FEATURE:
Say You’ll Be There
PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Roney
Will We See the Legendary Group Take to the Stage Again?
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I am writing this…
just shy of the twenty-seventh anniversary of the Spice Girls’ single, Spice Up Your Life. That is the song of theirs that sits in the mind hardest. It was released during a very hard year at high school. My favourite song is from the previous album. Spice is their 1996 debut album. Who Do You Think You Are? was a single from the album and it was released on 3rd March, 1997. I remember hearing that in that same year when I was on holiday in Orlando. I was a big fan of Spice Girls back in the 1990s. Even though they had a relatively brief run, their impact on Pop culture and the music scene is undeniable and indelible. Even if many think that their Girl Power mantra and brand was faux-feminism or manufactured, one cannot argue against the fact they struck out for women and inspired their female fanbase. Great and strong role models. The group’s final album, Forever, was released in 2000. Since then, there have been occasions when the Spice Girls have been on the stage together. Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell-Horner, formerly Halliwell), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton), Sporty Spice (Melanie Chisholm), Scary Spice (Melanie Brown) and Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham, formerly Adams) broke out with their 1996 debut single, Wannabe. It was an iconic moment in 1990s music. The introduction of a girl group that would change the world. The reason I am asking about a reunion is because of Oasis’ recent announcement. Although there would perhaps not be the same sort of excitement and demand if Spice Girls toured and got back together – however briefly -, I do think that there is desire and promise. As this recent article from Metro explores, the girls have reformed and appeared together after 2000.
It has been a bit of a rocky road the past few years. Brown and Halliwell-Horner seem to be one of the main reasons as to why a reunion might never happen. Even if they can be in the same room together – there was a photo of the five members together for Victoria Beckham’s fiftieth birthday this year -, going on the stage and performing is a different matter. Clashes between two members perhaps derailing hopes. Halliwell left Spice Girls after their second album, Spice World. Beckham was the only member missing from reunion gigs a few years back. I guess there have been approaches by festivals like Glastonbury to get them together for a huge headline set. Although a reunion next year would not be tied to a big anniversary – I guess twenty-five years since their final album? -, we are in a time when incredible women in Pop are coming through. Icons of today who, in some part, owe a debt to Spice Girls. Who have picked up their mantle and are continuing their legacy. I would hate to think that they will never get back together. I am not sure how deep the feud between Brown and Halliwell-Horner runs and whether they can be reconciled. I hope so. Rather than them putting differences aside and this being a cash-in, there would need to be genuine repair and harmony. Otherwise it could be a disaster. I did not know that this might be the reason why Spice Girls have not reformed. There may be other factors, though two of its members being at loggerheads is a pretty big hurdle to overcome!
Rather than it being '90s revivalism or a reaction to Oasis going back on the road, this is a group who have influenced so many artists. Their music still stands up and there would be a definitely wave of love for them if they ever announced their stage return. Even if it was a headline slot at Glastonbury or a brief run of shows. It is such a shame. The more I listen to Spice Girls now, the more I can feel their influence today. How they did make this enormous impact. Seeing interviews from them back in the 1990s and the connection and chemistry. They were so close! Despite all the gruelling touring and promotion, there was this bond and love between them. It would have been impossible for them all to stay together longer than they did given the pressure and spotlight on them. As time has passed, you would hope that they can remember those great days and recapture it once more. I guess one can never say never. If there has been a history of disagreements between Halliwell-Horner and Brown, it is not to say that crack cannot be repaired. It is not only a personal dream to see the quintet back on the stage performing their hits. Even if it seems unlikely, there is this definite desire to see Spice Girls together. Back on a stage united. Maybe Geri Halliwell-Horner and Melanie Brown could never consider that possibility. With next year’s summer festivals providing an ideal platform, we all hope things can change. We all hope they can put any differences to bed so we can ask, with genuine hope in our hearts…
SAY you’ll be there!