Disco de Emma Bunton: “Girl Like Me”

Although the Spice Girls' new album "Forever" hasn't been very well recieved (I don't see it as a failure, though), there's no stopping or denying the fact that the girls' are talented whether they're together or as soloists. After solo albums from Geri Halliwell (The pleasant offering "Schizophonic"), Melanie C (The above average and credible "Northern Star") and Melanie B (Unfortunately her "Hot" solo wasn't particularly anything good), we are now offered baby spice's solo outing "A Girl Like Me". Emma Bunton should be very pleased with her work. Co-writing all of the tracks, she has created an easy listening, pleasant pop album that is one of the better Spice offerings.

The CD opens with: 1) WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG - I'm sure most of us have heard this tune. A guitar riddled pop offering that will have you singing along in no time.

From there it moves to the similar sounding 2) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - More upbeat and poppy than WTYSL, but still guitar hooked track that is uplifting and single potential. The chorus alone will ahve you addicted to this tune.

Emma has the kind of voice that would suit any ballad, so no surprises when she belts out the sweet ballad, track 3) A WORLD WITHOUT YOU - Although the title seems a bit Mariah-esque, don't be fooled. It's actually a sweet, midtempo ballad that would be much like somethng you'd hear from the sweet sounding pop queens Britney Spears or Mandy Moore. The chorus is cute and it is yeat another addictive single potential tune.

4) HIGH ON LOVE - Once again the guitar riffs used in this bare some resemblance to tracks 1 and 2, but this is not as good. The only thing letting this tune down is the chorus. But still a nice sounding tune.

The title track 5) A GIRL LIKE ME - Has an early Madonna/Janet Jackson feel to it. Cheeky and cute lyrics make this an instant liking to Emma's younger audience. Also for all the people that liked or still like Spice tracks like "Wannabe".

At this point listeners maybe wondering when there will be a change of pace and I think from track 6 onwards theres a difference. 6) SPELL IT O.U.T. - This instantly likeable tune crosses many boarders with pop, dance, balladry and R&B all mixing. The chorus very much dominates it 3minute+ run but it's one you'll be singing along to in no time.

7) SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY - Emma was worried that since she had already covered Eddie Brickell's hit "What I Am", that another cover would be tiresome. Her take on this joyful tune is well done and will be familiar to all, especially Australians since our own Christine Anu covered it.

8) BEEN THERE DONE THAT - One of the best tunes on this album is this slinky R&B tune. Something like this would have sat perfectly on "Forever". But Emma carries on her own, with anohter liekable and dancey tune.

The Spice Girls explored motown with their tune "Stop" (From "Spiceworld") and it seems Emmma has taken a liking to it. 9) BETTER BE CAREFUL - Anyone who liked "Stop", or the S Club 7 tunes "Reach" and "You're My Number One" should like this.

10) WE'RE NOT GONNA SLEEP TONIGHT - Latin music is big right now and plenty of non pure latin artists are successing at it also. Much like "Spice Up Your Life"(Spice Girls) or moreso Geri Halliwell's "Mi Chico Latino" this is another highlight with cute lyrics, a catchy chorus and the sexy flamenco guitars burning up the background.

11) SHE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE - Another R&B track that mixes some spicy spanish guitar into it also.

To finsih off "A Girl Like Me" Emma chose 12) WHAT I AM - Her collaboration with Tin Tin Out. A tune we should all be familiar with.

Overall this is a great album. More Geri and early Spice than it is Mel C and Mel B, although all areas of music the girls have separately chosen have been meddled together for this successful solo offering. Now we just have to wait for Victoria, and the upcoming second solo effort from Geri Halliwell "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster" (Featuring "It's Raining Men").

Emma sounds great solo and this album has become one of my all time favorites. It's a shame that it wasn't released over here. She has great songwriting capabilities and I love the guitar pop style she seems to have taken a particular fancy to, though she covers many styles on this album.

