Piers

This. So. Look. I get that reviewing a show doesn't mean it has to be a glowing write-up. But. I really...really...hate that Guardian review. First of all, it's the third publication I've seen inaccurately claim the "boys and girls go good together" 2 Become 1 line was changed for this tour. Are they copying wrong information from each other? As for the rest...it's a pretty major stretch to imply cultural appropriation just because each girl has their own dance troupe. And to question if there was enough LGBT representation at the show?...and if their feelings toward the community were genuine? Get. Real. They were allies long before that was common for a mainstream pop group. And three albums can't sustain a show? Since when? How many acts are touring right now with just three albums under their belt?...or less? They had nine number ones. They can have a show. And though you may not like Let Love Lead the Way, if being #1 doesn't make it a hit, I'm not sure what does? Also. I caught a few typos. Just sayin'.

Out of all the Spice and Spiceworld songs, I just figure it'd be the hardest to perform live. I'm not sure Geri could replicate the sexy voice thing on stage (...seems like that's very much a studio sort of thing). And that song really depends on the sexy Geri voice. If she went out and just sort of shouted the vocals live...I'm not sure it'd go so well. Though I would've loved to hear it live at some point. Moreso than any other song of theirs, my opinion's changed the most on that one over 20+ years. It was my clear least favorite in 1997. Now? I'd probably rank it fifth or sixth on the album. It's a good one to play people who just think of Wannabe when they think Spice Girls.

^ Yeah. The vocals have been completely re-edited. The difference is night and day. So. Yeah. Have mixed feelings about her/her team doing that. I get that the big money maker for her brand is the live shows these days...and they don't want anything to harm the ticket sales. But I mostly think this will only bring her more unwanted attention. It's not exactly a secret that she didn't sound great on Like a Prayer. Does she think people will find the video on Youtube and just say "Huh. On second listen, it doesn't sound so bad at all!" ? Honestly, considering how often her real voice was hidden on the Rebel Heart Tour release, I'm surprised she went out there with such raw vocals for Like a Prayer. Did it actually go well in rehearsal? Are there people around her who would be honest if it didn't?

I thought the Future performance was pretty good. Definitely worked for me visually. Like a Prayer? There's no denying it was rough. Buuut... I'm pretty tired of jumping onto Twitter and seeing a Madonna or a Mariah Carey (both with careers that put them at living legend status) being raked over the coals for a rough performance. Oh man, do I hate that cringe-face Chrissy Teigen gif that everyone uses. Yes, I've watched Madonna and Mariah struggle to sing their old songs...a lot. But it's like there's no acknowledgement of what they've accomplished in music for decades. I think we need an understanding. Voices naturally change as artists get older. Madonna and Mariah are still performers. They shouldn't have to hang it up and stop. But songs they wrote/performed in their 20s and 30s are just going to be hard to sing now. It's unfortunate Madonna didn't get a lot of credit for being a fairly disciplined singer years ago when she was actually killing it vocally. I think Madonna needs to adjust the old songs to be in the vocal range of where she is now...and if she does that, I think the audience will need to accept that she's in her 60s and voices just change.

Real talk. If they actually performed Tell Me Why...how long until some blogger/tabloid/Youtube star makes the claim that it's a brand new diss track about Victoria...?

I get that a singer of limited vocal range going toe to toe with the Weather Girls is a bit...eyebrow raising...but Geri's cover of It's Raining Men really does do something interesting with the song. It gives it a whole different energy...and that's more than what a whole lot of hit covers do. It's Raining Men isn't my favorite single by Geri...it wouldn't even be in my top 5. But it's my favorite of her eras because of her willingness to just totally go for broke with the performances. There's an infectious enthusiasm to what she was doing then. She seemed to love every second of being out on stage. It was epic pretty much every time she performed it. But it did cast a shadow on the rest of the album. I actually think Scream and Calling were great singles. But after IRM, their performances just came off as...sleepy. The marketing wasn't as thought out and clever as IRM either. Nothing was on the same level.

Welp. Mel B's in her Scary Spice PJs...Mel C's headed off to Catholic School...Emma's going to a county fair in 1970s Alabama...and Geri's late for tea with Kate Middleton. I snark because I love. Look, as far as I'm concerned, the "we look like we showed up with no utter clue of how the others were going to dress" thing is classic Spice Girls. This is nostalgia right here...and I kinda love it.

The key problem with that new (old? discarded?) Viva Forever ending is it feels like such an afterthought. If that's the route they were going, why not create a tin fairy of the kid?...instead of...y'know...just awkwardly throwing up a still of him? This would have looked sloppy enough in 1998. Now? It's a bit surprising the girls' team would let this out there. Anyway. Unpopular opinion alert. I've never liked this video. Not when it came out. Not now. I've read the director's interpretation. Okay. Fine. But what they did has nothing...nada...zip...to do with what the song's about. The director can say it's about growing up...but it feels like it's about death and grief. At worst, this could be viewed to be about evil Spice Girl fairies luring some kid into their Rubix Cube of doom. But all that said...the thing...as wonky an idea as it may be...was at least competently made...until now...

