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Stephen Hague (born Portland, Maine, 1960)^[1] is an American music producer^[2][3] most active with various British acts in the 1980s. He was an influential figure in the synthpop movement.

Early career[link]

Starting his career as a session keyboardist and a member of the band Jules and the Polar Bears, he started his production career by producing 2 albums by the 1980s Sparks offshoot band Gleaming Spires, the first album recorded on his home 4 track spawning the L.A. radio hit "Are You Ready For The Sex Girls" on the Posh Boy label, a recording subsequently featured in Hollywood features Last American Virgin, Revenge of the Nerds and Just Can't Get Enough: The Chippendales Story.

Influence on UK acts[link]

Hague's first noted UK production was on Malcolm McLaren's "Madam Butterfly" single. His first full album production was for Crush by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. He later worked with Public Image Ltd., Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Melanie C, Peter Gabriel, Dubstar,^[4] Erasure and Robbie Robertson, producing their respective hits "West End Girls", "True Faith", "Regret", "Star" and "A Little Respect." He was responsible for the biggest success Siouxsie and the Banshees had in the US with the single Kiss Them For Me.

Production credits[link]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• 1980 Bob Beland; Stealing Cars b/w "I Can Walk Away" 7" single
• 1980 Roger Swallow; "CUT" LP
• 1981 Slow Children – Slow Children
• 1981 Gleaming Spires "Are You Ready For The Sex Girls" Rodney On The Roq 2 compilation
• 1981 Gleaming Spires "Songs of The Spires" LP
• 1982 Bob Beland; "Bob Beland" E.P.
• 1983 Gleaming Spires "Walk On Well Lighted Streets" LP
• 1983 Rock Steady Crew "Hey you, the rock steady crew", album (written and produced)
• 1984 Malcolm McLaren – "Madam Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo)"
• 1984 Andy Pratt – "Fun in the First World"
• 1985 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Crush
• 1985 Andy Pratt – "Not Just for Dancing" (now "Age of Goodbye")
• 1986 Pet Shop Boys – Please
• 1986 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Pacific Age
• 1986 Pete Shelley – "Heaven & the Sea"
• 1987 New Order – "True Faith" / "1963"
• 1987 Pet Shop Boys – "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", "It's a Sin", "King's Cross" from Actually
• 1987 Communards – Red
• 1987 Various Artists – Some Kind of Wonderful
• 1988 Climie Fisher – Everything
• 1988 Erasure – The Innocents
• 1988 Jane Wiedlin – Fur
• 1989 Pere Ubu – Cloudland
• 1989 Holly Johnson - "Love Train" & "Heaven's Here" from Blast
• 1989 New Order – "Round & Round" (7" & 12" single versions)
• 1989 Public Image Ltd. – 9
• 1990 Jimmy Somerville – Read My Lips
• 1990 Marc Almond A lover spurned, 7" single from the album Enchanted
• 1990 New Order – "World in Motion"
• 1990 Robbie Robertson - "Storyville"
• 1991 Banderas - "This Is Your Life"
• 1991 Siouxsie and the Banshees – Superstition
• 1991 Chapterhouse – "Falling Down"
• 1991 Electronic - "Feel Every Beat" (single) (additional production and remix)
• 1991 Pet Shop Boys - "DJ Culture" (single) (additional production and mix of 7”)
• 1992 Electronic - "Disappointed" (single) (additional production and mix of 7”)
• 1993 One Dove – "Morning Dove White"
• 1993 New Order – Republic
• 1993 The Other Two – The Other Two & You
• 1993 Morten Harket - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
• 1993 Pet Shop Boys - Very (additional production)
• 1994 Blur - "To The End"
• 1995 Dubstar – Disgraceful (co-produced with Graeme Robinson)
• 1995 Jimmy Somerville – "Heartbeat"
• 1995 Gregory Gray 'euroflake in silverlake"
• 1995 Frances Ruffelle - "God Watch Over You" (single)
• 1996 Robbie Williams - "Freedom" (single)
• 1997 Dubstar – Goodbye
• 1997 James - Whiplash (co-produced with Brian Eno)
• 1997 ManBREAK – "Come and See"
• 1998 Ace of Base - Cruel Summer (coproduced)
• 1998 Pretenders - Viva el Amor
• 1999 Technique - Pop Philosophy
• 2000 Tom Jones - Reloaded
• 2001 Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 3: Further in Time
• 2001 Closer to Heaven (Original Cast Recording) (co-produced with Pet Shop Boys)
• 2002 a-ha – Lifelines
• 2004 Peter Gabriel- UP (co-produced with Peter Gabriel)
• 2005 The Modern - Life In A Modern World (Album) - unreleased (See Matinée Club below)
• 2005 David Mead – Wherever You Are (EP)
• 2007 Client – Heartland (few songs)
• 2007 The Cinematics – "A Strange Education"
• 2007 Melanie C – I Want Candy
• 2007 Melanie C – Understand (remix)
• 2008 Big Blue Ball (co-produced with Peter Gabriel)
• 2008 Fryars- (singles)
• 2009 Robbie Williams
• 2010 Akira the Don - The Life Equation
• 2011 Joseph Arthur
• 2011 Claudia Brucken
• 2012 Creature - Sick Imagination

References[link]

External links[link]

• Biography on MP3.com

The Hague Den Haag
—  City and municipality  —
's-Gravenhage
The Hague skyscrapers seen from the 'Plein', with statue of William the Silent
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Residentiestad (Residential City), Hofstad (Court city)
Coordinates: 52°5′N 4°19′E / 52.083°N 4.317°E / 52.083; 4.317Coordinates: 52°5′N 4°19′E / 52.083°N 4.317°E / 52.083; 4.317
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
Area(2006)
• City and municipality	98.20 km2 (37.92 sq mi)
• Land	82.66 km2 (31.92 sq mi)
• Water	15.54 km2 (6.00 sq mi)
Population (1 February 2012)
• City and municipality	501,725
• Density	5,894/km2 (15,270/sq mi)
• Urban	1,022,256
• Metro	1,406,000
• Randstad	6,659,300
• Demonym	Hagenaar or Hagenees
	Source: [2].
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

The Hague (Dutch: Den Haag pronounced [dɛnˈɦaˑχ] ( listen), officially 's-Gravenhage pronounced [ˈsχraˑvə(n)ˌɦaˑɣə] ( listen)) is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants (as of 1 September 2011),^[1][2] and more than one million inhabitants including the suburbs, it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Located in the west of the Netherlands, The Hague is in the centre of the Haaglanden conurbation and lies at the southwest corner of the larger Randstad conurbation.

