Extended biography
In March 1994, advertisements were placed in The Stage newspaper asking: "R U 18-23 with the ability to sing/dance? R U streetwise, ambitious, outgoing and determined?" Hundreds of girls responded to the ads. The applicants were whittled down to a final five which consisted of Melanie Chisholm (Melanie C), Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown (Melanie B), Victoria Adams (Victoria Beckham) and Michelle Stephenson, who combined to form an all female group called "Touch."
In June, during the group's earliest recording session, Michelle Stephenson was forced to leave due to commitment issues. She was replaced by Emma Bunton after Bunton's singing tutor had recommended her to the other girls. From this point up to March 1995 the girls lived together in a small house in Maidenhead where they worked on demos and practiced dance routines. After a successful showcase performance for music critics and producers in October, the group decided to fire their original management, who they cited as controlling and too domineering. That same day, the girls tracked down Sheffield-based producer Eliot Kennedy and persuaded him to work with the group (by then renamed Spice) over the course of the next year.
In October 1994, armed with a catalogue of demos and dance routines, the group began touring management agencies. The group was introduced to record producers Absolute, who in turn brought them to the attention of Simon Fuller of 19 Management. The girls began a relationship with Fuller and finally signed with him in March 1995. During the summer of that year the group toured record labels in London and Los Angeles and finally signed a deal with Virgin Records in September 1995. From this point up to the summer of 1996, the Spice Girls (as they were then known) continued to write and record tracks for their debut album while extensively touring the west coast of America, where they had signed a publishing deal with Windswept Pacific.
On July 8, 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut single wannabe in the United Kingdom. In the weeks leading up to the release, the video for "Wannabe" (directed by Jhoan Camitz and shot in April at St Pancras Station in London), had dominated the music channels. In July 1996 the group conducted their first interview, at Virgin Records' London HQ with Paul Gorman, contributing editor of music industry paper Music Week. His piece recognised that the Spice Girls were about to institute a change in the charts away from Britpop and towards out-and-out pop. He wrote: "Just when boys with guitars threaten to rule pop life an all-girl, in-yer-face pop group has arrived with enough sass to burst that rockist bubble!!". The song entered the charts at number 3 before moving up to number 1 the following week and staying there for 7 weeks. The song proved to be a global hit - hitting number 1 in 31 countries and became not only the biggest selling single by an all female group, but also the biggest selling debut single of all time. "Wannabe" also proved to be a catalyst in helping the Spice Girls break the notoriously difficult U.S. market when it debuted on the Hot 100 Chart at number 11. At the time, this was the highest ever debut by a British (or non-American) act in the US, beating the record previously held by The Beatles for i want to hold your hand at number 12.
In November 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut album, spice in Europe. The success was unprecedented and drew comparisons to Beatlemania (it was dubbed "Spicemania") due to the sheer volume of interest in the group. In just 7 weeks, spice had sold 1.8 million copies in Britain alone, making the Spice Girls the fastest selling British act since The Beatles. In total, the album sold over 3 million copies in Britain and peaked at number 1 for 15 weeks. In Europe, the album became the biggest selling album of 1997 and was certified 8x Platinum by the IFPI for sales in excess of 8 million copies. In the United States, spice became the biggest selling album of 1997, peaking at number 1 and being certified 7x Platinum (for sales of over 7 million) by the RIAA.
Riding a wave of publicity and hype, the group followed the single "Wannabe" up quickly by releasing say you'll be there in October and 2 become 1 in December. The two tracks continued the group's remarkable sales by topping the charts in over 53 countries and cementing the group's reputation as the biggest pop act on the planet. The last release from spice was a double A-side of mama / who do you think you are which once again saw them at number 1.
In November 1997, the Spice Girls released their second studio album, spiceworld. Preceded by the single spice up your life, the album proved to be an instant global best seller. It set a new record for the fastest selling album over 2 weeks when it shipped 7 million copies. Gaining favourable reviews, the album went on to sell over 10 million copies in Europe, Canada, and the United States alone. Criticized in America for releasing the album just nine months after their debut there and suffering from over-exposure at home, the Spice Girls began to experience a media backlash. The group were criticized for the amount of sponsorship deals they signed – over 20 in total – and they began to witness diminishing international chart positions. Nevertheless, the Spice Girls remained the biggest selling pop group of both 1997 and 1998. Further singles released from the album included too much, stop and viva forever – with stop being the only track not to hit number 1 in Britain (it entered and peaked at number 2).
