In 1998 while the Spice Girls were touring and Missy Elliott called her to ask if she was interested in singing a song called "I Want You Back", which went on to become part of the soundtrack to the film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The song was recorded in one afternoon and went on to sell 218,000 copies. It was the 82nd best seller of 1998 in the UK, giving Brown her first and only #1 in her own country. She became the first Spice girl to release a solo single. and the first to get a number one solo single. The news came the day that the Spice Girls played their last concert of the World Tour at the Wembley Stadium in front of 52,000 fans.
A week earlier, on September 13, Brown became Melanie G, having married dancer Jimmy Gulzar (father of her then unborn child). He was also featured in the video to "I Want You Back" and went on to direct Melanie's second solo video for the single "Word Up", in 1999.
Brown hosted the 1998 Edition of the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO's). She also started working on her first solo album with producers such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Prince) who also worked on the Spice Girls' third album: Forever. On the 19th of February 1999, her daughter Phoenix Chi was born.
Melanie's second solo single, "Word Up" (a cover of a song by Cameo), was released in May, and due to her pregnancy, Brown didn't appear in the video. It was animated and was considered too explicit by some. It was censored in a few countries. The song was part of the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and the singer had to shoot a different version of the video for the American market, in which the character of Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) is featured. The single charted at #14 in the UK. The disappointing results were partly due to a problem that made the weekend sales of all the singles released in that week not be counted.
In the same year, Brown hosted a TV Show called Pure Naughty about black music. She interviewed artists like Usher, hosted the 1999 Edition of the MOBOs with Wyclef Jean, and took part in a short film called Fish. She kept on working on her debut album and was dealing with marriage problems; by summer she had filed for divorce, which was finalized in January of 2000. The custody battle for her daughter was highly publicized; Brown won custody but large as large alimony settlement was awarded to her ex husband.
In September of 2000 she released the first single from the it, "Tell Me". The single went to #4 in the UK charts with about 40,000 sales in its first and ultimately sold approximately 100,000 copies, and was the 158th best seller of 2000. "Hot", Melanie's first solo album was released one month later, October 3, and it only sold 8,000 copies in its first week, limping in at a disappointing #28 and falling out of the top 50 the next week.
Following the release of Feels So Good, which was only a relative hit, rumours started circulating that if her next single flopped, Melanie would be dropped by her record company, Virgin Records. In May Melanie performed a small set at the London G-A-Y Astoria club, her only solo performance until 2004. Eventually a 3rd single was released in June 2001, "Lullaby", a pop number dedicated to her daughter which was accompanied by a very simple video shot in Morocco and featured Brown and Phoenix Chi. The media criticized Brown's child's participation in the video and artwork; they labelled Brown as "Desperate Spice", intimating she was using her child as a marketing tool.[citation needed] The single peaked at #13 and Virgin promptly dumped Brown from their label.
From 2001 to 2004 Melanie B concentrated on a variety of projects. She hosted a number of TV shows such as This Is My Moment (a talent show) and shot a documentary called Voodoo Princess which got many good reviews[citation needed]. She took part in a British drama, Burn It and shot her first movie, Lethal Dose, released on DVD in 2004. She also took part in smaller projects such as Top Of The Pops and The All Star Animal Awards. She has appeared in an advert for the Yorkshire tourist board in a series which included contributions from other Yorkshire-born celebrities. She also played a long run of shows as part of the cast for the Vagina Monologues which was a big success in the UK.[citation needed] In 2003 she moved to the US with her daughter and has stated she plans to reside there permenantly.[citation needed] She shot another movie there, The Seat Filler, directed by Will Smith and starring Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland.
In 2002 she released her autobiography, Catch A Fire, which reached #7 in the official books chart and saw her touring the UK to promote it with a run of booksignings.
In April 2004 she was approached to take part in 'Rent'. She played the role of Mimi, a drug-addicted young girl, and achieved positive reviews.[citation needed] A few weeks later she played her second and last gig to date with the cast of 'Rent' in a New York club showcasing some new songs she had written. The songs received positive feedback[citation needed] she decided to release them a year later through an independent label called "Amber Cafe".
The first single from the album, "Today", was released only in the UK in June 2005. It made the singles chart at a highly disappointing #41 selling around 1,000 copies in its first week. The album, L.A. State of Mind, was released the 27th of June 2005 in a double edition (regular edition and a limited edition which came with a DVD featuring a 30 minutes documentary of Brown in L.A.) charting at an even more disappointing #453 selling just 670 copies in its first week and dropping down to number #1,581 the next week.