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Council of State, but the city is not the capital of the Netherlands which constitutionally is Amsterdam. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands lives at Huis ten Bosch and works at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. Most foreign embassies in the Netherlands and 150 international organisations are located in the city, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which makes The Hague one of the major cities hosting the United Nations, along with New York, Vienna and Geneva.

History[link]

The Hague in 1868

The Hague originated around 1230, when Floris IV, Count of Holland purchased land alongside a pond (now the Hofvijver) in order to build a hunting residence. In 1248 William II, Count of Holland and Rex Romanorum, decided to extend the residence to a palace. He died in 1256 before this palace was completed, but parts of it were finished by his son Floris V, of which the Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall), still extant, is the most prominent. It is still used for political events, such as the annual speech from the throne by the monarch. From the 13th century on the counts of Holland used The Hague as their administrative centre and residence when in Holland.

Name and status[link]

The Hague is first mentioned as Die Hage in a document dating from 1242. In the fifteenth century the smarter des Graven hage came into use, literally "the count's wood", with connotations like "the count's hedge, private enclosure or hunting grounds". Gravenhage was officially used for the city from the 17th century on. Today this name is only used in some official documents like birth and marriage certificates. The city itself uses "Den Haag" in all its communication.^[3]

When the Dukes of Burgundy gained control over the counties of Holland and Zeeland at the beginning of the 15th century, they appointed a stadtholder to rule in their stead with the States of Holland as an advisory council. Their seat was located in The Hague. At the beginning of the Eighty Years' War, the absence of city walls proved disastrous, as it allowed Spanish troops easily to occupy the town. In 1575 the States of Holland even considered demolishing the city, but this proposal was abandoned, after mediation by William of Orange. From 1588 The Hague also became the location of the government of the Dutch Republic. In order for the administration to maintain control over city matters, The Hague never received official city status (although it did have many of the privileges normally granted only to cities). However, since the days of King Louis Napoleon (1806) The Hague has been allowed to call itself a city.

After the Napoleonic Wars, modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands were combined in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands to form a buffer against France. As a compromise, Brussels and The Hague alternated as capital every two years, with the government remaining in The Hague. After the separation of Belgium in 1830, Amsterdam remained the capital of the Netherlands, while the government was situated in The Hague.

Since early times, probably as far back as the 16th century, the stork has been the symbol of The Hague.^[4]

Modern city[link]

Because of its history, the historical inner city of The Hague differs in various respects from the nearby smaller cities of Leiden and Delft. It does not have a cramped inner city, bordered by canals and walls. Instead it has some small streets in the town centre that may be dated from the late Middle Ages, and several spacious streets boasting large and luxurious 18th century residences built for diplomats and affluent Dutch families. It has a large church dating from the 15th century, an impressive City Hall (built as such) from the 16th century, several large 17th-century palaces, a 17th-century Protestant church built in what was then a modern style, and many important 18th-century buildings. When the government started to play a more prominent role in Dutch society after 1850, The Hague quickly expanded. Many streets were specifically built for the large number of civil servants employed in the country's government and for the Dutchmen who were retiring from the administration and exploitation of the Netherlands East Indies. The growing city annexed the rural municipality of Loosduinen partly in 1903 and completely in 1923.

Parts of the city sustained heavy damage during World War II. The Atlantic Wall was built through part of the city, causing a large quarter to be torn down by the Nazi occupants. On March 3, 1945, the Royal Air Force mistakenly bombed the Bezuidenhout quarter. The target was an installation of V-2 rockets in a nearby park. Because of navigational errors, the bombs fell on a heavily populated and historic part of the city. 511 people died and the scars in the city may still be seen today.

Hofvijver and the buildings of the Dutch parliament

View of the 'Hoftoren' (left) and the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (right)

Skyscraper called "Het Strijkijzer" (The Iron)

After the war The Hague was at one point the largest building site in Europe. The city expanded massively to the southwest. The destroyed areas were also quickly rebuilt. The population peaked at 600,000 inhabitants around 1965.

In the 1970s and 1980s many, mostly white, middle class families moved to neighbouring towns like Voorburg, Leidschendam, Rijswijk and, most of all, Zoetermeer. This led to the traditional pattern of an impoverished inner city and more prosperous suburbs. Attempts to include parts of these municipalities in the city of The Hague were highly controversial. In the 1990s, with the consent of Dutch Parliament, The Hague annexed fairly large areas from neighbouring towns as well as from not even bordering ones, on which complete new residential areas were built and are still being built.

Cityscape[link]

City life concentrates around the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof, where the Parliament is located. The city has a limited student culture due to its lack of an actual university^{[citation needed]}, although the Royal Conservatory of The Hague is located there, as well as The Hague University, a vocational university and a branch of The Open University of the Netherlands. The city has many civil servants and diplomats^{[citation needed]}. In fact, the number and variety of foreign residents (especially the expatriates) makes the city quite culturally diverse, with many foreign pubs, shops and cultural events.

The Hague is the largest Dutch city on the North Sea and includes two distinct beach resorts. The main beach resort Scheveningen, in the northwestern part of the city, is a popular destination for tourists as well as for inhabitants. With 10 million visitors a year, it is the most popular beach town in the Benelux area. Kijkduin, in the southwest, is The Hague's other beach resort. It is significantly smaller and attracts mainly local residents.

The former Dutch colony of Netherlands East Indies ("Nederlands-Indië", now Indonesia) has left its mark on The Hague. Since the 19th century high level civil servants from the Dutch East Indies often spent long term leave and vacation in The Hague. Many streets are named after places in the Netherlands East Indies (as well as other former Dutch colonies such as Suriname) and there is a sizable "Indo" (i.e. mixed Dutch-Indonesian) community. Since the loss of these Dutch possessions in December 1949, "Indo people" also known as "Indische people" often refer to The Hague as "the Widow of the Indies".^[5]

The older parts of the town have many characteristically wide and long streets. Houses are generally low-rise (often not more than three floors). A large part of the southwestern city was planned by the progressive Dutch architect H.P. Berlage about 1910. This 'Plan Berlage' decided the spacious and homely streets for several decades. In World War II a large part of western The Hague was destroyed by the Germans. Afterwards, modernist architect W.M. Dudok planned its renewal, putting apartment blocks for the middle class in open, park-like settings.

