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-Hi! We're the Spice Girls!
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-In the late '90s,
five wannabes
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become the best-selling
girl group of all time.
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-That level of fame
was a juggernaut.
5
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-Girl power coming at ya!
-[ Shouts ]
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-But a brazen attitude
about their own success...
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-Phil Spector called them
the Antichrist.
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-...has critics saying
it's too much...
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-People don't want to take
their kind of arrogance anymore.
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-...moralists telling them
to stop...
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-They were very open about it.
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-...and even some fans
wondering,
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who do you think you are?
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-Fame definitely comes
with a price.
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[ Indistinct shouting ]
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-But their biggest test
will come
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when one of them says goodbye.
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-"I would like to confirm that
I have left the Spice Girls."
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- Geri left. Oh, why?
What happened?
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-No way!
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-Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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-Where do you go from there?
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♪
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-Oh, no!
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♪
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[ Dial-up modem screeching ]
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♪
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[ Crowd cheering ]
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-The London Olympics
coming to an end
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with a rocking closing ceremony.
-Oh, yeah.
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-The five Spice Girls
last take the stage together
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at the 2012 Olympic Games
in London.
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[ Camera shutter clicks ]
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-Their appearance was like the
last Spice Girls music video.
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It was capital "G"
capital "P" Girl Power.
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-But as they take their
closing ceremony victory lab...
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[ Crowd cheering,
fireworks exploding ]
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-...they're also
closing out a career
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that began with a sprint
to stardom in the late 1990s.
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♪
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Earlier in the decade,
America's grunge scene
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is threatening to take over
the global music market.
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[ Crowd cheering ]
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But in England,
music magazines are heralding
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an anti-grunge movement
called Brit-pop,
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which is about to launch
a new British invasion.
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Led by bands like
The Stone Roses and Blur,
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the groups provide
the soundtrack for the birth
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of Cool Britannia,
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marked by an increased pride
in U.K. culture
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and especially by Britain's
young artists.
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♪
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-Brit-pop was
a very male-dominated thing.
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-They are the band
of the people.
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They are Oasis.
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[ Cheers and applause ]
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-Oasis were the biggest.
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I'm David Sinclair.
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I'm the author of
"The Spice Girls:
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How the Spice Girls
Reinvented Pop Fame."
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In Britain,
there was no girl group around.
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It was all boy groups.
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East 17 and Take That
were very successful.
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-We want Take That!
We want Take That!
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We want Take That!
We want Take That!
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-It was the start
of a real pop scene in London
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dominated by
manufactured boy bands, really.
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-Boyzone, Gemini,
Backstreet Boys, Upside Down,
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the list of boy bands around
these days is endless.
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-In the early '90s,
I was really looking for an act
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that would get me
some recognition.
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My name is Chris Herbert.
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I'm a music manager by trade,
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and I'm responsible for putting
the Spice Girls together.
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Boy bands really only appealed
to a female and a gay audience.
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I thought if you could put
a girl band together
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that was both aspirational
to girls, appealing to boys,
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I think -- and also a bit camp,
you could double that audience.
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-21-year-old Chris
successfully pitches
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the idea to his partners,
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his father, Bob, and
financial backer Chic Murphy.
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He then begins scouting
London for female talent
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with a distinct type of girl
in mind.
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-There's a different work ethic
with working-class girls.
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We wanted girls
that were hungry for it.
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I just put an advert
in the Stage newspaper.
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It was kind of an Uncle Sam
recruitment poster, basic,
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but they did the job.
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♪
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I probably saw
a few hundred girls.
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I managed to certainly
tick off a few.
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I got it down to 10 or 12 girls.
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-Well, I'm Melanie Brown.
I'm 19 years old.
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-Chris eventually spots
a couple of girls he wants.
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-Mel B actually turned up
to audition for a cruise,
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and I plucked her out,
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and we pulled her in
and put her upstairs.
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And I knew the minute I saw her
that she was hot property.
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-[ Vocalizing ]
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-Mel C was great.
She had that northern soul.
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She was good.
She just snapped into it.
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-Everyone wanted the audition,
and luckily I got it.
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-Another girl, Victoria Adams,
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doesn't fit Chris's
working-class ideal.
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-She was different
to the others.
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Sophisticated.
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-She is the foxy lady
of the group.
