Before she was Sporty Spice, Melanie C was a teenage raver on the Costa Brava dancing to Prodigy and Grooverider in a tracksuit. Thirty years later, she's finally made the album that brings it all together.
On this episode of CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show, Chris and Chantel Nicole give an honest review of Melanie C's ninth solo album "Sweat" - a dance-pop record built on house, rave culture, and dance influences that might be the most exciting solo Spice Girls release since Northern Star. Recorded across London, Stockholm, and LA with collaborators including Robyn producer Klas Åhlund and PinkPantheress collaborator Oscar Scheller, "Sweat" finds Mel C merging her pop career with her second life as a globally touring DJ and fully embracing the Sporty Spice persona she once kept at arm's length.
We go track by track, talk about the Diana Ross and Inner Life samples, the emotional arc from heartbreak to new love, how her DJ career shaped the sound, and whether this belongs in the conversation for best solo Spice Girl album ever.Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:00 - "Sweat" Album Info
- 2:41 - Album Cover
- 4:34 - "Sweat"
- 13:15 - "Drum Machine"
- 20:00 - "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"
- 24:21 - "Til It Breaks"
- 28:18 - "Pressure"
- 33:34 - "Emotional Memory"
- 37:00 - "Attitude"
- 42:42 - "Good For Nothing"
- 46:25 - "Undefeated Champion"
- 51:04 - "Cashmere"
- 55:35 - "Free To Love"
- 59:30 - "One Track Mind"
- 1:03:40 - "Flick of the Wrist"
- 1:07:45 - Cut or Keep
- 1:09:45 - Overall Thoughts & Final Rating
References:
- “Sweat” MV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blY463GJQjw&pp=ygUPbWVsYW5pZSBjIHN3ZWF0
- “Sweat” Live at Michael McIntyre’s Big Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si3o935rQco&pp=ygUPbWVsYW5pZSBjIHN3ZWF0
- “Sweat” Live from The Voice Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF_YnsnYZCs&pp=ygUPbWVsYW5pZSBjIHN3ZWF0
- “Drum Machine” MV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYuAN7aBZWc&pp=ygUWbWVsYW5pZSBjIGRydW0gbWFjaGluZQ%3D%3D
- “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” Live at BBC Radio 2 Piano Room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Azz2NlMyY4&pp=ygUmbWVsYW5pZSBjIHdoYXQgY291bGQgcG9zc2libHkgZ28gd3Jvbmc%3D
- “Undefeated Champion” Live at Die Giovanni Zarrella Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOkWhx9cNM&pp=ygUdbWVsYW5pZSBjIHVuZGVmZWF0ZWQgY2hhbXBpb24%3D
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 Three, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. I'll make you sweat.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:33 This is CCTV, the nonstop pop show where we provide our unfiltered, honest opinions on global pop music. And we've done a ton of Spice Girls episodes on the show. We've reviewed all their albums and B-sides. We've done full reviews of Victoria and Mel B's debut albums. But it's time to jump ahead because Melanie C has just released a brand new album, Sweat. Sweat?
00:00:33 --> 00:00:58 Yes, so let's get this workout going today. So yeah, we are, of course, big Mel C fans. She is my favorite Spice Girl. And we both did go see her do a little DJ gig in Brooklyn a few months ago. That was fun. I'm going to her tour, of course. Hopefully you can go too. You're figuring out your schedule, right? Yes! Okay. I'm so excited. So yes, let's get into Sweat.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:22 Yes, Sweat is Melanie C's ninth studio album released May 1st, 2026. And it was recorded between London, Stockholm and Los Angeles over approximately two and a half years. And this dance pop album is inspired by Melanie's stint as a DJ over the last few years. And also the fitness persona that Melanie has had since the Spire Sporty Spice days.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:50 Yes, she has said in interviews that she realized she is confident, sassy, and energetic as a performer and a DJ. But in the studio, she's historically been more introspective and serious. So she very intentionally wanted to make songs that reflected her stage persona for this album and era. And lyrically, Melanie noted that this album has an arc showcasing a bitter breakup into the excitement and vulnerability of a brand new relationship.
00:01:50 --> 00:02:18 And the album was released on her label, Red Girl, in partnership with Virgin Music Group, which is a huge deal, right? Because Virgin, or at least the family of Virgin Records, is who originally signed the Spice Girls and who she also released the first two albums with. And she's been fully independent since then, at least in the UK. And now this is our first time doing a distribution deal worldwide, I believe, for our solo album.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:36 Yes, return to form in all different kinds of ways with this album. Yeah. So yes, let's get into it. We're going to deep dive into the production, vocals, visuals, performances of each song, and then drop our individual ratings. And you are so free to join us, okay? But viewer discretion is advised. Your fave will be criticized.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:50 Okay, before we get into the album, let's talk about this amazing album cover. Hello. Also, I have it in person as well. This just arrived yesterday. Yes, delicious. Beautiful album cover. I'm so excited to have the physical. Yes.
00:02:51 --> 00:03:20 Lucky you. Soon come. Soon come. I'm going to get something. I'm going to get something. Like tickets for our show. But yes, I love this album cover. I feel like this is the ultimate sporty spice. Like the forms of the warm-up suit, ripping it off into like the little sports bra into like a little, you know, pant action. But now here we are in a full-on bodysuit. Even the cut of the bodysuit, the silhouette of it, is indicating some kind of throwback.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:49 um so i do appreciate that also she looks amazing like after having after having watched her as a 51 year old woman on these performances and on this cover i have long not even long since i have started working out um literally i worked out before this episode so i'm feeling the pressure a side note oh i love that song on the album spoiler um feeling the pressure of looking hot for this this you know this tour and this review yeah yeah
00:03:49 --> 00:04:16 Yeah, I know. Like, literally my one note is, if you need any workout motivation, stare at this album cover or watch the Sweat music video, which we'll talk about shortly. But I love it. I love the pose. I love that she's in heels as well. You know, just to make it a little bit elegant. Yes. Yeah, she looks amazing. The definition is just wild. And I love orange as the, you know, the key color.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:35 Mm-hmm. Which is why I'm wearing it. If you're watching, I am wearing a red sweatband on my head for sweat. And then an orange little half-arm, half-out-arm. Yeah. A symmetrical top. Let's get it. Sponsors. Holler at us. Let's hop right into it with the first track. Sweat.
00:04:35 --> 00:05:05 This was done by Melanie C., Theo Hutchcraft, Sean McDonough, Dominic Liu, Diana Ross, Raymond Chu, and Paul Jabera. And this interpolates Worth That Body by Diana Ross. And this was released as the first single back in October 2025. And this single channels what Melanie C. calls a vintage workout video kind of energy. I agree. I'll make you. I'll make you. Three, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:29 Yes, she has said in interviews as well that this is kind of like the wannabe of the album. It's a bit more camp. It's a bit more fun just to kind of get people's attention and launch the era. But it's not exactly indicative of what the album will be. That's valid. Okay. And it totally works for that. This was such a great launch to the era. Yeah. Right. Because she's also said this is her first time fully, fully embracing Sporty Spice.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:55 as a solo artist like she kind of did it with the last album with self-titled like yeah who i am the music video is her like going through a museum of her old looks and stuff and of course spice girls looks and stuff are in that but obviously we all know her as sporty spice so her doing a really campy song about working out that's kind of has innuendos and stuff in it yeah it just makes sense it makes sense for sure
00:05:55 --> 00:06:13 It does. I think I read somewhere that she felt like she was cosplaying as herself, which I can get that to a certain extent. It's like, yeah, they're expecting this from me. So you kind of divert from that. I mean, we see it with a lot of like Disney stars, too. It's like I'm not a child anymore. I can't be tamed kind of vibe. Yes. Ha ha ha.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:37 So I appreciate it. I mean, the sporty one with a song about working out. What? What? Finally, though, also, finally, because I like when people play into their thing, their name or whatever. Yeah. Like, spice up your life. Like, you guys are called Spice. Like, do we really need this? Yes. Hello. This is confident and sexy. Like, keep your eyes on me. Get your heart pumping. I'll make you sweat. And like you said...
00:06:37 --> 00:07:00 Oh my gosh, I love the innuendo. And Mel has mentioned that sweat came at the end of things. But for it to be one of the songs she worked on around the last few songs or whatever, or the last bit of time that she worked on this, not bad. Not bad at all. And I love that it does have those double innuendos. Because when you combine the concepts of working out and something else, it feels playful. It's not just like...