The layout of the city is more spacious than other Dutch cities, and because of the incorporation of large and old nobility estates, the creation of various parks and the use of green zones around natural streams, it is a much more green city than any other in the Netherlands. That is, excepting some medieval close-knitted streets in the centre. There are only a few canals in The Hague, as most of these were drained in the late 19th century.

Some of the most prosperous and some of the poorest neighbourhoods of the Netherlands can be found in The Hague. The wealthier areas (Statenkwartier, Belgisch Park, Marlot, Benoordenhout and Archipelbuurt) are generally located in the northwest part of the city; however, the Vogelwijk and several very recently built quarters like Vroondaal are in the southwest, not far from the sea. Poorer areas like Transvaal, Moerwijk, and the Schilderswijk can be found in the southeastern areas. This division is reflected in the local accent: The more affluent citizens are usually called "Hagenaars" and speak so-called "bekakt Haags" ("Bekakt" is Dutch for "posh" or "stuck-up"). This contrasts with the "Hagenezen", who speak "plat Haags" ("plat" meaning "common" or "vulgar").

The tallest building is the 142-metre-tall Hoftoren (see image).

Geography[link]

The Hague has eight official districts (stadsdelen). They are divided into smaller parts (wijken).^[6]

See Districts of The Hague for a detailed breakdown.

• Escamp
• Haagse Hout
• Laak
• Leidschenveen-Ypenburg
• Loosduinen
• Centrum
• Scheveningen
• Segbroek

Demographics[link]

Origin of citizens of The Hague in 2011:^[7]

The population of The Hague on 1 September 2011 was 500,000 inhabitants and are with that the third city of the Netherlands. The proportion of immigrants in The Hague 49% and ethnic Dutch 51%. On 1 January 2011 The Hague 241,000 immigrants counted: 73,000 of Western origin and 168,000 with Other non-western.

International organisations[link]

The Peace Palace

The International Criminal Court

The city contributes substantially to international politics: The Hague is home to over 150 international organisations. These include the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

The foundation of The Hague as an "international city of peace and justice" was laid in 1899, when the world's first Peace Conference took place in The Hague on Tobias Asser's initiative, followed by a second in 1907. A direct result of these meetings was the establishment of the world's first organisation for the settlement of international disputes: the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Shortly thereafter the Scottish-American millionaire Andrew Carnegie made the necessary funds available to build the Peace Palace ("Vredespaleis") to house the PCA.

After the establishment of the League of Nations, The Hague became the seat of the Permanent Court of International Justice, which was replaced by the UN's International Court of Justice after the Second World War. The establishment of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal (1981), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (1993) and the International Criminal Court (2002) in the city further consolidated the role of The Hague as a center for international legal arbitration. Most recently, on 1 March 2009, a U.N. tribunal to investigate and prosecute suspects in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri opened in the former headquarters of the Netherlands General Intelligence Agency in Leidschendam, a town within the greater The Hague area.

The Hague is the fourth major centre for the UN, after New York, Geneva and Vienna. In line with the city's history as an important convention center and the current presence of institutions such as the ICJ, The Hague's city council employs a city branding strategy that aims to establish The Hague as the Legal Capital of the World and the International City of Peace and Justice.^[8]

Major international organisations based in The Hague include:

• Eurojust, European Union body composed of national prosecutors
• European Police Office, (Europol)
• Hague Academy of International Law, center for high-level education in both public and private international law
• Hague Conference on Private International Law, (HCCH), the oldest and preeminent private international law harmonisation institution
• International Court of Justice, located in the Peace Palace
• International Criminal Court, (ICC)
• International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, (ICTY)
• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR, appeals court only). The tribunal itself is in Arusha, Tanzania.
• Iran-United States Claims Tribunal
• Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

• NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency, (NC3A)
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, (OPCW)
• Permanent Court of Arbitration, the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.
• The European Library^[9]

Many academic institutions in the fields of international relations, international law and international development are based in The Hague. The Hague Academic Coalition (HAC) is a consortium of those institutions.

Its member institutions are:

• Carnegie Foundation
• Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL)
• International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS)
• Leiden University College The Hague
• Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael'
• The Hague Academy of International Law
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Haagse Hogeschool)
• T.M.C. Asser Instituut

In 1948 The Hague Congress was held with 750 delegates from 26 European countries, providing them with the opportunity to discuss ideas about the development of the European Union.

Business[link]

Professional life in The Hague is dominated by the large number of civil servants and diplomats who work in the city. Government ministries and public institutions are almost all located in The Hague. It is also home to several large international businesses, including:

• AEGON, one of the world’s leading insurance companies
• APM Terminals, the world's second largest container terminal operator
• KPN (Koninklijke PTT Nederland), a Dutch telephone company (fixed and mobile divisions)
• ING Investment Management, an asset management company that is part of the ING Group
• Nationale Nederlanden, an insurance company that is part of the ING Group (shared HQ with Rotterdam)
• Royal Dutch Shell, the world's second largest international energy company
• Schlumberger, the world's largest oilservice company maintains a principal office there (along with Houston and Paris)
• Siemens A.G., Europe's largest engineering company has its Dutch headquarters there
• T-Mobile, a mobile network operator, part of Deutsche Telekom.
• PostNL a mail, parcel and e-commerce corporation with operations in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

There has never been any large-scale industrial activity in The Hague, with the possible exception of the fishing harbour in Scheveningen. Many of the city’s logistical and minor-industrial services are located in the Binckhorst (Laak district), which contains many large warehouses.

