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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name = Northern Star
| name = Northern Star
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==Recording and production==
==Recording and production==
Chisholm planned to work with producer [[Rick Rubin]], who she befriended a year earlier when the Spice Girls were supposed to record a track with [[Blackstreet]] for ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]'' (1998) before legal wrangles intervened. Rubin, who was to produce the shelved collaboration, offered a hand when he heard of Chisolm's songwriting ambitions.<ref name=":0"/> Rubin was also [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]' main producer, whose lead singer, [[Anthony Kiedis]], was rumored to be dating Chisholm at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anthonykiedis.net/biography/a-piece-of-aphrodite/|title=A Piece of Aphrodite|date=2015-02-17|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> With hopes of releasing an [[indie rock]] album, Chisolm named [[Blur (band)|Blur]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Suede (band)|Suede]], [[the Cardigans]], and [[Hole (band)|Hole]] among her influences.<ref name=":0" /> She was also very fond "everything [[Madonna]] has ever done," particularly her 1998 album ''[[Ray of Light]]'', and wanted to cut her first album with help from Madonna.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="98nov" /> According to a July 1999 interview with the British edition of ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' magazine, Madonna invited Chisolm to spend some time with her.<ref name="99june" />
Chisholm planned to work with producer [[Rick Rubin]], who she befriended a year earlier when the Spice Girls were supposed to record a track with [[Blackstreet]] for ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]'' (1998) before legal wrangles intervened. Rubin, who was to produce the shelved collaboration, offered a hand when he heard of Chisolm's songwriting ambitions.<ref name=":0"/> Rubin was also [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]' main producer, whose lead singer, [[Anthony Kiedis]], was rumoured to be dating Chisholm at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anthonykiedis.net/biography/a-piece-of-aphrodite/|title=A Piece of Aphrodite|date=2015-02-17|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> With hopes of releasing an [[indie rock]] album, Chisolm named [[Blur (band)|Blur]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Suede (band)|Suede]], [[the Cardigans]], and [[Hole (band)|Hole]] among her influences.<ref name=":0" /> She was also very fond "everything [[Madonna]] has ever done," particularly her 1998 album ''[[Ray of Light]]'', and wanted to cut her first album with help from Madonna.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="98nov" /> According to a July 1999 interview with the British edition of ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' magazine, Madonna invited Chisolm to spend some time with her.<ref name="99june" />


