Cut the sugar, just give me the spice! - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

Fourteen months and one defection following the release of their last chart-topping album and the conclusion of their phenomenally successful global tour, the world’s most famous all-girl group is back with not only a new look but also a new album.

The Spice Girls–Victoria Beckham, Melanie C, Melanie B and Emma Bunton collectively – recently launched Forever, their follow-up to their 1998 hit album Spiceworld. Recorded in London, Miami and Los Angeles, the new album boasts of the girls’ collaborations with such formidable producers as Rodney Jerkins, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The result is a sound decidedly funkier and slinkier than anything the girls have done on their Spice or Spiceworld, most notably on Holler, which the girls themselves picked to be the album’s carrier single.

"Of course, we all started out with a different view as to what song we were going to release first," says Mel B, "and then we all decided on Holler. I must admit that I got a bit of cold feet about it – I’ll never forget making a telephone call to Emma, saying ‘Emma, come on, what do you think? It’s down to you – do we go with this song or this song?’ And she went, ‘Oh no!’ And then she again went, ‘No, it has to be Holler,’ and we were like ‘Yes! Let’s go for it!’"

That the Spice Girls ultimately chose Holler to be the first single of their brand-new album should be no surprise. The song, with its driving beats and lyrics about women getting their own way, fits nicely into what the girls are about to their global public – and that is, of course, Girl Power.

"It’s part of our lives," said Mel B of the group’s continuing championship of the movement. "I’m a single parent, Emma’s very independent, we all work together, we sort out our own stuff. Girl Power is about being believing in yourself and knowing what you want out of life. Girl Power is about expecting the best for yourself."

Victoria adds: "There are some really strong songs on Forever. Girl Power is something that we all very much still believe in, and so that’s the message that comes across in our songs – but not so quite in-your-face as in our previous albums."

Although the Spice Girls’ crowd-pleasing you-go-have-fun-girls image have prompted music snobs to dismiss them as lightweight, it is difficult to ignore the awards and citations that the girls have earned. To wit: Songwriter of the Year, Best Pop Group, Best International Band, Best Album, Best New Artist. . . the list just goes on.

"People do look up to us and do have respect for us because nobody can take away what we’ve achieved," says Victoria. Adds Emma, "Despite the fact that we had no output as a group for more than a year, our fans all over the world have always been brilliant, always by our side, always writing, ‘When’s the next single? The Next album? We love you!"

Well, that album is now out and the Spice Girls are poised to again spice up the music scene – with their new sound and their new high-octane images, perhaps even in ways that they have not since they spectacularly broke into global consciousness.

Forever, the new Spice Girls album, is now available in record stores everywhere in CDs and cassettes from OctoArts EMI.

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Best Exotic Male Dancer-Manila Fifteen beautiful boys shall be competing for the Best Exotic Female Dancer-Manila, which will be held at the Southern Bulls, Timog Ave., Quezon City on Dec. 28.

The winner shall be receiving $1,000 and a trip to Los Angeles, California. Special awards will also be given out like Mr. Photogenic who will be chosen through the Internet. Just log in at [email protected].

The 15 finalists are: Jonjon Bondoc, Michael Reyes, Allan de la Cruz, Kent Joel Sierra, Allan Legaspi, Edmond Calma, Mark Steven Sangster, Nomer Jandumon, Janus Jackson, Paul Bryan Lopez, Joseph Perez, Donald Porter, Jeffrey Malone, Christian del Castillo and Richard Perez.

As an added attraction, there will be a special show before the pageant proper. This will be Ang Tatlong Mukha ng Superstar, which stars Ate Gay, Lady Guy and Teri, with the special participation of Rodel Velayo.