It was announced on February 24,2012 that Brown was planning on releasing her third studio album in Summer 2012 along with a Second Season of It's A Scary World. Brown also revealed that the Spice Girls will be having some projects later in the year dealing with the musical
Word Up
Melanie B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a weird thing to show you
So tell all the boys and girls
Tell your brother, your sister and your mamma too
we're about to go down
And you know just what to do
Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
Glide by the people as they start to look and stare
Come on baby tell me what's the word
Word up everybody says
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the code word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
Now all you sucker DJ's who think you're fly
There's got to be a reason and we know the reason why
Why you put on those airs and you act real cool
Got to realize that you're acting like fools
If there's music we can use it
You're free to dance
We don't have the time for psychological romance
No romance, no romance, no romance for me mamma
Come on baby tell me what's the word
Word up everybody says
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Dial L for love, Dial L for love, Dial L for love
W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP
Yeh you sucker DJ's who think you're fly
There's got to be a reason and we know the reason why
Why you put on those airs and you act real cool
Got to realize that you're acting like fools
Give us music we can use it, yes, we can dance
We dont have no time for psychological romance
No romance, no romance, no romance for me mamma
Come on baby tell me what's the word
Word up everybody says
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the code word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
Word up everybody says
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the code word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
The lyrics of “Word Up” by Melanie B are about having a good time on the dance floor, with a call on everyone to join in the party. The song starts with the singer calling everyone to pay attention to what she and her group of pretty ladies have to offer. According to the lyrics, they have a “weird thing” they want to show everyone, and they want everyone, including siblings and parents, to join in the fun. As everyone starts partying, the singer instructs them to wave their hands and do their dance without caring who is watching them. She encourages everyone to take part in the party, telling them they know what to do.
The second verse directs a specific message to “sucker DJs who think they’re fly.” The singer accuses them of putting on airs and acting cool without any real reason. She tells them to drop the façade and give everyone the music they can dance to, without any psychological games. The chorus repeats the message of the song; the word up is a code word that brings people together, no matter where they are, and everyone has to join in the party.
Overall, the lyrics of “Word Up” by Melanie B encourage everyone to let loose and have fun, without worrying about what anyone else thinks. It is a song about enjoying life and letting loose, a message that resonates with many people.
Line by Line Meaning
Your pretty ladies around the world
Melanie is addressing all the beautiful ladies around the world.
Got a weird thing to show you
She has something unusual to show them.
So tell all the boys and girls
She asks the ladies to inform everyone about it, both males and females.
Tell your brother, your sister and your mamma too
She asks them to tell their entire family, including their mother and siblings.
we're about to go down
Melanie announces the beginning of something.
And you know just what to do
She assumes that they all know what to do next.
Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
She instructs them to wave their hands aimlessly.
Glide by the people as they start to look and stare
She tells them to walk past people as others gaze at them.
Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quick mamma
She instructs them to perform their dance moves quickly.
Come on baby tell me what's the word
Melanie encourages them to tell her about what they think and feel.
Word up everybody says
This is the call to action for everyone.
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Melanie urges everyone to act when they hear the call.
Word up it's the code word
She emphasizes that the phrase 'Word up' is the code word that everyone should know.
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
She assures that the message will be heard, no matter where you say it.
Now all you sucker DJ's who think you're fly
Melanie addresses the DJs who think they are cool.
There's got to be a reason and we know the reason why
She believes that they act like that for a certain reason, but she knows the real reason.
Why you put on those airs and you act real cool
She questions why they pretend to be cool.
Got to realize that you're acting like fools
She advises them to stop acting foolishly.
If there's music we can use it
She highlights the importance of music.
You're free to dance
She tells everyone that they are free to dance.
We don't have the time for psychological romance
She emphasizes that they should not waste time on psychological romance.
No romance, no romance, no romance for me mamma
She reiterates that she is not interested in romance at the moment.
Dial L for love, Dial L for love, Dial L for love
She gives a clue on how to find love by dialing L.
W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP, W.O.R.D. UP
Melanie spells out the code word 'Word up' for anyone who missed it earlier.
Yeh you sucker DJ's who think you're fly
She addresses the DJs again and calls them out as fools.
Give us music we can use it, yes, we can dance
She repeats the importance of music and dancing, and urges them to provide good music.
We dont have no time for psychological romance
She reminds them not to waste time on anything other than dancing.
No romance, no romance, no romance for me mamma
Again, she clarifies that at the moment, she is only interested in dancing.
Come on baby tell me what's the word
She reiterates her call for everyone to share their thoughts.
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Melanie reminds everyone to act when they hear the call.
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
She reiterates that the message will be heard, no matter where you say it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LARRY BLACKMON, TOMI JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Truth be told
This video got so much hate when it was released and so did the song. It was way too ahead of its time. The video is a masterpiece and the story it tells is dark yet amazing,. You have to be clued up to get it.
JM
Me encanta
Quentin Harrison
Very Grace Jones, Janet Jackson and Prince. Odd, but striking references to “The Tears of Eros,” “Thanatos,” and other assorted sexual innuendo. Very Afro-punk and ahead of the curve. To say nothing of Melanie B turning out a very solid cover of Cameo’s 1986 classic with Timbaland at his very best behind the boards. And to land a UK Top 20 hit despite all the noise? I love it.
Brava Ms. Brown.
Marcos A. Lima
por favor upa Want You Back em 4K
Lucas
😍😍😍😍
Bernardo Baena
@tiagopsilva2 dá pra fazer da versão com o Mike Meyers?
MOSHIMOSHI
Everyone hated this video and song when it released. But hey I like it still in 2022...
Onyx
I love it as well! So dark and edgy!
Onyx
Still eerie yet fascinating to watch. Yet I still can't figure out the meaning of the video or what's supposed to be happening. Can anyone explain? Only thing I know for sure is that there's a lot of BDSM involved hehe😈
blp
I recognize some symbolisms here.