Live review (and, erm, photos) by Daphne Stelton: Melanie C, Koko, London, 12 Jan 2024
Having spent more than half her life as a globally famous pop star, how does Melanie Chisholm choose to mark her 50th birthday? With an intimate sold-out gig in front of 1400 people, naturally.
Drawing from her Spice Girls catalogue plus her extensive canon of style-hopping solo albums, the artist formerly known as Sporty Spice is a ball of nervous energy tonight, backed by a small band and a joined onstage by multiple guests including Emma Bunton and half of All Saints.
Downsides? This two-hour set takes ages to warm up. Too many tastefully dull midtempo plodders full of bittersweet musings, not enough full-blooded rockers or glitterball disco anthems. Most of this packed audience, heavily queer and female, clearly came to party, but Melanie makes them wait a good hour before rolling out the heavy artillery. And sorry, but nobody needs to see Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson doing a doubled-denim karaoke impersonation Bryan Adams on the enduringly horrible When You’re Gone.
That said, there are plenty of peaks moments too. A previously unreleased “demo” version of Home, featuring James Bond composer David Arnold on keyboards, delivers classy melodrama.
The vintage Spice Girls tracks also prove surprisingly punchy, especially the turbo-calypso euphoria of Spice Up Your Life and a delirious collective sing-along on Who Do You Think You Are, performed with a stage full of fans. The well-wishing video messages from famous friends and family are sweet too, as is the inevitable crowd sing-along of Happy Birthday.
Rounding off a giddy final run of rave-pop bangers, the mighty I Turn To You almost blows the roof off Koko.
A fantastic climax, but tonight is not just about the music. Peppered with jokes about menopause and middle age, gushing thanks to her backstage team, warm expressions of solidarity with her fans, and weapons-grade Scouse swearing, this was an excellent way for a much-loved national treasure to celebrate her milestone birthday.
At 50, Melanie C is no longer a poster girl for spurious notions of Girl Power, more like a living embodiment of Woman Power.
