THE SPICE GIRLS
The Spice Girls were an English pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consists of Melanie Brown (“Scary Spice”), Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”), Emma Bunton (“Baby Spice”), Geri Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”), and Victoria Beckham, née Adams (“Posh Spice”). They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single “Wannabe” in 1996, which hit number one in 37 countries and established them as a global phenomenon. Their debut album Spice sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in history. The Spice Girls have sold over 80 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time, one of the best-selling pop groups of all time, and the biggest British pop phenomenon since Beatlemania. (More from Wikipedia)
A torrent of girl groups followed, among them Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Shirelles, the Ronettes, and the Orlons. Bette Midler’s revival of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in 1973 reminded rock audiences of the Andrews Sisters, who had had the original hit with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” during World War II. More recently, the Spice Girls, TLC and Destiny’s Child (whence came Beyoncé) continued the tradition.
(October 2013)