00:07:00 --> 00:07:22 I want you to put it inside of me now. It's like, it's just a little bit more fun. I mean, the body weight hold it lines crack me up because like a plank for one minute is difficult, y'all. If you've held a plank for at least one minute, it's hard. So if your partner only lasts for only that long, it's of the duration of this amazing song, you know what, show some sympathy, okay? Correct?
00:07:23 --> 00:07:30 Wow. Yes. You know, I'm just saying, I tried holding a plank recently. It was not cute. Yeah.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:56 I have in my notes, I was like, I don't know if the hook is a sample, but I had a moment where I didn't realize that this is interpolated. I just listened to the music and I was like, something about it feels familiar, but didn't pinpoint it was Diana. But yes, I'm so glad you can actually hear her voice in the three, two, three, four, because she does sing it, but you can hear it in the mix. It's not like forward and bold, but it is there. And I do appreciate that for sure. She's on the song. Yes. Yes.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:09 I love the sample. It's used so well. I had never seen a music video for Work That Body before. But Miss Diana is killing it in that. You know, that's why Michael had a little crush. And that hook is very fun.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:28 Yeah. Reach, two, three, four, five, six. Yeah. Very, very fun. And I agree. The vocal on that, definitely, it's very throaty, like the way it is in this song. But I'm not mad at it. And I like the reach. There's like, reach, reach. Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:44 It's very dramatic. There are some really good production elements too. Like the actual track itself is beautifully done. It's super full. Of course, there's kind of the whole 80s vibe with all the synths and stuff. But if you actually listen to it, like with all, you know, with nice headphones, it's
00:08:44 --> 00:08:58 Yeah. There's all these like little breaths. There's all these little harmonies in there. There's some cool vocal layers in there. And then, of course, there's interesting production elements, too. Like, there's actually a lot in the track, and it's built really well. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, this is perfect for the workout playlist.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:28 Come on get that sweet. It's like a warm up song for sure. But yes, I think maybe like when the video did come out, we did react to it. So if you want to look at that, you can. We did react to it. And it's so funny because all I can look at is her obviously because she's like in the center of the frame. But I look at her muscles. Like I see those first. I remember saying mommy. I look at it again. I'm like mommy. Yeah. It's amazing.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:43 I know she has had some, you know, ups and downs with her weight and like her self-esteem issues and things like that. But I'm looking at her now and it's like you can see how she's settled in. Maybe we all have her up and down days, you know, but it's just I could see health.
00:09:43 --> 00:10:02 And I think that's what's really important about it. She looks healthy. Yes. And the definition is not easy. She really dedicated herself to this. And I was like, this is great. This video is literally and figuratively a flex. And I'm so happy for it because she looks really good. And my favorite look is that red number from the beginning with the ponytail. And then she's on the bottom.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:26 like i love heels yeah yeah i love that combo it's really sexy she looks like a wrestler and not a wrestler or superhero yeah you know super spies um and i think you and i both have like a highlight scene that we both like with the spice speedos oh i just think it's hilarious the spice boys are so funny that was of course she actually made an exclusive album cover
00:10:27 --> 00:10:56 With the Spice Boys on it. That's, I think, exclusive to her website or HMV or something. That's amazing. Very funny. I love it. Yeah. I will say, I also love the shots just with the white background with the leotard or whatever that she's wearing on the album cover. Oh, yeah. Yeah, because she just looks amazing. She does. I did actually go to the Kelly Clarkson show taping when Mel C was on. And even Kelly kind of said what you said. She was like, I appreciate that you just look super powerful and strong.
00:10:56 --> 00:11:19 in this whole video like you're not it's sexy but it's not deliberately sexy it's sexy because she's confident and just is yeah um so it's cool it's i think they did a really really good job and obviously as a spice girls fan like seeing that this is what she's doing oh my god 30 years on is like pretty amazing
00:11:19 --> 00:11:35 you know right yeah that's valid oh man and i lived through the years where she was just like never will i ever go back to the spice girls like i don't ever you know i remember those days yeah so kind of seeing her now just kind of fully embrace it is nice
00:11:35 --> 00:11:58 Congratulations. Bring all your personas together. And speaking of personas, she performed this song a couple times. And each one was different, which I appreciate. She had a dance sweat concept. And then she had an actual, we're working out in the gym concept. I'm not going to lie. I would say that the big show, I'm not in love with the skirt. It never came off. I wish the skirt had come off.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:16 oh you know you know and they put the skirt off velcro y'all velcro so i will say though with that uh michael mcintyre performance yes all the dancers are kylie's tension dancers yeah so for me it was fun just to see them i was like oh my god
00:12:16 --> 00:12:41 Like a reunion. Yeah. They all call each other. I'm like, are you on this tour? Yes, I'm on this tour. Come on. I love the voices performance. It was very dynamic. The theme. Hello. Just lean into it. And the usage of KT tape as the accessory. Love that. So I'm here for it. She looked like she was, you know, sweaty and stuff and wet. And I'm like, girl, go ahead. Rip your shirt open. She never did. But, you know.
00:12:41 --> 00:13:09 Yeah, and I loved how they staged it as well. She kind of kept moving more and more forward. And I think at the end, she's on like a bench. You know, she's like literally right in front of the fellow judges. It's like, ah, so, so good. That performance is great. It is. And of course, we did experience the song in her DJ set. Oh, my God. It is fun. It is. I almost forgot. Wow. It is. Ooh, I can't wait to get through this completely. But yes, all that being said, my rating is an 8.5 good start, but...
00:13:10 --> 00:13:31 Same. I also have it as an 8.5. Okay, let's move on to Drum Machine. This was done by Melanie C., Harper, and John Shave. And this was released as the focus track for the album and is written about her current boyfriend. She wanted to write a love song about someone who makes you feel amazing physically. Ew.
00:13:37 --> 00:14:04 So this is basically the main single for the release of the album. It does sound like she's been teasing already that there is a deluxe version coming that I guess there's a song that she played in a DJ set once that is not on this album, but the fans were like really excited about. So it sounds like that one will be coming as maybe the lead single for the next, so like the deluxe version. But for now we can count this as the main, main one. Oh, what's a good name for a deluxe album for working out sweat? Sweat.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:14 more oh yeah sweat more
00:14:18 --> 00:14:37 I will say this song took me a little second to come around to. Okay. I think I listened to it when they had, you know, they block out and gray out all the other tracks on Apple Music. And they leave these couple ones highlighted. This is a highlighted one, obviously, because this is the lead single. Or folk single, excuse me. These new terms. Oh, my goodness. I know.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:59 um but yes so i like the how about it's a good thesis statement for the track and at first i was thinking i'm like is this really my style i don't know if it's like my personal when i say my style like things i would like i mean people are probably gonna slate me like you don't know what you're talking about girl and if i know whatever but i just wasn't feeling it at first like for like i don't know i wasn't connecting with it with me um
00:14:59 --> 00:15:23 And production, after I listen to it a little bit more, is a lot more complex. It's not really humdrum at all. Like I thought originally, because I don't know, something just was not getting me about it, really. But melodically, I would say that it is strong. Not the strongest, in my opinion, but it's good right after Sweat. So I think for me, it's like right after Sweat, we're getting not much of anything to hop into this. It's easy, but oh, yeah.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:49 thank you so much for the meal like it's it's still okay for me um i do appreciate some of the bigger notes that mel c is hitting in this latter half latter half of the song is amazing um and shout out to the bass synth in this song that builds an amazing depth that i absolutely love it makes the song feel dark and and it adds tension and like like not like a typical way where you have a bunch of hi-hats kind of go
00:15:49 --> 00:16:07 and it explodes. The bass is creating that swelling. And then when the brighter sense splash in, it makes a true impact. This is really that track where you're like, dance pop moment where you emerge from the darkness. And it feels euphoric and celebratory, a proper reset for your heart to feel again. And I like that.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:30 Yes. Yeah. Yeah, I do. I do see why this was chosen as the focus track, I guess you could say. Yeah, it is one of the more I think it balances the whole concept of rave versus DJ versus pop singer. Like I think it balances that concept well. So if that was the thesis for this album, I can see why this was like one of the ones chosen for sure as a single.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:56 okay um and yeah the chorus is super super catchy like great melody there it's euphoric um and yeah you know for a song called drum machine of course the hope for me is that there's a ton of like electric percussion going on all over it and it doesn't disappoint in that at all like there's like you were saying there's a ton of great energy to it there's a lot of different drum rolls and like different types of percussion that are kind of used throughout it
00:16:56 --> 00:17:17 um and you know this is going to be really fun in live and in her dj sets like it just has a good energy to it yes and a good build to it yes um vocally i do think mel sounds really really good here like she has developed a really nice mix right and and she kind of hits you to i think because her voice has gotten a lot lower
00:17:17 --> 00:17:34 as she's gotten older, which is natural for women, especially, I believe. But it's very relaxed in how she sings. And it almost makes it all sound a bit more ethereal. And I think having that kind of relaxed vocal...
