The biggest girl group in the world The Spice Girls...are BACK!
Well, most of them anyway! Geri, Mel B, Emma and Melanie C have announced a massive Summer Stadium Tour in 2019. However, this time it is without Victoria Beckham, who has declined joining her bandmates in order to focus on her fashion empire. The video announcement yesterday from the girls (below) has Spice fans all over the world split down the middle. So, as a faithful and devoted Spice Boy since 1996. Here is my honest opinion on the legendary quintet becoming a quartet...
Spice Girls Announcement
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Live forever, for the moment. Ever searching, for the (other) one!
As a 16 year old blessed gay boy, I was lucky enough to have watched all five Spice Girls perform two nights on the trot back in 1998 in Glasgow (before Geri did a bunk). I can't tell you what the band meant to being young and British back then, not to mention as a closeted gay kid. They were feisty, loud, unapologetic and diverse. Everything I was dying to be, but didn't have the guts to be.
Then 9 years later, I was blessed for a second time, as I witnessed their phenomenal 'Return of the Spice Girls Tour' at the O2 in London - standing open mouthed in the crowd with 20,000 other Spice Girls and Boys. It was a dream come true and as a MASSIVE fan of the girls, these are moments in my life that I still pinch myself about and always will.
However, I also stood in the crowd at their 'Christmas in Spiceworld' Earls Court gig back in 1999, after Geri quit and there was just the four of them. And as I stood there, I remember I wanted SO much for it not to feel any different than before. But, it just did.
And it pains me to say it, but this latest part reunion feels exactly the same.
For me personally, I think the whole thing would be an easier pill to swallow if there was a new album out. Or at least talk of a new album! That way I could see the Spice brand growing and evolving with the 4 girls who are up for continuing without Victoria. Much in the same way that Take That approached their reunion back in 2006, sans Robbie. And the way the girls did when Geri left and they released 'Forever'. You can't tell me that the the best songwriters and producers wouldn't be lining up around the block to work with the BIGGEST girlband in history on some cracking new tunes? And let's not forget the amazing songs in their back catalogue, were all co-written by the band too. So they definitely have the tools required to write us 10 new bops.
Instead, we have been rumoured to be getting yet another Greatest Hits package, with the contractual 2 "new tracks" tacked on to the end, which will no doubt feel like an afterthought (yes i'm looking at you Voodoo). From a band whose B-Sides back in the day were as strong as the singles (Bumper to Bumper, One Of These Girls). This move just feels like lazy planning, money grabbing and so much less than their fabulous legacy deserves to be honest.
Even with Posh out of the mix, I fail to see what the point is? No new music. They've missed the 20th anniversary by 3 years and now on top of it all off, they are a girl down!
I have no doubt that nostalgia will sell out those arena dates in a few minutes and more dates are sure to be announced in the coming weeks when they do. I have even less doubt that everyone involved will make millions (posh included). And considering the rumours about the financial issues certain band members are experiencing, that can only be a good thing. The majority of the audience may not even care that one girl is missing. Or they'll delude themselves with statements such as "she never sang anyway". But I think if the fans were completely honest, this has not been the announcement any of us really hoped for. And on the night, they'll be standing in a stadium watching the wings to see if the missing girl will make an appearance and then leave disappointed when she doesn't. Just like a certain hopeful little gay spice boy did with Geri back in 1999. The crowd constantly abuzz that "she might show up".
For that reason girls, I hate to say it, but i'm also choosing to sit this one out. On the night of the Wembley show, I'll have a glass of wine and raise it to my five idols as I play my 'Girl Power: Live In Istanbul' DVD and dance around in my pants.
However, If the next tour is to promote an album of new material, i'll buy it on every format and be there in the crowd with spice bells on, sucking a Chuppa Chup lolly and taking Polaroids with my Spice Cam. Regardless of whether there is 4 of you or 5. I mean hello, this is a guy who loyally supported all of you individually to a fault. Yes Mel B, I even bought your second album 'LA State of Mind'.
As Victoria Beckham said yesterday on her Instagram post wishing the girls well, I am sure they'll put on a fabulous show. But, nostalgia by definition means "a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to some past period". And I just can't do that with four of you singing only the songs that were born of five. I'll just have to "Hi Si Ja Hold Tight" and live in hope for something new to come in the future.
Peace. AM x
Return Of the Spice Girls - 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
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