Lol. That kinda reminds me of the If You Wanna Have Some Fun promo video...where all the old footage was recut to make it look like Geri was never there (...or at least make it look like she was never more than the back of a head). I swear Jennifer Saunders' Sugar Lump Geri gets more screen time in that than the real Geri. Anyway. Does Mel C even know it was photoshopped? I'm guessing not. But to whoever did make the pic...not in love with revising history. I'm perfectly good with the current lineup. Just give me new photos of the current four piece. Pretending Victoria wasn't there for iconic moments? No thanks.

Oh wow! What a find! I remember Mel mentioning this song in an interview in 1999. This was the only unreleased song (that we're aware of) from the Hot recording era, right? Anyway. I think it's okay. It's not a lost "single-that-should-have-been" situation. It very much sounds like a demo. But it's unique enough that I actually prefer it over something with less personality like, say, ABC 123 that did make the album. This might have slotted in after Step Inside or something. Wonder who she was working with on this one. My guess is Stannard/Biffco?

I mean. It's Geri's personal life experience...so...she's ultimately entitled to react in whatever way she sees fit. Buuut. If I were an advisor and confidant...I would have told her to just laugh it off with a "eh, we were young, and it was the 90s!" I really do believe making light of the story would take away the tabloids' power. I get that the article isn't accurate with the one-year relationship thing. But. Releasing a fairly serious statement? It lets the tabloids know this is getting to her. I think it opens the door to a whole lot more shady articles...wildly speculating that there's bitterness within the group...or that the tour's in jeopardy...etc.

I remember a bit of conversation about this in the fan forums back in 2000. Supposedly, Never Be the Same Again was sent to US radio in 2000. Fans at the time were claiming Z100 in New York was playing it...and there were a few other claims of hearing the odd play of it across the country. The problem was, the album had already been released months earlier without any attention being drummed up by a single...and failed to enter the top 200. Her US promo appearances were especially odd. She showed up here looking like a completely different person to who we saw the previous year. She sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow a time or two for some reason. I remember her doing Northern Star on Letterman...but she didn't release that song. So. Yeah. Her US prospects apparently looked too grim for Virgin to even try with NBTSA. I Turn To You actually was released as a single here...but it was in 2001...months after the song landed on the dance charts. So. That too was strangely incompetent in its handling.

I'm glad people dig Wasting My Time and Get Down With Me these days...but I'd frankly be stunned if they actually performed them on the tour. I'd venture to guess they'll only do Holler, LLLTW and Goodbye (if that counts?) from Forever. Mel B has professed her love for Tell Me Why a few times. But I figure it'd be a smidge awkward performing such a negative song...*with*...the person it's about. Singing Goodbye with Geri present is one thing. Singing Tell Me Why with her is a whole other thing...unless the song ends with a record scratch and Geri blurting out "Wait. This is about me, isn't it?"...followed by a wah wahhh. In which case...I say go for it. My guess is we're getting the #1s (and #2) alongside the best known album tracks from Spice and Spiceworld...and a few covers. I know we don't want that. But they've done covers on their three other tours. Not sure they'd stop now.

Not doing Headlines is probably the right choice. I personally like the song. But its chart placing isn't exactly the group's finest hour. I wish they'd reconsider the no solo songs idea, though. I don't think they should do anything that barely charted from the past ten years (it'd seem too self-indulgent). But there are songs from their solo history that actually made quite an impact in their time...and would play really well with the stadium treatment. Basically, anything that was a #1, I think should be up for consideration. Maybe the whole group could perform them? The four of them could certainly pull off a live It's Raining Men better than Geri alone. Anyway. I don't want the solo stuff to take over. But. Personally, I think the big solo hits would get a bigger fan reaction than, say, trotting out Something Kinda Funny again. Outside of the #1s, even When You're Gone and Look at Me would probably get the crowd going. Look At Me certainly needs redemption...after Geri's last performance of it at GAY looked like an office powerpoint presentation.

I always figured this story would officially come out someday. Jimmy Gulzar already basically said this happened ages ago. Geri also talked about the experience on Howard Stern without actually confirming who it was with. Of course, I've read some tabloid headlines claiming this is sending the reunion into a tailspin. But. Realistically. Is Geri going to care that much, really? In 2019, this seems like such a non-issue. Maybe they could have a winking nod to it in the reunion show. Have Mel and Geri dedicate 2 Become 1 to each other or something... Maybe Geri can wander over next to her and sing "girls and girls go good together". Never claimed to be subtle...

I'd love for that to be the case...but they generally seem unaware (apathetic?) to the fan obsessions. Case in point...the fans ramble in circles about a studio version of W.O.M.A.N. for what feels like a generation...and it barely seems to register with the group that they once recorded a song called W.O.M.A.N. But. Y'know. At least one of them hasn't tried to claim it's on their first album or something?