Culture[link]

Binnenhof and the Knight's Hall, the political centre of the Netherlands

Binnenhof buildings at night

Monument at the 1813 Square (Plein 1813)

The Royal Noordeinde Palace

De Grote Kerk

The Hague has its share of museums and cultural institutions:

• Madurodam is a miniature city, containing hundreds of scale-models of Dutch landmarks in a typically Dutch miniature landscape.
• The Mauritshuis exhibits many paintings by Dutch masters, such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn and Paulus Potter.
• The Escher Museum ('Escher in the Palace') is located in the former Royal Palace on the Lange Voorhout.
• The Haags Historisch museum showcases the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day.
• The Museum Bredius houses part of the collection of 19th century art historian Abraham Bredius, containing antique furniture, silverware and porcelain.
• Museum Gevangenpoort (lit. the "Prison Gate") is a former prison housed in a 15th century gatehouse, with genuine mediaeval dungeons and torture chambers.
• The Gemeentemuseum (Municipal museum) is home to the world’s largest collection of works by the Dutch painter Piet Mondriaan as well as other modern art.
• The Museon is an interactive and historical science museum.
• The Omniversum is Europe’s first 360° IMAX-cinema.
• Panorama Mesdag houses a cylindrical 360° "panoramic" painting, 14 meters high by 120 meters long, depicting the sea-front at Scheveningen in the late 19th century, made by Hendrik Willem Mesdag. It is presented in such a way that it is almost as if one is looking at a real scene rather than a painting.
• The Museum voor Communicatie (formerly the "PTT Museum") is the national postal museum and houses interactive exhibits as well as one of the country’s best collections of stamps.
• The Louis Couperus Museum is devoted to the life and works of Louis Couperus (1863–1923).
• The museum Beelden aan Zee in Scheveningen has a large collection of sculptures, mainly from the 20th century artists.
• The Koninklijke Schouwburg ("Royal Theatre"), located on the Korte Voorhout, is the home of the "Nationaal Toneel" ("National theatre-group").
• The Lucent Danstheater is home to the internationally celebrated Nederlands Dans Theatre, a modern dance company. The building was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas in 1988. It shares a lobby with the Anton Philipszaal, home of the Residentie Orkest, the city's most important symphony orchestra.
• New European Ensemble is an ensemble for contemporary music consisting on international musicians. The ensemble has it's main base in the city.
• Paard van Troje is located in The Hague and is one of the 10 biggest music venues in the Netherlands focused on popular music.
• Muziekcafé de Paap is located in The Hague and famous for its livemusic. Some of the biggest Dutch artist are discovered here.

Other tourist attractions and landmarks in The Hague include:

• The historic Binnenhof ("Inner Court") and Medieval Ridderzaal ("Knights' Hall"), which now contains the Houses of Parliament and government offices. A good view can be obtained from the leafy Lange Vijverberg on the other side of the adjacent lake called the "Hofvijver" (lit. "Court Pond").
• The Lange Voorhout is a wide avenue containing many splendid houses (now home to several embassies) as well as The Hague's oldest and narrowest house and the famous "Hotel des Indes", the city’s most luxurious hotel.
• "De Passage" (pronounced as in French) was the Netherlands' first covered shopping mall. Dating from the late 19th century, it contains many expensive and speciality shops.
• The "Paleis Noordeinde" has been Queen Beatrix' official work-palace since 1984. It is closed to the public, but the Palace Gardens ("Paleistuin") are accessible to the public.
• The Clingendael Park is an old landed estate with a Japanese Garden. Nearby one can also find the home of the Clingendael Institute of International Relations.
• Queen Beatrix' residential Palace, "Paleis Huis ten Bosch", can be found a little outside the city centre in the "Haagse Bosch" forest.

The Hague does not have the customary metropolitan reputation for a bustling night life, with some festivity exceptions in the course of the year. This is partly explained^{[citation needed]} by the city's lack of a university and hence student life. Night life centers around the three main squares in the city center: the Plein (literally "Square"), the Grote Markt (literally "Great Market") and the Buitenhof (literally the "Outer Court", which lies just outside the Binnenhof). The Plein is taken by several large sidewalk cafés where often politicians may be spotted. The Grote Markt is completely strewn with chairs and tables, summer or winter. The Buitenhof contains the popular Pathé Buitenhof cinema and a handful of bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity. A similar pattern of night life centers on the cinema in Scheveningen, although, especially in summer, night life concentrates around the sea-front boulevard with its bars, restaurants and gambling halls.

Sports[link]

• The city's major football club is ADO Den Haag. They play in the Eredivisie (the top division in the Netherlands). They are two time winners of the KNVB Cup and won the League twice in the era before professional football. They play their matches at the 15,000 seatKyocera Stadion. There is an amateur football club HVV Den Haag. HVV was the most successful Dutch football club prior to World War I.
• Cricket is traditionally one of the most popular sports in The Hague, with a number of strong teams from the Dutch league located there.
• The local rugby union team is Haagsche Rugby Club (a.k.a. HRC) and has been in the Guinness Book of Records for becoming Dutch (in adult and youth) champions so often.
• The ice hockey team is HYS The Hague.
• The handball team is HV Hellas Den Haag, active in the top division.
• The local American Football team is Den Haag Raiders'99.
• Darts is another sport played in The Hague; its popularity was increased by Raymond Van Barneveld winning several World Championships.
• The half marathon race CPC Loop Den Haag is held annually in The Hague
• In 1994, The Hague held the FEI World Equestrian Games.

Films shot in The Hague[link]

• 1963: Feest! (Party!) directed by Paul Verhoeven
• 2004: Hum Tum directed by Kunal Kohli
• 2006: Zwartboek (Black Book) directed by Paul Verhoeven
• 2008: Coldplay Viva la Vida directed by Anton Corbijn

Annual events[link]

• January: The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) is a five day conference held at the World Forum, gathering over 4000 students from over 200 secondary schools across the globe. It is the oldest and largest high school United Nations simulation in the world.
• April 29: "KoninginneNach" ("Queen's Night", pronounced with a "plat Haags" accent) is held the night before "Koninginnedag"; there are several open air concerts in the city and young people flock from all over the country to drink and party. It is the largest open air festival in Europe.
• April 30: "Koninginnedag" ("Queen's Day") is a Dutch national holiday held on the birthday of former Queen Juliana. On this day the colour orange predominates at a funfair (which sells orange cotton candy) and scores of informal street markets. The day is a "vrijmarkt" (literally "free market"), which means no licence is needed for street vending; children traditionally use this day to sell old unwanted toys.
• May & June: The Tong Tong Fair is one of the largest Eurasian cultural festivals in Europe. It focuses on Indo culture.
• June–September: Den Haag Sculptuur is an open air exhibition of sculptures. The 10th edition, in 2007, celebrated the 400 years of the relationship between the Netherlands and Australia.
• June: The Hague Jazz festival.
• June: Vlaggetjesdag in Scheveningen is a festival celebrating the arrival of the first new herring of the year.
• The last Sunday in June: Parkpop is the largest free open air pop concert in Europe.
• July: Jazz in de Gracht is an intercultural two-day event hosting Jazz groups which perform their music on flat-bottom boats and in bars in various places between Passantenhaven and Zuidwal.
• July & August: The city hosts a series of weekly firework displays by the sea front in Scheveningen, as part of an international fireworks festival and competition.
• July & August is the annual Summer School of The Hague, an international summer course for young dancers, initiated by Mirella Simoncini with guestteachers from Het Nationale Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Cullberg Ballet, Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Codarts and choreograohy workshops with repertoire from Itzik Galili, Mats Ek, Marius Petipa a.o.
• July: "Milan", Europe’s biggest Hindustani open air event held in Zuiderpark.
• The third Tuesday in September: "Prinsjesdag" (literally "Prince's Day") is the Dutch State Opening of Parliament when the Queen reads the "speech from the throne" ("Troonrede"). The day is popular among monarchists and tourists who are out to see Queen Beatrix and the royal family in the Golden State Coach ("de Gouden Koets").

