Westshite

Britney

Beyonce

Lady GaGa

 

Westlife’s First 9 singles weren’t massive sellers and the biggest one has still been outsold by at least 5 SG songs.

Britney’s songs didn’t sell massively bar her debut and single no.8 missed the top 10.

Beyonce’s First single wasn’t massive and none of her first 9 even cleared half a million.

Lady GaGa’s fourth single missed top 10, though she’s probably the closest out of these examples.

 

Simply no one since has replicated this kind of success.

 

As for why things fizzled out: the group were tired, lost a member, took a long break, came back with a sound no one asked for and none of them seemed very interested with them all pursuing solo careers. Fans had moved on to other pop artists. Spice Girls were a phenomenon but not sustainable.

I don't really get "aged badly" comments directed at Wannabe. It having aged is kind of its long lasting charm; it's a snapshot of the moment of time it was a hit in. There's nothing bad about that. Who cares if it doesn't sound in keeping with the music of today? I'd say it's aged well in terms of being one of the most stand out and memorable songs from an entire decade.

Westshite

Britney

Beyonce

Lady GaGa

 

 

Spice Girls beat all four in terms of first 9 singles.... :cheer: (even in terms of first 10 singles and in most, overall singles)

 

1. Wannabe (1,610,000)

2. Say you’ll be there (1,011,199)

3. 2 become 1 (1,216,000)

4. Mama / Who do you think you are (763,000)

5. Spice up your life (966,000)

6. Too much (705,000)

7. Stop (460,000)

8. Viva forever (726,000)

9. Goodbye (918,000)

 

Spice Girls sold 8,375,000 singles in UK

 

 

1. Just dance (940,000)

2. Poker face (1,137,000)

3. Paparazzi (600,000)

4. Love game (200,000)

5. Bad romance (1,010,000)

6. Telephone (702,000)

7. Alejandro (436,000)

8. Born this way (690,000)

9. Judas (302,000)

 

Lady Gaga sold 6,017,000 singles in UK

 

1. Swear it again (600,000)

2. If I let you go (315,000)

3. Flying without wings (400,000)

4. I have a dream / Seasons in the sun (600,000)

5. Fool again (200,000)

6. My love (300,000)

7. What makes a man (400,000)

8. Uptown girl (797,000)

9. Queen of my heart (335,000)

 

Westlife sold 4,129,000 singles in UK

 

1. Baby one more time (1,642,000)

2. Sometimes (453,000)

3. You drive me crazy (285,000)

4. Born to make you happy (335,000)

5. Oops I did it again (475,000)

6. Lucky (225,000)

7. Stronger (185,000)

8. Don’t let me be the last to know (61,970)

9. I’m a slave for you (200,000)

 

Britney sold 3,861,970 singles in UK

 

1. Work it out (100,000)

2. Bonnie and Clyde (200,000)

3. Crazy in love (600,000)

4. Baby boy (135,000)

5. Me myself and I (40,000)

6. Naughty girl (50,000)

7. Check on it (160,000)

8. Déjà vu (185,000)

9. Irreplaceable (600,000)

 

Beyonce sold 2,070,000 singles in UK

 

 

Love them or hate them Spice Girls were huge there's a reason they are remembered as a phenomenon, they were massive sellers in everything they did at that time.

Edited November 8, 20186 yr by Spiceboy

Abba came close to matching their sales most of their no 1s did between 500k &800k

 

 

I'm more than happy to have Spice Girls in the same league of success as Abba :wub:

 

Though Abba are clearly the much much bigger band, their first 9 singles however do not compare to the sales of Spice Girls yet again, their first single didn't even enter the top 30 (Ring, Ring), then after Waterloo they had a #38 (I do, I do, I do, I do, I do) and a #6 (SOS) before their huge success kicked in with the release of Mama Mia and the huge selling singles. Abba has far longer sustained success than the girls did, and their revival was far bigger than the Spice Girls has been and ever will be.

 

I adore both bands, two of my favourites of all time. :wub:

People trying to shit on Spice girls sales, you read it all on these forums. Also people saying a 22 year old song sounds dated, what do you expect.

