Posted in: Musicouching by Philippa Mingins on June 27th, 2012 | 0 Comments
The Spice Girls were a global success and rained supreme over the pop charts in the 1990s. The question is if they did reunite, how would they fare today?
Girl group the Spice Girls reunited this week to launch the Viva Forever musical – a musical penned by British comedian Jennifer Saunders and inspired by the Spice Girl’s music and phenomenal success in the 1990s.
However, maybe the word ‘reunited’ is a little too grand for what really happened. The five girls – now women – Melanie C, Melanie B, Geri, Emma and Victoria, gathered for a photocall on the steps of the London hotel here they filmed their first ever video for Wannabe. And the tension between the girls was clear to see.
Whilst the other four girls huddled together with arms linked, Victoria Beckham is pictured off to one side, pouting as usual. Even the smiles on the other four girl’s faces look a little forced.
And the truth of the matter was soon laid bare, as this ‘reunion’ only lasted a few hours. Once the media was dealt with, all five girls went back off their separate ways.
This reunion follows a similarly flawed attempt four years ago when the girls got back in touch with the aim of embarking on a reunion world tour. All such ideas fell through and the tour was scrapped.
Lest anyone forgets, the Spice Girls enjoyed phenomenal success in the 1990s. When they burst onto the music scene in 1996 with their first single Wannabe, there had never been anything quite like them.
They were outspoken and loud. They were cheeky and rude but they were also very much like the girl who lived next door. This ensured their appeal overnight.
They talked of girl power and were even brazen enough to pinch Prince Charles’ bottom. Girls and young women loved their bravado and even the boys could pick their favourite one to fancy. That was the thing, with so many different personalities within one group, there was something for everyone.
They became a highly successful brand, with their own individual looks which could be copied so easily by fans and even other famous people.
But if the Spice Girls reunited as a girl group today would they be as popular? Probably not.
The thing about the Spice Girls in the 1990s was, as people, they were nothing special. They did not have the gloss and polish of current girl bands. They were essentially no different to us.
In today’s current culture, this is generally not what ensures the appeal of a girl group. People want them to come with the glitz and sparkle. Young girls want something to emulate and look up to. They do not want the sense that this girl group is no different to them.
When the Spice Girl’s started there were few other females to look up to in the music industry. In today’s society there are a host of young girls who are acting as role models for young girls, whether for good or bad. The Spice Girls would not stand alone in the way they once did.
Boy band Take That have stood the test of time chiefly because one of their members, Gary Barlow writes their songs and has been able to adapt their style in line with their older years. What music would the Spice Girls perform? The 90s pop which made them famous would seem terribly dated in this day and age and who would be there to help them move on in music style? None of their members are a Gary Barlow.
And this is even before the fact the five women can barely stand to be in the same room together is considered.
It looks like Spice Girls fans will have to make do with watching the Viva Forever musical. An ironic title for a musical about a girl band which appear to have done anything but.