Transportation[link]

The 'Netkous' or Fishnet Stocking, a modern tram viaduct, with neighboring office buildings

Modern RegioCitadis tram on route 2, Loosduinen, April 2012

The Hague shares an airport with Rotterdam. It can be reached from Central Station by RandstadRail Line E, with an Airport Shuttle to and from Meijersplein Station. However, with several direct trains per hour from the railway stations Hollands Spoor and Centraal, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is more frequently used by people travelling to and from The Hague by air.

There are two main train stations in The Hague: Den Haag Hollands Spoor (HS) and Den Haag Centraal Station (CS), only 1.5 km distant from each other. Because these two stations were built and exploited by two different railway companies in the 19th century, east-west lines terminate at Centraal Station, whereas north-south lines run through Hollands Spoor. The international Benelux trains to Brussels call only at Hollands Spoor. Centraal Station does, however, now offer good connections with the rest of the country, with direct services to most major cities, for instance Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

Public transport in The Hague consists of a tramway network and a sizeable number of bus routes, operated by HTM Personenvervoer.^[10] Plans for a subway were shelved in the early 1970s. However, in 2004 a tunnel was built under the city centre with two underground tram stations ("Spui" and "Grote Markt"); it is shared by tram routes 2, 3, 4 and 6.

A regional light rail system called RandstadRail connects The Hague to nearby cities, Zoetermeer and Rotterdam. The system suffered from startup problems and derailings in 2006, but is fully operational now.

Major motorways connecting to The Hague include the A12, running to Utrecht and the German border. The A12 runs directly into the heart of the city in a cutting. Built in the 1970s, this section of motorway (the "Utrechtsebaan") is now heavily overburdened. Plans were made in the late 1990s for a second artery road into the city (the "Trekvliettracé" or previously called "Rotterdamsebaan") but have continually been put on hold. Other connecting motorways are the A4, which connects the city with Amsterdam, and the A13, which runs to Rotterdam and connects to motorways towards the Belgian border. There is also the A44 that connects the city to Leiden, Haarlem and Amsterdam.

Nearby towns and conurbations[link]

Delft, Leiden, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Nootdorp, Pijnacker, Rijswijk, Voorburg, Voorschoten, Wassenaar, Wateringen, Zoetermeer

The Hague is the centre of a conurbation called Haaglanden.

The Leiden conurbation lies to the north. The Rotterdam conurbation (called "Stadsregio Rotterdam" or "Rijnmond") lies to the east. The conurbations around The Hague and Rotterdam are close enough to be a single conurbation in some contexts. For example, they share the Rotterdam The Hague Airport and a light rail system called RandstadRail. Consideration is being given to creating a Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area (metropoolregio).

This large conurbation centred on The Hague and Rotterdam is, in turn, part of the Randstad, specifically a band of municipalities called the South Wing (Zuidvleugel). The Randstad, which includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, has a population of 6,659,300. The Hague lies at the southwestern corner of one of the largest urban areas in Europe.

International relations[link]

Twin towns and sister cities[link]

The Hague is twinned with:

• Bethlehem, Palestinian Authority^[11]
• Juigalpa, Nicaragua
• Warsaw, Poland^[12]
• Nazareth, Israel
• Palembang, Indonesia

In addition, The Hague has a policy to partner with various countries of origin of its citizens. Since 2002 The Hague co-operates with Suriname and in 2009 a co-operation contract was made with the Moroccan provinces of Nador, Al Hoceima and Taza. There are plans to make such contracts with Turkey and the Antilles.^[13]

See also[link]

• Districts of The Hague
• Famous people from The Hague
• HTM Personenvervoer
• List of mayors of The Hague

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Den Haag or Scheveningen

• Tourist information about The Hague – Website of the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions
• (English) City of The Hague.
• Guide to The Hague (from Wikitravel)
• The largest painting in The Netherlands.
• (English) The Hague Festivals 2011.
• HagueJusticePortal.net, The Hague Justice Portal: an academic gateway to The Hague organisations concerning international peace, justice and security.
• [3], Official site for Scheveningen beach).

v t e    Municipalities of South Holland Alblasserdam Albrandswaard Alphen aan den Rijn Barendrecht Bergambacht Bernisse Binnenmaas Bodegraven-Reeuwijk Boskoop Brielle Capelle aan den IJssel Cromstrijen Delft The Hague Dirksland Dordrecht Giessenlanden Goedereede Gorinchem Gouda Graafstroom Hardinxveld-Giessendam Hellevoetsluis Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht Hillegom Kaag en Braassem Katwijk Korendijk Krimpen aan den IJssel Lansingerland Leerdam Leiden Leiderdorp Leidschendam-Voorburg Liesveld Lisse Maassluis Middelharnis Midden-Delfland Nederlek Nieuw-Lekkerland Nieuwkoop Noordwijk Noordwijkerhout Oegstgeest Oostflakkee Oud-Beijerland Ouderkerk Papendrecht Pijnacker-Nootdorp Ridderkerk Rijnwoude Rijswijk Rotterdam Schiedam Schoonhoven Sliedrecht Spijkenisse Strijen Teylingen Vlaardingen Vlist Voorschoten Waddinxveen Wassenaar Westland Westvoorne Zederik Zoetermeer Zoeterwoude Zuidplas Zwijndrecht See also Netherlands Provinces Municipalities

Frances Ruffelle (born 29 August 1965, London, England, UK) is an English musical theatre actress and recording artist. Her mother is Sylvia Young, the founder of the famous theatre school at which Frances trained, and her daughter is recording artist Eliza Doolittle. Her younger sister is actress Alison Ruffelle. Ruffelle originated the role of Éponine in the English language version of Les Misérables for which she won a Tony Award. She has appeared in Starlight Express, Children of Eden and Chicago.

