Spice Girls Reunion: Three Out Of Five Is Not What I Want, What I Really, Really Want
When rumors of a possible second Spice Girls reunion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the group’s formation and first single “Wannabe,” began to pop up about a year ago, I admit I was a bit more excited than most. In fact, I literally squealed in pure elation at the news, scaring my then co-workers half to death in the process.
As someone who has followed, supported, and loved the bold, brash, and beautiful quintet of British ladies for nearly two decades, it was a day I had been hoping for for quite some time. Following their truncated Return of The Spice Girls tour in 2008, I prayed incessantly that there would be another chance to witness the “Girl Power” that Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), and Geri Horner (née Halliwell, Ginger Spice) brought to the world live and in person, especially since I was unable to do so for the first Spice Girls reunion.
Now, it seems like I’m going to get what I really wanted, what I really, really wanted — well, sort of.
On Friday, the Spice Girls confirmed that a reunion was indeed taking place, but not with all of the girls. Instead, Emma, Mel B., and Geri will be moving forward as Spice Girls Gem. Victoria and Mel C., however, will just be moving on, as mentioned by both Billboard and The Daily Mail in January and April, respectively.
In other words, they both have said that they won’t be there (sorry, guys, I had to).
Happy 20th Birthday to all our fans! You’ve stood by us for over 20 years, so we want to say thank you. pic.twitter.com/eUyC1knMu8
— Emma Bunton (@EmmaBunton) July 8, 2016
A question: how on Earth can this considered a “Spice Girls reunion” if all of the Spice Girls aren’t reuniting? It’s not! Granted, while I do adore the three who have chosen to honor their still-strong fan base in such an amazing way, it’s hard not to feel extremely disheartened over two pivotal members’ choices to sit this one out. Besides, doesn’t this go against the major Spice Girls edict that was first proclaimed in “Wannabe”?
“If you wannabe my lover
You gotta get with my friends
Make it last forever, ’cause friendship never ends.”
Admittedly, those lyrics sound extremely silly when they’re given such serious intent (especially since all five girls are still very friendly with each other), but die-hard fans of the Spice Girls take that as a universal truth; or “a universal groove,” if you will (okay, I’ll stop doing that now), something that is best displayed when the entire bunch is together.
Case in point, when Geri decided to call it a day in 1998, fans were more than crushed. In fact, they pretty much turned their backs on the other girls. The remaining four tried to soldier on and released what is probably the best album of their discography, 2000’s Forever. Alas, the title of the oft-celebrated LP was not a sign of things to come, and the “Spice Force Five” — sorry, make that four — would ultimately embark on a seven-year-long hiatus (to this day, they refuse to openly state that it was a full-on disbandment) due to their popularity downfall.
As of now, there are rumors that Melanie C. may change her mind, but it still wouldn’t feel right to me (and I’m sure to many other Spice Girls fans as well) if Victoria wasn’t there, too. In closing, I leave you all with a paraphrased rule of thumb that the girls themselves provided in Spice World, one of the most hilarious. underrated and awesome movies of my youth: “listen up, take my advice — we need five for the (true) power of Spice!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqGZDMiD4iU
[Photo by Staff/Getty Images]
