An anthem of the 1990s, Wannabe still makes us dance as soon as the unmistakable laughter of Mel B plays. Posh, Baby, Scary, Sporty and Ginger were elevated to the rank of superstar alongside the titans of British music such as Oasis and Blur. The recipe for success: unforgettable pop anthems, wild looks, and acidic music videos. For the 25th anniversary of their iconic single, the British channel Channel 4 has created an already eagerly-awaited documentary series. Girl Powered: The Spice Girls is to be released in 2021. The show will include exclusive interviews to take us behind the scenes of the global phenomenon, as well as archival images. Almost 30 years after their formation, the Spice Girls remain a symbol of feminism, embracing, thanks to their 5 members, different types of femininity with a whimsical self-assurance. A title they deserve because, united by an audition aiming to create an entirely female group, the Spice Girls then took their destiny into their own hands, firing their manager after several creative disagreements. Soppy love songs, an innocent look… the Spice Girls didn't identify with this infantilized image of women. They chose Simon Fuller, former manager of Annie Lennox, and recorded Wannabe, a song of flirtation, love, and above all, feminine desire.
A documentary and a possible tour
To breathe life back into this colorful period, the documentary focuses on the advent of the revolutionary group as well as the social environment in which the phenomenon took place. Alisa Pomery, editor in charge of Channel 4 documentaries, revealed her reasons for commissioning the story of the girl band: “The Spice Girls reflected and influenced a generation of women and now, almost 30 years after their formation, their story highlights the advent of the age of modern feminism in a way we can fully appreciate for the first time.” After their break-up in 1999, the Spice Girls have already reunited twice, in 2007 and 2019. Channel 4 has suggested that with the Girl Powered: The Spice Girls documentary, 4 members of the group will reunite once more for a tour across Europe, Australia, and the United States. Get ready to jump on those tickets!
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