There are moments in history that, as they are happening, you know are important — stops in time that you can just tell you will remember forever. People talk about how they will never forget where they were for monumental events like the moon landing or JFK being assassinated in Dallas.
For me, that’s Geri Halliwell leaving the Spice Girls.
On May 31st, 1998, the world awoke to the news that, ahead of the North American leg of their ongoing world tour, Ginger Spice was no more. Citing “exhaustion,” she left the band. It was breaking news, with every television and radio station covering it in search of the real reason — why now? It’s hard to explain to people who weren’t around just how popular the Spice Girls were.
Sure, we have the likes of Taylor Swift reigning supreme now, but the kind of dominance the Spice Girls had is something that could never be repeated in the modern era.
Girls reunited earlier (minus Scary) earlier this year, via Posh’s Instagram
In just two and a half short years, the Spice Girls had released two original albums, a greatest hits album, starred in their own movie, and secured sponsorships for quite literally every product you could ever think of (who remembers the iconic Chupa Chups lollipops with collectible stickers?). But while we thought Geri leaving might have been the end, the Spice Girls’ legacy has lived on — the band’s monthly streams remain high, the reunion tour in 2019 (this time sans Posh Spice) was a huge success, Mel C continues to release music (with her latest single having just dropped), and of course, how can we mention anything Spice-related without touching on the recent Beckham family drama (Team Victoria, obviously).
It’s hard to explain to people who weren’t around just how popular the Spice Girls were.
While promoting her latest release, Mel C teased that the girls were closer than ever to reteaming as a five-piece for the 30th anniversary of the band later this year. So I thought that, ahead of whatever that reunion may entail, now was the perfect time to look at just how much the Spice Girls are connected to Ireland.
1. The Stop music video
The Spice Girls’ most famous link to Ireland comes by way of their video for Stop from their second album, Spiceworld. The Motown-inspired single sees Dublin 7’s Carnew Street undergo a makeover to present itself as a 1960s Northern English working-class town, where the five girls knocked on doors and danced with the locals — and actual locals they were. Stoneybatter residents were offered one hundred pounds a day if they agreed to appear in the video and not alert paparazzi that the girls would be spending a few days filming there. The second half of the video sees the girls descend on Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, also using locals to populate the scenes. Side note: learning this was filmed in Dublin when I was a child and not being there is something that has haunted me ever since.
2. Holler-ing in Dublin
Once the departure of Ginger Spice became real, plans for the third Spice Girls album had to be entirely scrapped and reworked to better suit the four-piece. After a brief hiatus (and promotion of solo material — so the writing was really on the wall), the remaining girls regrouped to record Forever. Released in 2000, the album took on a much more contemporary R&B feel under the guidance of Mel B, but reviews were mixed at best — in spite of this writer’s defence of tracks like lead single Holler. The girls join acts like U2, AC/DC, Kylie Minogue and more in having recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Ringsend — but it’s not the only time one of the girls would record here. Shortly after their hiatus was announced, Emma recorded her debut single What Took You So Long? at Biffco Studios in Dublin.
3. The Dublin Tour Dates
Dublin remains an infamous location for Spice Girls fans and tour dates. The girls made their first appearance here in 1997 to perform at the IRMA Awards just as they were taking off. They then kicked off what would be their final ever tour as a five-piece — the Spice World Tour — at The Point in February 1998 for two nights. However, for their only full world tour as a four-piece, the Spice Girls entirely skipped Irish dates, though they made it up in 2019 by launching their latest reunion tour to a unforgettable sold-out show in Croke Park.
Reunited (minus Ginger) onstage in Dublin in 2019
4. The Original Beckham Wedding Drama
Brooklyn may have his billionaire wife and his grievances about Victoria’s dancing, but there is only one iconic Beckham wedding worth shouting about — David and Victoria at Luttrellstown Castle, Co. Dublin. Who could forget the purple suits? The massive tiara? The million-pound spread and ensuing media frenzy? The fact that Alex Ferguson didn’t show up for star player David? It was the original Beckham wedding chaos — and honestly far more fun than what’s going on now.
All of this is to say that, as we barrel towards 30 years of the Spice Girls, I think it’s very important that they remember just how important Ireland (and its fans) have been to them. Now I’m off to watch Spiceworld until we get a proper reunion announcement.