I’m not going to lie to you: when I heard the preview of Melanie C’s ‘SWEAT’ I thought the former Spice Girl was ready to become Melanie XCX. After all, the recited style of the verses was reminiscent of ‘Guess’, the production was aimed at the club, and the title of the song is exactly that of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s joint tour. ‘brat’ (2024) has created a school and its style can be seen in the recent proposals of artists like Demi Lovato.
Finally, Melanie has given what she expected… and what she didn’t. On the one hand, the club style of ‘SWEAT’ aligns with the proposal of ‘brat’. On the other hand, Melanie has taken that style completely to her territory, that of the gym, sampling the legendary ‘Work That Body’ (1981) by Diana Ross, and delivering a production that is much more disco than electronic.
‘SWEAT’, today’s Song Of The Day, is basically a training exercise, designed to work muscle in the gym. Melanie C, instructor, orders you to “sweat,” “work your body,” feel it “burn,” and push yourself “to the limit.” But Mel introduces an element of sensuality, too, in a game of shared glances and in an invitation to “let yourself be carried away” by the rhythm and music.
If Melanie C leads the ‘SWEAT’ routine like a true fitness trainer, the song strikes a wonderful balance between imperative recitation and melody, evoking the structure of a modern gym classic: ‘Work Bitch’ by Britney Spears.
‘SWEAT’ is the first preview of Melanie C’s new album, called the same, and which will go on sale on May 1, 2026. Melanie says that, after a long period of spiritual search, this time she felt like making a fun and danceable album.
