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What duffer would leave an internationally successful band that was making her millions of dollars, influencing young girls all around the world (in a positive way) and allowed her to ponce around with Prince Charles? Someone gutsy, that's for sure, and if that's the case, Geri Halliwell is probably the gutsiest pop star since Meatloaf. Metaphorically speaking, of course ... Molly got to spend some time with her on Sydney Harbour a few weeks ago (that's April '99 for you time-confused kiddies), where she told him about her new single 'Look At Me', getting back to 'reality' and a small issue of some girl group called 'The Spice Girls'. Read on!

Molly: Well Geri, it's been a long time and a few drinks since the last time I slept with you.

Geri: I know, and you were the perfect gentleman.

Molly: Are you sure?

Geri: He was, you were.

Molly: We better explain what we mean ... It was on a plane from Thailand to New Delhi -The Channel [V] music awards ...

Geri: ... And you fixed my plane seat for me.

Molly: And I didn't say who I was, did I?

Geri: No, he just acted like a perfect gentleman. It was very very nice. Thankyou very much ... Fame has not affected you.

Molly: Now listen, congratulations on the single. 'Look at Me'. I love it.

Geri: Thankyou.

Molly: First time I heard it, I though "whoa". Second time - it just grows on you - so infectious. Just tell us about the single.

Geri: Well, basically, when I first left the Spice girls I didn't know what I was going to do. It was very therapeutic for me to write all my music and lyrics by speaking into a dictaphone. I always draw on my own experiences and 'Look at Me' is about public image, how we're all obsessed with it - and everyone was always commenting on mine, and I thought "Well, actually, my heart and my mind is exactly the same". And then I realised that the way I respond to people is that it doesn't matter whether you're black, gay, straight, a journalist or whoever you are ... I look into your eyes and I respond to you as a human being. That's the way I've always got on - whether you're a postman or a president. And that's what it's all about. And I'm actually laughing at myself you know - "I'm a drama queen if that's you're thing, baby - that's reality", you know ... I'm laughing.

Molly: I'm a drama queen myself at times, I can tell you. The decision to leave The Spice Girls - that must be one of the gutsiest decisions in music ...

Geri: Or the stupidest!

Molly: No, gutsy, gutsy. The hype - when everything was happening in a huge way, then this happens.

Geri: I think, as we said at the beginning of the tour I told the girls I wanted to leave at the end of the tour and the girls knew that - there was no surprise. But then sometimes in life you're questioned to say "Hey, do you mean what you say about Girl Power?" and the whole question was brought up when I was doing this breast cancer interview And I started to think, "What are my priorities? I've lost the plot if I can't do this. I'm meant to be the advocate of Girl Power, so if I can't do this interview then I'm a liar and a cheat." You know - what I've been harping on about for the past two years 'cos it was never about the money - it was more than just the band. So I thought, "I have to get my feet back on the ground and get in touch with reality". It was a very instinctive thing to do. It was like I was standing on this mountain top and I just thought, "I've got to jump, I don't know where I'm going to land, but I just have to do it". I would have no integrity left if I stayed. As much as I wanted to finish the American tour and as much as I wanted to play Wembley Stadium - can you imagine? I just thought "no, I can't."

Molly: It's still an astonishing decision, I think.

Geri: It was almost like a moment of clarity. I don't regret it. I'm just disappointed I didn't do the rest of the tour dates and I felt guilty about letting the fans down. I also felt - you know I come from a marketing background and I understand ... I think The Spice Girls was a moment in time, a phenomenon. You know, it captured people's imaginations and I wanted to leave at the end of the tour and wrap it up nicely. But fair play to the other girls, they wanted it to continue and it has continued ... so respect them, but it wasn't for me.

Molly: I don't know if it is though. Basically, over this last year, the album has been just massive and it's still been Ginger, or Geri in The Spice Girls. Which is a very weird thing.

Geri: The thing is, at the end of the day I gave my heart and soul to that group. I was passionate about it. I loved it. And it was a five-piece group, and that's how we were first represented to the world, so it's natural that people are always going to remember that.

Molly: Before we get onto the album ... during the press conference you said that when you were young you dreamt of meeting George Michael. Obviously you were a fan. Did you dream back then that you would maybe be a pop star yourself?

Geri: Absolutely. I read back at my diary and it's unbelievable the optimism I had thinking, "Yeah, I'm going to be famous", or whatever, but I came from quite humble beginnings. I didn't have a lot of money and I used to watch TV and think: "Everybody on telly is wealthy. That's going to be my way out. I'm going to be rich and famous". So I really imagined it. I'm a dreamer. The most inspiring thing is, I'm not the brightest girl, I'm not the most beautiful girl in the world, but with a bit of determination and use your mind - and the power of that - you can achieve things.

Molly: Hey, listen, when you achieve things. When you came out in 'that dress', the Union Jack - in London the next day, I couldn't believe ... you were on the front page of every newspaper in London. Can you believe that?

Geri: Well, it was wonderful. The experience. And it was one of those memories that will never leave me. For example that dress - I didn't have anything to wear, I didn't know what I was going to wear five days before. I always just draw on my imagination, I just got a British flag and sewed it onto this kind-of bustier thing. I thought "That will do - Brits, Britain..." Then it just captured everybody's imagination because it was cool Britannia at the time, so it was great.

