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Spice Girls Fever: ‘Wannabe’ Gets A New Life With A Feminist Remake Amid Reunion Announcement

By Victoria Miller
Published on: 08:27 PST, Jul 9, 2016

The Spice Girls song, “Wannabe,” just turned 20 years old, but it’s now being used to convey a modern day message. Two decades after the ’90s girl group broke out with their 1996 hit and became international pop stars, the song is being used as part of a campaign for girl power.

According to NPR, the classic Spice Girls song is back with a new message via The U.N.’s Project Everyone. The group created a video using the original Spice Girls anthem, but with a serious plug for girl power instead of boyfriends.

While Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton, Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown, Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, and Melanie “Sporty Spice” Chisholm were singing about wannabe beaus, the new video features U.K. girl group M.O., Nigerian singer Seyi Shay, Canadian dancer Taylor Hatala, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, and a diverse group of other women as they lip-sync to the original song.

But instead of boys and champagne, the background scenery in the new clip features signs demanding equal pay and quality education for females and calling for an end to violence and other injustices against women. The video ends with a plea for women to share what they really, really want. The initiative is part of the U.N.’s Global Goals campaign for Sustainable Development. The video has already logged millions of views online.

The revamped video has received a seal of approval from Posh Spice (Beckham), who shared it on Facebook, and Sporty Spice (Chisholm) who tweeted it.

Victoria Beckham told The Guardian she thinks the new message for the video is a “wonderful” idea.

“How fabulous it is that after 20 years, the legacy of the Spice Girls’ girl power is being used to encourage and empower a whole new generation?” Beckham told the U.K. tabloid.

“Flattered and honored that our crazy song is being used so beautifully,” Mel C. captioned her tweet.

Spice Girls fever is in full force, but, strangely, not with the two former members who showed their support for the feminist version of “Wannabe.” In addition to the renewed interest in the group’s signature song, the other three members of the original quintet recently reunited to thank longtime fans for their support.

According to Rolling Stone, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, and Geri Halliwell unveiled a new YouTube account and website with the name Spice Girls GEM. It’s not hard to figure out what the acronym stands for.

While an official Spice Girls reunion concert hasn’t been confirmed, the three singers said they are planning a big party and all of their loyal fans are invited. There have long been rumors that the Spice Girls will play a show at Hyde Park in London, but for now, the girls have left their future plans as a cliffhanger, promising more details will come soon.

To the dismay of Spice Girls superfans, whatever is being planned clearly doesn’t include fellow group alums Victoria Beckham or Melanie Chisholm. Beckham has been vocal about wanting to continue working on her fashion career and spending time with her husband, David Beckham, and their four kids. Melanie C. has been working on solo music, although she did take the time to tweet a birthday greeting to fans in honor of the “Wannabe” 20-year anniversary.

The last time all five original Spice Girls reunited was for the closing ceremony at the London Olympics in 2012. And now, with the announcement of Spice Girls GEM, it looks like that may have really been the last time.
Take a look at the original Spice Girls video for “Wannabe” below.

[Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images]

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