In June 1997, the group began filming their movie debut, "Spiceworld: The Movie", with Absolutely Fabulous and Fawlty Towers director Bob Spiers. Meant to accompany the album, the comical style and content of the movie was in the same vein as The Beatles' films in the 1960s such as "A Hard Day's Night". The light-hearted comedy, intended to capture the spirit of the Spice Girls, starred a plethora of stars including Roger Moore, Elton John, Jennifer Saunders, Richard E. Grant and Meat Loaf. Released in December 1997, "Spiceworld: The Movie" proved to be a big box office hit taking nearly $30 million in the US, £11 million in Britain, and over $70 million worldwide. The movie was not as popular with critics however; it was nominated for seven awards at the 1999 Golden Raspberry Awards where they "won" the award for "Worst Actress".
On November 7, 1997 the Spice Girls fired their manager and mentor Simon Fuller. According to their various autobiographies, it was mainly Geri and Melanie B who pushed for Fuller’s dismissal. They cited that he had become too controlling by restricting their personal and artistic freedom, and they accused him of using divide and rule tactics to get his own way. The group quickly found the burden of managing themselves time consuming, so they assigned various responsibilities to each member of the group. They later built their own team, headed by Nancy Phillips, to deal with their affairs.
In early 1998, the Spice Girls embarked upon a sell-out 102 date world tour covering Europe and North America. The "Spiceworld" tour kicked off in Dublin, Ireland on February 24, 1998 before moving onto mainland Europe and then returning to Britain for 14 gigs at Wembley Arena and Birmingham’s NEC Arena. It was here that recordings were made for a planned live album, which was confirmed by the group: "We've shown everyone we can do the business on stage, so now we want to do a live album for fans". Despite masters of the recording being made, the idea was eventually dropped. At the end of the European leg of the tour, Geri Halliwell missed the final 2 shows in Oslo, Norway reportedly due to gastroenteritis. However, rumours quickly circulated that Geri had become disenchanted with the group and was planning to leave – and after she also missed a performance of viva forever on the National Lottery show, rumours began to intensify.
On May 31, 1998, Geri Halliwell announced her departure from the Spice Girls. Through her solicitor, she issued the following statement: "Sadly I would like to confirm that I have left the Spice Girls. This is because of differences between us. I'm sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best... PS, I'll be back." Halliwell claimed that she was suffering from exhaustion and wanted to take time out. However, rumours persisted that she had fallen out with one of the other girls (reportedly Melanie B). Although this has never been confirmed, the biographies of Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, and Melanie B all hint that this was the case. Geri’s departure from the group shocked fans and became one of the biggest entertainment news stories of the year, making news headlines the world over. The four remaining girls were adamant though that the group would carry on and that their approaching North American tour would continue as normal.
Geri Halliwell's departure threw most of the group's plans into disarray. It was cited as the reason the planned live album was cancelled. It also meant that most of the material the girls had recorded throughout the first half of 1998 at Dublin's Windmill Lane Studios with long time collaborators Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe was eventually scrapped. A rumoured animated venture by Disney also failed to materialize.
The Spice Girls first release as a foursome was viva forever the last single taken off spiceworld. The video for the single was made before Geri's departure and features the girls in animated form – a decision made because there was no time to produce a video due to the heavy world tour schedule. Originally planned as a double A-side with never give up on the good times the idea was dropped for several reasons, mainly due to time restraints (since there was no time to re-record and edit out Geri's vocals or make a video for the track). Whilst on tour in America the group continued to record new material and they released the new song goodbye at Christmas 1998. Written before her departure, the song was nevertheless seen as a tribute to Geri and when it topped the British chart it became their third consecutive Christmas number 1 – equalling the record previously set by The Beatles. The song also became one of the most successful songs of the 1990's in Canada, where it stayed at number 1 for 16 weeks.
