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Pick at the pops: 11 June 2007

Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

As the mercury rises, so do our hopes of a proper Spice Girls reunion. We’ve known for weeks that Scary, Scary, Scary and Baby have been making friends (and music) but what of Mel C? She’s a credible artist in her own right, so she’s ruled it out completely, no matter how much moolah they throw at her.

Why, just last week she told The Guardian: “It's the last thing on everybody's mind at the moment, so it's frustrating for me…. Sometimes I just think, oh please go away, you're stealing my thunder.”

However, despite the thunder of ‘I Want Candy’ having been thoroughly nicked, for some reason this week she’s on board, telling The Sun: "Now, I’m up for it. A reunion will happen…" Phew. Say you’ll be there, Mel.

Victoria, meanwhile, has been terrified by the recording sessions. “It’s been years since I did any singing,” she said, flatly. “I always said I was never going to sing again.” Again?

There was no talk of a reunion for George Michael when he played the first gig at the new Wembley stadium on Saturday. It was the end of a good week for George who escaped jail for driving under the influence the day before.

Following in Boy George’s footsteps as ever, he’s been sentenced to 100 hours community service. He could be helping troubled kids, cleaning up toilets or looking after the homeless. Maybe he will run into Andrew Ridgeley after all.

Other ‘80s superstars are also proving they’re still vital and relevant as ever – surprising news for those of us who thought that Duran Duran’s legendary cover of Public Enemy’s ‘911 Is A Joke’ was a joke. Simon and the lads have been working on a load of tracks with hip-hop production legend Timbaland. To prove they’re still down with the kids from five years ago they’ve done a song with Justin Timberlake too. Union Of The Trousersnake, anyone?

The Spices, Durans and Justin may be all friends but all is not so happy in Emo-land – well, even less happy than usual. Marilyn Manson has hit out at My Chemical Romance, calling them a “sad, pitiful, shallow version of what I’ve done”. Poor MCR. Mind you, if they’re upset at least they’ll get a couple of albums-worth of material from it.

Jon Horsley

Picture: Wenn

• 04/06/2007: Beth Ditto bares all >>
• 29/05/2007: Stevie and Jacko disappoint Macca >>
• 21/05/2007: Lily vs Cheryl in catfight nirvana >>
• 14/05/2007: Eurovision carve-up shame >>
• 08/05/2007: How is Kurt Cobain still writing diaries? >>
• 30/04/2007: Bez and Mani? It's 1990 all over again >>
• 23/04/2007: MC Hammer inspires Arctic Monkeys >>
• 16/04/2007: Your planet is safe in Madonna's hands >>
• 10/04/2007: Kaiser Ricky fights for pop double standards >>
• 02/04/2007: Weller vs Sting in battle of the spittle >>
• 26/03/2007: Jagger and Trousersnake snubbed >>
• 19/03/2007: Ray Quinn and the death of pop >>
• 12/03/2007: The Jackson Five eye some filthy lucre >>
• 05/03/2007: George is on his way to Wembley >>
• 26/02/2007: Mel C holds up Spice reunion >>
• 19/02/2007: Joss Stone's big love >>
• 12/02/2007: Lily conquers America >>
• 05/02/2007: Oasis to meet Ringo at last >>
• 29/01/2007: Amy Winehouse wows the Savoy >>
• 22/01/2007: Chris Martin: the B-Boy >>
• 15/01/2007: Whitney auctions her belongings >>
• 08/01/2007: The Police to reform? >>
• 02/01/2007: James Brown RIP >>
• 2006 archive >>