The Spice Girls have announced their long-awaited reunion. But there’s one problem: one of the members is missing. Will, it still be the same, or will it be too different and too late?
It’s no secret that the British music industry changed a lot when the Spice Girls first appeared, and it’s changed a lot again since they left, so will the original British girl power band be able to reclaim the strong and unparalleled position they once held in the British music industry?
It’s been 22 years since the release of their first single, “Wannabe”, which has been certified 2x platinum in the UK and reached number one in 36 other countries. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Britain that wasn’t aware of the legacy that the Spice Girls left behind, both in the music industry and for female empowerment, when they announced their hiatus in 2000 (before returning for special occasions like the London Olympics opening ceremony and their 20th anniversary). Their debut album, released in 1996, sold more than thirty million copies and defied expectations set by music critics of the time, who said they couldn’t be “taken seriously”. This was in a time when there was no-one else to spread the same feminist and girl power message that the Spice Girls could.
The Spice Girls prompted a revolution of sorts within show business, combining girls of all types – sporty, posh, baby, ginger and scary – to make the ultimate girl power band that would inspire and empower a generation of girls. These women were confident on stage whilst performing, embraced their femininity and weren’t afraid to look sexy whilst doing just that. As a result, girls all across the world followed by example, copying their styles and mannerisms, all whilst the band themselves tried to distance themselves from feminism, saying that “feminism has become a dirty word. Girl power (the Spice Girls’ catchphrase) is just a nineties way of saying it.”. However, the Spice Girls ultimately had an effective way of showcasing feminism in a positive light, promoting their positive image, rebelliousness and enabling an entire generation of females to believe in themselves.
Now that the band have announced their reunion tour, albeit without Victoria Beckham, is it fair to say that the gates are wide open for their return? Posh Spice herself gave the band her blessing on social media, stating that the Spice Girls were “a hugely important part of my life and I wish them so much love as they go on tour”. Some fans may disagree with the reunion and say that without the whole band present, it wouldn’t feel the same, with some social media users claiming they’re only getting “four-fifths of what they really really want”.
Credit: Brooklyn Vegan
Regardless of the controversy Victoria’s absence may have caused, it’s undeniable that the return of the UK’s girl power band will be one for the history books, especially if the tour leads into a return to the studio for the band. The Spice Girls raised a generation of women and girls that found empowerment through them, so here’s hoping that they will be able to recreate the magic and inspire today’s generation and spice up our lives once more.
By Faith Pring