Biography[link]

Career[link]

Ruffelle's first West End appearance was as Louisa in Terence Rattigan's The Sleeping Prince. In 1984, she took on the principal role of Dinah in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express in the original London cast. A year later, she had left Starlight and joined the original London cast of Les Misérables as Éponine. Though virtually an unknown outside of the West End, she and Colm Wilkinson were invited to reprise their roles for the Broadway launch.^{[citation needed]} Ruffelle was nominated for and won multiple awards (including the Tony) for her role. She returned to the role she originated in 1997 in the West End of London. Her subsequent work on stage included the Ian Dury musical Apples in 1989 and Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden in 1990, featuring on the cast albums of both. She has also starred as the female lead Roxie Hart in Chicago, as well as appearing in Lucky Stiff, and, more recently, in Schwartz Stories.^{[citation needed]}

The creative team behind Les Misérables, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, also used Ruffelle's vocals as Kim while writing Miss Saigon. Andrew Lloyd Webber also used her while workshopping Sunset Boulevard and Whistle Down the Wind, and she took part in both at the Sydmonton Festival.^{[citation needed]}

In 1994, Ruffelle was chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. She sang all eight (8) songs at the pre-selection, and British televoters chose "Lonely Symphony" to represent the UK, by televoting. It went on to come in 10th at the contest in Dublin. When asked about her motivations for joining the competition, she jokingly replied that since none of the four constituent nations of the UK (Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland) had qualified for that year's football World Cup finals, it was her responsibility to try to restore some national pride.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, she appeared in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena as part of the original London cast.

Albums[link]

"Lonely Symphony" was released as a single in the UK, as well as in other countries, and also appeared on her first solo album, Fragile. It reached number 25 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1994.^[1]

Ruffelle's second album, Frances Ruffelle, came out in 1998, on the small Dress Circle label. It was a change in direction, featuring stripped-down arrangements of mostly musical theatre songs, as well as a couple of classics, original songs and covers. In 2004, she released Showgirl on her own label, a return to fuller arrangements, but far from a pop sound. Ruffelle also collaborated with Sam Bonner in the group, paTala, making an album called Purify, featuring "a fusion of traditional Sanskrit chants with unique arrangements of contemporary Western beats". A new solo album, Imperfectly Me, was released in September 2010.^[2]

Ruffelle was set to appear in a revival of the Sherman Brothers musical Over Here! in January 2007, alongside Donna McKechnie, Diane Langton and Richard Fleeshman, however it was postponed, and was scheduled to open in Toronto in 2009.

Ruffelle returned to London's West End to play Roxie Hart in Chicago; she stayed in the role from 5 November to 8 December. This marks her third time in the role, having previously played it from late 2003 to June 2004 and for five weeks in Summer 2005. On 5 December the 10th anniversary celebrations for Chicago in London and Frances were performed at the special celebratory performance. Her return to Chicago marked the first time she has performed in the show in the Cambridge Theatre, having only appeared in it when it was on at the Adelphi Theatre.

In 2006 she performed in a musical based on the works of Stephen Schwartz, Schwartz Stories. In March 2008 she commenced a limited five week season in the musical, Make Me A Song. She played the title role in Mathilde at the Edinburgh festival in 2008.

Other performances[link]

Ruffelle has appeared in the films The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980), Secrets & Lies (1996) and The Road to Ithaca (1999, unreleased).

Her television include P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang (1982), Tucker's Luck (1985) where she played Tucker Jenkins' cousin, Headless (for which she also composed music), and An Audience With Ricky Martin (singing 'A Little Fall Of Rain' from Les Misérables). She has also featured in the Sky One TV series Dream Team, playing Dawn Daniel-Spears.

Ruffelle will appear in the film production of Les Misérables as the most fabulous whore (one of 4 whore). ^[3]

Personal life[link]

Frances married Trevor Nunn's co-director, John Caird in 1990, in Westminster, London, and had two children: Eliza Sophie (born 1988) and Nathaniel George (born 1990, Westminster). She also has a third child, Felix Bailey (born 1995, Westminster), with former boyfriend Rob Manley.^[4]

Discography[link]

Cast Recordings[link]

• Starlight Express Original London Cast (1984)
• Les Misérables Original London Cast (1985)
• Les Misérables Original Broadway Cast (1987)
• Mack & Mabel In Concert (1988)
• Apples Original London Cast (1989)
• Children of Eden Original London Cast (1991)
• Les Misérables Highlights Original London Cast (2009)

Other album appearances[link]

• Back of My Mind (Christopher Cross album) (1988) includes "I Will (Take You Forever)" duet
• Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber (1991) includes "Only You" duet
• Save the Children: A Christmas Spectacular of Carols and Songs (1992) sings "I Watch You Sleeping", and featured on "Save the Children"
• Corps & Armes (Etienne Daho album) (2000) - includes "Le Brasier", co-written by Daho/Ruffelle/Helen Turner; also released as a single
• The Definitive Christopher Cross (2001) includes "I Will (Take You Forever)" (new mix)

Solo albums[link]

• Fragile (1994)
• Frances Ruffelle (1998)
• Showgirl (2004)
• Purify (2005) as paTala with Sam Bonner
• Imperfectly Me (2010)

Singles[link]

• "He's My Hero" (1986)
• "On My Own" (rerecorded single version) (1985) from Les Misérables
• "On My Own" (second rerecorded single version) (1987) from Les Misérables
• "I Will (Take You Forever)" (1988) duet with Christopher Cross from Back of My Mind - US Adult Contemporary Chart #41
• "Stranger to the Rain" (rerecorded single version) (1990) from Children of Eden
• "Love Parade" (1994)
• "Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free)" (1994) UK Eurovision Song Contest entry
• "Lose Your Illusions" (1994)
• "God Watch over You" (1995)
• "Jennifer's Garden" (1997) Denmark-only
• "Blue Eyes" (1997) Germany-only
• "If a Wish came True" (1998) Holland-only
• "Smile" (2004)

References[link]

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 474. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
2. ^ Francesruffelle.com
3. ^ Bamigboye, Baz (27 January 2012). "Stars of original Les Miserables get an encore as they join the cast of new big screen remake". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2092428/Les-Miserables-movie-Stars-original-stage-version-encore-join-film-cast.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 27 January 2012. 
4. ^ Marriages and Births England and Wales 1984-2006

External links[link]

• Official website
• MySpace page
• Frances Ruffelle at the Internet Broadway Database
• Frances Ruffelle at the Internet Movie Database

• Interview with Frances Ruffelle on westendtheatre.com

Melanie C
Melanie Chisholm in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Jayne Chisholm
Also known as	Melanie C, Mel C, Sporty Spice
Born	(1974-01-12) 12 January 1974 (age 38) Whiston, Lancashire[1]
Origin	Rainhill, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Genres	Pop, pop rock, Britpop, dance
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, businesswoman, actress
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Virgin Records (1995–2003) Red Girl Records (2004–present)
Associated acts	Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Website	melaniec.net

Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974, Whiston, Lancashire)^[1] is a British singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C. She is best known as one of the five members of The Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice".