00:17:35 --> 00:18:05 next to this super high intensity track. Yeah. Just makes it a bit more accessible. Cause I think if she was like belting her face off on, it might be a lot, maybe a bit too much. So I kind of appreciate that. Kind of the energy she put behind it. She has performed it live at her like album launch shows. And I was watching some of the fan cams and stuff. This sounds good with a live drummer. It does. Yeah. It does boost the track quite a bit for me. I would say. Yeah. What did you think of the music video?
00:18:05 --> 00:18:15 Oh, the musical is interesting. It reminds me of, like, those old, like, 80s music videos where the guy or the woman, whoever is singing really passionate about someone and it's all black and white. It's like,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:46 Just to create the drama. Yeah. It's interesting because she is kind of in the tracksuit, kind of, not completely, but she does, like, she's in workout gear, right? Yes. But it's kind of sexy still. So, again, highlights and shadows. They gave her a definition in her body. It was just very dramatic with the black and white. Made it feel more intense, you know? And now thinking about the song and, like, where it went, I don't think I need anything in color. Like, I didn't need, like, for it to suddenly turn...
00:18:46 --> 00:19:09 colorful like powerpuff girls and world you know makes the world go round you know i'm saying like it's okay if it's black and white on that bridge section where she's on the floor love that part give me more of that i knew that happened i need to see you writhing about on the floor and thrusting the ground please um but yeah no she looks good she looks carefree looks fun looks like a like a was like a rehearsal it looks like a rehearsal a little bit
00:19:09 --> 00:19:36 Yeah, because she's on stage. It feels like it's meant to give off the natural vibe. We're just like celebs. We're just like you vibe. And I got that, you know? Like, upscaled. Yeah. I mean, I will say it's actually edited and shot really well. Yeah. Like, it feels super dynamic, even though you're kind of just in that one little setting there. I think the fan with the light coming through it added a lot of cool effects there. And I think she, in general, is a good enough performer to...
00:19:36 --> 00:20:02 That she does keep her interest, even though she's just kind of swinging a mic stand around and, you know, just kind of dancing around. Doing her signature move. Yeah, but there's like, I'm captivated. You know what I mean? Like, I'm not bored by it. So I think it's effective for sure. Yes. So yeah, what are your rates? Drum machine then? Okay, for a drum machine, I will give it an eight. Okay, I will go nine. All right, up next is, what could possibly go wrong?
00:20:04 --> 00:20:24 And this is done by Melanie C, Nia, and Klaus Arlund. And this is released as the second single from the album in January 2026. Okay. This one definitely is giving AC Radio a little bit.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:35 Um, so I can kind of see why they went with this as, as the second single following Sweat, because I could see how Sweat might be a bit, um, polarizing.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:58 You know, this one's a lot safer, right? It feels a bit more like what she has done with some of the previous albums. Like, I think if you listen to like version of me or even not really the last album, the self-titled album, but even like her more mellow stuff like this time and all that kind of fits with that. So if you liked that in her solo discography, this is very accessible there. Okay.
00:20:58 --> 00:21:24 I like the twinkly synths with the heavy bass line throughout the track. And you get these really dramatic 80s kind of electric drum rolls and stuff for the transitions. I do think the chorus is good. And I like the what could possibly go wrong kind of repeat post-chorus. And I like the melody of the chorus. But there's something about like the verses and stuff that just don't really grab me. Like this song took me a minute. I think when it first came out, I was kind of just like...
00:21:24 --> 00:21:33 It's okay. And I think as I've listened to it more, I like it more. But... I do think actually this is one of the weaker songs on the album.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:57 You know, I can see that. And I was kind of back and forth between Drum Machine and this one. Oh, interesting. Yeah, because for me, like, this kind of embodies what Drum Machine was saying. I was like, is this the true Drum Machine with all the drum percussions in the production? So I love the production because of that. And I think energetically, this is more aligned with me. So I say it's not for me or it's not my style. Like, this is very energetic, as you guys can tell.
00:21:58 --> 00:22:18 You know, but I do have a note. The melody is not as strong, but I do like the lyrical content. You know, you know, I've done the work. I've earned my stripes and even still she makes mistakes. This song is about saying yes to life. And I feel like it articulates itself well. I'm like, you know, anxiety is scared of you. Like what could possibly go wrong? Hmm.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:40 everything but who cares next question so i do appreciate that um this is not as romantic as it is about like you know taking a leap of faith in life and trying something new i think drum machine does articulate itself a little bit better in terms of like you know where it's going and whatnot and i think where this song kind of lacks is where it could have had a bridge you know like it's a shame because she could have been like
00:22:40 --> 00:22:59 she could have had a lot more fun like listing as a songwriter i would have listed a bunch of things that could have gone wrong you know left turns that you know we all know heart falls heartbreaks teardrops hurricanes like this dramatic very extreme and then like really like you know but then go back into the uh-huh
00:22:59 --> 00:23:20 I sound crazy. If you want to hear the track, please listen to it. You're not going to get here. Yes, let's give Melanie C. her streaming numbers. Yes, y'all. If you want a real reaction, never. But yeah, I like it. But I feel like it could be stronger if maybe a bridge was there or something to kind of just put the pieces together.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:44 about what could have gone wrong. That's fair. Oh, that's a fun idea. She did perform it at the BBC Radio 2 piano room. She did it with the BBC orchestra. Yes. I enjoyed it. I liked the orchestra, of course, with the horns and the strings, made it all very dramatic. But I will say, I almost wish they made it fully unplugged, because they kind of kept the synth and the kind of electric drums there, and I was like, oh, I wonder if they made it fully organic.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:55 if they could have really made it a true orchestral version. But I thought it was a good version. I don't not like the song. I think it's still a good song, but I think she definitely has stronger...
00:23:56 --> 00:24:26 I agree. I agree. See, now I'm like, maybe I should bump up Drum Machine to 0.5, 8.5, because this is also an 8, because I think I liked this more at first, but then I went back to Drum Machine, and I was like, wait, hang on, hang on. So yeah, I guess for the record, 8.5 for one previous, and then this one would be an 8, because I can't say they're both equal to each other. Yeah. Okay, I have this one as an 8 as well. Alright, next up is Till It Breaks, done by Melanie C, Violet Skies, and Novador.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:49 like a villain name all caps too right hey i remember listening to it in the car because you had to play on your phone and i said i'll tell the race girl right till it breaks and it wasn't it wasn't that at all okay
00:24:50 --> 00:25:18 This song is interesting because there's a lot of tension that gets built throughout this song. You know, until the bow breaks, the stall on the camel's back kind of vibe in terms of production. And even the way the melody is with the songwriting, like the repeated I sounds is already super catchy, your tension. And then you get this release, you know, release in the chorus, their stack vowels before you get the question of how much can your heart take till it breaks. Like, I think that's really important. And you know, the...
00:25:18 --> 00:25:38 that vowel sound, you hear it enough, you're like, okay, okay. And then finally the chorus comes around. It feels a little bit more like release. This does remind me of a disclosure track. I'm not super familiar with them, but something about this felt familiar to me, which is not bad. It's a good thing. If you can remember one thing and relate it to another, you feel like both.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:54 Yay. So I feel like this was like a disclosure track, maybe early disclosure. But I do enjoy it because of the familiarity and also because it just sounds good in terms of production. And I will say that throughout this album, the production does not lack. Yeah.
00:25:54 --> 00:26:19 Second verse has BGVs that are really interesting. I'm so glad they did not write this in a lazy way where it's like same melody in the first verse, same melody in the second. Enjoy. Hate that, hate that, hate that. And I love the lyrical content. Like, it's raining on me. There's lots of whys. Like, whys is happening. But the chorus, she says that she's going to survive. So two things can be true. You can carry on while you're carrying on. Crying in the club. There you go.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:36 Yes, I appreciate that for sure. I just hate that after you get all these production plucking and marching in the first verse and then you get this exploding chorus and there's something not exploding, but the chorus is exciting and interesting percussion and then the song ends without going anywhere huge. I'm like, girl.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:52 Yes, this is one of the, you know, this is one of the things with the music now, the whole thing of, oh, songs can only be two minutes long kind of situation, which luckily it's only a few of them on this album that hit that. But yeah, this I agree with you. I have the same note where I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh, I'm going to be like, oh
00:26:52 --> 00:27:14 I wish you just got one more chorus or something with some ad-libs just to truly climax the song. Even if you didn't want to do a bridge, you know, just give it kind of a full climax instead of just ending it. But this actually is one that grew on me quite a lot. I think when we were first, because, yeah, we listened to the album together, like when we were on the way to another concert. And...
