For her performance in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar as Mary Magdalene, Chisholm won Best Supporting Actress in a musical at the Whatsonstage.com Awards.
Melanie also has co-written 11 UK Number 1s - more than any other female artist independently or as part of a duo, quartet or quintet, being surpassed by Madonna in 2006.
Melanie started her music career in 1996 as one fifth of the world's biggest girl group, Spice Girls. During their reign of the 1990s, the girls scored nine number 1 singles in the UK, sold over 40 million albums worldwide and made their distinctive mark on pop culture. By 2000, that figure rose to 53 million and preceded the groups’ eventual disbandment as well as Melanie’s burgeoning solo career.
Embracing a new creative direction, her first solo endeavour was the Bryan Adams duet ‘When You’re Gone’, which reached the UK Top 3 and became a huge European hit. Setting the tone for her first ever debut solo album, ‘Northern Star’ followed in 1999 and peaked at Number 4. Spawning 2 Number 1 singles, it was certified triple platinum in the United Kingdom, Gold in Australia and platinum in Europe.
Her second solo album, the Top 5 hit ‘Reason’, followed in March 2003. Containing tracks produced by former New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander and Marius De Vries (Madonna, Rufus Wainright), it boasted a vibrant, coesive sound of increasing musical maturity and rapidly went Gold after the lead Top Ten single ‘Here It Comes Again’.
In early 2004, Melanie founded her own independent label Red Girl Records. So-called after her beloved Liverpool Football Club and propensity to blush easily, it provided undiluted artistic freedom and saw the release of ‘Beautiful Intentions’, Melanie’s third solo LP.
Songs were previewed before fans at a series a Barfly gigs in the summer of 2004 as Melanie became eager to encapsulate the 'live' feel of her new tracks and one such previewed track, Next Best Superstar , was decided as the first single. It scored a top ten hit for Melanie at the start of 2005 and second single Better Alone was released as a download and through the official online shop.
In late 2005, Melanie was asked to record the theme tune to German soap opera 'Julia'. The track, written by Guy Chambers and Enrique Iglesias entitled First Day Of My Life, was then released in Germany where it topped the charts and was certified platinum after selling a massive 400,000 copies. But its success didn't stop there, going on to be number 1 in Spain, Portugal and Austria, it became one of the biggest hits of the year. The huge success of the single reflected on album sales as Beautiful Intentions became certified gold in Germany and platinum in Portugal, where it stayed at number 1 for nine weeks.
In October 2006 Melanie released her first ever Live Hits DVD. Recorded before a sold-out audience at London’s The Bridge, it featured 19 blistering hit singles and showcased her talent as both a writer and live performer.
Fast forward to now and Melanie kicks off 2007 with the challenge of 2 new singles prior to the album release. In Europe, the lead single is ‘The Moment You Believe’ – a beautiful love song written with long-term collaborator Peter Vettese that’s already powering its way up many European airplay charts. "This Time" also features writing and production credits from Guy Chambers, Cathy Dennis, Steve Mac, Stephen Hague, Jill Jackson and two of her own band members Paul Gendler and Greg Hatwell. Melanie played many festivals across Europe during the summer, including the sold out Isle of Wight Festival.
Here, the UK single is a stellar reinvigoration of the 1982 hit ‘I Want Candy’. Produced by Stephen Hague (whose previous credits include New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Robbie Williams) it’s taken from the British film of the same name, which was heralded by Empire as “Fresh and funny a British American Pie”.
The videos for both singles were directed by Tim Royes and have attracted considerable attention. ‘The Moment You Believe’ was filmed in one continuos shot, while ‘I Want Candy’ sees Melanie dancing for the first time since the Spice Girls. As a result, it was the No.1 viewed video on You Tube the day it was added, gaining over 200,000 views.
In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a Greatest Hits album release and a four-months world tour. When the tour reached its first two-day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December and another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City. On the last show of the tour, Chisholm did her famous "Sporty Spice" backflip as a surprise to the fans, as well as the other Spice Girls. In February 2008 Chisholm returned to her solo career. She released her fourth album "This Time" in Canada on April 8 2008, followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single was Carolyna. "Understand" was released as a second single in Canada on July 25th. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.
On 22 August 2008, Melanie announced on her offical website she was pregnant and would start writing songs for her fifth studio-album.
In September 2011, she released her fifth solo album "The Sea". In September 2012, she released her sixth solo album "Stages", a collection of song covers from various musical theatre shows and films. In October 2016, she released her seventh solo album "Version of Me".