Ultimately, Chisolm succeeded in having [[William Orbit]], the primary producer of ''Ray of Light'', on opening track "Go!" as a writer and producer, while other ''Ray of Light'' collaborators [[Marius de Vries]], [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]] and [[Rick Nowels]] also contributed to ''Northern Star''.<ref name="albumism">{{cite web | url=https://albumism.com/features/melanie-c-debut-solo-album-northern-star-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective | title=Melanie C's Debut Solo Album 'Northern Star' Turns 20 | author=Quentin Harrison | website=Albumism | date=2019-10-16 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> Elsewhere, [[Billy Steinberg]] and [[Rhett Lawrence]] contributed to songwriting.<ref name="albumism" /><ref name="slant">{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/mel-c-northern-star/|title=Review: Mel C, Northern Star|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=20 August 2001|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref> While working with Lawrence struggling to write a middle-8 for "[[Never Be the Same Again]]," Melanie C suggested a rap by [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]] from [[TLC (group)|TLC]]. Having worked with TLC before, Lawrence contacted their management, and Lopes agreed to record a verse for the song.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdMWpPoc0Fk | title=Spice Girl Mel C on Working With Left Eye and Crying When She Met TLC (May 2020) | website=youtube.com | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]] of the [[Sex Pistols]] plays guitar on "Suddenly Monday," "Be the One," and B-side "I Want You Back."<ref name="99aug">{{Cite web|url=https://sample51.tripod.com/archives/99aug.htm|title=Melanie C 2K: Archives - August 1999|last=Paul|website=sample51.tripod.com|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/tw/song/suddenly-monday/724546415?l=en-GB | title=Suddenly Monday - Song by Melanie C | website=[[Apple Music]] | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/discography.htm | title=Steve Jones Discography Pt. 2 | website=cookandjones.co.uk | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>
Ultimately, Chisolm succeeded in having [[William Orbit]], the primary producer of ''Ray of Light'', on opening track "Go!" as a writer and producer, while other ''Ray of Light'' collaborators [[Marius de Vries]], [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]] and [[Rick Nowels]] also contributed to ''Northern Star''.<ref name="albumism">{{cite web | url=https://albumism.com/features/melanie-c-debut-solo-album-northern-star-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective | title=Melanie C's Debut Solo Album 'Northern Star' Turns 20 | author=Quentin Harrison | website=Albumism | date=2019-10-16 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> Elsewhere, [[Billy Steinberg]] and [[Rhett Lawrence]] contributed to songwriting.<ref name="albumism" /><ref name="slant">{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/mel-c-northern-star/|title=Review: Mel C, Northern Star|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=20 August 2001|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref> While working with Lawrence struggling to write a middle-8 for "[[Never Be the Same Again]]," Melanie C suggested a rap by [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]] from [[TLC (group)|TLC]]. Having worked with TLC before, Lawrence contacted their management, and Lopes agreed to record a verse for the song.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdMWpPoc0Fk | title=Spice Girl Mel C on Working With Left Eye and Crying When She Met TLC (May 2020) | website=youtube.com | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]] of the [[Sex Pistols]] plays guitar on "Suddenly Monday," "Be the One," and B-side "I Want You Back."<ref name="99aug">{{Cite web|url=https://sample51.tripod.com/archives/99aug.htm|title=Melanie C 2K: Archives - August 1999|last=Paul|website=sample51.tripod.com|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/tw/song/suddenly-monday/724546415?l=en-GB | title=Suddenly Monday - Song by Melanie C | website=[[Apple Music]] | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/discography.htm | title=Steve Jones Discography Pt. 2 | website=cookandjones.co.uk | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>
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==Release and promotion==
==Release and promotion==
''Northern Star'' was released in Europe on October 18, 1999, and later in North America on November 2, 1999.<ref name="Paul">{{Cite web|url=http://sample51.tripod.com/archives/99oct.htm|title=Melanie C 2K: Archives - October 1999|last=Paul|website=sample51.tripod.com|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> To promote the album, Chisholm made a number of televised appearances and live performances of the album's songs. Her first gig as a solo artist took place at Leadmill Club in [[Sheffield]] on August 19, 1999, in front of a crowd of nine-hundred people.<ref name="99aug" /><ref name="bbcv">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/427994.stm|title=Mel C: Who do you think you are?|date=1999-08-23|website=[[BBC News]]|access-date=2016-09-01}}</ref> Chisholm performed on the main stage ("V Stage") at the [[V Festival#V99|V99]] [[music festival]] on August 21 and 22, her first high-profile outing as a solo artist. Her set received mixed to negative reviews, with Darryl Chamberlain of the [[BBC News]] calling it an "entertaining performance" while noting his confusion about which direction Chisholm wanted to take as a solo artist: "She could make a refreshing UK alternative to [[Sheryl Crow]] or [[Alanis Morissette|Alanis]] but judging by her solo career so far - duets with Bryan Adams and other 1980s pop stars in Los Angeles, plus Sex Pistols covers - it's hard to know what she wants to be."<ref name="bbcv" />
''Northern Star'' was released in Europe on October 18, 1999, and later in North America on November 2, 1999.<ref name="Paul">{{Cite web|url=http://sample51.tripod.com/archives/99oct.htm|title=Melanie C 2K: Archives - October 1999|last=Paul|website=sample51.tripod.com|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> To promote the album, Chisholm made a number of televised appearances and live performances of the album's songs. Her first gig as a solo artist took place at Leadmill Club in [[Sheffield]], on 19 August 1999, in front of a crowd of 900 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sample51.tripod.com/archives/99aug.htm|title=Melanie C 2K: Archives|last=Paul|website=sample51.tripod.com|access-date=2016-09-01}}</ref> Chisholm also performed at the V99 rock festival on 21 and 22 August, receiving mixed to negative reviews, with the BBC noting its confusion about which direction Chisholm wanted to take as a solo artist, and whether she wanted to be a pop star, a rock star or a punk star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spicenews.com/1999/aug99.html|title=SpiceNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/427994.stm|title=Mel C: Who do you think you are?|date=1999-08-23|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-09-01}}</ref> A special documentary entitled ''Northern Star''<ref>{{Citation|last=SpiceGirlsForever|title=Melanie C - Northern Star 2000 Documentary FULL IN HD!|date=2014-08-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9Q0Yio29I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908015101/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9Q0Yio29I |archive-date=2020-09-08 |url-status=dead|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref> was aired on [[Channel 4]] on 30 August, focusing on her life in Los Angeles during the recording of her first solo album. "Closer", "Something's Gonna Happen", "I Wonder What It Would Be Like", "Independence Day", "Northern Star" and "Why" made their debut during the documentary, and the music video of "Goin' Down" was also shown. She embarked on her first solo tour, From Liverpool to Leicester Square, in the autumn of 1999, and later the Northern Star World Tour, which started in Warsaw, Poland on 31 August 2000, and finished in Bonn, Germany on 26 August 2001.


On 23 April 2022, a limited vinyl pressing was released as part of [[Record Store Day]]. 2,500 copies were made available, marking the first time the album was released on vinyl. This version of the album featured the track "Follow Me" and the bonus tracks from the 2000 re-release. This release had 3 playable sides to the vinyl, and a fourth that included an etching of the back cover art.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Star |url=https://recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list/melanie-c/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Record Store Day |language=en}}</ref> The album reached number 32 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}</ref>
On August 30, 1999, [[Channel 4]] aired a [[documentary]] special entitled ''Melanie C: Northern Star'', directed by [[Hamish Hamilton (director)|Hamish Hamilton]]. The documentary focused on Melanie C's life in Los Angeles during the recording of her debut album.<ref>{{Citation|last=SpiceGirlsForever|title=Melanie C - Northern Star 2000 Documentary FULL IN HD!|date=2014-08-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9Q0Yio29I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908015101/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9Q0Yio29I |archive-date=2020-09-08 |url-status=dead|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://letterboxd.com/film/melanie-c-northern-star-documentary/ | title=Melanie C: Northern Star Documentary (1999) | website=[[Letterboxd]] | accessdate=2024-09-05 }}</ref> "Closer", "Something's Gonna Happen", "I Wonder What It Would Be Like", "Independence Day", "[[Northern Star (song)|Northern Star]]" and "Why" made their first appearances during the documentary, and Channel 4 also aired the "[[Goin' Down]]" music video.