00:27:14 --> 00:27:28 This is one of the ones that I didn't really think much of, I think, when it was on the first time. But as I've listened to the album, I do keep turning back to it and I remember it. Like this melody gets stuck in my head for sure. There's something quite addictive about the chorus. Yeah.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:53 um and it's fun to sing along too as well um and yeah the whole production like you said at least at least even though it's a short song there is a build to it there's a structure to it like i like how kind of bare and understated the verses are then you kind of get this nice bounce and groove as the chorus hits you get these kind of lower ac synths that take over as well um and i do want to shout out mel's vocal execution again too
00:27:53 --> 00:28:22 It's super breathy in this one, which I think is cool because it does make it feel more vulnerable. But again, because it's on top of this kind of like dance beat. I don't know. It's just it balances everything well. Yes. Carrying on while carrying on. Yeah. So, yeah, I like this one. I'll give it an 8.5. Yes, I will match you with an 8.5 as well. Up next is Pressure. And this was on my Mel C, Theo Hutchcraft and James Greenwood.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:52 All right, pressure. Pressure. Yes. So I will say, when Mel teased, I mean, I guess years ago now, that she was working on an album that was inspired by her time as a DJ and that she was going to, like, lean more into that dance thing, this is kind of what I was expecting. Yeah. Yeah, and it totally delivers. I really like this. First off, I think the whole concept in general, like, using pressure...
00:28:53 --> 00:29:20 And the pressure release as a way to structure a song around. Mm-hmm. I think it's just a really smart thing to do. Yeah. Because it does feel very euphoric as you finally get to that big instrumental, like, dance break situation. Yeah. This will go off in her sets. Whether that be her DJ set or her live set. I think this might be a hard one to sing live. Oh. Unless she kind of just uses it as, like, a crowd moment to kind of just get everyone...
00:29:20 --> 00:29:32 going a little bit yes uh but yeah i i do also love the bridge and how ethereal it gets here with all like the echoing vocalizations and stuff and then you get a lot of drama for the end
00:29:32 --> 00:29:51 Yes. Oh my gosh. I like this one too. This isn't a bad song, right? When I heard this song, I'm starting off with this because I'm going to say something that might offend some people because of the analogy I'm about to make. But it has Daft Punk energy. I get vibes when I first listen to it.
00:29:51 --> 00:30:17 I got the vibes where it's like I would totally Shazam this song if I were shopping in Forever 21. Rest in peace. Like, if I heard this, that's what I'm saying. I don't want people to get like, oh my god, what do you mean? You guys know what I'm talking about. Every so often, those stores like Primark or Forever 21 or Zara or wherever will play a track, a random A track. Random AF track at that.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:47 because it's just like a DJ mix where whoever's on their catalog or that they paid for, they play it, right? Yeah. And then someone goes, shoot, before the song goes out, like, shh, don't talk to me. I'm trying to figure out what it is. And because of how malls are set up, you never catch it. You're just sitting there guessing what was it. And you go home and Google it or whatever. This is that kind of song. And I do enjoy that this song isn't really meant to be, like you said, like the singing part. Like, I don't think it's meant to be like live, but it is meant to be felt. Like, you just close your eyes and like,
00:30:47 --> 00:31:15 bop your body or whatever you're doing. If you like to take a little substance to substance, it's up to you. But the point is just feel it, you know, feel the base in your chest. Love the concept of like no expectation, no pressure. And then there's a release. And I love that in the second verse, she mentions a lady looking at her. I love that. Oh, love that. Yeah. I was listening. I was like, what's that? Because, you know, she's not, even though people have been like, oh, she's,
00:31:15 --> 00:31:43 she's like blah blah spice and it's like don't do that if she's not she's not right but i do like that she kept that in there it kind of makes it feel more fluid it makes the song feel the whole concept feel more fluid um and i have in my notes this reminds me of her dj set at dollar bill um this song is definitely meant to be mixed and flipped in a set i feel those vibes and because we don't play the music i get it i'll give you guys a time stamp the moment between two minutes and 50 seconds and three minutes and 13 seconds is five euros
00:31:48 --> 00:32:13 I would love to know, like behind the scenes, if Mel, as a DJ, had a hand in producing and processing this song. It is a great club track, and I do wonder if there are some remixes that our DJ Spice has cooked up on a bonus or a deluxe or even for the set. But I just want to know, because this song is very much, it's meant to have things added and sped up and slow down and yeah.
00:32:13 --> 00:32:37 Yeah, I mean, give us the 12-inch version. We want the eight-minute opus. Yeah. Also, just so everyone knows, we are recording this only a few days after the album is out. Yes. So it's possible she's in the run for number one right now. So it's possible she may just be releasing exclusives every day in an attempt to get that number one. So it's possible something will come out before...
00:32:38 --> 00:32:58 We know it. I guess. Let's get her the Christmas number one, folks. Let's get her the Christmas number one. I know the Brits love their Christmas number one. You know what's crazy, though? No solo Spice Girls album has ever hit number one in the UK. She could be the first with this album. I hope she gets it. Because I hate the whole sum of your parts. Like, let them...
00:32:58 --> 00:33:19 I know. Unfortunately, one of the competitors is Michael Jackson here. His greatest hits is just climbing back up. Yeah. And then the other band I'm not going to promote because I want Mel to win. Right. So don't worry about the other person. Get the album if you haven't. Yeah. Stream the album, people. Although, honestly, by the time it comes out, we'll know if it's number one. But...
00:33:19 --> 00:33:42 This is past us. No, it doesn't matter. Still, don't wait for us to play the music. Watch it and listen to it. Bye. Next question. What's your score? Oh, man. Okay, so my score is a nine. I guess one on 9.5. Okay. Next is Emotional Memory, done by Melanie C. and Oscar Scheller. And this song is about the cycles of falling in and out of love.
00:33:47 --> 00:34:15 Mm-hmm. Muscle memory, but with your feelings. Oh, all the good stuff, all the bad feelings. It's like second nature. It's in your bones. It's in your heart. I'll do it again. I love that. Now, I can say not since I was in college have I done that. It sounds like it's like, you know, but like I don't really do the I'll do it again thing. I'm not that girl. I'm one lesson, one hard lesson learned once. I'm that kind of person. I'm a girl.
00:34:15 --> 00:34:22 Love is the exception, though. Next question.
00:34:23 --> 00:34:50 At a press release. Don't you love that person? Next question. The second verse is my favorite. No, I'm joking. Yeah, no, my second verse is my favorite. I love the lines about being anchor, remedy to all the last goodbyes, the line about the illusions of impermanence. And I think this is a philosophy in Buddhism. And the whole, like, fear of change, keeping things moving. Like, you got to dance with life for the rest of our lives. And I...
00:34:50 --> 00:35:20 I've had in my notes before I realized what we were talking about, about her integrating her own personal introspective nature into her music. She doesn't really do it, but I think this album and this song specifically does a great job of integrating those philosophies into the track without sounding super preachy. You'll hear a word or a phrase and it provokes a thought of introspection where you're like, am I like that? Or, oh, I know someone like this, girl. And you're ruminating while you're bopping your head and waiting for the next drop to happen, so I do appreciate
00:35:20 --> 00:35:47 that you're like oh my god i felt that in my bones in my heart in my soul so yeah i like that for that for that reason i will say that for sure i like it i really like this one actually i love the dreaminess of it it's melancholic but it's joyful at the same time and again she's doing that kind of breathy delivery again yeah um very warm her rasp sounds good here like it just matches the sound and it makes it feel very warm yeah
00:35:48 --> 00:36:11 Yes, you love the rasp. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to make her voice. Yo, tell me she doesn't sound like Jennifer Coolidge with vocal training. Yeah. I'm not in a shade what she's saying. I love it. I'm not a guest at all. I love it. I'll find a song. I'll give you guys a decent enough impression. If you want to hear a better one, go watch our Spice Girls Forever.