STRONGER
Melanie C Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fear was my condition, you cast your spell
Everything that I thought I knew faded into you and your lies
You will never break me
But you can try, you can try
Do anything you want to me
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
Maybe I should thank you, you taught me well
How to wear my armor and be myself
In a moment of weakness I could run back to your lies
I am only human
But I can fight, I can fight
Do anything you want to me
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Take aim and fire, you'll set me free
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
I'm not the girl I used to be, I don't need you any longer
Would you be brave enough to cross me now you see me getting stronger
Do anything you want to me
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Take aim and fire, you'll set me free
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
It only makes me
Do anything you want to me (Stronger stronger)
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Take aim and fire, you'll set me free (Stronger stronger)
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Stronger
The lyrics of Melanie C's song "Stronger" depict a story of resilience and courage in the face of a toxic relationship. The singer portrays herself as a person who fell into the trap of a lover who was addicted to behaving badly. She admits that she was fearful and that she lost herself in the deception of her beloved, leaving behind everything she knew. However, despite the pain and the hurt, the singer declares that she cannot be broken. She challenges her lover to try and break her but knows that will never happen because her strength is unmatched.
As the song progresses, she declares her independence and willingness to step away from her toxic flame. She thanks her disastrous relationship for teaching her some valuable lessons, including learning how to wear her armor and stand by her authentic self. Despite the temptation to run back to the comfort of her ex-lover's lies in moments of weakness, she fights through those feelings of vulnerability, continually seeking to heal and gain recovery. The chorus of the song highlights the fact that the pain caused by her ex-lover has only made her stronger. She will not be destroyed or defeated.
Line by Line Meaning
You were a strange addiction I knew so well
You were the bad habit I couldn't quit, even though I was aware it wasn't good for me.
Fear was my condition, you cast your spell
You made me afraid, and I was under your control.
Everything that I thought I knew faded into you and your lies
I believed everything you told me, even if it wasn't true, and it became my reality.
You will never break me
Although you tried to hurt me, you will never make me give up.
But you can try, you can try
You can continue to make attempts, but they will never succeed.
Do anything you want to me
You can do whatever you please to me.
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Don't feel remorse for your actions.
Take aim and fire you'll set me free
If you try to hurt me, it will actually make me stronger and more free.
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Your efforts to bring me down will only result in my rising up.
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
Your actions make me more resilient and powerful.
It only makes me
Your attempts only have this one outcome.
Maybe I should thank you, you taught me well
Perhaps I should show gratitude for the lessons you taught me.
How to wear my armor and be myself
You taught me how to protect and present myself.
In a moment of weakness I could run back to your lies
In moments of vulnerability, I may be tempted to return to you and your false words.
I am only human
I am not perfect.
But I can fight, I can fight
But I can stand up and battle regardless.
I'm not the girl I used to be, I don't need you any longer
I have grown and changed and have no reliance on you anymore.
Would you be brave enough to cross me now you see me getting stronger
Are you courageous enough to take me on now that I have become more resolute and unyielding?
Do anything you want to me (Stronger stronger)
You can do whatever you want, but it will only result in my growth.
And don't be feeling bad about your misbehaving heart
Don't feel guilt for your bad behavior.
Take aim and fire, you'll set me free (Stronger stronger)
Your negative actions will only enhance my strength.
Trying to take me down but you will only make me
Your efforts to bring me down will only result in my rising up.
Stronger, stronger (Stronger)
Your actions make me more resilient and powerful.
It only makes me
Your attempts only have this one outcome.
Contributed by Hunter H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Astral Spice
What a beautiful song and voice, love the lyric! We are always getting STRONGER and we can fight! Love you Mel <3
bumo.tv
What a fantastic song - we are ready to dance! Melanie C, your album "The Sea" is a very very very great album- thank you for that album!!!
XTIN0
The Sea is such a masterpiece that even the left outs were strong amazing songs. It's one of the greatest albums from a female artist ever but very underrated at the same time
Nathan Batista
Viciei nessa música, Melanie C me da forças todos os dias, minha inspiração!
❤😍😇🙏
Mushishi
So sad there was no video for this song and official instrumental. This is pure perfection <3
Maxime Le Floch
Amazing song! Why isn't in the album? It's just SO good!
Rebecca Hoffman
This song say's it all! It's me in a nut shell ;-). Thanks Melanie for putting this song out there!
Andrea C.
I know this is just a b-side, but... i think this could be an AMAZING single!!! it's full of energy and so catchy! love this song<3
imati7ar
I love that the b-side for Weak is Stronger.... well thought and well matched. Melanie is great!!! <3
Andrea M
She's so talented! Northern star is still my favourite song! I think her solo career was more successful!