23 years after the album's release, ''Northern Star'' was issued on vinyl as part of [[Record Store Day]] on April 23, 2022. A limited run of 2,500 copies was manufactured for the album's first release on vinyl. In addition to the album's original 12 tracks, the vinyl release included the track "Follow Me" and the bonus tracks from the 2000 re-release. The [[double album|double LP]] included three playable sides to the record, with the fourth side including an etching of the album's back cover art.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Star |url=https://recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list/melanie-c/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Record Store Day |language=en}}</ref> Following the release, ''Northern Star'' reached number 32 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}</ref>

===From Liverpool to Leicester Square (1999)===
To promote the release of ''Northern Star,'' Melanie C embarked on an international tour of intimate theaters and nightclub venues. The tour began in [[Liverpool]], Chisolm's hometown, and visited the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Japan]], and several European countries before culminating in a show at the [[London Astoria]].

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders autocollapse" style="text-align:center;"
|+ class="nowrap" | List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?artist=bd6b976&tour=3d695af | title=From Liverpool to Leicester Square | website=setlist.fm | accessdate=2024-09-05 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Date
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| City
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Venue
|-
! scope="row" | September 27
| [[Liverpool]]
| [[England]]
| [[Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool| Royal Court Theatre]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 1
| [[New York City]]
| United States
| [[Irving Plaza]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 4
| [[Toronto]]
| Canada
| [[The Guvernment]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 7
| [[Los Angeles]]
| United States
| [[Mayan Theater]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 10
| [[Sydney]]
| Australia
| [[The Metro Theatre]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 14
| [[Tokyo]]
| Japan
| The Garden Hall
|-
! scope="row" | October 20
| [[Munich]]
| [[Germany]]
| Incognito
|-
! scope="row" | October 22
| [[Milan]]
| [[Italy]]
| Alcatraz
|-
! scope="row" | October 24
| [[Madrid]]
| [[Spain]]
| Sala Universal
|-
! scope="row" | October 26
| [[Paris]]
| [[France]]
| Mutualite
|-
! scope="row" | October 28
| [[Amsterdam]]
| [[Netherlands]]
| Paradiso
|-
! scope="row" | October 29
| [[Copenhagen]]
| [[Denmark]]
| Pumpehuset
|-
! scope="row" | November 1
| [[London]]
| [[England]]
| London Astoria
|-
|}