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-I'm not.
-But he makes an exception.
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-[ Singing indistinctly ]
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-Michelle Stephenson
is Chris's fourth pick.
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But the girl he desperately
wants to fill out the group
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is playing hard to get.
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-My name's Geri,
like Tom and Jerry.
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-Geri wasn't at
the original audition.
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Every time I asked her to come,
there was always an excuse.
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-Basically, I don't think
I would have got the audition
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because my vocal technique was
not exactly very good then.
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-Now, I now know that what
her tactic was, which was to try
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and bounce her way through
those preliminary auditions,
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fast-tracking everything else
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and getting into the --
into the main event.
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-I want to be a pop star.
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-And to help them
make that happen,
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Chris moves his ragtag group
of girls into a house
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to begin their transformation.
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-It was a boot camp to get
these girls really singing
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and performing
like a fully formed unit.
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-Their drill sergeant
is a vocal coach
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and former backup singer who has
performed alongside The Beatles,
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The Rolling Stones,
and Tina Turner.
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-So I had a call one day,
would I come up
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and have a listen to them
to see what I thought.
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I'm Pepi Lemer.
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And I trained the Spice Girls.
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Oh, gosh.
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Each of them needed
a lot of work.
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-[ Vocalizing ]
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-Right away,
there's a problem.
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Michelle Stephenson is out
of harmony with the other girls.
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[ Laughter ]
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♪
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-She just wasn't fitting in.
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She would never gel with it.
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And we had to tell her to go.
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[ Indistinct conversations ]
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-But Pepi has
a replacement in mind...
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-Hi.
-...18-year-old Emma Bunton.
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-I had taught Emma
a couple of years before,
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and I always remembered her
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because she's so pretty,
a pretty voice.
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-I just had to sing a song.
I sang SWV.
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-She was cute, really likable.
You know, they loved her.
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-Yeah.
-Chris's blonde.
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-She's the only blonde
in the group.
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-I've got a strip of it.
-And I've got a streak.
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-I'm a little bit ditzy.
So is she.
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-♪ Time is now ♪
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-When you saw them lined up,
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the whole thing just
kind of fell into place.
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-Chris names his
new girl group Touch
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and hands them off to Pepi
to begin grueling rehearsals.
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-We got off to a bit
of a rocky start.
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-Hey.
-[ Vocalizing scale ]
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-Geri was more hesitant because
her voice wasn't strong.
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Neither was Victoria's.
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-♪ Yeah ♪
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♪ But why did you
come in my life ♪
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-And at the end of the day,
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Geri got hold of my notes,
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and she was very upset
because I had said,
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"You're going out of tune."
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I would privately say to her,
"Learn from it.
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Don't cry about it.
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You're just at the beginning,
beginning of learning."
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-None of them
were the best singers.
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-♪ Deeper ♪
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♪ Than ♪
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-A little bit flat.
179
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-None of them
were the best dancers.
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-Yeah.
-Alright. Whoo! Let's go.
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-We were looking for
great characters,
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and we felt that
we could do the rest ourselves.
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-♪ Away, you know ♪
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-We were doing eight-hour days
in the studio,
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and it was rehearse, rehearse,
rehearse again, again, again.
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00:09:00,875 --> 00:09:02,110
-What keeps the girls going
187
00:09:02,144 --> 00:09:04,114
is their dreams of fame
and fortune.
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-♪ Oh, oh ♪
189
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-Hopefully, when we get
where we -- where we want to be,
190
00:09:10,693 --> 00:09:13,000
we'll be able to lay back
in the limousines
191
00:09:13,032 --> 00:09:16,539
and all that, but it's just
been a lot of hard work now.
192
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-I thought I'd show you
some my outfits.
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'Cause I am the original
pop queen, everyone says.
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[ Indistinct conversations ]
195
00:09:28,831 --> 00:09:31,836
-They didn't have very much.
196
00:09:31,870 --> 00:09:35,977
I remember I brought
a big bag of clothes.
197
00:09:36,010 --> 00:09:40,988
They took the clothes because,
you know, they were struggling.
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00:09:41,020 --> 00:09:45,096
-Oh, my God!
Oh, no!
199
00:09:45,129 --> 00:09:48,034
-Struggling and working-class
but not stupid,
200
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the girls keep being told
201
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they're going to be
hugely successful.