In November 2000 The Spice Girls released their new album, forever. Sporting a new edgier R&B sound, the album received a lukewarm response and achieved only a fraction of the success of its two best selling predecessors. In the US it peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Top 200. In the UK, the album was released the same week as Westlife’s coast to coast album and the chart battle was widely reported by the media. In the end Westlife, who had embarked on a massive promotional tour, outsold The Spice Girls by a margin of 3 to 1 to take the top spot. The lead single from the album, the double A-side holler / let love lead the way, did have some success – it became the group's ninth number 1 single in the UK. However, the song failed to break onto the Billboard Hot 100, instead peaking at number 7 on the Bubbling Under chart. However, holler did peak at number 31 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play in 2001.
Many credit the low success of the album down to the fact the group did very little promotion in the run up to its worldwide release.The only major performance of the lead single came at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2000, and a few TV performances aside, the group did little meaningful promotion. In an attempt to cover more ground, the girls split up and covered different countries separately; for example Victoria and Emma headed to America while Melanie B and C concentrated on Europe.
Further planned single releases off the album never materialised. Promo singles of tell me why, weekend love and if you wanna have some fun came into circulation but the forever project was abandoned in early 2001 as the girls each began to concentrate on solo careers. In the years since, the media speculated endlessly about possible reunions.
On June 28th 2007, the Spice Girls (including Geri Halliwell) reformed and gave a press conference to announce a tour plus a greatest hits CD, and a documentary that were both released by the end of the year.
A new single was released on the 19th November 2007 called Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) to moderate acclaim. Their 2007-08 reunion tour however was sold out across the world but despite this success the group wrote a message on their website in March 2008 to confirm that this reunion tour really was the end of the Spice Girls.
The group reformed in 2012 for a one-off performance at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
On 5th November 2018, the girls, minus Victoria Beckham, reunited for a UK stadium tour in 2019.
Wannabe
Spice Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you want my future, forget my past
If you wanna get with me, better make it fast
Now don't go wasting my precious time
Get your act together we could be just fine
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
Oh, what do you think about that?
Now you know how I feel
Say you can handle my love, are you for real?
(Are you for real?)
I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye
Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
(You've got to give)
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
So, here's a story from A to Z
You wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face
You got G like MC who likes it on a
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady
And as for me, ha you'll see
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
(You've got to give)
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
If you wanna be my lover
You gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta
Slam, slam, slam, slam (make it last forever)
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover
The Spice Girls released "Wannabe" in 1996 and it quickly became a global smash hit. The song is an anthem for girls everywhere, encouraging them to be bold, confident, and unapologetically themselves. The lyrics are all about knowing what you want and going after it, and not letting anyone stand in your way. The song starts off with the girls asking each other what they want, setting the tone for the rest of the track. They want someone who can handle their love and is willing to make an effort to be with them. They are also very clear that their friends are a crucial part of their lives, and anyone who wants to be with them has to be able to get along with their squad. This message was truly radical at the time, as it encouraged young women to prioritize their own goals and dreams, rather than catering to a man's desires.
The chorus of the song is perhaps the most memorable part, with the girls singing, "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never ends." The group emphasizes that they are a package deal, and anyone who wants to be with them has to accept and get along with their friends. This is a powerful statement about female friendship and the importance of peer support. As the song progresses, the Spice Girls introduce each member of the group and their unique personalities. This is a clever way of showcasing the diversity within the group and making each member relatable to fans. The song ends with a catchy chorus that encourages listeners to "slam their body down and wind it all around," a perfect call to action for anyone looking to let loose and have some fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha ha ha ha
The song kicks off with a laugh, indicating the fun and upbeat nature of the track.
Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
The speaker is addressing the person they are interested in, stating that they have a clear idea of what they desire.
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
The speaker is asking the other person to express their own desires and intentions.
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
The speaker reiterates their own desires, indicating the importance of communication and understanding in any relationship.
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
The same question is repeated, emphasizing the need for honest and open communication.
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
The speaker repeats their desire in a playful manner, adding emphasis and creating a catchy chorus.
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
The phrase 'zigazig ah' is nonsensical and open to interpretation, but the overall message is that the speaker wants something exciting and adventurous.
If you want my future, forget my past
The speaker is suggesting that they are looking towards the future and wants their potential partner to do the same, leaving any past mistakes or issues behind.
If you wanna get with me, better make it fast
The speaker is indicating that they are in high demand and not willing to wait around for someone who is unsure or hesitant.
