Spice Girls

"Spice Girl" redirects here. For other uses, see Spice Girl (disambiguation).

Spice Girls
The Spice Girls performing during a reunion concert in Toronto in February 2008. From left to right: Mel C, Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton
The Spice Girls performing during a reunion concert in Toronto in February 2008.
From left to right:
Mel C, Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
DiscographySpice Girls discography
Years active
  • 1994–2001
  • 2007–2008
  • 2012
  • 2018–2020
LabelsVirgin
Past members
Websitethespicegirls.com

The Spice Girls were an English girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Mel B ("Scary Spice"); Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"); Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"); Geri Halliwell-Horner ("Ginger Spice"); and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice"). They have sold over 100 million records worldwide,[1][2][3] making them the best-selling girl group of all time.[4][5][6][7][8][9] With their "girl power" mantra, the Spice Girls redefined the girl-group concept by targeting a young female fanbase.[10][11] They led the teen pop resurgence of the 1990s, were a major part of the Cool Britannia era, and became popular culture icons of the decade.[12][13][14]

The Spice Girls were formed by Heart Management, who held auditions to create a girl group to compete with the British boy bands popular at the time. After leaving Heart, the Spice Girls hired Simon Fuller as their manager and signed with Virgin Records. They released their debut single, "Wannabe", in 1996, which reached number one on the charts of 37 countries.[15][16] Their debut album, Spice (1996), sold more than 23 million copies worldwide,[17] becoming the best-selling album by a female group in history.[18] Producing three more number-one singles: "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1" and "Who Do You Think You Are"/"Mama". Their second album, Spiceworld (1997), sold more than 14 million copies worldwide.[19] The Spice Girls achieved three number-one singles from the album with "Spice Up Your Life", "Too Much" and "Viva Forever". Both albums encapsulated the group's dance-pop style and message of female empowerment, with vocal and songwriting contributions shared equally by the members.

In 1997, the Spice Girls made their live concert debut and released a feature film, Spice World, both to commercial success. In 1998, the group embarked on the Spiceworld Tour, which was attended by an estimated 2.1 million people worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour by a female group.[20] Halliwell left the Spice Girls mid-tour in May 1998. Following a number-one single with "Goodbye" (1998) and a successful 1999 concert tour, the Spice Girls released their R&B-influenced third album Forever in 2000. It featured their ninth number one single with "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way", setting a record for most UK number ones by a girl group of all time.[21] By the end of 2000, the Spice Girls entered on a hiatus to concentrate on their solo careers. Since then, they have reunited for a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony[22][23] and for two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls from 2007 to 2008 as a five-piece and the Spice World — 2019 UK Tour, without Beckham. Both tours won the Billboard Live Music Award for highest-grossing engagements, making the Spice Girls the top touring all-female group from 1998 to 2020.[24]

The Spice Girls have won five Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards and one MTV Video Music Award. In 2000, they became the youngest recipients of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.[25] Notable elements of the Spice Girls' symbolism include Halliwell's Union Jack dress and the nicknames that were given to each member of the group by the British press. Numerous endorsement deals and merchandise brought the group additional success, with a global gross income estimated at $500–800 million by May 1998.[26][nb 1] According to the Music Week writer Paul Gorman, their media exposure helped usher in an era of celebrity obsession in pop culture.[31]

  1. ^ "Magic Radio sign Melanie C". Bauer Media Group. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Geri Halliwell-Horner: Education is power, says former Spice Girl". BBC. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Emma Bunton says nobody can understand the Spice Girls' bond". Yahoo! News. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bestselling1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference bestselling2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference bestselling3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Golden 1997, p. xi
  8. ^ "1998: Ginger leaves the Spice Girls". BBC News. 31 May 1998. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Spice-Beatles comparison was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference johnharlow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference andrewsmith was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Waxman, Olivia B. (8 July 2016). "An Important Lesson in British History From the Spice Girls". Time. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  13. ^ Budgeon, Shelley (1998). "Chapter 5: 'I'll Tell You What I Really, Really Want': Girl Power and Self-Identity in Britain". In Inness, Sherrie A. (ed.). Millennium Girls: Today's Girls Around the World. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 115. ISBN 978-0847691371.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference spice girls bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Simon Fuller: Guiding pop culture". BBC News. 18 June 2003. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  16. ^ Jeffrey, Don (8 February 1997). "Girl Power! Spice Girls". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 6. MRC Media & Info. p. 5. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ^ References: • "Mel C reckons that the Spice Girls were "average" – here's why". Marie Claire. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022. • Copsey, Rob (1 September 2021). "Spice Girls announce Spice 25, an expanded edition of their debut album with previously unheard songs". Official Charts. Retrieved 8 June 2022. • Widjojo, Conchita (8 July 2021). "'Wannabe' Turns 25: Looking Back on the Spice Girls' Success". Yahoo!. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  18. ^ Caulfield, Keith (24 May 2017). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1997, Spice Girls Powered to No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference spiceworldsales was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Savage, Mark (8 July 2021). "The Spice Girls at 25: Here's the story from A to Z". BBC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Most No. 1 singles on UK chart - female group". 4 November 2000.
  22. ^ Gulino, Joey (13 August 2012). "Spice Girl stands out during Olympic Closing Ceremony reunion". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  23. ^ Wilson, Gaby (12 August 2012). "Spice Girls Reunite For 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony in Style". MTV News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference pollstar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Sinclair 2004, p. IX
  26. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin (17 July 1998). "Cover Story: Spice Girl's Tour Divorce". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference brandweek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbcearnings was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ a b McArthur, Jacqueline; Dasey, Daniel; AAP (11 January 1998). "Impulse sales rush to $10m mark". The Sun-Herald. p. 6. ProQuest 367117367. Retrieved 28 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference ginger spice 2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference spice girls legacy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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