202
00:09:51,576 --> 00:09:52,979
-...I wouldn't want.
203
00:09:53,011 --> 00:09:54,982
-Convince yourself
it's gonna happen so that --
204
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-So it does.
-So it does happen.
205
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-Yeah.
206
00:09:58,724 --> 00:10:00,193
-So they tell
their management team
207
00:10:00,225 --> 00:10:03,799
they want something in writing
for when that day comes.
208
00:10:03,833 --> 00:10:07,642
-Obviously, I would have put
a management contract in place.
209
00:10:07,674 --> 00:10:13,085
But my father and the
financial backer at the time
210
00:10:13,119 --> 00:10:16,692
were much more old school
in their way of thinking.
211
00:10:16,725 --> 00:10:19,731
-What I would do is work 'em.
212
00:10:19,765 --> 00:10:21,000
[ Indistinct shouting ]
213
00:10:21,034 --> 00:10:22,705
-You know, you kind of
keep everyone
214
00:10:22,738 --> 00:10:24,375
fighting for their position,
215
00:10:24,408 --> 00:10:26,779
feeling slightly insecure
216
00:10:26,812 --> 00:10:30,754
that they could actually
be replaced at any time.
217
00:10:30,788 --> 00:10:33,894
That way,
you get people fighting for it.
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00:10:33,927 --> 00:10:36,332
♪
219
00:10:36,365 --> 00:10:38,703
I didn't think
that that was the right way,
220
00:10:38,736 --> 00:10:40,673
so, you know,
I was all for them --
221
00:10:40,707 --> 00:10:42,210
us getting a contract together.
222
00:10:42,244 --> 00:10:44,414
-[ Vocalizing ]
223
00:10:47,187 --> 00:10:48,956
-Alright, it was a mistake,
a mistake.
224
00:10:48,990 --> 00:10:50,326
But you made a big --
225
00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,163
[ Indistinct arguing ]
226
00:10:52,197 --> 00:10:54,769
-Chris's partners' plan
to keep the girls anxious
227
00:10:54,802 --> 00:10:57,942
and fighting works
to drive them apart
228
00:10:57,975 --> 00:11:01,248
until a leader emerges
to pull them back together.
229
00:11:01,282 --> 00:11:03,921
-Millions of kids out there
want to be pop stars.
230
00:11:03,953 --> 00:11:06,024
Do you know what I mean?
And we're actually taking steps
231
00:11:06,057 --> 00:11:07,394
getting closer and closer
to a dream.
232
00:11:07,427 --> 00:11:08,897
Do you know what I mean?
233
00:11:08,931 --> 00:11:10,900
-Without a doubt,
Geri was the leader.
234
00:11:10,933 --> 00:11:12,772
-I'm the brains behind it all.
235
00:11:12,804 --> 00:11:14,908
-She was a little bit older.
236
00:11:14,942 --> 00:11:17,013
She knew that she had
the least talent
237
00:11:17,047 --> 00:11:19,083
in terms of singing and dancing,
238
00:11:19,116 --> 00:11:23,427
but Geri brought an energy
and a camaraderie
239
00:11:23,458 --> 00:11:27,167
that was the nucleus
of what that band became.
240
00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,874
So she steps up immediately,
and her sidekick was Mel B.
241
00:11:30,908 --> 00:11:32,745
-♪ I need you ♪
242
00:11:34,414 --> 00:11:38,089
-Like five unique ingredients
that create a savory dish,
243
00:11:38,121 --> 00:11:39,692
the girls blend together
in a way
244
00:11:39,725 --> 00:11:41,296
that gives rise to a new name.
245
00:11:41,327 --> 00:11:43,299
-We wrote a song
called "Sugar and Spice."
246
00:11:43,331 --> 00:11:45,035
-We're just very individual.
-We're just very spicy.
247
00:11:45,068 --> 00:11:47,741
-And very spicy,
and we all like to get up
248
00:11:47,774 --> 00:11:49,378
and have a good old laugh.
249
00:11:49,412 --> 00:11:52,384
-Along with their new name
Spice comes a two-word slogan
250
00:11:52,418 --> 00:11:54,889
that one day will become
a rallying call
251
00:11:54,922 --> 00:11:56,458
for girls across the globe.
252
00:11:56,491 --> 00:11:58,730
-Girl power coming at ya!