===Northern Star Tour (2000-01)===
Following her promotional tour in 1999, Melanie C embarked on her first solo headlining tour in August 2000, beginning with an appearance at [[Slane Festival]] on the grounds of [[Slane Castle]] on August 26, 2000. Several UK dates scheduled for February 2001 were postponed to May.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders autocollapse" style="text-align:center;"
|+ class="nowrap" | List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue
|-
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Date
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| City
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Venue
|-
! scope="row" | August 31, 2000
| [[Warsaw]]
| [[Poland]]
| [[Arena COS Torwar]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 4, 2000
| [[Derby]]
|rowspan="4"| England
| [[Derby Assembly Rooms]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 5, 2000
| [[Middlesbrough]]
| [[Middlesbrough Town Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 6, 2000
| [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]
| [[Newcastle City Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 8, 2000
| [[Carlisle]]
| Sands Centre
|-
! scope="row" | September 9, 2000
| [[Glasgow]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Scotland]]
| [[Glasgow Royal Concert Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 10, 2000
| [[Aberdeen]]
| [[Music Hall Aberdeen]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 12, 2000
| [[Kingston upon Hull]]
|rowspan="5"| England
| [[Hull City Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 13, 2000
| [[Sheffield]]
| [[Sheffield City Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 15, 2000
| [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]
| [[Preston Guild Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 16, 2000
| [[Manchester]]
| [[Manchester Academy]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 17, 2000
| [[Leeds]]
| [[O2 Academy Leeds|Town and Country Club]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 21, 2000
| [[Cardiff]]
| [[Wales]]
| [[St. David's Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 23, 2000
| [[Leicester]]
|rowspan="7"| England
| [[De Montfort Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 24, 2000
| [[Ipswich]]
| [[Regent Theatre, Ipswich|Regent Theatre]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 25, 2000
| [[Norwich]]
| [[University of East Anglia]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 27, 2000
| [[Southampton]]
| [[Southampton Guildhall]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 28, 2000
| [[Cambridge]]
| [[Cambridge Corn Exchange]]
|-
! scope="row" | September 30, 2000
|rowspan="2"| [[London]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Shepherd's Bush Empire]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 1, 2000
|-
! scope="row" | October 15, 2000
| [[Amsterdam]]
| [[Netherlands]]
| [[Melkweg]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 16, 2000
| [[Paris]]
| [[France]]
| [[Élysée Montmartre]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 17, 2000
| [[Brussels]]
| [[Belgium]]
| [[Ancienne Belgique]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 19, 2000
| [[Copenhagen]]
| [[Denmark]]
| [[Vega, Copenhagen|Vega]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 20, 2000
| [[Stockholm]]
| [[Sweden]]
| [[Annexet|Globens Annex]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 22, 2000
| [[Hamburg]]
|rowspan="6"| [[Germany]]
| [[Grosse Freiheit]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 23, 2000
| [[Berlin]]
| [[Columbiahalle]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 25, 2000
| [[Neu-Isenburg]]
| [[Neu-Isenburg#Hugenottenhalle|Hugenottenhalle]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 26, 2000
| [[Cologne]]
| [[E-Werk (Cologne)|E-Werk]]
|-
! scope="row" | October 27, 2000
| [[Munich]]
| Eiserhalle
|-
! scope="row" | October 29, 2000
| [[Böblingen]]
| Kongresshalle
|-
! scope="row" | October 30, 2000
| [[Vienna]]
| [[Austria]]
| Libro Music Hall
|-
! scope="row" | October 31, 2000
| [[Zurich]]
| [[Switzerland]]
| [[Volkshaus]]
|-
! scope="row" | November 2, 2000
| [[Milan]]
| [[Italy]]
| Alcatraz
|-
! scope="row" | November 5, 2000
| London
| England
| [[Wembley Arena]]
|-
! scope="row" | February 14, 2001
| [[Ljubljana]]
| [[Slovenia]]
| [[Tivoli Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | February 16, 2001
| [[Athens]]
| [[Greece]]
| [[Athens Olympic Sports Complex|OAKA Sport Hall Kassimatis]]
|-
! scope="row" | February 17, 2001
| [[Thessaloniki]]
| Greece
| Mikra Sports Hall
|-
! scope="row" | February 19, 2001
| [[Tel Aviv]]
| [[Israel]]
| Cinerama
|-
! scope="row" | February 21, 2001
| [[Dubai]]
| [[United Arab Emirates]]
| [[Jumeirah Beach Hotel]]
|-
! scope="row" | February 21, 2001
| [[Manama]]
| [[Bahrain]]
| Le Méridien City Centre
|-
! scope="row" | February 21, 2001
| [[Johannesburg]]
| [[South Africa]]
| Big Top Arena
|-
! scope="row" | February 28, 2001
| [[Singapore]]
| [[Singapore]]
| Singapore Harbour Pavillion
|-
! scope="row" | March 2, 2001
| [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| [[Malaysia]]
| Merdaka Hall
|-
! scope="row" | March 4, 2001
| [[Bangkok]]
| [[Thailand]]
| Dance Fever
|-
! scope="row" | May 6, 2001{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on September 19, 2000, and then February 10, 2001}}
| [[Liverpool]]
|rowspan="9"| England
| [[Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool|Royal Court Theatre]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 8, 2001{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on September 20, 2000, and then February 11, 2001}}
| [[Bristol]]
| [[Bristol Beacon|Colston Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 9, 2001{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 7, 2001}}
| [[Brighton]]
| [[Brighton Centre]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 10, 2001{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 8, 2001}}
| [[Plymouth]]
| [[Plymouth Pavilions]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 12, 2001
| [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
| Rivermead Leisure Complex
|-
! scope="row" | May 13, 2001
| [[Wolverhampton]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 4, 2001}}
| [[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 14, 2001
| [[Nottingham]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 5, 2001}}
| [[Nottingham Royal Concert Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 16, 2001
| [[York]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on January 31, 2001}}
| [[York Barbican]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 17, 2001
| [[Manchester]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 1, 2001}}
| [[O2 Apollo Manchester|Manchester Apollo]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 18, 2001
| [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]
| [[Wales]]
| [[Newport Centre (Wales)|Newport Centre]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 20, 2001
| [[Dublin]]
| [[Ireland]]
| [[Olympia Theatre, Dublin|Olympia Theatre]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 21, 2001
| [[Belfast]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on January 28, 2001}}
| [[Northern Ireland]]
| [[Waterfront Hall]]
|-
! scope="row" | May 22, 2001
| [[Edinburgh]]{{efn|Originally scheduled to take place on February 2, 2001}}
| Scotland
| [[Edinburgh Playhouse]]
|-
|}


