The Spice Girls have spent 25 years almost getting back together. In this POP 101 finale, we break down the quiet end of the group, the R&B pivot, the scrapped third album, and “Forever”, the 2000 album that ended their imperial run. Then every reunion since: the 2007 Return of the Spice Girls tour, the 2012 Olympics (the last time all five performed together), the Viva Forever musical, the 2019 Spice World tour without Victoria, and Geri's emotional Wembley apology.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 - Album #3 Sessions Begin
- 3:37 - Christmas in Spiceworld 1999
- 7:32 - BRIT Awards 2000
- 11:49 - Album #3 Sessions Continue
- 15:48 - “Holler” / “Let Love Lead The Way”
- 18:58 - “Forever” album
- 24:40 - Failed Reunions
- 26:28 - The Return of the Spice Girls 2007-2008, Greatest Hits, “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)”
- 39:50 - The Olympics Closing Ceremony in London 2012
- 42:38 - Viva Forever! The Musical
- 44:09 - GEM and Meetings with Simon Fuller
- 47:39 - The Spice World Tour 2019
- 55:30 - Reunions Since 2019
- 1:01:19 - The 30th Anniversary of “Wannabe” in 2026
- 1:05:07 - Discography Highlights
- 1:07:26 - Tarot Card Reading by Vanessa the Pop Prophet
References:
- Studio Sessions with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 1999 https://youtu.be/74JF_n3nkQI?si=QVoZi5UkWZTQdIvQ
- Christmas in Spiceworld Live at Earls Court 1999 https://youtu.be/2v6BlAzxdtE?si=LNSYXrjZ1JPkzif
- “Say You’ll Be There” Live at Earls Court 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU_-EvuFi8E
- “Spice Up Your Life” and “Goodbye” Live at the Brits 2000 https://youtu.be/fRtwLanxFwo?si=-Oj1B-za-KxptYD2
- Geri Halliwell - “Bag It Up” Live at the Brits 2000 https://youtu.be/JQZOBKejSEc?si=0Ow6EjqZrRhrO5Sv
- “Give You What You Want” Demo https://youtu.be/xM4Uy_bWSMs?si=llfq-PIwg0B4fSLf
- “Pain Proof” Demo https://youtu.be/j2uoTlYj7oI?si=hTD5Mip51RK0OtBm
- “Holler” MV https://youtu.be/gFBWbH5CeRE?si=Fts7TlIY92p3YyYU
- CCTV dances “Holler” https://youtu.be/-03lmVDjlbc?si=0JU8wgb-UyjNk-MQ
- “Holler” Live at the EMAs 2000 https://youtu.be/wGgTgc92zu4?si=cpdebPaKoAbuUcvj
- “Let Love Lead The Way” MV https://youtu.be/RtczIm5XrNo?si=ZcZ8EaGc74UW3V4m
- Emma and Victoria promoting “Forever” in NYC 2000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fz1oOECDrM
- Interview backstage at EMAs 2000 https://youtu.be/EqjsUAcHE5U?si=fzCFtkTnkaHKvjY0
- AP Spice Girls Press Conference 2007 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7TnQAQ9YgQ
- “Return of the Spice Girls Tour” 2007 EPK Announcement https://youtu.be/BLlPBvCE1MI?si=1ysvFx3mRlENkTtU
- Comeback EPK Parody by @masterpieceish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vmSgn4aIkc
- “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)” MV https://youtu.be/VMo6v_uFZKU?si=nmTPdL6Ekp4s5TwR
- The Return of the Spice Girls Tour Live in New York and Philadelphia 2008 https://youtu.be/KEhupIwe7VY?si=LieDvg_yR2GQyux9
- “Wannabe / Spice Up Your Life” Live at the Olympics Closing Ceremony in London 2012 https://youtu.be/PArTdhNda7k?si=ZYv5vGbpZn7H7lgf
- Viva Forever! The Musical Trailer https://youtu.be/5_0kyAoZzj0?si=EJckhujL3GU6X0lh
- Viva Forever! Press Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgV5Kyxnn0s
- Viva Forever! Premiere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjShWzR1TY
- GEM announcement https://youtu.be/QxZPC55SpmY?si=mHV0cd0w0pqY6UCn
- 2019 Spice World Tour Announcement https://youtu.be/YB6T4xC9GGk?si=HDt2DX0So3rTBYcc
- Spice World 2019 Tour Edit by @thelanozvideo https://youtu.be/BP4Oqj4yTJs?si=1aKbk9Vhr4doe00F
- Geri apologizes at Wembley Stadium 2019 by @buffyfan84 https://youtu.be/b-0xVqPCMfw?si=j1QR-LCIh9c_V9Zm
- “Holler” Live at Spice World 2019 Tour Edit by @LipeHall https://youtu.be/pz-YT8e6_v8?si=yDpYFqC_gDo4Gtx_
- Melanie C feat. Emma Bunton - “I Know Him So Well” MV https://youtu.be/7eO0hhfq5RM?si=vi4OB4opD5bWW4nr
- Melanie C and Emma performing “Viva Forever” at 50th Birthday Party - video by @Kevin Wyllie https://youtu.be/1tYVL0OIr_E?si=af860bIddvOzoNbc
- Melanie C and Mel B - “Spice Up Your Life” Live in Leeds 2026 - video by @John and Rob’s Concert Vids https://youtu.be/564R4N6Uh9A?si=PRBd18WHR5H6kOP3
- Emma and Mel B with ITZY - “Wannabe” on AppleTV’s “Kpopped” https://youtu.be/xlTZKsqP3_E?si=I54gNccCBZLdKY4n
- “Stop” at Victoria Beckham’s 50th Birthday Party https://youtu.be/p_CNHUN9raM?si=1Db12AYg1hN5TF3-
- “Viva Forever” with Cruz Beckham https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriabeckham/video/7603442048271666454
- “Step To Me” Live at TFI Friday https://youtu.be/JXv0H9saTLk?si=V5wLkAHtnBtMewkY
- “Never Give Up On The Good Times” Live on Spiceworld Tour in Arnhem https://youtu.be/16yqrvyzKlw?si=9lCxgNWHaLsgK5Le
- “Love Thing” Live in Istanbul https://youtu.be/16yqrvyzKlw?si=9lCxgNWHaLsgK5Le
- “If U Can’t Dance” Live in Istanbul https://youtu.be/V9x2yTH3rE0?si=s6Nm1Zq6ARPXb1sk