-[ Shouts ]
253
00:11:58,764 --> 00:12:02,302
-Whoo!
-Girl power.
254
00:12:02,337 --> 00:12:05,943
-Their slogan is borrowed from
American punk band Bikini Kill,
255
00:12:05,977 --> 00:12:08,249
who pioneer
an underground feminist movement
256
00:12:08,283 --> 00:12:10,854
called Riot Grrrl
in the early '90s.
257
00:12:10,888 --> 00:12:14,293
-♪ I think I want to be
your best friend, yeah ♪
258
00:12:14,327 --> 00:12:16,264
-♪ No stopping, delaying ♪
259
00:12:16,298 --> 00:12:17,934
♪ You know exactly
what I'm saying ♪
260
00:12:17,967 --> 00:12:21,942
-Geri had borrowed
that whole attitude,
261
00:12:21,975 --> 00:12:25,951
but she -- quite cleverly,
she sort of repackaged it
262
00:12:25,984 --> 00:12:30,192
but in a much more pop
palatable way.
263
00:12:32,498 --> 00:12:36,071
-In 1994, in a tiny
London rehearsal studio,
264
00:12:36,104 --> 00:12:38,442
Pepi's efforts
to energize girl power
265
00:12:38,476 --> 00:12:41,448
seemed to happen in a flash.
266
00:12:41,482 --> 00:12:43,384
-I had them in a singing circle
267
00:12:43,419 --> 00:12:45,890
going, "One, two, three, four,"
268
00:12:45,923 --> 00:12:50,265
and then they started to sing
with a four-part harmony.
269
00:12:50,298 --> 00:12:52,336
I remember tingles.
270
00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:56,245
-[ Harmonizing ]
271
00:12:56,278 --> 00:12:58,850
-♪ Take me away ♪
272
00:12:58,884 --> 00:13:01,120
-I only thought, "Oh."
273
00:13:01,154 --> 00:13:03,826
That was magical.
274
00:13:03,860 --> 00:13:10,774
The music world was waiting for
something like this to happen.
275
00:13:10,807 --> 00:13:13,044
-Soon, these five girls
from London --
276
00:13:13,077 --> 00:13:16,051
Ginger, Posh, Sporty,
Baby, and Scary --
277
00:13:16,083 --> 00:13:19,024
will take over
the BRIT Awards...
278
00:13:19,057 --> 00:13:24,335
-The all-conquering Spice Girls!
279
00:13:24,366 --> 00:13:26,270
-...and then the world.
280
00:13:30,211 --> 00:13:32,784
-♪ Take me away ♪
281
00:13:32,817 --> 00:13:34,922
-In December 1994,
282
00:13:34,956 --> 00:13:37,394
Spice, the girl group
Chris Herbert put together
283
00:13:37,427 --> 00:13:40,801
and Pepi Lemer spent months
meticulously training,
284
00:13:40,833 --> 00:13:43,371
is ready for their first
industry showcase.
285
00:13:47,179 --> 00:13:50,253
-[ Speaks indistinctly ]
286
00:13:50,285 --> 00:13:54,961
-I had invited along
the best writers, producers,
287
00:13:54,995 --> 00:13:58,201
managers of writers,
and publishers.
288
00:13:58,235 --> 00:14:00,239
[ Dramatic music plays ]
289
00:14:00,273 --> 00:14:03,177
-We were all on edge.
290
00:14:03,211 --> 00:14:05,917
It was a huge deal for them.
291
00:14:05,951 --> 00:14:10,158
They have worked so hard.
292
00:14:10,192 --> 00:14:13,966
-♪ We're gonna make it happen ♪
-♪ You know that ♪
293
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,470
-Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
294
00:14:15,503 --> 00:14:18,142
Oh, it was fantastic.
295
00:14:18,174 --> 00:14:21,114
-♪ Ooh-hoo ♪
296
00:14:21,148 --> 00:14:23,552
-They were just
not fazed by it at all,
297
00:14:23,586 --> 00:14:26,158
and, in fact,
they took control of the room.
298
00:14:26,191 --> 00:14:29,197
-We think that there's
a massive gap, definitely, yeah,
299
00:14:29,230 --> 00:14:30,933
for a girl group.