==Singles==
==Singles==
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|rev4Score={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="slant" />
|rev4Score={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="slant" />
}}
}}
''Northern Star'' received mixed to generally favorable reviews from music critics. [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] asserted that "Mel C wants to break from her Sporty Spice persona while proving herself as a legitimate musician and she does, more or less, with a surprisingly diverse record." He added that "Melanie C has a fairly strong voice, a good sense of melody, and carries a tune with some personality, which is one of the reasons why the genre-hopping of ''Northern Star'' works."<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that the album is "positively kaleidoscopic" in its incorporation of "trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/mar/07/popandrock.artsfeatures|title=Melanie C: Reason|author=Alexis Petridis|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 March 2003|access-date=18 August 2019|quote=Melanie C's debut solo album, 2000's Northern Star, seemed positively kaleidoscopic. It took in trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating}}</ref> Barry Walters also complemented the album's variety in a ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' review, suggesting it contains "way more well-sung goodies than you prefab-pop haters might expect" and drawing comparisons to Madonna, Garbage, [[the Beatles]], and ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]'' era [[David Bowie]].<ref name="rollingstone"/> Writing for ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', Sal Cinquemani agreed that Melanie C "meets the challenge of distinguishing herself from the Spice Girls" but felt that the ballads "sound like outtakes from Madonna's ''Ray of Light''."<ref name="slant" /> In a retrospective review for ''[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]]'', published in 2024, Joseph Ryan-Hicks wrote that Melanie C achieved her goal of creating "an indie record inspired by Blur and Suede with a dash of Madonna’s magnum opus ''Ray of Light''."<ref name="attitude">{{ cite web | url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/melanie-c-northern-star-retrospectively-reviewed-460213/ | title= Spice Girl Melanie C's Northern Star album retrospectively reviewed | author=Joseph Ryan-Hicks | website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude.co.uk]] | date=2024-02-21 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>
[[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] asserted that "Mel C wants to break from her Sporty Spice persona while proving herself as a legitimate musician and she does, more or less, with a surprisingly diverse record." He added that "Melanie C has a fairly strong voice, a good sense of melody, and carries a tune with some personality, which is one of the reasons why the genre-hopping of ''Northern Star'' works."<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that the album is "positively kaleidoscopic" in its incorporation of "trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/mar/07/popandrock.artsfeatures|title=Melanie C: Reason|author=Alexis Petridis|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 March 2003|access-date=18 August 2019|quote=Melanie C's debut solo album, 2000's Northern Star, seemed positively kaleidoscopic. It took in trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating}}</ref> Barry Walters also complemented the album's variety in a ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' review, suggesting it contains "way more well-sung goodies than you prefab-pop haters might expect" and drawing comparisons to Madonna, Garbage, [[the Beatles]], and ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]'' era [[David Bowie]].<ref name="rollingstone"/> Writing for ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', Sal Cinquemani agreed that Melanie C "meets the challenge of distinguishing herself from the Spice Girls" but felt that the ballads "sound like outtakes from Madonna's ''Ray of Light''."<ref name="slant" /> In a retrospective review for ''[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]]'', published in 2024, Joseph Ryan-Hicks wrote that Melanie C achieved her goal of creating "an indie record inspired by Blur and Suede with a dash of Madonna’s magnum opus ''Ray of Light''."<ref name="attitude">{{ cite web | url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/melanie-c-northern-star-retrospectively-reviewed-460213/ | title= Spice Girl Melanie C's Northern Star album retrospectively reviewed | author=Joseph Ryan-Hicks | website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude.co.uk]] | date=2024-02-21 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>


A less positive review from [[student publication]] ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'' described ''Northern Star'' as "still the same Spice Girls album dressed up in slightly more sophisticated hues."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/11/12/album-review-northern-star-by-melanie/ |title= Album Review: Northern Star by Melanie C | author=Cheryl Chan | website=[[The Harvard Crimson]] | date=1999-11-12 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> Russell Baillee of ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' described the songs as "warmed-over Madonna, Garbage or Alanis rejects."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/melanie-c-northern-star/TXPW7LXHFTTWU7LMAUHDVNF23Y/?c_id=6&objectid=16394 | title= Melanie C - Northern Star | author=Russell Baillie | website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date=2000-06-29 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>
A less positive review from [[student publication]] ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'' described ''Northern Star'' as "still the same Spice Girls album dressed up in slightly more sophisticated hues."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/11/12/album-review-northern-star-by-melanie/ |title= Album Review: Northern Star by Melanie C | author=Cheryl Chan | website=[[The Harvard Crimson]] | date=1999-11-12 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref> Russell Baillee of ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' described the songs as "warmed-over Madonna, Garbage or Alanis rejects."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/melanie-c-northern-star/TXPW7LXHFTTWU7LMAUHDVNF23Y/?c_id=6&objectid=16394 | title= Melanie C - Northern Star | author=Russell Baillie | website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date=2000-06-29 | accessdate=2024-09-04 }}</ref>
Line 476: Line 124:
| writer3 = {{flat list|
| writer3 = {{flat list|
*Chisholm
*Chisholm
*[[Biffco|Richard Stannard]]
*Richard Stannard
*[[Biffco|Julian Gallagher]] }}
*Julian Gallagher}}
| extra3 = De Vries
| extra3 = De Vries
| length3 = 3:35
| length3 = 3:35
Line 484: Line 132:
*Chisholm
*Chisholm
*Nowels
*Nowels
*[[Billy Steinberg]]}}
*Billy Steinberg}}
| extra4 = Nowels
| extra4 = Nowels
| length4 = 5:49
| length4 = 5:49
Line 497: Line 145:
| writer6 = {{flat list|
| writer6 = {{flat list|
*Chisholm
*Chisholm
*[[Rhett Lawrence]]
*Rhett Lawrence
*Paul F Cruz
*Paul F Cruz
*Lisa Lopes
*Lisa Lopes
Line 515: Line 163:
*Matt Rowe
*Matt Rowe
*Stannard
*Stannard
*Gallagher}}
*Julian Gallagher}}
| extra8 = [[Rick Rubin]]
| extra8 = [[Rick Rubin]]
| length8 = 2:36
| length8 = 2:36
Line 521: Line 169:
| writer9 = {{flat list|
| writer9 = {{flat list|
*Chisholm
*Chisholm
*[[Phil Thornalley]]
*Phil Thornalley
*Dave Munday}}
*Dave Munday}}
| extra9 = Rubin
| extra9 = Rubin
Line 544: Line 192:
*Nowels}}
*Nowels}}
| extra12 = {{flat list|
| extra12 = {{flat list|
*[[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]]
*Craig Armstrong
*[[Pat McCarthy (record producer)|Patrick McCarthy]]
*Patrick McCarthy
*Damian LeGassick}}
*Damian LeGassick}}
| length12 = 5:02
| length12 = 5:02
Line 648: Line 296:
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=Northern Star |artist=Melanie C |type=album|nocert=yes|salesamount=2,500,000|salesref=<ref name="worldwidesales"/>|access-date=2011-09-28}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=Northern Star |artist=Melanie C |type=album|nocert=yes|salesamount=2,500,000|salesref=<ref name="worldwidesales"/>|access-date=2011-09-28}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==Notes==
{{ notelist }}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:03, 6 September 2024