Now don't go wasting my precious time
The speaker is emphasizing the value of their time and indicating that they won't put up with any time-wasters or indecisiveness.
Get your act together we could be just fine
The speaker is giving an ultimatum, indicating that if the other person shapes up and commits to the relationship, things could work out well.
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
The speaker is indicating that their friends are an important part of their life and any partner must be able to fit in and get along with them.
(Gotta get with my friends)
This line simply reinforces that the partner must be able to connect with the speaker's group of friends.
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
The speaker is emphasizing the importance of long-lasting connections and indicating that their friendships are something that will always endure.
You have got to give
This line emphasizes the idea that any relationship requires effort and a give-and-take dynamic.
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
The speaker is emphasizing the importance of reciprocity and suggesting that any partner who only takes without giving is not a good fit.
Oh, what do you think about that?
The speaker is asking the other person to consider their perspective and see if they are a good match for each other.
Now you know how I feel
The speaker is suggesting that they have been transparent about their desires and expectations, and hoping that the other person is on the same page.
Say you can handle my love, are you for real?
The speaker is implying that their love and affection are intense and questioning whether the other person is truly up for the challenge.
(Are you for real?)
This line is simply a playful repetition of the previous line, with the speaker continuing to question the other person's readiness for a serious relationship.
I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
The speaker is indicating that while they may be cautious and selective, they are open to giving the other person a chance.
If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye
The speaker is warning the other person that any negative behavior towards them will result in the end of the relationship.
So, here's a story from A to Z
The speaker is indicating that they are about to tell a story that will cover all the important aspects and details of their desires and expectations.
You wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully
The speaker is emphasizing the importance of attentive listening and indicating that any partner must be willing to really understand their needs and desires.
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face
The speaker is introducing their friend 'Em', who apparently likes to be straightforward and direct in her interactions with people.
You got G like MC who likes it on a
The speaker is introducing their friend 'G' who is perhaps more laidback and enjoys a more relaxed, easygoing lifestyle.
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady
The speaker is introducing their friend 'V' who is apparently a more refined and sophisticated individual, indicating that she has high standards and must be courted properly.
And as for me, ha you'll see
The speaker is indicating that while their friends have certain characteristics and traits, they themselves are unique and not as easily defined.
Slam your body down and wind it all around
This line is the start of a catchy dance move that the speaker is encouraging their listeners to join in on.
If you wanna be my lover...
The speaker repeats the central refrain of the song, emphasizing that anyone who wants to be in a relationship with them must meet their expectations and desires.
Slam, slam, slam, slam (make it last forever)
This line is a repetition of the earlier dance move, which the speaker is encouraging everyone to participate in to create a fun, lively atmosphere.
Slam your body down and zigazig ah
This line follows the earlier dance move, with the speaker adding another nonsensical phrase in a playful, fun manner.
If you wanna be my lover
The song ends with a repetition of the central refrain, emphasizing the importance of meeting the speaker's expectations if someone wants to enter into a relationship with them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Matthew Paul Rowbottom, Richard Stannard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kuban Orozbekov
Lyrics
Yeah, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you want my future, forget my past
If you wanna get with me, better make it fast
Now don't go wasting my precious time
Get your act together we could be just fine
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
Yeah, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
What do you think about that, now you know how I feel
Say, you can handle my love, are you for real
I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is
Yeah, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
So, here's a story from A to Z
You wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face
You got G like MC who likes it on a
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady
And as for me, ah you'll see
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
Yeah, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
Yeah, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
Slam your body down and wind it all around
(I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah)
Slam your body down and wind it all around
(I really, really, really wanna zigazig ah)
LivingOnMyOwn
If you're watching this in 2023, you're not alone.
eva Jeudy
My mother love this song☺
Fishing Michigan
ok lmao thats cool to know
jassy S
Hi
Solid Starbreaker
that inspire shit, im totally alone girl
。 ann
@eva Jeudy Me too🥰
Thanks to my mother, I know this song 💟✌️
Heytno
We need to take it up to 1B views. The girls deserve it 🙌🏻
yuujin.
Ikr
Curious George Vs. Winnie the Pooh
1B old people liking mostly from their old days. Old people music
Icsarus Ads
Lets help them!