 

Wannabe still sounds unlike anything else ever released which is why it sounds dated as it will only ever sound like 1996. We aren't going to ever get a wave of Wannabe sounding songs dominate the charts now so Wannabe will forever feel 1996 and that is a great thing not a bad.

How did they lose it so much with Forever and Headlines?! Thry wrote their own songs. I don't understand how iy all got so muvh WORSE.

 

They lost their main songwriter and unofficial "leader" (Geri) and Spice Girls mastermind (Simon Fuller). It's well documented that Geri was the main songwriter across their songs and the overall driving force behind the group. A lot of their branding, the group's name, what they stood for, the Girl Power mantra etc was all Geri. Losing both Simon Fuller and Geri only a few months apart was a double whammy! I doubt Forever would have sounded like THAT under their watch! A lot of plans changed after Geri left ("Never Give Up On The Good Times" was never released, original material for the third album was scrapped, they took a break and then came back with a new direction). Of course they were back for "Headlines" but they were already way past their heyday/creative peak at that point. Not a memorable song at all.

Edited November 9, 20186 yr by MusiqqisuM

I think the problem with Headlines is that it really was naff compared to their previous stuff. They saw Take That come back successfully and thought they could do the same on name alone. I mean where even was Mel B in that song? Mel C was spot on in her verse but where was she for the rest of it, given how her vocals were constantly heard in the past?

 

I always thought the Spice Girls should tour again but not make more music.

I always thought the Spice Girls should tour again but not make more music.

 

I'd love new music :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

Don't get me wrong I'm happy they are touring, but a new album would be AMAZING :wub:

 

Never Give Up On The Good Times should have been a single.

Never Give Up On The Good Times should have been a single.

 

It was planned to be a single with Viva Forever but those plans were scrapped when Geri left. I don't see why tbh they could have done a 'live' video with clips from the tour dates and photos etc and then promoted Viva forever when performing. I'm sure it would have boosted their sales some more it's such a great song.

Glad Holler/Let Love Lead The Way sneaked in there. There's something about Let Love Lead The Way that I just love.

Great to see Spice Girls Greatest Hits album at No. 1 on iTunes today.

So I don't care for the Spice Girls at all... but it's difficult to deny that they were an absolute force at their peak, those sales above are really phenomenally consistent.

 

They have their place as a comparatively short lived phenomenon but I don't have any desire for new material from them, I hope they do just stick to the tour.

 

They lost their main songwriter and unofficial "leader" (Geri) and Spice Girls mastermind (Simon Fuller). It's well documented that Geri was the main songwriter across their songs and the overall driving force behind the group. A lot of their branding, the group's name, what they stood for, the Girl Power mantra etc was all Geri. Losing both Simon Fuller and Geri only a few months apart was a double whammy! I doubt Forever would have sounded like THAT under their watch! A lot of plans changed after Geri left ("Never Give Up On The Good Times" was never released, original material for the third album was scrapped, they took a break and then came back with a new direction). Of course they were back for "Headlines" but they were already way past their heyday/creative peak at that point. Not a memorable song at all.

 

Yeah Geri has said in interviews that R&B was never her thing, that she left in the right moment.

She would neeever have allowed Forever to be that bad. WOMAN as a POP not lifeless rnb song, woulda been released

Well I cant comment on the album since I dont think I remember any of the songs, but I did enjoy the singles, especially LLLTW, I find it especially beautiful and underrated

Forever was a big let down after 2 great albums.

I always thought the Spice Girls should tour again but not make more music.

 

If their label was smart they'd remaster and expand the original releases. Tack on a few unreleased tracks and/or b-sides with some remixes and the fans would lap it up.

 

I can only assume Buttered Muffin is a kid and has no experience of the physical sales era 😂😂😂 Spice Girls were MASSIVE sellers back in the 1990s. No other act in that period sold the volume of singles they did consistently. Period.

If The Spice Girls had the same success now as they did in their era, the sales would be colossal.

A million selling physical single back then at the least, would now equate to 2 million in today's climate.