Northern Star
Studio album by
Melanie C
Released18 October 1999
RecordedMarch–July 1999
Studio
GenrePop[1]
Length53:18
LabelVirgin
Producer
Melanie C chronology
Northern Star
(1999) 		Reason
(2003)
Singles from Northern Star
  1. "Goin' Down"
    Released: 29 September 1999
  2. "Northern Star"
    Released: 22 November 1999
  3. "Never Be the Same Again"
    Released: 20 March 2000
  4. "I Turn to You"
    Released: 7 August 2000
  5. "If That Were Me"
    Released: 27 November 2000

Northern Star is the debut solo studio album by English singer and songwriter Melanie C. It was released on October 18, 1999, by Virgin Records.

Recording sessions took place earlier in the year, during a hiatus from the Spice Girls. As the primary songwriter or co-writer of the album's 12 songs, Melanie Chisolm temporarily relocated to Los Angeles and enlisted several musicians and producers, including William Orbit, Rick Nowels, Marius de Vries, Craig Armstrong and Rick Rubin. Additional recording took place in London and Glasgow. Musically, the album combines pop with elements of rock, electronica, trance, trip hop, and R&B, which contrasted with the sound of Chisolm's group.

Upon its release, Northern Star received generally favorable reviews from music critics, many of whom praised Chisolm for differentiating her sound while noting the influence of Britpop and Madonna's Ray of Light (1998). An international commercial success, Northern Star reached number one on the Swedish Albums Chart and the top ten in countries including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Northern Star has been certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry and sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling solo album by a member of the Spice Girls.

Northern Star produced five singles. Following "Goin' Down" and "Northern Star," its third and fourth singles "Never Be the Same Again," featuring TLC member Lisa Lopes, and "I Turn to You" became international hits. Both songs earned Chisolm her first solo number ones in the United Kingdom, while the Hex Hector radio mix of "I Turn to You" earned the Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year. "If That Were Me" was released as a charity single. Melanie C promoted Northern Star via numerous live performances and the Northern Star Tour (2000-01), as well as a Channel 4 documentary. The album was re-issued to feature the single mixes of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You".

Background and development

Melanie Chisolm launched her career in the 1990s as a member of the English pop girl group Spice Girls. Her first solo effort was a duet with Bryan Adams, "When You're Gone," which originally featured on Adams' album On a Day Like Today (1998). Adams and Chisolm first met in September 1996 when the Spice Girls performed on Top of the Pops and ran into each other while the Spice Girls were on the North American leg of the Spiceworld Tour in 1998; Adams asked her to appear on his album.[2][3] The duet, released as a single on November 30, 1998, encouraged Chisolm to pursue a solo career and secured a top three peak on the UK Singles Chart.[4] Adams and Chisolm wrote three more songs together: "Follow Me", "Angel on My Shoulder" and "You Taught Me", the first two serving as B-sides to the "Northern Star" and "Goin' Down" singles, while "You Taught Me" was released only as a promo to the media.

In March 1999, after extensive touring and the departure of Geri Halliwell, the Spice Girls took a hiatus due to the simultaneous pregnancies of Mel B and Victoria Beckham.[5] Chisholm decided to leave the UK and head to Los Angeles to work on her solo album, informing The Big Breakfast that it was scheduled for release in October.[6] In June 1999, the song "Ga Ga" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Big Daddy.[7]

Recording and production

Chisholm planned to work with producer Rick Rubin, who she befriended a year earlier when the Spice Girls were supposed to record a track with Blackstreet for Chef Aid: The South Park Album (1998) before legal wrangles intervened. Rubin, who was to produce the shelved collaboration, offered a hand when he heard of Chisolm's songwriting ambitions.[5] Rubin was also Red Hot Chili Peppers' main producer, whose lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, was rumoured to be dating Chisholm at the time.[8] With hopes of releasing an indie rock album, Chisolm named Blur, Oasis, Suede, the Cardigans, and Hole among her influences.[5] She was also very fond "everything Madonna has ever done," particularly her 1998 album Ray of Light, and wanted to cut her first album with help from Madonna.[5][4] According to a July 1999 interview with the British edition of Cosmopolitan magazine, Madonna invited Chisolm to spend some time with her.[7]

Ultimately, Chisolm succeeded in having William Orbit, the primary producer of Ray of Light, on opening track "Go!" as a writer and producer, while other Ray of Light collaborators Marius de Vries, Craig Armstrong and Rick Nowels also contributed to Northern Star.[9] Elsewhere, Billy Steinberg and Rhett Lawrence contributed to songwriting.[9][10] While working with Lawrence struggling to write a middle-8 for "Never Be the Same Again," Melanie C suggested a rap by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes from TLC. Having worked with TLC before, Lawrence contacted their management, and Lopes agreed to record a verse for the song.[11] Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols plays guitar on "Suddenly Monday," "Be the One," and B-side "I Want You Back."[12][13][14]

Four months after Chisolm left for Los Angeles, Virgin Records executives were given an early work in progress demo CD of the album.[15] The promotional copy was intended to give worried executives a preview of Chisolm's sound as a solo artist; the last tracks recorded for the album, "Go!" and "I Turn to You", were not included.