00:36:11 --> 00:36:40 album review that i i hit a bunch you did you really did um and yeah i like the way the chorus is written the kind of i'll do it again repeat yeah and i like just the idea of emotional memory like that as just a phrase i think it's quite interesting and i really like the outro too it has all these layers in it it's very effective this one does feel like it has more of a kind of proper climax um so yeah i i really like this one this one has become a
00:36:41 --> 00:37:04 I'll do 8.5. 8 for me. Okay. I have boosted a lot of my scores from earlier, like, first listens. It's grown, for sure. It's a grower. She's a grower. Okay, like our muscles. You know? Exactly. Exactly. Like your lovers. I'll say that. Next song is Attitude. I made a terrible little nasty joke, y'all.
00:37:05 --> 00:37:29 An Attitude is done by Melanie C, Clementine Douglas, Oscar Scheller, Sonny T Davenport, and Leroy Burgess. And the sample's Over Like a Fat Rat by Fonda Ray. And it's released as a single in April 2026. And if you're wondering why I sing it like that, if you know that song, you know I sing it like that because that's how she sings it. I love this song. It's over like a fat rat.
00:37:34 --> 00:37:53 I did not know this song. My first time listening to it was like two days ago when I read that this was sampled. That's fun. But the over like a fat rat thing doesn't come until later on in the song. The girls just kind of singing normally. That's the best part. Over like a fat rat. Okay, so do you think they use the sample well?
00:37:53 --> 00:38:08 Oh my God. Yeah. First line. This sample was flipping utilized well. And then I said, my mommy loves this song. But yeah, this feels like a proper response to her sweat in terms of energy and in terms of like what the,
00:38:08 --> 00:38:28 I guess the overall like idea was where I just want to be feel hot. I want to feel good. And this is the funk that I needed on this album. I think what happens, I, because of like the Euro dance thing, I totally get it. Like that is alone. She's in Europe. It makes sense. But as someone who has a mother who was a little bit older and was always playing like fun,
00:38:28 --> 00:38:51 funky like black house music funk disco even my dad was like rock music I hear a certain thing when I hear a dance I'm like oh my god I'm gonna get house or like get something kind of funky and groovy and it ends up being like these metallic sounds nothing wrong with that nothing wrong with that at all but I just I like hearing Mel's voice because it leans itself so well to 70 because she does that
00:38:53 --> 00:39:21 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Booty got me feeling dangerous. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It just, she purrs. She purrs on a track, and because she has, like, this weird, almost, like, and fish sound when she talks, when she sings, she sounds like a, you know, a cool cat. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? I love it. Her booty got me feeling dangerous. Oh, and... You added a lisp.
00:39:23 --> 00:39:47 I love that. But yeah, no, she has a tone that feels soulful. And I sometimes feel like there's certain beats that just don't meet her where her tone is. And she's meeting the beat where it is. Like the whispering. Yeah, she can totally do that. But like, come on, she can sing down. She can sing down. Give her a little something. And this gives her a little something to work with. And it's fun. And it's feisty. So yeah, because her voice isn't thin.
00:39:48 --> 00:40:08 right no yeah exactly so i love this for her i'm like you know yeah no this one's a fun one for sure um i think when it came out as a single i was like yes this is this is very good i will say it feels this one is one of the most clear kind of progressions from self-titled oh yes yes
00:40:08 --> 00:40:19 For sure. Because she had some stuff that kind of sounded like this. And I loved the self-titled album. So I'm always here for a bit more of a disco moment. You know I love disco. Yes. Um...
00:40:20 --> 00:40:39 Yeah, and it's refreshing to hear some guitars and stuff on here. Just to switch up the sonics, you know? And yeah, I have the same note kind of on the vocal delivery. Like, this is... Now we're finally getting some sass, a bit more power, right? Yeah. Especially from the Spice days. Like, you know, she was the powerhouse. Yeah. You know, now she's developed a bit more kind of...
00:40:39 --> 00:41:00 um depth within kind of her tone and its range and everything but we all know her as the big belter so it's kind of nice to have this as well on the album i will say there are some really nice background vocals that are really far back in the mix like i had to turn up my my headphones quite loud yeah um
00:41:00 --> 00:41:16 So I kind of wish those were pushed up just a tad more. I do also wish there were some ad-libs or something over that last chorus. Oh my God. Just to properly climax. And I think for a more soulful song like this, it could have used it as well. But as a song, I really like this one. I think it's really fun.
00:41:16 --> 00:41:33 Me too. Yeah. All right. So I will, I gave it a nine, but I think I actually like it a lot more than I get on. So I'm going to give it a 10. Okay. I don't think she's saying booty gummy feeling dangerous. Did she say that? I think she is. Booty gummy feeling is more fun for sure. Let's, let's say it's that.
00:41:33 --> 00:41:49 I hear what I want to hear with music, even my own songs. I don't even know the lyrics of those. But, you know, I do enjoy the song regardless. Okay, so you're giving it a 10. I love that. There's another, there are a few others that I want to give a 10 to. So I'm going to give this one a nine.
00:41:49 --> 00:42:14 well yeah i understand because i would say that i enjoy the latter half of the i'm a little bit more than the first half but before we get into that if you are enjoying this episode so far you can follow us everywhere at cctv pops because not only do we have 10k here on youtube we are growing on our social platforms and we post a lot of fun things like us covering holla girl holla girl us covering holler
00:42:16 --> 00:42:41 by Spice Girl. Yes. That's right. Yes. And you can hang out with us unfiltered, even more so than now, if you join us and the CCTV crew for exclusive live sessions and the ability to help us pick episode topics at Patreon. Okay? Patreon.com slash CCTV pops. All right? You can tell us what to do and make us feel dangerous. All right? And also, we're going to do the deluxe tracks on Patreon. So... Yes. I'm an Ola. Yes. I'm an Ola. I'm an Ola.
00:42:42 --> 00:42:47 Next is Good for Nothing, done by Melanie C. and Oscar Scheller.
00:42:52 --> 00:43:18 All right, so I read somewhere that she said, Mel C has said, anger is my energy, my emotion this time around. It brings out an untapped side of me sometimes. I'm not a confrontational person, so it's good to get those feelings out. And I agree. I think I have told people a lot of times, like, what motivates me a lot, other than the fear of failure, is spite. I'm like, oh, you think I can't do this? I'm going to do it. I mean, most...
00:43:19 --> 00:43:39 Most great artists, great work comes from Spike. Robbie Williams, you know? Michael with Thriller. He's like off the wall, didn't do nothing. I want to, you know? So it's something, right? So I think there is something energetically that does emerge from a little bit of, hmm, I don't like you anymore. And that's okay.
00:43:40 --> 00:44:02 I like feisty spice, okay? But I do appreciate that she's not coming across as angry. Like, she is coming across as healed and, like, reflecting on it. And it's just like, I have advice for you. Lose that good for nothing. And I love that. And I love that so much. But, yeah, I do appreciate how breathy and sustained the...
00:44:02 --> 00:44:32 the notes and the verses are, and then how curt and confident she is in the chorus. So that kind of energy in terms of like melodic delivery is really important, especially if you're trying to relay a message of, I got rid of him. This is how I did it. Now you do it. And the vibe reminds me so much of like, you run to an ex at the club, like you're doing your thing on the dance floor. I'm like, I'm not paying attention. And then they find you by the bathroom and you read them to filth. Like you're somebody else's problem. I pray for them at night. That is a bar. And I check it hurts, I can't get it.
00:44:32 --> 00:44:54 And then you give them the stiffest palm to the face. Talk to the hand, the face not listening. You know, it's giving that. Right? The song feels like a stiff palm. Okay? And everyone, lose that good for nothing. Okay? The ending is good. And it also has some sonic oomph. So, because of all of that, I created a whole story. I enjoyed this song. Okay.
00:44:54 --> 00:45:20 good i love angry melcy um her beautiful intentions era where she's just mad at the world i love that album i still listen to most of the songs on that one so i'm here for sassy melcy for sure yeah the verse melody is super interesting um it definitely catches your attention because you're kind of like oh she where's this going and then yeah you're right the chorus
00:45:21 --> 00:45:29 like balances it out super well. And the chorus, again, super fun to sing along to. Um, and I appreciate, cause even though it does repeat itself, um,
00:45:29 --> 00:45:56 You get these added background vocal layers. You get some production flourishes and stuff that happened the second time around. So it keeps it interesting. So, yeah, this one has a great energy to it. I hope she adds this to the set list for the tour. This will be a fun one live. She better. Yeah. We don't need no zen and, like, you know, like, peace signs. Would that turn to you? We love that photosynthesis song, but we need something like, oomph, girl. I mean, obviously, do turn to you, obviously. Obviously. Obviously.