Molly: Even though papers that wouldn't dream of putting any pop stars on its cover - The Spice Girls were just exploding then. And it was such an amazing decision to go out on your own. And it's now the first single. What was it like going into the studio for the first time by yourself?

Geri: When I first left the Spice Girls I really didn't know what I was going to do and I think in the back of my mind, in the pit of my stomach I wanted to go solo, although I daren't admit it. You know - I've never had a singing lesson in my life. Although I used to have a healthy contribution writing the songs and the imagination, I had never done a whole song before. I was really nervous, and my self-esteem was on the floor. And then George Michael, his friend David Austen gave me a song to sing to kind-of break the back of my nerves. And I did that - it's kind-of a Dionne Warwicky song. And then all the lyrics and melodies I'd been writing that summer, I just went into the studio and just went for it. And I thought "Yeah, I can do this" and it was just so therapeutic for me. It was kind of like a mountain I had to climb. I didn't want to get to the age of being a granny and think, "Well, why didn't I try?" I'd rather try it then fall over and know that I gave it my best shot. The other thing was that I didn't want to ride on the back of my departure from The Spice Girls and come out with a gimmick record. I don't expect anyone to buy a record of mine because it's me. I expect them to buy it because it's good. I think pop music can be inspiring or different. It doesn't have to be crap.

Molly: With this album you've got orchestras, you've got Hindu choirs, you've got New Orleans jazz men - is this true?

Geri: Yeah, I just think there should be no boundaries on music. It should take you to Sydney, it should take you to Calcutta. The world is a small place and I try to reflect that. It's not like you either like punk music or rock'n'roll. I think everybody likes lots of thing. I do. It shouldn't be patronising. Everybody should be allowed to sing along to it. You should get something out of it. If you just want to dance around and hum to it, that's fine, but you want to get something more out of it - an emotional response - then that's what I try to do.

Molly: Your departure from The Girls, I was sort-of saying that it was like a marriage, or a divorce. Did you ever feel lonely after that?

Geri: The only way I can describe it is like it's being in a very crowded room, or a very busy road and then suddenly getting into a car and slamming the door shut and the silence was so penetrating. It was so lonely And I was used to living at such a fast pace and they were my family and friends for that period of time. It was like a marriage. The whole environment you have husbands, sisters, brothers - you walk out of that and then you're alone. So I was so grateful to George Michael came into my life and asked me to stay a few days.

Molly: Did he call on you for help with his problems as well?

Geri: We were telephone buddies for about a year before that. My father had died about six months before The Spice Girls, and I was really torn and I had no-one to talk to and death is a very lonely experience and the western world don't really talk about it. He had lost a parent, so we had something in common. We lost touch for a while and we didn't really talk again until I left The Spice Girls. He just said "Look, calm down, you have all the time you need. Just take your time, make a good record" And he just offered me a sanctuary as well. I had a great summer with him and Kenny. And can you imagine - he was my idol! I look back on my diary and there's a picture of him stuck on the inside. I loved Wham! and then I go and show him my music and it was like taking it to my father - I was so nervous.

Molly: Just that night on the plane - observing you - which I was, you were so natural. Is it hard to go out and be 'Ginger' or Geri'? You handled the press conference questions very well.

Geri: Well, there was one question a lady had about being real ... I think if you're honest about who you are - I know I'm not perfect, I'll say the wrong thing etc ... but the way I'm talking to you now is me. I think the thing to do is be honest - so the way I talk to you now is a pleasure. I'm just having a chat with you. And I think the whole 'Ginger thing' is not being fake, it's a part of me. Maybe you don't walk around with a cowboy hat on all the time ...

Molly: Oh, most of the time ...

Geri: You know, so she's a part of me and if anyone identifies with that that's great. There's all different sides to us. You know - sometimes I feel like a little lamb, and other times I feel like I've taken on the world. You know - that's what ... That bloody boat! Paparazzi! You know - trying to get us together snogging ... So, anyway, I like what I do. I'm a very lucky girl! I've had opportunities - more than most! You know, there's people starving in Africa!

Molly: Right, I'm getting the wind-up here. And there's a couple of things I have to ask. Is there a man in your life?

Geri: I have a man in my life and that's Harry, my dog.

Molly: He's in the video, yes?

Geri: Yes. I think in life there's always a sacrifice. You can't have your cake and eat it. I've been working really hard. When I was making my album I said "no sex" so my lyrics would be better. So I sacrificed no sex life for that album!

Molly: And there's four characters in the video. There's the ...

Geri: Vamp, Virgin and The Sister and The Bitch.

Molly: You think there's a little bit of you in all that four?

Geri: I think there's a little bit of everybody in those characters, I'd like to think. It's a generalisation, but I think I'm somewhere in between the vamp and the virgin. Somewhere in between ...

Molly: Okay, how you would do this trip in eight days around the world, I have no idea. Good luck for the rest of it, and thankyou.

Geri: I'm so excited, thankyou very much ... I just want to say thankyou to everyone who has given me support, thankyou very much ...

source: channel V