300
00:14:30,966 --> 00:14:33,572
-They were sitting there
interviewing the writers,
301
00:14:33,605 --> 00:14:36,077
saying, "Look, you know, well,
he's written for Take That.
302
00:14:36,110 --> 00:14:37,514
Who have you written for?"
303
00:14:37,547 --> 00:14:41,087
-You know, we're not as poppy
as Take That.
304
00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,524
-People wanted to work
with them.
305
00:14:42,557 --> 00:14:44,126
So I was rubbing my hands
together.
306
00:14:44,159 --> 00:14:46,999
It was everything I wanted.
307
00:14:47,033 --> 00:14:49,938
-But like they're saying
"Be careful what you wish for,"
308
00:14:49,971 --> 00:14:51,975
Chris soon discovers
that the girls' confidence
309
00:14:52,009 --> 00:14:53,645
in front of those
music executives
310
00:14:53,679 --> 00:14:55,482
foreshadows a problem
311
00:14:55,515 --> 00:15:00,592
when he and his partners
finally offer Spice a contract.
312
00:15:00,626 --> 00:15:03,899
-By the time we
had presented it to the girls,
313
00:15:03,932 --> 00:15:06,605
I think there was a slight,
you know,
314
00:15:06,638 --> 00:15:09,043
change of thought on their part
315
00:15:09,076 --> 00:15:11,313
where they weren't coming
to us cap in hand and saying,
316
00:15:11,347 --> 00:15:13,051
"When are you going to sign us?"
317
00:15:13,085 --> 00:15:15,022
It was more like,
318
00:15:15,054 --> 00:15:18,195
"We don't necessarily think
that we need your contract now."
319
00:15:20,499 --> 00:15:22,671
-Chris still believes
the girls will sign with him.
320
00:15:25,442 --> 00:15:29,049
So he sets up a recording
session at Sheffield Studio
321
00:15:29,082 --> 00:15:32,523
for them to work
with songwriter Eliot Kennedy.
322
00:15:32,557 --> 00:15:34,528
[ Line ringing ]
323
00:15:37,432 --> 00:15:40,405
But on the day, the girls
stop answering Chris's calls.
324
00:15:40,438 --> 00:15:42,977
[ Ringing continues ]
-[ Sighs ]
325
00:15:43,010 --> 00:15:44,547
Hmm.
326
00:15:44,581 --> 00:15:46,350
-I didn't really know
what was going on.
327
00:15:46,384 --> 00:15:49,157
So I run to Eliot and I said,
328
00:15:49,190 --> 00:15:52,464
"Look, the girls won't be making
the session.
329
00:15:52,495 --> 00:15:55,201
We'll reschedule."
330
00:15:55,235 --> 00:15:56,639
He said, "Look, Chris,
I've got to tell you."
331
00:15:56,671 --> 00:15:58,609
He said, "The girls
are already here."
332
00:15:58,643 --> 00:16:00,078
I was like, "Oh."
333
00:16:00,111 --> 00:16:01,413
[ Indistinct conversation ]
334
00:16:01,447 --> 00:16:04,955
They had gone up to Sheffield.
335
00:16:04,989 --> 00:16:09,129
Eventually got to Eliot, said,
"Hi. We're Spice.
336
00:16:09,163 --> 00:16:10,667
We've kind of fallen out
with management.
337
00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:13,437
Would you have the session
anyway?"
338
00:16:13,471 --> 00:16:16,043
He said, "Look, the girls
don't want to speak to you."
339
00:16:16,076 --> 00:16:17,413
And that was it.
340
00:16:17,446 --> 00:16:20,519
[ Beeping ]
-[ Sighs ]
341
00:16:20,552 --> 00:16:22,456
[ Cheering, laughing ]
342
00:16:22,490 --> 00:16:26,697
-That just superpowered them
and gave them the belief
343
00:16:26,731 --> 00:16:29,636
that they can do this themselves
and take -- take --
344
00:16:29,672 --> 00:16:33,010
you know, be in control
of their own destiny.
345
00:16:33,044 --> 00:16:37,086
I didn't see the girls for dust
after they had left.
346
00:16:37,119 --> 00:16:38,956
You know, I was a young manager.
347
00:16:38,990 --> 00:16:44,735
You know, I was kind of
their older brother and friend.