1/ What Took You So Long: I absolutely love this song and I think it was a great first single.

2/ Take My Breath Away: This is one of my favorite songs on the album.

3/ A World Without You: This is a very nice and sweet ballad that Emma dedicates to all her close family and friends in the liner-notes.

4/ High On Love: A great and touching song which Emma dedicates especially to her Mum.

5/ A Girl Like Me: A great, fun dance song.

6/ Spell It O.U.T: A nice sort of calmer interlude for the album, because it gives you time to rest and think, as it doesn't have any real percussion.

7/ Sunshine On A Rainy Day: What can I say. This song is wonderful!

8/ Been There, Done That: A good song when you just wanna kick back, relax and have fun.

9/ Better Be Careful: I LOVE THIS SONG! It reminds me a lot of all that great sixties English guitar pop, and I personally think it's there to pay homage to that era.

10/ We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight: This is a fun, cute kind of song for when you're not in a really serious mood.

11/ She Was A Friend Of Mine: Nice, snappy sort of song.

12/ What I Am: A good way to end the album, this is one of the two songs on the album (the other is Sunshine On A Rainy Day) that Emma did with Tin Tin Out. Here they cover the slightly dark New Bohemians' classic, but Emma's sweet voice makes it a pleasant listen, as it would for any song. And I'll have to say this a great version of the song on this album and I really love it!

Well that's my review in a nutshell of "A Girl Like Me", and I hope you decide to buy it. It will really make your day, and I'm sure you'll think it's a great album!

Hej do! (Swedish for Bye-bye.)

I am in love with this cd.I think that as every spice girl does a solo each one is better than the previous.This definetly takes the cahe as being the best of the spice girl solos.Emma's cd serves up a mixture of pop,r+b,and even a little latin music.it is a very much fun CD all the songs are excelent.

1.What Took You So Long?-The single that went to #1 over in the UK.This song is excelent.

2.Take My Breath Away-an example of wonderful pop.this song is awesome.It is most definatly one of my favorites on the CD.

3.A World Without You-A beautiful balad.Her voice really shines in this song.

4.High On Love-A great pop song.It was dedicated to her mom.Sweet song

5.A Girl Like Me-A very dancable track.Very much Spice Girlish.It is a great track.

6.Spell It O.U.T-Very r+b track.a good song.Kinda baladish.

7.Sunshine On A Rainy Day-excelent,excelent song.One of my absolute favorites on the album.Her voice definatly shines here.A very happy song.makes me smile....:)

8.Been There,Done That-Another great song.I like how it was written.another R+B track.

9.Better Be Careful-I absolutly love this song.It's a dancable pop song.Excelent!

10.We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight-this would be the track with a bit of latin flavor.this is a really,really good song.Great dance song.

11.She Was A Friend Of Mine-this is another one of my favorites.A very R+B track.This song is excelent.

12.What I Am-this is the single that was released in 1999(over in the UK).It was released the same week as Geri's song "Lift Me Up",so the song only went to #2.This is a great cover song.I like the original a lot,but I love Emma's version.Great song!

All in all,I say if you are a Spice Girl fan or just a pop fan buy this CD.You won't be disapointed.

I,m very impressed with Emma,s solo debut.The songs are beautiful and addictive with such stand-outs like What took you so long,Take my breath away and of course A world without you.When i first listened to that soft ballad I immediately related and High of love will have you singing the chorus.Great debut you go Emma.

I have not heard all of Emma's album but I L.O.V.E what i have heard so far. She still sounds so great without all the other girls,they all sound good apart and together.Emma has a amazing amount of talent and I am so glad to here her using her voice and being so independent with her career,now all the girls have done at least a solo single without the others girls.Emma is so blessed ... her voice is so pretty,she _can_ sing like an angel and looks like one to.I love Emma's new cd a girl like me but I i'm a cold hard Spice girls fan and I still love them together and think there great with whatever they do!!!!!!!=)