I've got several unpopular opinions, but this is probably the main one. I like every single song on the group's three studio albums and Greatest Hits.......except one. Time Goes By. That opening keyboard sounds like the beginning of some hellish children's talent show performance. What follows just plods along. It's the only song the group's recorded that I think sounds inauthentic. I also think Mel C's ad-libs at the end are the least flattering she's ever sounded on a Spice song. Didn't like the song on first listen. It's never grown on me in more than 18 years. I assumed this one was just cranked out by Darkchild...after he'd already given them a few single choices and was ready to take their money and get the album over with. But. No. The girls seem to really like the thing. Mel C...who would seemingly rather eat a light bulb than continue with the group at that point...even suggested it be a Christmas single. She continued to sing its praises even years after Forever crashed and burned. I wouldn't be shocked if it even springs up at the reunion show. I'll grin and bear it.

Yup. I think the song's pretty great. I actually like it better than anything on Life in Mono. It may be a blasphemous thing to say around here...but that album's a bit soft for me. The Free Me album...and now this...are more to my taste. I think this is worthy of her best singles...and would've been a big hit in a different time. The video? I think the song begs for a more sleek, stylish video...instead of dancing outtakes at a photoshoot. But. Whatever. It's professionally shot and edited...and I guess that's surpassing expectations for a solo Spice these days. The Angels in Chains video is downright confusing in its incompetence (honestly, guys...if you need to learn how to properly size pictures...I can help you). One more note. How great does Emma sound on this?

My memory is for a story where Robbie claimed she insisted on wearing some sports jersey in bed. There was some fan speculation Goin Down was written about this incident. Anyway. I've tried to find anything on the internet about this now, and I'm not getting anything. Granted, this story would have been from 20+ years ago...from a time when there were quite a few articles written that have been lost to time. Hoping someone else vaguely remembers this...before I start doubting my own memory/sanity.

For someone who has a pretty great songwriting history...I really...really...wish there was more original music here after a 12-year-gap from her last solo album. I already didn't think Life in Mono had enough Emma-penned originals. So. Hm. Also. Not in love with Robbie getting to record a Spice Girls song. A one-off performance was one thing...buuut... This is the guy who called Geri a demonic little girl and publicly made fun of what Mel C was like in bed. Isn't Goin Down about him? He also said he was going to shag Victoria...years after she was already married. I get that they may have long forgiven all of this. But. He's kinda had a history of being a douche to members not named Emma Bunton. Anyway. All I can say is this. Really looking forward to the two Emma originals. Hope she knocks it out of the park. This beats nothing.

I kinda think this too. We know she was struggling to get her material released. I think the leak was probably just a good excuse for why the material never came out. I don't think I know the full circumstances around the leak...but I'm guessing it may have happened when it was clear that the material wouldn't see the light of day otherwise. Shame. Because I like quite a bit of the Man on the Mountain material. I don't think she would have gotten a legitimate hit...but I do think Love and Light was good enough to get a bit of attention on its own merits. Side note. I really do feel a bit bad for Eliot Kennedy. He did material for Forever...the VB album...Life in Mono...Geri's fourth album...and GEM...and NONE of it saw an official release. Most of it just got leaked instead. Sure, his computer's not exactly secure...but that's got to be tiresome to keep recording with these people and only for it to get ditched.

I'm not especially concerned with chart positions at this point. They've all hit that unfortunate age ceiling where an artist is no longer allowed to have a hit. I'm also not sure a looming Spice Girls reunion has any sway over how well their solo careers will do. If it couldn't help Mel C in 2007, I'm not sure how it can help now... I only hope the girls can continue to do their solo work with distributors who have a reasonable set of expectations. In the past ten years (the "charts-are-done-with-you" era), Mel C's managed one of her obvious best singles (Think About It) and two really solid albums of original stuff...Mel B's released a very likable song...and it's fairly criminal that Geri's Man on the Mountain material never got its proper due (Love and Light is way too good for its fate). If Emma can even get to that level of expectation, I'm good. Side note. I'm really quite happy none of them ever truly devolved into the type of artist who just sings about all the stuff they bought and how rich they are. Not. Naming. Names.

^ I never followed why she got so much flack for the horse riding thing during her Ride It promo. She was selling a single. So what? I realize that was an era where some tabloids would make anything she did sound outrageous and crazy. But. I don't know. Her publicity stunts seem downright quaint today...

Honestly, I'm not sure what lyrics could be updated for political correctness and inclusion. The only line that could really be updated was already taken care of in 1996...when they replaced the "boys and girls go good together" in 2 Become 1. Other than that...their lyrics were already pretty progressive...very pro-woman.

When I was a kid, I had a birthday party to see one particular Christmas movie. I knew it wasn't great even at the time. But I've recently just rewatched it...and wow...Jingle All the Way is really, really bad. I've got nothing against Arnold Schwarzenegger as an unstoppable killer cyborg from the future. But I can't quite wrap my head around him as a normal everyday suburban family man. And how bold is Phil Hartman hitting on Arnold's wife? Dude. He will pound you into dust. The whole superhero parade battle thing is a special kind of obnoxious and terrible.