Track Listing

1. Go!
2. Northern Star
3. Goin' Down
4. I Turn To You
5. If That Were Me
6. Never Be The Same Again
7. Why
8. Suddenly Monday
9. Ga Ga
10. Be The One
11. Closer
12. Feel The Sun
13. Never Be The Same Again - Single Mix
14. I Turn To You - Hex Hector Radio Mix

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38643 in Music
• Released on: 2000-08-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

One of my favourite albums
I had been thinking of buying this album for the last 2 years or so, but whenever I got round to it, I always saw something I thought was better and bought that instead. Besides, from listening to all the other Spice Girls' solo singles (which, apart from maybe some of Geri Halliwells, were all complete rubbish) it wasn't that high on my list of CD's to buy. So I saw it in the shops a coupla days ago on sale for £3, and thought, why not.
Now I wish I'd bought it earlier. It is just so good. Unlike the other Spice Girls who decided to play it safe with what all the other pop acts were doing, Melanie C decided to brave it with something very different, alternative even. It's hard to define her album, sort of alternative/rock/r'n'b/dance/pop. I find that Northern Star has a very similar quality to Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light. Perhaps it's because William Orbit featured on both, but both albums have a unique sound that is somewhat dark and hypnotic. There is not one bland song on this album, and we all know bland music is the worst kind of music. Outstanding tracks include the emotion filled "Northern Star", the cool "Never be the Same Again", the beautiful "If that were me", the pumped up club anthem "I turn to you", the haunting "Feel the Sun" and the hardcore, full out rock'n'roll "Goin' Down" (which I didn't really like, but now am hooked!)
So, look past the "Spice Girl" and listen to the album without any thought of Sporty Spice. Fantastic listening guranteed.

She is definetly a "Northern Star"
This is Melanie C's very first solo album! Riding on the back of the success of the huge smash hit "when your gone" with Brian Adams! Melanie has for the fist time opened up to the rest of the world! Here is a track by track guide of this great album:

1)Go!: To me this has a very seventies feel. Very guitar lead! Extremely up-beat. This song could easily have made a smash hit single! Much, much better live! 10/10

2)Northern Star: The albums title tarck is a ballad. And my oh my is it good! It was the 2nd single to be released from the album, and went to number four in the single charts, and was in the UK top 20 christmas charts for 1999. Shows her superb voice! 9/10

3)Goin Down: This was our introduction into melanie and reched number 4! Rocky and very catchy and gave her many new admirers, but the critics were quick to slate her for the new rock image! It was completely different from the Spice Girls and...she swears (BIG GASP)! 8/10

4)I turn to you: This was the first version. It is great, a dance song up-beat and very catchy! 8/10

5)If that were me: The homeless song on this album. It was the fith song to be lifted from the album! It is not great and contains the terrible lyrics that critics had a field day with: "I can't live without my phone/but you don''t even have a home!!" Shouldn't have been released 5/10

6)Never be the same again: One of the greatest songs I have ever heard. Again took Melanie in another direction. She went very RnB on this, as well as rap with the inclusion of TLC's Lisa "Leftt-eye" Lopez! fantastic. 10/10

7)Why: This song is quite dark and dingy. In all honesty I hate this song. This is clearly an experimental song and thank God it has stayed hidden on the album. Bad!! 3/10

8)Suddenly Monday: Used on the soundtrack for "Maybe Baby!" One of the best Melanie C songs ever! This is extended when performed live and is even better. Could easily have been a single!Very poppy and catchy - GREAT 10/10

9)GaGa: Another song that was used on a soundtrack, this time it was international smash hit comedy "Big Daddy!" Was the B-side to goin down and is very rocky and again could eaily have replaced Goin Down as a single. Very strong! 9/10

10)Be the One: This is a mid-tempo song. Lead by an acoustic guitar and shows a softer side to Melanie's voice. Great! 8/10

11)Closer: This takes Melanie in yet another direction! This time it is Latino! I hated this song at fist but now it has grown on me. It is mid-tempo. It is only worth as an album filler but it is still good! 8/10

12)Feel the sun: This song isn't good at all and is a very bad ending to a good album. It is a bad ballad! 5/10

Bonus (new Version)
13)Never be the same again: This was the smash hit single version, which changed many opinions of Melanie and propelled her to huge success! This was her first solo number one and the 3rd single, absolutly superb!10/10

14) I turn to you: The 4th single to be released and it was the Hex Hextor remix and was absolutly fantastic no wonder it was number one! Record label bosses even held it back a week so that Robbie Williams Rock DJ would get to number one! 10/10

This is a good album, there are a mix of song onthis so it caters for everyones tastes! Many critics say that this is her downfall but shehas a good voice and is able to pull off rock, pop, dance and RnB!!! One of my only gripes about this album is the fact that her duet with Brian Adams was not on it! Buy this album you will be surprised. You camn also check out my review on her second album REASON in shops now!!!

High quality first album - can't wait for the next
Northern Star contains so many brilliant singles that much of its content will be familiar to people already. But in my view, the album is a must-have not for the singles, but for the deliciously haunting "Why". Worth every penny for that song alone.
And if you find "Why" a bid maudlin, then Suddenly Monday directly after it will have you smiling again. Amazing that this really strong song was never released as a single - just shows the quality of the rest of the tracks.

Good luck Mel with your next album. I shall be first in the queue for it.