Release and promotion

Northern Star was released in Europe on October 18, 1999, and later in North America on November 2, 1999.[16] To promote the album, Chisholm made a number of televised appearances and live performances of the album's songs. Her first gig as a solo artist took place at Leadmill Club in Sheffield, on 19 August 1999, in front of a crowd of 900 people.[17] Chisholm also performed at the V99 rock festival on 21 and 22 August, receiving mixed to negative reviews, with the BBC noting its confusion about which direction Chisholm wanted to take as a solo artist, and whether she wanted to be a pop star, a rock star or a punk star.[18][19] A special documentary entitled Northern Star[20] was aired on Channel 4 on 30 August, focusing on her life in Los Angeles during the recording of her first solo album. "Closer", "Something's Gonna Happen", "I Wonder What It Would Be Like", "Independence Day", "Northern Star" and "Why" made their debut during the documentary, and the music video of "Goin' Down" was also shown. She embarked on her first solo tour, From Liverpool to Leicester Square, in the autumn of 1999, and later the Northern Star World Tour, which started in Warsaw, Poland on 31 August 2000, and finished in Bonn, Germany on 26 August 2001.

On 23 April 2022, a limited vinyl pressing was released as part of Record Store Day. 2,500 copies were made available, marking the first time the album was released on vinyl. This version of the album featured the track "Follow Me" and the bonus tracks from the 2000 re-release. This release had 3 playable sides to the vinyl, and a fourth that included an etching of the back cover art.[21] The album reached number 32 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart.[22]

Singles

"Goin' Down" was released as Chisholm's debut single in September 1999 and reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, where it became her first top-five hit as a solo artist. It also reached the top thirty in Australia.

"Northern Star" was released as the second single in the winter of 1999 and received positive reception from music critics. The single charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her third top-five single. It additionally reached the top 20 in Finland, Italy, and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, the single sold over 200,000 copies.[23][24][25][26][27]

"Never Be the Same Again" was released on 20 March 2000 as the third single from her first solo album. The single entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart, beating Moloko's "The Time Is Now" to the summit and it was Melanie C's first solo single to reach number one. It sold 144,936 copies in its first week[28] and was Britain's eighteenth best-selling song of 2000. The song was successful in other markets, topping the charts in seven countries and receiving positive acclaim.[29] By April 2021, the song had sold more than 477,000 copies in UK.

The fourth single from the album, "I Turn to You", was released on 7 August 2000 in the United Kingdom and became Melanie's second UK number-one single. It sold 120,000 copies in its first week, altogether selling 360,477 copies, making it the twenty-seventh best-seller of 2000 in the UK. "I Turn to You" also topped the Austrian Singles Chart, the Danish Singles Chart, the Dutch Top 40, the Swedish Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[30][31] The main single was released as the "Hex Hector Radio Mix", for which Hex Hector won the 2001 Grammy as Remixer of the Year.[32][33]

Selected as the album's fifth and final single, "If That Were Me" was released in November 2000. The song peaked in the UK Singles Chart at number eighteen, becoming the first of her solo singles to not reach the top five.[34] The proceeds from its sale went to the Kandu Arts charity.[35]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
NMENegative[36]
Rolling Stone[37]
Slant Magazine[10]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine asserted that "Mel C wants to break from her Sporty Spice persona while proving herself as a legitimate musician and she does, more or less, with a surprisingly diverse record." He added that "Melanie C has a fairly strong voice, a good sense of melody, and carries a tune with some personality, which is one of the reasons why the genre-hopping of Northern Star works."[1] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that the album is "positively kaleidoscopic" in its incorporation of "trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating."[38] Barry Walters also complemented the album's variety in a Rolling Stone review, suggesting it contains "way more well-sung goodies than you prefab-pop haters might expect" and drawing comparisons to Madonna, Garbage, the Beatles, and Low era David Bowie.[37] Writing for Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani agreed that Melanie C "meets the challenge of distinguishing herself from the Spice Girls" but felt that the ballads "sound like outtakes from Madonna's Ray of Light."[10] In a retrospective review for Attitude, published in 2024, Joseph Ryan-Hicks wrote that Melanie C achieved her goal of creating "an indie record inspired by Blur and Suede with a dash of Madonna’s magnum opus Ray of Light."[39]

A less positive review from student publication The Harvard Crimson described Northern Star as "still the same Spice Girls album dressed up in slightly more sophisticated hues."[40] Russell Baillee of The New Zealand Herald described the songs as "warmed-over Madonna, Garbage or Alanis rejects."[41]

