Melanie Chisholm, better known as Mel C or Sporty Spice, has revealed which Spice Girls bandmates she is closest to as the group celebrates the 30th anniversary of their debut single, Wannabe.
THE SPICE GIRLS at the Billboard Music Awards, 1997. Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Speaking about her bond with the other members of the iconic girl group, Mel C said her favourite bandmate can change depending on the day, but admitted she is particularly close to Emma Bunton, who was known as Baby Spice.
"I'd like to choose a different one on a different day. I'm probably closest to Emma [out of] all the girls. I love my Baby Spice," she said.
Emma Bunton arriving for the BRIT Awards 2019. Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Mel C also joked about spending time with her former bandmates, explaining that she had recently seen Emma before meeting Victoria Beckham, who was helping style her outfit.
"I saw her yesterday … Emma yesterday, Victoria today because she's dressed me," she said.
Victoria Beckham. Shutterstock
The comments come as the Spice Girls mark three decades since the release of Wannabe, the song that launched them into global fame in 1996.
Reflecting on recording the track, Mel C said she still remembers the energy surrounding the song's creation, describing how the group worked with producers Matt Rowe and Richard “Biff” Stannard in a small studio in East London.
"They were trying to bottle that energy, that chaos of the Spice Girls - which is what Wannabe is, and why it had to be the debut single, because it was the perfect introduction to us as a band," she said.
Released in July 1996, Wannabe became an international success, reaching number one in 37 countries and introducing the world to the Spice Girls' message of “Girl Power”.
The group went on to release a string of hits including Say You'll Be There, 2 Become 1, Who Do You Think You Are and Spice Up Your Life, becoming one of the biggest pop acts of the 1990s.
The anniversary has renewed interest in the band, with fans continuing to celebrate the music and legacy of Mel C, Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell more than 30 years after they first came together.