00:45:56 --> 00:46:17 But like the whole vibe of you being like in a little tank top and cargo girl, drop it. Give us the neon lights in the booty shaking. Okay. Oh, man. Okay. So I guess one to nine. Yes, I will match your score because I think they're talking about it. It's getting me excited. And also side note, I thought the song was like, you know, use that good for nothing. I was like, girl.
00:46:18 --> 00:46:41 Yeah, use them. But she said lose them. Either way, it works. Up next is Undefeated Champion. And this was done by Melanie C., Glenn Roberts, and Luis Navidad. And this was released as a single in March 2026. And this is an anthem about resilience and picking yourself up. Girl, get up. Get your kneecaps back. Get up.
00:46:47 --> 00:46:53 Yes. I mean, this, just as a concept, the undefeated champion tagline. Yeah.
00:46:53 --> 00:47:19 pretty perfect for a sporty spice song title i would say for sure um and yeah i i really like this one i appreciate the drama and the track for those verses that bum bum bum you know very 80s um and yeah the whole chorus just there's something very satisfying about this chorus like there's something pensive about the melody it's like there's a lot of tension building yeah
00:47:19 --> 00:47:34 And yeah, I think it's cool. You do have that disco-ness kind of in there as well. Yes, yes, yes. With the electric guitar and stuff. But yeah, I appreciate the way this song was written because I feel like this whole resilience concept can get cheesy, you know? Awesome.
00:47:34 --> 00:47:50 We've had a lot of self-empowerment anthems these past few years, especially. But I think the way that this one in particular is written, there's something kind of understated about it. Yeah. You know, like, I don't need to be that loud about it. But I know I got this.
00:47:50 --> 00:48:11 No, I know what you mean for sure. Yeah, I have that in my notes where it's like it doesn't lean too much into the cheese. Like, you know, you're the best by Joe Esposito. You're the best around. I love that song now. Don't get me wrong. I love it. And like Eye of the Tiger also love that song. It's fun. Yeah. But this one has a cooler energy. And obviously those are like leaning more toward rock.
00:48:11 --> 00:48:38 obviously but i'm glad she could have done something cheesy and really leaned into it been really like uh um but it was it's cool you know um and i think the whole it reminds me like rocky when you think of running up the steps nothing cheesy about running up those steps in philadelphia it's a lot of work you've done the stairmaster you know it's difficult this song feels like a remastered version of that movie with the song added in it will be just right just right um
00:48:38 --> 00:49:07 But yeah, I love the line, like, get up, breathe, look around. Later on, she says, feet on the ground. And then look up, dream. The song is about that perseverance, and I love that. This one is really fun. And the 80s, love 80s down. Love it down. The disco instrumentation is just right, okay? I hear Undefeated Champion, and I keep saying Undisputed Champion. I know it's not. I mean, it's basically the same thing. But I keep singing it by accident. It doesn't really matter, but I keep chanting it myself. Mm-hmm.
00:49:07 --> 00:49:35 So I appreciate that. I envision a training montage. And shout out to that 18 nights on earth. That's 49 years. Yeah. Either this song was recorded a while ago or she was just like, let's just put it in there. I don't know. But I think maybe the song. Let's round down to a whole number. Yeah. Right. Nearest thousandth or whatever. Not thousandth. Nearest. What's the other way around? Tenth thousandth. Oh, hundredth. Hundredth? No, because those are decimals.
00:49:35 --> 00:49:50 Not 100. 100 space, please. Y'all, we are a music channel. This is why we are not mathematicians. Nope. Yes, I love that. Also, I forgot to note, we finally get some ad libs here. Literally, I'm like, finally. Yeah.
00:49:50 --> 00:50:15 Earlier in the album, we get ad-libs, but now we finally get some. And I think her saying I'm like 49 years without saying it is saying to the listener, you've come this far, come too far to think this is the end of your journey. I do love that outro chant moment. It's really empowering. There's ad-libs. And then you get a brief moment of her speaking. And then suddenly I'm thinking to myself, I wish she would have given us that coach, like you're on the ropes, you know, but...
00:50:15 --> 00:50:26 Like something really cliche. And then that last, you know, oh, that'd be fun. I would have screamed without the S. Okay. I'm just saying that would have been amazing.
00:50:27 --> 00:50:49 I have to shout out that performance that she did on the Di Giovanni Zarella show. Yeah, I'm doing the choreography now. Despite the mic not being on, which I don't think was her decision. Right. She killed that. That whole boxing ring set with all the punching and different choreography with the male and female dancers. Yes. Killed it.
00:50:49 --> 00:51:18 Yeah, shout out Ponytail Girl. I don't know her name, but she was in the frame a couple times. I kept watching her. I love the choreography. Yes. So this is definitely one of my absolute favorites on this album. I give this one a 10. Me too, 10. Ooh. Love this one. Okay. Next is Cashmere, done by Melanie C., Nia, and Klaas Ahlend. You're on my skin like cashmere. Like a melody from last year. And you're on me. Cashmere. Remember?
00:51:19 --> 00:51:21 Last year.
00:51:21 --> 00:51:50 Overload. So shout out to Overload from the self-titled album. That's a great song. Oh, okay. That's so funny. Good catch. Yeah. Alright, so I was not in love with this production. I don't think that's the word per se, but I think I overlooked it quite a bit when we were in my car. We were in the car. It was just playing from your phone at the time. And I noticed her vocals a lot more. I was like, cashmere, last year.
00:51:51 --> 00:51:58 how is this you it's like Elmo
00:52:00 --> 00:52:23 I can hear the effect on her voice and sometimes I'm okay with it. And sometimes I'm not. And I think I hear it during cash. Cash. I hear the, the, the tune trying to get her in. And I'm like, it's not her fault. She's not off. But I think because of the tone, it just doesn't blend well with that metallic. It's not a huge deal, but I kind of was just like, I don't know. Um, the song though, once I listened to it a couple of times,
00:52:24 --> 00:52:45 It sounds like it's meant for a certain crowd. Like they're on a rooftop, not actually drinking. And like they're making out and like drink, not actually drinking, actually dancing. And they're making out and drinking. Y'all know what I'm talking about. If you're at a club and you're trying to enjoy yourself, but you feel someone pressing against you because they're making out with someone. You know, this happened to me too many times at male shows.
00:52:45 --> 00:53:09 Or at like a Jesse Ware show. One show I went to with Mel. Point is, Jesse Ware, you know what I'm talking about. Even though the music is really chill, there's always that one couple doing the utmost. Yeah, I wasn't happy with who we were next to at the Jesse Ware show. Can you imagine? Yeah. That was me. I'm listening to your podcast right now. I'm so sorry. Yes, I apologize for your sins. I'm joking. Yeah.
00:53:10 --> 00:53:28 This song has that tropical sense of how it sounds different from the rest of the album, but I can't say I'm in love with it because it's a little like meh meh. And the point is, I won't beat down on it. I will say this song does feel like the cool down part of your stretch where you leave. All right, guys.
00:53:28 --> 00:53:55 All right, breathe. So this is a cool-down, static stretch of the album. It's not bad. It's not outstanding. And again, I do appreciate the melody. Obviously, I'm still singing it. I love that whole sweet memory of last year when you were on vacation when things felt lightweight and easy. Not when you were dying in a Pilates class. So yeah, this one's cute. Yeah, this one has grown on me. I think the first time we heard it in your car, I was kind of like, mm-hmm.
00:53:56 --> 00:54:12 I don't know if I love this, but it was memorable. Right. It was like a super memorable lyric and a super memorable just like vibe to it. I was actually reading online. I think this was on Pop Square. Shout out to Pop Square, the new Pop Justice. Oh, okay. But, uh...
00:54:12 --> 00:54:33 People weren't making comparisons to George Michael. And I get that. I totally hear that. That kind of like 80s kind of like island-y kind of situation. Yeah, you know, natural body roll happening with this. Because it is a great song for like, you know, sunset on the beach. Yep.
