VANCOUVER–It’s been eight years since the Spice Girls stepped onto a stage and demanded to know: “So tell me what you want, what you really really want.”
Judging from the ear-piercing shrieks of 15,000 fans at the launch of the British pop quintet’s world tour at GM Place in Vancouver, we really, really wanted them back together.
They didn’t disappoint.
The production, which arrives in Toronto Feb. and 4, was easily one of the best productions to grace an arena in years — a spectacular, sensory feast of a show that went off without a hitch.
Two hours before show time, throngs of girls waiting in line sang Spice Girls’ songs at the top of their lungs. Once inside, excited girls — a lot of them in makeshift Union Jack dresses and sequins — rushed merchandise tables with such urgency that more than one seller had to yell at them to get back.
If you weren’t carrying a glow stick, you were probably someone’s mother.
“They’re our idols,” said Nicol Spinola, 20. “This is our childhood.”
“This is who we loved growing up,” added her friend Tamara Bishniakofs, 21. “I think their music has a good message for young girls.”
Like the majority of the crowd, Freya Enemark and her friend Greg Hues were early fans of the Spice Girls. Hues still has their first CD.
“This crowd is really mixed,” Enemark said. “There are 10-year-olds here, and it’s like, ‘You weren’t even here when they first came out. You don’t get it,’” she said, laughing.
“They’re on my iPod, and they’ve been on there for about three years,” gushed Krista Munro, 13, who landed premium floor seats with 15-year-old sister Ashley.
By the time the Spice Girls appeared shortly after 8 p.m., the fans were screaming as if the Beatles themselves had reunited.
Following a spectacular video and light show, the five emerged like superheroes on risers — singing their signature hit, “Spice Up Your Life.” They disappeared behind big screens and came back out for another megahit, “Stop,” a song that most everyone in the room had acted out in front of their bedroom mirrors at some point in their young lives.
They tore through all the Spice Girls mega-hits, including the new one, “Headlines,” as well as solo material such as Melanie Chisholm’s (Sporty Spice) hit song “I Turn To You.”
If their superstardom, candy-coated music, and not always obvious talents had irritated anyone back in the 90s, all is forgiven now.
These days, the 30-something women, four of them mothers, are more vampy couture than cheeky cornball. The Robert Cavalli-designed costumes were elegant and daring, and their athletic team of break dancers were a marvel to watch. Instead of filling space, they were an integral part of the show, which was a testament to the spot-on choreography as well.
The Spice Girls know their audience well, and catered to the girlie-girls with frequent, elaborate costume changes as well as their gay fan contingent with a sequence that felt like a gay disco. It was deliciously campy, and everybody did her own send-up of herself. Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) vogued her way down the catwalk to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell) performed her solo hit “It’s Raining Men,” wearing short shorts while being carried around by shirtless male dancers. Curvaceous Scary Spice (Mel B) pranced around in skin-tight leopard spots and cracked a whip.
Through to a sensational encore that included “Wannabe,” a conga line and a massive snowfall of confetti, the Spice Girls looked like they were having a blast.
No doubt it was relief that the world had not turned its back on the 90s phenomenon.
At a press conference prior to the concert, they were charming and giggly, but Victoria Beckham expressed some first-night jitters. She hadn’t been expecting soccer star hubby David Beckham to attend.
“David turned up today but he hadn’t been at any of the rehearsals,” she said. “So I’m nervous about what he’s going to think about the show.”
The group also discussed their reservations about mounting a reunion tour.
Melanie Chisholm, a.k.a. Sporty Spice, had long been outspoken about her reluctance to reunite.
“I won’t lie about it — I was scared,” she said. “I was nervous about it. But I feel there has been a change of feeling in the world…I feel the feeling for the Spice Girls has changed, and it’s been a natural thing. And I thought, ‘Why not?’ And I’m so glad I made that decision.”
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/281928
Originally posted by uzlessYawn....😴
VANCOUVER–It’s been eight years since the Spice Girls stepped onto a stage and demanded to know: “So tell me what you want, what you really really want.”
Judging from the ear-piercing shrieks of 15,000 fans at the launch of the British pop quintet’s world tour at GM Place in Vancouver, we really, really wanted them back together.
They didn’t disappoint. ...[text shortened]... ’m so glad I made that decision.”
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/281928
Originally posted by uzlessgggay
VANCOUVER–It’s been eight years since the Spice Girls stepped onto a stage and demanded to know: “So tell me what you want, what you really really want.”
Judging from the ear-piercing shrieks of 15,000 fans at the launch of the British pop quintet’s world tour at GM Place in Vancouver, we really, really wanted them back together.
They didn’t disappoint. ...[text shortened]... ’m so glad I made that decision.”
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/281928
Originally posted by uzlessYou should be banned for regurgitating this drivel.
VANCOUVER–It’s been eight years since the Spice Girls stepped onto a stage and demanded to know: “So tell me what you want, what you really really want.”
Judging from the ear-piercing shrieks of 15,000 fans at the launch of the British pop quintet’s world tour at GM Place in Vancouver, we really, really wanted them back together.
They didn’t disappoint. ...[text shortened]... ’m so glad I made that decision.”
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/281928