348
00:16:44,768 --> 00:16:46,037
-[ Vocalizing ]
349
00:16:46,071 --> 00:16:49,243
-So I was more hurt personally
350
00:16:49,277 --> 00:16:50,647
because we -- we hung out
351
00:16:50,678 --> 00:16:52,682
and we were friends
and everything else.
352
00:16:52,717 --> 00:16:55,688
And we'd spent
so much time together.
353
00:16:55,724 --> 00:16:59,530
I was more hurt about that
than I was at the prospect of,
354
00:16:59,563 --> 00:17:02,035
"Oh, God, we've lost this band."
355
00:17:02,068 --> 00:17:06,277
I mourned the loss
of our friendship.
356
00:17:06,310 --> 00:17:09,217
And the fact that they felt
that they could do that to me.
357
00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:11,954
[ Glass shatters ]
358
00:17:11,989 --> 00:17:13,458
-There was one particular guy,
and he was,
359
00:17:13,491 --> 00:17:15,963
like -- he was auditioning
for a girl band.
360
00:17:15,997 --> 00:17:17,665
And we went with him
for a little while.
361
00:17:17,701 --> 00:17:20,471
But then what did we do, girls?
We did the off.
362
00:17:20,506 --> 00:17:22,576
We did the off
and did our own thing
363
00:17:22,609 --> 00:17:25,715
and started our own
spicy movement.
364
00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:28,087
-But in the '90s
for women to launch a movement
365
00:17:28,121 --> 00:17:31,493
in the music industry,
spicy or otherwise,
366
00:17:31,528 --> 00:17:34,400
it still requires
getting past the gatekeepers.
367
00:17:34,433 --> 00:17:36,505
And that means men.
368
00:17:36,538 --> 00:17:38,307
-You know,
we're doing it for the girls.
369
00:17:38,340 --> 00:17:40,179
We want the girlies out there
to join our gang.
370
00:17:40,211 --> 00:17:44,353
-It was always manipulated,
the industry, by men.
371
00:17:44,386 --> 00:17:48,394
Very, very few women.
Very few managers were women.
372
00:17:48,428 --> 00:17:50,666
-I think girls like
to see some of the girls
373
00:17:50,699 --> 00:17:53,538
doing it for a change.
374
00:17:53,571 --> 00:17:57,078
-Their personalities were
on par with their music.
375
00:17:57,113 --> 00:18:00,653
You know, that independent
feminist spirit
376
00:18:00,685 --> 00:18:05,061
of young girls saying,
"Up yours."
377
00:18:05,095 --> 00:18:07,701
-Understanding they need men
to help guide their career.
378
00:18:07,732 --> 00:18:10,338
Spice decides to go after
the most powerful men
379
00:18:10,372 --> 00:18:12,777
in London's music scene.
380
00:18:12,810 --> 00:18:15,414
-They would find someone
that they wanted to influence,
381
00:18:15,449 --> 00:18:19,356
be it a record company executive
or a manager,
382
00:18:19,390 --> 00:18:22,061
and they'd march
into these offices.
383
00:18:22,096 --> 00:18:23,766
[ Laughter ]
384
00:18:23,799 --> 00:18:28,375
And they'd start doing
an impromptu performance.
385
00:18:28,407 --> 00:18:30,378
They'd flirt
with these executives
386
00:18:30,412 --> 00:18:32,650
or they'd pinch their bottoms.
387
00:18:32,683 --> 00:18:34,755
[ Laughter ]
388
00:18:37,526 --> 00:18:39,631
Geri once was told
that the executive
389
00:18:39,663 --> 00:18:41,768
she wanted to see
wasn't in the office.
390
00:18:41,801 --> 00:18:44,272
So she went over
to the photocopier
391
00:18:44,307 --> 00:18:48,114
and just pulled up her top
and ran off a copy of her boobs.
392
00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:52,522
Put the photocopy
on his desk, said,
393
00:18:52,556 --> 00:18:54,460
"Well, tell him that's
what he missed."
394
00:18:56,898 --> 00:18:59,470
-Fosse gets foxy!
395
00:18:59,502 --> 00:19:03,178
-What they did was they
reversed the casting couch role.
396
00:19:03,211 --> 00:19:07,086
They kind of seduced
the male people in charge.
