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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that the Spice Girls were absolute rubbish?

115 replies

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 20/04/2022 22:13

Just that really. I think some of them could sing, one better than all of them, but their songs and persona, just no. I was about 16 when they appeared on the scene, so I was too old to be their target audience, I suppose. But I've always thought they were very Emperor's New Clothes.

OP posts:
Moochio · 20/04/2022 22:14

They were the best!

LeavesOnTrees · 20/04/2022 22:17

They were fresh and full of energy when they came out.

They each had their own style within the group which was different to other groups.

Totally agree about the singing, Mel C prob the best.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 20/04/2022 22:19

I don't think it was ever about the singing.
It was just girl power.

Chickychoccyegg · 20/04/2022 22:19

Well I didn't mind them, but I absolutely can't stand Mel Cs voice, then or now, its like nails down a blackboard to me, I never understood how she was considered to have the best voice.

MangyInseam · 20/04/2022 22:20

I didn't love them at the time but I was too old really. I heard one of their songs on the radio the other day, and my feeling was it didn't stand up. It wasn't really the singing, it was just not that great a song, or not well produced.

They were fun, though, and upbeat.

Janedoe82 · 20/04/2022 22:20

They appealed to teen girls, but yes crap as far as musicians go

FairyCakeWings · 20/04/2022 22:20

Yabu because even if you didn’t like them, you can’t argue with the success they had. They can’t have been that rubbish!

AHungryCaterpillar · 20/04/2022 22:21

I think it was just me that never liked them!

crackingreward · 20/04/2022 22:23

@FairyCakeWings

Yabu because even if you didn’t like them, you can’t argue with the success they had. They can’t have been that rubbish!
They were managed and marketed. None of their success was down to their talent or ability to make good decisions. They did what they were told.

Girl power my arse, these were like puppets on their managements string

crackingreward · 20/04/2022 22:23

Oh that quote went weird. I left a space but it's gone

EinsteinaGogo · 20/04/2022 22:24

Of course they weren't rubbish.

They were different.
They were entertaining,
Their songs were mainly catchy.
They sold millions.
They made a sell out movie,
Most of them are still wealthy
Some of them are still very famous

What's your definition of rubbish?

Refrosty · 20/04/2022 22:24

I wasn't a big fan but they were amazing for the time and they deserve the legacy. The personalities. The theming. The songs weren't so bad tbh (I do like Mama and Say you'll be there).

UhtredsLatestPaganHussy · 20/04/2022 22:25

I'm not sure they were the emperor's new clothes. That would imply they weren't loudly hailed as being rubbish at the time from some quarters, which they absolutely were. They were a pop act that resonated with lots of tweens and teens. Their many fans adored them and others thought they were pants.

Who Do You Think You Are is still a good tune imo.

KatherineofGaunt · 20/04/2022 22:26

At least they did plenty of harmonising in their songs unlike later groups like Girls Aloud. And it was interesting to see how they found different outfits that still linked to their personas!

I quite liked them and a lot of their songs. I remember seeing them for the first time on CBBC or something and they were talking about their nicknames and I just thought they looked like a lot of fun!

ballsdeep · 20/04/2022 22:27

I am going to use the new emojis

😮🤐❤🎙

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 20/04/2022 22:28

Typical manufactured pop crap with minimal talent, but that's been the majority of the acts in the charts for decades. Sales don't equate to talent or ability, it just means your product appeals to the mass market, which is what the pop music industry is all about really. Musically there was nothing remotely novel or interesting about them, but there's no denying they were a successful pop 'product'.

UhtredsLatestPaganHussy · 20/04/2022 22:28

AHungryCaterpillar · 20/04/2022 22:21

I think it was just me that never liked them!

someone always says they thought they were the only person who didn't like Spice Girls/Ed Sheeran/Titanic/Man Utd.

Anything that has mass appeal also has a million and one people who despise it and are vocal about it!

Rococococo · 20/04/2022 22:28

@Chickychoccyegg I can’t stand Mel C’s voice either! None of them were strong singers, Emma’s voice was probably the least offensive but Mel C’s was maybe the most distinctive 😬

JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil · 20/04/2022 22:29

They were the first group to ever be marketed that hard. They were basically a product like Pepsi.

I agree with PP that Mel C cannot sing. She sang loudly like a foghorn, there was no tune to it. Posh and Baby probably had the nicest voices albeit weak.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/04/2022 22:30

They were new and different because they were 5 individuals. Other groups tended to dress the same. Were they the most talented musicians? Probably not but they were good enough.

Another thing to remember is that the cultural landscape was different. They were part of the wave of Brit pop and brit rock, which Ive always thought fuelled or was fuelled by growing optimism through the 90s. There was new labour, peace in northern ireland and it was as if the sun came out.

At least thats how I remember it.

Thedogscollar · 20/04/2022 22:30

AHungryCaterpillar · 20/04/2022 22:21

I think it was just me that never liked them!

Nope me too 😬

Rococococo · 20/04/2022 22:31

.The songs weren't so bad tbh (I do like Mama and Say you'll be there).

@Refrosty 2 Become 1 is one of my guilty pleasures 😆

MurmuratingStarling · 20/04/2022 22:32

EinsteinaGogo · 20/04/2022 22:24

Of course they weren't rubbish.

They were different.
They were entertaining,
Their songs were mainly catchy.
They sold millions.
They made a sell out movie,
Most of them are still wealthy
Some of them are still very famous

What's your definition of rubbish?

THIS. ^

Get in the bin @ImJustMadAboutSaffron 😡

You are talking bullpoo!

Ylvamoon · 20/04/2022 22:32

I wasn't keen on their music when they first came onto the music scene (I was totally within their "target audience)
But as most of my friends got into them I learned to tolerate the music and was absolutely hooked on girl power!
So, no they were/ are not rubbish at all.

MardyOldGoth · 20/04/2022 22:36

Chickychoccyegg · 20/04/2022 22:19

Well I didn't mind them, but I absolutely can't stand Mel Cs voice, then or now, its like nails down a blackboard to me, I never understood how she was considered to have the best voice.

I'm with you on this!