She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album Northern Star which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, Reason. Melanie released her third studio album two years later in 2005, Beautiful Intentions. In 2007, she released her fourth studio album This Time.

In 2007, Melanie and the four other members of the Spice Girls conducted The Return of the Spice Girls World Tour. Melanie then signed on for a six-month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play "Blood Brothers".^[2] Her fifth studio album The Sea was released in September 2011.

Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT- and ECHO awards,^[3] has sold more than 12 million records as a solo artist^[4] and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones by a female artist.

Early life[link]

Chisholm was born on 12 January 1974 at Whiston Hospital in Whiston, Lancashire (now Merseyside).^[1] Raised originally in Rainhill, Merseyside^[5] and then Widnes, Cheshire where she attended Fairfield High School^[6]. Following school, Chisholm studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in Sidcup, Kent.^{[citation needed]} During college, she replied to an advert in The Stage by Chris and Bob Herbert, who were looking to form a new girl group, later to become the Spice Girls. She left college just short of completing her three-year course and gained teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern Theatre Dance with the ISTD.

Music career[link]

1994–1998: Spice Girls[link]

In 1994, she joined the Spice Girls (then still called Touch) after the original fifth Touch member, Lianne Morgan had to leave the group. In 1996, Chisholm, along with Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham (at that time Victoria Adams), shot to fame with the release of "Wannabe". Because Mel C usually wore a tracksuit with her hair in a ponytail and sporting the attitude of a tomboy, she was called Sporty Spice. After the release of their successful debut album, Spice, the group released their second studio album, Spiceworld that also became successful as its predecessor. During the promotion of the album, Halliwell left the group and the four remaining members, including Chisholm, began working on their third studio album.

[edit] 1999–2002: Solo career, Northern Star and the Spice Girls breakup

Chisholm took her first steps in establishing a solo career in late 1998 by singing with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams on the song "When You're Gone". Her debut album Northern Star was released in 1999. A track from this album ("Ga Ga") was included on the Big Daddy soundtrack before her own album's release. Singles "Goin' Down" and "Northern Star" were met with promising success, but the third single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, became her first UK number-one single as a solo artist, also a number-one single in the Netherlands, a Top Five hit in Germany and No.2 in Australia. Chisholm released a fourth single from Northern Star, a dance remix of "I Turn to You", and earned herself a second number-one single in both the UK and the Netherlands. "I Turn to You" reached No.2 in Germany, No.11 in Australia and eventually climbed to the top of the Billboard dance chart in the United States. Northern Star was re-released with the single versions of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You", and eventually peaked at number four on the United Kingdom album chart and number six in Germany.

"If That Were Me" was chosen as the fifth and final single from Northern Star and proceeds were donated to a charity for the homeless; it peaked at number eighteen in the UK. Northern Star is certified three times platinum in the United Kingdom for shipping 900,000 copies, platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 copies, gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies, and gold in Australia for selling over 35,000 copies. Chisholm then went on her Northern Star World Tour, performing in countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

At the same time, Spice Girls released their third and final studio album, Forever. After the album's release, the group went their separate ways.

[edit] 2003–2006: Reason, Red Girl and Beautiful Intentions

After a break from public life and battling with an eating disorder and depression in her personal life,^[7] Chisholm released her second studio album, Reason, in March 2003. The album included production from a series of collaborators including Gregg Alexander (New Radicals, Ronan Keating), Marius De Vries (Madonna), Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys, David Arnold (Björk) and Matt Rowe, co-writer of the Spice Girls' "Wannabe". The lead single from Reason was "Here It Comes Again", which peaked at number seven in the UK, with the album entering the UK album chart a week later at number five, but quickly fell off the chart. The album also entered at number 12 in Germany and No.21 in Switzerland.

Other singles from the album were "On the Horizon" (UK number fourteen, written with Gregg Alexander), "Let's Love" in Japan (where the song accompanied a Toyota commercial), "Yeh Yeh Yeh" in mainland Europe and, finally, a UK double A-side of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", which achieved a disappointing UK chart position of number twenty-seven. After a series of disappointments and the relative failure of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", Chisholm parted ways with her label, Virgin Records.^[8] Reason has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.

Melanie C performing at a music festival in Germany, 2006

Chisholm spent much of 2004 working on new material and setting up her own record company, Red Girl Records. Without major label backing, her activities were decided on and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips. In April 2005, Chisholm released her third album, Beautiful Intentions. The Adam Argyle-penned "Next Best Superstar" was chosen as the lead single and was released simultaneously in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The single peaked at number ten in the UK and reached the top of the German radio airplay chart for several weeks. A second single, "Better Alone", was released but later restricted to purchase from the iTunes Store (for digital download) and from her official online shop. Chisholm released "Better Alone" in 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other European countries. The third single from her third album was "First Day of My Life", a previously unheard Chisholm recording written by Guy Chambers and Enrique Iglesias. "First Day of My Life" topped the charts in several European countries. The single became one of the biggest hits of 2005 in parts of Europe, reaching number one in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany for two weeks (Chisholm's first No.1 single here), but it was never released in the UK. Beautiful Intentions has been certified gold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and platinum in Portugal, where it spent nine weeks at number one.^[9]

[edit] 2007–2008: This Time and the Spice Girls reunion

In early 2007, Chisholm released her fourth album, This Time. It featured writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who wrote six tracks for new album,^{[10][clarification needed]} Peter-John Vettese, Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis (amongst others). The first single released from the project was "The Moment You Believe", primarily released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it became a top twenty hit. The single also peaked at number 1 in Spain for two weeks and was a hit in several other European countries. In the UK, Chisholm released the track "I Want Candy", which peaked at number twenty-four and featured on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The single peaked at number nine in Italy and Denmark. The second single from the album This Time was "Carolyna", released in June in the UK and across Europe. Although it underperformed in the UK, it became a top five radio hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a top twenty hit in Italy. In October 2007 in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria Chisholm released the single "This Time". A new version of the song was recorded for the release. It featured a B-side track called "We Love To Entertain You", which was used for 2007's Pro7 Starforce campaign in Germany.