00:54:33 --> 00:55:00 rooftop mimosas yes and there's that kind of tropical bounce to it um and it sounds very lush but maybe it's a private beach private island you know yeah um and yeah i actually think her vocal is really good because it matches that like it's very relaxed um it feels very smooth i get what you mean with the vocal effect because it's trying to almost accentuate that yeah
00:55:00 --> 00:55:27 But I'm not totally mad at that. And I think the whole concept of cashmere in general is memorable. Like just that word I think is not often used in music. Yeah, like cozy with Beyonce. I was like, ooh, cozy, not comfortable, cozy. Yeah, so I do think this is a bit of an outlier on the album, but not in a bad way. Yes, I hear what you mean. I hear what you mean. Yeah, like I think it's memorable because it is an outlier. You know what I mean? That's valid. Yeah, so I'll give it an eight.
00:55:27 --> 00:55:40 I'm not gonna lie, there's no goosebumps overload. So 7.5. Up next is Free to Love, and this was done by Mel C, Annika Wells, Violet Skies, and Novador.
00:55:48 --> 00:56:02 Yeah, this one. So this track starts off pretty interesting with the kind of like echoing blips and bloops and these kind of like mechanical sounds for the percussion. And then of course the chorus is that full dance pop moment. I will say this is the most...
00:56:04 --> 00:56:22 I don't want to say the word generic because I think that has too much of a negative connotation to it. But it is maybe the most... By the numbers. Yeah. Basic. Basic has a negative connotation too. But I think structurally... Fundamental style. It's kind of very typical of a...
00:56:22 --> 00:56:40 dance pop song yeah that's and i think it is one that it could be sung by a multitude of artists i think mel c's voice is unique so you kind of know it's her but this i think just doesn't feel as personal to melanie c and her sound as some of the rest of the album okay
00:56:40 --> 00:57:07 I would say that doesn't mean I don't like the song though. Right. Like I do like the song. I appreciate this kind of concept of emerging out of the dark moment. You know, it's just time to reset or whatever. And there is a euphoria that's effective here. I don't know if the song, the song for me personally is just a bit fillery compared to the others. Oh, okay. So have you ever seen mortal combat in the original one?
00:57:08 --> 00:57:29 Not the original one. I've seen the remake. Yeah. Oh, dang it. Okay. Well, there's another movie too. I think maybe Mean Girls, but definitely Immortal Kombat at the last scene when they're all going back home after they defeated Shao Kahn. There is a movie that is... There's a song that is playing. Okay. And it sounds like the chorus of this song. It reminds me of... The song is called...
00:57:29 --> 00:57:46 Halcyon on and on is made by Orbital. I could be pronouncing Halcyon wrong. It's H-A-L-C-Y-O-N y'all. I cannot speak English properly. But the point is if you've seen that movie, you know what I'm talking about. But
00:57:46 --> 00:58:06 there is an like ambient trance vibe where it's still kind of dancey. I wouldn't say the song copies completely. Cause I think the orbital song starts off even more empty where it's just like these ambient synths and pads. And you're just like, girl, what are you going to, the beat going to drop. And then the beat does drop. And it sounds like the free of love chorus for me. Okay. Um,
00:58:06 --> 00:58:18 But yes, that movie and song is where my mind went. So it does have that euphoric and full kind of vibe, which I do appreciate. But could you imagine with this song, with how like,
00:58:19 --> 00:58:40 not empty, but how, like, open it is, like, mixing I Turn To You, like, during the concert, like, you know, I'm free. And then, you know, kind of, you know, it's not, we're not record scratching. It doesn't make sense. This is not a hip hop. And the point is, just something, I was listening, I was like, okay, okay, I'm getting a vibe from here. Like, this song is a good buffer track. I think if you're having, like,
00:58:40 --> 00:59:03 a show and a set and you have something really energetic and you need to transition to a little bit slower so everyone can kind of calm down and cool down so i feel like this does make sense for this in the set track listing sure i do like it a lot because it doesn't remind me of the 90s okay and the portal combat so i do like this one a lot okay nice so what do you rate it eight playing five but i'm thinking because the length is too short so maybe i'll bowl give it a
00:59:03 --> 00:59:25 Oh yeah, it is. I think it's the shortest one on the album, isn't it? This is me off eight. I take it back eight. I still like it. I will also actually give it an eight. I just think she has better, right? She has a pretty unique sound, so that's my only reason. But I do like it. You know, better than me. That's why I'm like, ooh, I want to find out now. I will say, I've added every single one of these songs to a bunch of playlists.
00:59:25 --> 00:59:52 Oh, nice. It's a good album. Yeah, so before you guys come for us... Yeah. All right, next is One Track Mind, done by Melanie C., Michael Matosik, and Sam DeJong. And this song is about the feeling of being apart from her boyfriend after their first trip together in L.A. How do I think I thought of you to claim my one track mind? My boy put it on her, she said. Yeah.
00:59:53 --> 01:00:12 You know what, girl? More power to you. This one is euphoric and sensual. Red light. Green light. Hard thing. Red light. I mean, all this. I'm trying. It's not good, but, you know. Red light.
01:00:16 --> 01:00:42 Y'all, if you... I'm so sorry, I'm trying. I'm not big, but... All this to, like, describe merely existing after losing your love for a temporary amount of time is interesting. I mean, she said, I... He put it down on me, y'all. This feels a little like... Good for her. She deserves that. That makes one of us. Like ever. Like ever. Um...
01:00:44 --> 01:01:13 And I'm the one, y'all. Don't even, don't want to curse me with my sadness. I'm joking. But this does sound like Sade meets, a little bit like Sade meets a rave. There's probably a better comparison. Yeah. But the production is so interesting because it's very deep and it feels like it's underwater. And there's like a low guitar there. I thought it was a bass. I'm like, no, I think it's like a low guitar in that chorus. And I'm like, this sounds like No Ordinary Love. Like, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't. Ooh.
01:01:13 --> 01:01:43 you know it has like a very low um guitar there and um like i said the comparison is probably a better song to compare it to um but yeah i love the way it sounds the guitar like i said is so yummy um and then when she's singing there's like a screwed voice as a double um as like the like a bottom note for her singing as well um and this kind of reminds me of like the second coming if not or like a little bit of a callback to maybe the stone stone bridge r&b version of i turn to
01:01:43 --> 01:02:10 You know how it I mean that one was really trying to sound R&B-ish This one just kind of has little moments Where you're like ooh hang on someone cooked here And I love the line Hell or high water it's fire The hell or water high Line my bad But it reminds you of come hell or high water obviously But yes Mel you are the hell And you are the high water girl Like you said He took her on a wild ride
01:02:10 --> 01:02:27 She needed more. It's so funny because if you read just the lyrics of this, you'd think it was a... Yeah, like he broke up with her and she's yearning after him. But no, he's literally just temporarily went home. Right. While she stuck around for a writing session. Right. When you're coming back.
01:02:31 --> 01:02:53 good for her right yeah yeah uh so yeah i i do appreciate the vibe of this one i enjoy this kind of mid-tempo ethereal melanice yeah and it is refreshing on the album i think to have something like this yeah um yeah i have notes about the track as well you do get that affected guitar you get the wiry synths the kind of dramatic percussion
01:02:54 --> 01:03:14 The whole thing is very dreamy, you know? And there are actually some really nice ad-libs on top of that second chorus, too. Some good harmonies and stuff at the end. This is a cool one. I definitely keep turning back to this one. I will say, unfortunately, right now, it is the least streamed on this album. So we got to give it more love.
01:03:15 --> 01:03:39 Y'all don't want to listen to me. Y'all just want to dance. You ever seen, hey, y'all? He says that. He's a y'all trying to listen to me. Yeah. I mean, y'all can dance a little slower. Some people can't keep the beat. I get it. But this is a perfect song for you to get your little grind on, y'all. Okay? Yes. Make up to this song. That's the other one. So, yeah, for me, this is a nine. I like this one a lot. Okay. I will give it an 8.5.
01:03:40 --> 01:03:50 Awesome. All right, moving right along to the final track on the standard, basically, for now, on the standard. We don't know if we're going to get a deluxe. I hope we do. But the final track is Flick of the Wrist.
01:03:51 --> 01:04:20 And this was done by Melanie C, Rose Gray, Oofy, and Sir Back. And Melanie has said that she has never had the confidence until now to say things like, I'm not bitch. And she is no longer apologetic about aspects of her personality. Shout out to getting older. Yes, exactly. Exactly. Like how to becoming like a woman that's fully realized and actualized and still learning about herself. And that's okay. And congratulations.
01:04:25 --> 01:04:55 The track is awesome. First off, can I just say, Mel C has had a history of just having great songs to end her albums. Oh, I'll have to delve some more of that. I mean, as we get into it, she tends to end an album very well. The highlight. And this is no exception. This track is so cool. Shout out to, I think it's Sir Back that is the producer on this. You get that synth structure that kind of just repeats, but you get all these little elements that build around it and add all these little dynamics to it.
