love u mel x
Sun Jun 26 08:56:09 2005

Piers
I wasn't there but i wish i was. when i looked on Melanie C's website i saw that she was playing at Shepherds Bush Empire so i booked the tickets straight away and then a couple of days later i saw that she was playing in norwich. I have stuck by Melanie since she left the Spice Girls and i have not be dissapointed i love the new album. Better Alone is released 1 August. A long wait but it's worth it.
Mon Jun 20 10:27:57 2005

Paul
Seen melanie 3 times, at the UEA and then G.A.Y in 2003, and more recently at the Waterfront in May. She has always been my favourite Spice Girl and her music style is completely her own. The Waterfront gig was by the best I have seen, as is her third album Beautiful Intentions. I will remember it for a very long time. It's just a shame she isn't as successful as she was was initially when she released Northern Star, but if people could see beyond Sporty Spice, and see her now as an artist in her own right, I'm sure she could climb her way back up again! Melanie you're the best!
Thu Jun 16 12:02:25 2005

Laura
I’ve seen Melanie live 4 times now and the Waterfront gig was by far the best. Melanie is a truly amazing singer and is continuing to go from strength to strength. I do advise anyone contemplating buying her new album Beautiful Intentions to go and purchase it as you will not be disappointed. The highlights of the show were definitely the songs Little Piece Of Me and You'll Get Yours. The Waterfront is also a really cool venue as it’s so intimate - wherever you stand you get a fantastic view of the stage. It was a brilliant night and well worth the two- hour drive to get there!
Tue May 24 18:59:20 2005

Conner
I thought Mel is absolutely amazing! Beautiful Intentions is a really good album.
Mon May 23 05:28:58 2005

Andrew*E
Ive seen melanie live a lot and she never fails to disapiont me! the crowd love every second of the variety on which she has , what i mean by that is she the only artist who can rock a joint then take it slow rock it up again then turn rnb and dance beats and still get an amazing reation she is simple a legend!
Sun May 22 21:40:32 2005

carl
Melanie is truly amazing. Her voice has grown stronger and stronger over the past few years. It's great to go to a concert and see someone who is there because she loves performing, being with her fans and who can sing live. Mel is an inspiration and simply the best!
Sun May 22 20:38:16 2005

Stevo - Scotland
Hey I just have to say she rocked my socks off and she's just the best of all the spice girls. Her new album rocks so much and I just hope she'll have success again soon in the UK and everywhere so. The gig rocked, Melanie rocked and have seen her again recently at Edinburgh Liquid Room!! I will always buy her albums/singles!
Sun May 22 20:17:07 2005

candy.k-greece
melanie c is the best!! i love her voice and her songs!!!!!!
Sun May 22 19:01:33 2005

Kerry Smyth
Melanie C is the best thing ever! She is absolutly amazing i cannot think of another famous person who cares about their fans so much. She is so down to earth and very talented. She is also an ispiration! All her albums are totally out of this world! She is just Simply the BEST!
Sun May 22 18:34:43 2005

Saz
Melanie C is absolutely amazing and its a pleasure to read a reviewer who appreciates melanie's tallents! I have seen Melanie many times on this and past tours and she really is such a fantastic performer who justifies why she has such loyal fans!
Sun May 22 17:10:38 2005

Darlene
I went to the Mel C gig with a friend who is a big fan of the singer and wasn't expecting it to be good. But i was really surprised at how well she performed live. I like her songs and im now a fan of her. I prefer her to Jamelia and Natasha bedingfield now, whose gigs iv also been to recently.
Sun May 22 16:39:25 2005

Kayleigh
Melanie C is totally & utterly amasing. She totally rocks live ! She is such a down to earth person & is even better in real life ! Melanie's my idol always has been always will be ! MELANIE C truly is my inspiration & it totally amasing ! Melanie you totally rocked Birmingham !!! It was Fantastic !Cant wait to hear her again !
Sun May 22 15:40:12 2005

Jonny
fantastic! melanie is one of the best acts out there and she doesnt get as much appreciation as she deserves. go on melanie - your fans love ya! :D
Sun May 22 15:05:30 2005

Mr A N Othermusician
It is good to see that an Artist of such a high profile as Melanie C can come and play the small stage for a more intimate gig. I hope that other big names will take more of an intiative and follow suit. It is sad that Norwich gets missed by so many professional bands becuase we are 'out in the sticks'. Prevously not a Mel fan, I was thoroughly impressed with Melanie and all of her band. Great show, good sound.
Sun May 22 15:01:31 2005

Paul Contreras
Hi my name is Paul and I came all the way from Peru To see melanie C performing live at Norwich . She is Amazing and I am glad that she is still making GREAT Music! God Bless her!
Sun May 22 14:40:25 2005

eddu - brazil
brazil loves mel... she is the best
Mon May 9 21:21:32 2005

Heidi
i thought melanie was amazing at this gig, i follow melanie on most of her apperances weather be gigs or tv, im from liverpool and support melanie so much and have done for many years.
Mon May 9 14:43:15 2005

Donna Townsend
The gig at the Waterfront was absolutely amazing! I've seen her in concert with the Spice Girls a couple of times and as a solo artist six times and she gets stronger every time. I always think her voice can get no stronger and she goes and proves me wrong every time! Well done Melanie, I had a brilliant time!
Fri May 6 22:16:37 2005

Darren Ashman
A superb all-round performance by Melanie. It's only when you hear and see her perform live that you realise just how much she loves what she does. If only everyone could forget that she was a part of 'that group', then they could truly accept her as the fantastic artist she is.
Fri May 6 15:28:48 2005

Mental One
First time I have seen Melanie C perform live. I wasn't a big fan before, although I did like some of her music. I was given the tickets as a friend couldn't go and how happy am I that I did. Melanie rocked the house, her voice is more powerful than in the Spice Girls days and the fans are possibly as good as fans get! Will be keeping an eye out for future gigs and buying Melanie's album/singles. I have also been recommending her to everyone I meet. Wow what a show!
Fri May 6 14:26:42 2005

Paul O'Rourke
I thought it was an awesome gig! Melanie is clearly back with the best material she's ever done. The review pretty much covers my thoughts! Except that Melanie looks stunning and my favourite track is the wonderful Little Piece Of Me.
Fri May 6 11:08:42 2005

April
The Norwich gig was absolutely incredible. Melanie performed so well, even though she is still recovering from her throat infection. I was mesmerised throughout the entire show, her voice and the power with which she performs is incredible. She never ceases to amaze me. Melanie C is without a doubt the best artist out there.
Thu May 5 23:45:45 2005

Angel
Yes I know! Melanie C is really fantastic, I wasn't a fan of her either but her last album is amazing, really rock-pop and has so many great ballads like Better Alone and YGY. MC deserves to be on top! Go GIRL!
Thu May 5 19:55:44 2005

Bex
A fabulous review. We can see that you're a man of taste and fabulous writing skills Mr Allen. Glad to see that you enjoyed the show. Did I not say you wouldn't be dissapointed! Have a good anniversary!
Thu May 5 17:45:12 2005

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