In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a Greatest Hits album release and a three month world tour. When the tour reached its first two day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December, another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City and a third solo performance in Toronto, Canada.^[11] Chisholm released the album This Time in Canada on 8 April 2008,^{[12][dead link]} followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single "Carolyna". "Understand" was released as a second single in Canada on 25 July. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.

[edit] 2009–present: The Sea and The Night

In May 2009, Chisholm announced the release of a DVD with her concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester (2008), in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation. The DVD also included two new songs: "Blue Skies All the Way" and "Paris Burning".^{[citation needed]} The Mirror reported in July 2009 that Melanie was to release a new album in 2010, however an album failed to materialise in 2010 and Chisholm confirmed via her Twitter feed that she was back in the recording studio and aiming for a release date in 2011.^[13] In December 2009, she joined BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball on a New Year's Eve radio programme featuring the Great British Songbook of the 90s, part of the BBC Special Christmas Season 2009.^[14]

In early 2011, Digital Spy reported that Melanie was working with DJ and club scene producer Jodie Harsh. The report indicated that Chisholm's 5th album would move away from her previous rock sound and would go for a more commercial club oriented electronic approach, in a similar vein to her earlier smash hit "I Turn to You".^[15] In May 2011, Chisholm announced via her official website, that the first single from her new album entitled "Rock Me" would be released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria on 24 June 2011.^{[citation needed]} The single was chosen as the 'official' song for German TV channel ZDF’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.^[16] On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" would be made available worldwide on iTunes.^[17] Upon release, "Rock Me" went top 40 in the German singles chart.^[18] The second single "Think About It" was announced on the singer's website. The video for "Think About It" premiered on MelanieC.net on 15 July 2011.

The next single to be released from The Sea was Weak. The song was released in the UK only, in November 2011 and reached the BBC Radio 2 A-list Airplay Chart.^{[citation needed]}

On December 2, 2011, "Let There Be Love" was released as the third single from "The Sea" in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern Europe.^{[citation needed]} The single was a cover of the German hit Liebe Ist Alles originally sung by Rosenstolz. The single failed to reach the Top 100 on the German charts.^{[citation needed]}

In late 2011, Melanie C announced she is supporting a homeless charity by donating funds raised from her annual 2012 calendar.^[19] Melanie kicked off her The Sea – Live tour in Cologne, Germany on 28 November 2011, before taking the concert to the UK, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. She then later announced a further 9 dates for 2012 concerts in the UK and Ireland.^[20]

In April 2012, Melanie announced the release of an EP titled "The Night", the EP is a collaboration with Jodie Harsh and due to be released digitally on May 13, 2012.^{[citation needed]} EP charted at number 16 in UK Independent chart selling 1.882 coppies in a first week.

Musical style[link]

Melanie C has cited Madonna as one of her biggest musical influences. She stated: "I think she's inspired me a lot musically, and maybe [in] just the way I present myself. I've always admired how hard she works and what a strong lady she is, so she's always inspired me in that way."^[21]

Acting career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2010)

In the early to mid 1990s Chisholm made several appearances in television commercials and music videos while trying to pursue her music career. It was not until The Spice Girls became popular that she made regular television appearances and played herself in many commercials. In 1997, Chisholm's feature film debut came in Spiceworld The Movie playing herself alongside her bandmates. In 2000, Chisholm played herself in an episode of The Norm Show while promoting her girl band's third studio album Forever.

She revealed in an interview with Nylon Magazine in December 2009, that she is interested in pursuing a serious acting career in film. In 2008 it was planned she would star in a sequel to the 1996 horror film The Craft, but filming was terminated. In 2009, after having her first child, Chisholm signed to perform the role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical Blood Brothers by Willy Russell in London's West End. She performed the role for 6 months, commencing November 2009. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards. Melanie reprised the role for a limited 2 week engagement at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in November 2010.

Chisholm will co-star in an arena tour of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, playing the role of Mary Magdalene.

Personal life[link]

Her younger half-brother Paul O'Neill is a racing driver.

She has been in a relationship with property developer Thomas Starr since 2002, after meeting him during a holiday in Barbados that same year. They currently share a £1 million country home at Catbrook, outside Chepstow, Monmouthshire.^[22] On 22 February 2009, Chisholm gave birth to a baby girl at the Portland Hospital in London. The baby weighed 3.7 kg (8 lbs 3oz) and was named Scarlet Starr.^[23]

Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression and an eating disorder, which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.^[7][24] She has 11 tattoos on her body.^[25]

Discography[link]

Albums:

• 1999: Northern Star
• 2003: Reason
• 2005: Beautiful Intentions
• 2007: This Time
• 2011: The Sea

EPs:

• 2012: The Night

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

• 1997: Spiceworld The Movie ... Herself (Lead Role)

Television[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (October 2011)

• 2003: Bo Selecta ... Herself (Cameo)
• 2006: Dei-te Quase Tudo ... Herself (1 Episode)
• 2007: Keith Lemon's World Tour ... Herself (3 Episodes)
• 2011: Tonight's the Night ... Herself
• 2011: Celebrity Juice ... Herself (22 September 2011, Series 6, Episode 4)
• 2011: Breast Cancer Galleria Denmark ... Herself (29 October, Denmark)

Stage Work[link]

• 2009–2010: Blood Brothers ... Mrs Johnstone (London West End and Liverpool)

Tours[link]

• 1999 – From Liverpool to Leicester Square
• 2000 – Northern Star UK Tour
• 2001 – Northern Star World Tour
• 2003 – Reason UK & Ireland Tour
• 2004 – The Barfly Mini-Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions European Tour
• 2005 – Beautiful Intentions German Tour
• 2008 – This Time Canadian Tour
• 2011/2012 – The Sea - Live

Awards & Nominations[link]

List of Awards and Nominations recieved by Melanie C

References[link]