01:04:56 --> 01:05:25 And it keeps it really cool. And I appreciate the melody of this as well. Like, it's kind of nonchalant, but there's a confidence to it at the same time. And again, Melanie is using that kind of breathy mix to kind of emphasize that kind of nonchalantness. Like, there is a slight anger there. Yeah. But overall, she, like, doesn't care that much. Yeah. You know, there's, like, just enough kind of emotion in it to not make it sound robotic. Yeah. And yeah, that hook is super fun. Yeah.
01:05:25 --> 01:05:32 Thick of the wrist, now you're off the list. Like, that's fun. And again, she doesn't make it too sassy either, which almost makes it even better.
01:05:33 --> 01:06:00 Yeah, yeah, because this is why she's like, you know, cosplaying as something she's not. She's just more like attacking the note, articulating the phrase properly so it comes across in a way that's, you know, effective. And I love how cold and confident she sounds. And throughout the song, she does build energy, like it's breathy before raising her voice a little bit more. She's just listing all the things this energy vampire took from her. So F you.
01:06:00 --> 01:06:18 Count Dracula. The second pre-hook has a brief garage vibe where she mentions that he's the hole she's sinking in. And I love that because it creates this illustrative moment that cut my attention. And, okay, hear me out. Hear me out. Wake me up by Girls Aloud.
01:06:18 --> 01:06:47 I heard something about this just feels like Xenomania. I don't know why. Interesting. Nothing crazy where I'm like, oh, I can't. Nothing that I'm like going to lament about, but I heard something. I kept singing Wake Me Up. I'm like, hmm, this would be a fun kind of track to jump into after this one. And I think because I am feeling the spirit of that song, I kind of wish we would have gotten an ending where Mel is living her best life and singing with more of like a little bit, nothing like a belt, but something a little bit more forward with her voice, you know? Yeah. Not so mixy.
01:06:47 --> 01:07:16 Nothing crazy just something strong I would say But this song is effective either way Like the line flick of the wrist you're off the list Is such a fun one because it's like It sounds like you're at a club or backstage Which is a metaphor for her Or yourself because you've lost access to me mofo Period Period So yeah What do you get this one? I think this one should have been a single too but whatever It could still be this one's a 10 for sure This one's such a highlight on her discography Like as a whole
01:07:16 --> 01:07:43 Oh, respect. Okay, I'll give this one a 9.5. Okay. And also, while we're talking about just the last songs on the album, the one I would like you to listen to, Shan, is called Enemy. It's an eight-minute song from The Sea. And it's so dramatic. The Sea is still my favorite Melanie Sea album. And yeah, that... He said eight, and I'm like, yes! That is the ending of that album. It's just absolutely epic. Anyway. Ooh, I want to be inspired. Yeah.
01:07:43 --> 01:08:13 Yes. So, Mel did release an exclusive digital deluxe version with two demos on it, which, of course, I bought to support. So, we will review those songs for our Patreon. So, you'll have to come join us at patreon.com slash cctvpops. But in the meantime, let's get to our cut or keep section. So, if you had to cut a song on this album, what would it be and why? Ooh, what? Dang, I don't know why. Yeah.
01:08:15 --> 01:08:39 Okay, so. This is hard, actually. It is kind of hard, because I do feel like this, I'll say it at the end. I'll say it at the end. It is hard, yes. Yeah. I'll say it at the end. Okay, so if I were to cut a song. I'm not going to lie, y'all. Maybe. Maybe. Cashmere. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
01:08:39 --> 01:09:06 I don't care for it. I wish something else would have been on it, but I get why it's on it to kind of break it up. But if not that, I would say what could possibly go wrong because drum machine does a better job of articulating moving on in life. Yeah, I actually have what could possibly go wrong actually as a possibility here. Yeah. Either that or free to love just because I do think it's the most kind of generic. How dare you? On here. How dare you?
01:09:07 --> 01:09:32 yeah i've been a really long time yeah i don't usually say that um take off my okay if you had to keep a song on this album oh okay there's a lot of good choices dangerous okay let's see yeah oh it's not that one no i think it would be attitude that was like my first time i heard it i was like i love this so i think yeah yeah
01:09:32 --> 01:09:51 I would say Undefeated Champion, probably. Undefeated Champion. Or Flick of the Rest. I think both of those are up there. That'd be fun. Very different vibes, but yeah. It is, but that's what we love the show. Yes. Okay, so overall thoughts. Final rating. Well, like I said, if you couldn't tell,
01:09:51 --> 01:10:16 I am a huge Melanie C fan. I've now bought the album twice, clearly. And yeah, I'm really proud of her, honestly. Like, I think she's been talking a lot about in interviews recently that she did have a period of time where she was like, I don't know how much longer I can do this. Oh, yeah. Oh, no. It's valid. And yeah, there was definitely a period where, yeah, she wasn't doing too well commercially, and it just didn't feel like...
01:10:17 --> 01:10:35 Yeah. It didn't feel together, I guess. So to see her now, so comfortable with herself and like so inspired and it feels very genuine. Yeah. Like you can tell she's doing it because she loves it. So just as a fan, I'm like very happy to support this.
01:10:36 --> 01:11:05 And luckily, the album is actually very, very good. Like, it does what it says on the tin, right? It feels super authentic to her. She sounds great. The lyrics are really well written. I think every song can stand on its own here. I am happy with this kind of dance direction that she's gone in. I will always love the kind of rocky alternative stuff that she was doing with the earlier stuff, too. But I'm not mad at this as her direction. And it's clear she's passionate about it. So, yeah, I like this album. What do you think?
01:11:05 --> 01:11:29 I agree. I think for this album, it didn't feel like there was too much filler tracks. And I think she was picking things because it sounded good and it felt good. Not like, oh, we have to make a 14 track album or however many tracks are good. Yeah. Yeah. 13. But, you know, that's a standard amount. And even with the demos that we're going to talk about, I feel like, oh, this could have been explored or like this could have gone somewhere and things like that. So that's really good. That's really good. I don't think...
01:11:29 --> 01:11:58 I don't think this feels like she was trying too hard. And I think that's really important, especially when you're quote unquote that age. But I mean, same thing with Kylie. It's just, you don't have much to prove. So why not do something that you really like to do? She likes to DJ. She's been doing for about eight years now. Like she's into it. She's been into it before Spice. She was raving. So this makes sense. It feels like a nice progression. And it's for me, I feel like if you're going to age and keep making music, you need to transition to something that's really energetic, like a rock or,
01:11:59 --> 01:12:12 Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So I don't know what that is for me. I just hate when I see my older legacy artists or like my older artists just, let me slow it down and go to AC radio. Girl, y'all still dancing? You dancing until you went into the grave, baby girl. Okay.
01:12:16 --> 01:12:42 Yes. So I do like this one. I'm kind of like trying to figure out what the hell's going on. Let's go to the damn show. So I can watch it in action because I don't want to miss out. It's like I don't want to have FOMO for this one because I actually enjoyed her DJ set. And I'm excited to see how she integrates that into her movement, into her singing, into a spice medley. Because of course she's going to do it because the girls decided to not reunite this year. So we will be making content for them on their behalf.
01:12:43 --> 01:12:51 Yes, look out for way more Spice episodes from us. Yes. So yeah, as a final rating for this album, I'll give it a nine. I think it's great.
01:12:51 --> 01:13:18 I will give this one an 8.5. I did have some Moe's. I'm like, okay. Yeah. Well, it's not bad. I like this one a lot. Nice. Okay, Mel C fans, let us know what you all think of Sweat. You can let us know in the comments. And also, tell us what other artists or albums you want us to review next. As we've been teasing, we will be doing more Spice Girls stuff for sure. Yeah. So stay tuned. And we do have to dive through all of Mel C's solo material too. So look out for that. It's true.
01:13:18 --> 01:13:46 Huge shout out to our CCTV crew on Patreon. Lily, Emily, Juliet, George, Julianne, Jonathan, Janelle, Darius, Ren, Hillary, Luke, Phoenix, Ivana, and Ryan. Thank you all so much. And if you want to follow us on social media, we're at CCTV Pops. And if you're watching on YouTube, don't forget to like, subscribe, turn on notifications. And if you're on a podcast app, a follow, rating, and share really helps us out. Yes. Until next time, that's Chantel. That's Chris.
01:13:46 --> 01:13:55 And we're signing off from CCTV, the nonstop pop show.