Commercial performance

Northern Star debuted at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart, in the issue dated 24 October 1999.[16] Album sales increased in the UK when "Never Be the Same Again" was released as a single, entering the top 10 again and moving to number five two weeks later. Northern Star kept selling steadily well during the following months, until "I Turn to You" was released in August 2000, when sales took off again and Northern Star achieved its peak position on 2 September 2000, hitting number four of the album chart, nearly a year after its release.[42] As of October 2016, Northern Star had spent 79 weeks on the official UK Albums Chart. Its last appearance on it was in January 2004, nearly 4 and a half years after its release. It has sold over 890,000 copies in the UK, as of October 2016.[43] In the United States, it failed to chart in its first week of release. The album sold 6,717 copies in its first week, missing the bottom of the chart by a few hundred.[44] In Canada, it charted at number 15.[44]

With worldwide sales close to 2.5 million copies, it is the biggest-selling solo Spice Girl album.[45]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Northern Star.[46]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Go!"
Orbit3:39
2."Northern Star"
Marius De Vries4:41
3."Goin' Down"
  • Chisholm
  • Richard Stannard
  • Julian Gallagher
De Vries3:35
4."I Turn to You"
  • Chisholm
  • Nowels
  • Billy Steinberg
Nowels5:49
5."If That Were Me"
  • Chisholm
  • Nowels
Nowels4:31
6."Never Be the Same Again" (featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes)
  • Chisholm
  • Rhett Lawrence
  • Paul F Cruz
  • Lisa Lopes
  • Lorenzo Martin
Lawrence4:52
7."Why"
  • Chisholm
  • De Vries
  • Steve Sidelnyk
De Vries5:27
8."Suddenly Monday"
  • Chisholm
  • Matt Rowe
  • Stannard
  • Julian Gallagher
Rick Rubin2:36
9."Ga Ga"
  • Chisholm
  • Phil Thornalley
  • Dave Munday
Rubin3:50
10."Be the One"
  • Chisholm
  • Thornalley
  • Munday
Rubin3:35
11."Closer"
  • Chisholm
  • Nowels
  • Steinberg
De Vries5:41
12."Feel the Sun"
  • Chisholm
  • Nowels
  • Craig Armstrong
  • Patrick McCarthy
  • Damian LeGassick
5:02
Total length:53:18

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Northern Star
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[72] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[73] Gold 50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[75] Platinum 57,401[74]
Germany (BVMI)[76] Platinum 300,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[77] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[78] Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[79] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] 3× Platinum 890,850[43]
United States — 95,000[81]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[82] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Worldwide — 2,500,000[45]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Northern Star at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Bryan Adams And Mel C Talk About First Meeting, Shoot Video For Duet". MTV. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  3. ^ "100% Melanie C - What Bryan Adams thinks..." tornado.pair.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives - November 1998". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Mel C Rocks". Q Magazine (September 1999).
  6. ^ Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives - June 1999". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  8. ^ "A Piece of Aphrodite". 17 February 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b Quentin Harrison (16 October 2019). "Melanie C's Debut Solo Album 'Northern Star' Turns 20". Albumism. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Cinquemani, Sal (20 August 2001). "Review: Mel C, Northern Star". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Spice Girl Mel C on Working With Left Eye and Crying When She Met TLC (May 2020)". youtube.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  12. ^ Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives - August 1999". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Suddenly Monday - Song by Melanie C". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Steve Jones Discography Pt. 2". cookandjones.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Melanie C - Northern Star (work in progress cd) - DenDen". forums.denden.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  16. ^ a b Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives - October 1999". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  17. ^ Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  18. ^ "SpiceNews".
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  20. ^ SpiceGirlsForever (9 August 2014), Melanie C - Northern Star 2000 Documentary FULL IN HD!, archived from the original on 8 September 2020, retrieved 31 August 2016
  21. ^ "Northern Star". Record Store Day. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  23. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  24. ^ "Billboard: Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 18 December 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
  25. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (17.2– 24.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 February 2000. p. 12. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 6. 5 February 2000. p. 88. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  28. ^ Copsey, Rob (31 March 2016). "Number 1 today in 2000: Mel C scores her first solo Number 1 with Never Been The Same Again". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Spice Girls Working on New Album". ABC News. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  30. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 36. 2 September 2000. p. 13. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Melanie C Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 35. 26 August 2000. p. 7. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  33. ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  34. ^ Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 978-1904994008.
  35. ^ Bychawski, Adam (28 November 2000). "Spice Up Your Wardrobe!". NME. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  36. ^ "Northern Star". NME. 12 September 2005.
  37. ^ a b "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009.
  38. ^ Alexis Petridis (7 March 2003). "Melanie C: Reason". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2019. Melanie C's debut solo album, 2000's Northern Star, seemed positively kaleidoscopic. It took in trance, Garbage-style techno-rock, R&B ballads and vaguely nu-metalish chest beating
  39. ^ Joseph Ryan-Hicks (21 February 2024). "Spice Girl Melanie C's Northern Star album retrospectively reviewed". Attitude.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  40. ^ Cheryl Chan (12 November 1999). "Album Review: Northern Star by Melanie C". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  41. ^ Russell Baillie (29 June 2000). "Melanie C - Northern Star". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Official Chart History". Official Charts.
  43. ^ a b Jones, Alan (27 October 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Elvis tops the albums chart again". Music Week. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  44. ^ a b Paul. "Melanie C 2K: Archives". sample51.tripod.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  45. ^ a b "Spice Girls Lose Another Flavor". ABC News. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  46. ^ Northern Star (liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  47. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Melanie C – Northern Star". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  48. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Melanie C – Northern Star" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  49. ^ "Ultratop.be – Melanie C – Northern Star" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
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