Melanie C Delivers A Knockout Dublin Show — Review
By From ‘Undefeated Champion’ To Spice Girls classics, Melanie C brings ’90s clubland spirit and pop firepower to Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre.
Melanie C brought her World Tour to Dublin’s iconic 3Olympia Theatre last night, transforming the venue into a full-blown club night awash with red lights and DJ decks, unleashing a shot of dancefloor energy that turned the theatre into a sweaty, hands-in-the-air celebration. Sporty Spice was in the house — and she came ready to move.
Before Melanie C took to the stage, Sur Back delivered a captivating vocal performance backed by an electro-pop sound. At times, her set felt almost surreal, until the bass-heavy thud of the speakers brought everything back into focus. Her cover of Her cover of Madonna’s ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ cut through with real impact, leaving you curious to see how her sound would translate in a different setting.
Ring the bell — the main event has arrived. Melanie C stormed onto the stage to the sound of ‘Undefeated Champion’, sending the noise levels soaring inside the historic 3Olympia Theatre. Weaving, ducking and diving through a barrage of beats, Sporty Spice came out swinging, delivering an all-out assault of energy from the opening seconds.
‘Undefeated Champion’ could well be my pick of the night. “I still believe in everything I do / After all the bullshit I’ve been through” — the lyrics land with real bite, carrying a defiant edge that hits hard in a live setting.
‘Free Love’ bursts into life like a ’90s club classic, its punchy electronic beats getting the crowd moving. A fan favourite from Melanie C’s solo album Sweat, it goes down a storm here, with the 3Olympia quickly turning into a full-blown dancefloor.
Between tracks, Melanie C’s charm shines through as she chats with the crowd, admitting how good it is to be back and naming the 3Olympia as one of her favourite venues. Then comes the all-important question: has everyone got their dancing shoes on? The answer comes as ‘Attitude’ kicks in, its Latin-tinged beat keeping the dancefloor firmly in motion.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and before long, Melanie C shifts gears for the acoustic section of the set. With the dancefloor beats taking a back seat, the focus turns to her vocals, giving her the chance to show off the strength, control and versatility of her voice. It’s a welcome change of pace, offering a different side to the show without losing the connection with the crowd.
After a quick wardrobe change, Melanie C returns with the glory days of ’90s clubland firmly in her sights. ‘Sweat’, ‘Touch Me’, ‘One Track Mind’ and ‘Flick of the Wrist’ bring the dancefloor beats roaring back, with Melanie even stepping behind the DJ decks to keep the party moving. The club atmosphere is back in full swing, and there’s no slowing down.
Just when you think the night can’t get any bigger, Melanie C reaches into the Spice Girls back catalogue for ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ and ‘Spice Up Your Life’. ‘Drum Machine’ follows, driven by pounding beats and synths, before she closes the set with ‘I Turn To You’. Sung in unison with the crowd, it’s a fitting finale to a night that has celebrated every side of Melanie C’s music career.
“Melanie C proves there’s far more to her than nostalgia, delivering a show that stands firmly on its own.”