397
00:19:07,118 --> 00:19:08,454
-Including Simon Fuller,
398
00:19:08,488 --> 00:19:10,358
one of London's
top music managers,
399
00:19:10,392 --> 00:19:12,496
who represents Annie Lennox.
400
00:19:12,528 --> 00:19:14,532
He later creates the shows
"Pop Idol"
401
00:19:14,567 --> 00:19:18,674
and the wildly successful
"American Idol" in the States.
402
00:19:18,708 --> 00:19:21,814
-Simon Fuller was the one
that was the winner,
403
00:19:21,848 --> 00:19:26,124
and a few people were left
in the dust, including me.
404
00:19:26,156 --> 00:19:29,596
-After making one manager
disappear and hiring Fuller,
405
00:19:29,630 --> 00:19:32,803
the magical young women
rebrand themselves Spice Girls
406
00:19:32,836 --> 00:19:35,308
and soon secure
a lucrative recording contract
407
00:19:35,342 --> 00:19:37,346
from Virgin Records.
408
00:19:37,378 --> 00:19:39,717
But on the day
of the contract signing,
409
00:19:39,750 --> 00:19:42,623
they once again perform
a disappearing act.
410
00:19:42,655 --> 00:19:46,130
-The Virgin executives
are waiting at their HQ,
411
00:19:46,163 --> 00:19:49,502
and they sent a limo off
to pick up the Spice Girls.
412
00:19:49,537 --> 00:19:52,608
Well, the limo arrives.
413
00:19:52,643 --> 00:19:55,715
It's got five blow-up dolls
in it,
414
00:19:55,750 --> 00:19:58,855
sex dolls
corresponding to the five girls.
415
00:19:58,887 --> 00:20:01,394
And the Spice Girls
are nowhere to be seen.
416
00:20:01,426 --> 00:20:03,498
They were out doing
who knows what.
417
00:20:03,530 --> 00:20:05,469
[ Laughter ]
418
00:20:05,501 --> 00:20:08,307
Finally, the girls arrive.
419
00:20:08,340 --> 00:20:11,682
They had a few drinks, I think.
420
00:20:11,713 --> 00:20:14,686
They sign the contract,
chuck the dolls in the canal.
421
00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,659
[ Horn blaring, laughter ]
422
00:20:17,692 --> 00:20:20,198
Apparently, Victoria's
knickers had been removed
423
00:20:20,231 --> 00:20:23,438
before they got to
wherever they were going
424
00:20:23,471 --> 00:20:25,409
and chucked out the window.
425
00:20:25,442 --> 00:20:28,647
And it was an uproarious
drunken night out that they had.
426
00:20:28,681 --> 00:20:31,253
[ Laughter ]
-Hey!
427
00:20:31,287 --> 00:20:32,789
-Aah!
428
00:20:32,823 --> 00:20:35,694
-Hi! We're the Spice Girls!
429
00:20:35,729 --> 00:20:37,699
[ Crowd cheering ]
430
00:20:37,732 --> 00:20:39,470
-A year later on the BBC...
431
00:20:39,502 --> 00:20:42,876
-Spice Girls are
Top of the Pops!
432
00:20:42,910 --> 00:20:47,519
-...the Spice Girls perform
their first single, "Wannabe."
433
00:20:47,553 --> 00:20:50,258
It's a bittersweet moment
for their one-time manager
434
00:20:50,291 --> 00:20:51,661
who helped get them there.
435
00:20:51,693 --> 00:20:55,268
♪
436
00:20:55,301 --> 00:20:57,638
-I was blown away by it.
437
00:20:57,673 --> 00:20:59,375
The whole thing
had come together,
438
00:20:59,410 --> 00:21:03,518
and I'm watching it on TV
as a punter,
439
00:21:03,550 --> 00:21:05,622
which was a kind of
strange thing, so...
440
00:21:05,654 --> 00:21:11,801
♪
441
00:21:11,834 --> 00:21:13,904
-"Wannabe" quickly climbs
to number one
442
00:21:13,939 --> 00:21:17,945
on the U.K. singles charts,
selling 7 million copies.
443
00:21:17,980 --> 00:21:21,721
It will soon reach number one
in 37 countries worldwide.
444
00:21:21,753 --> 00:21:23,557
-It's Spice Girl mania.
445
00:21:23,590 --> 00:21:25,962
Young wannabes
all over the place.
446
00:21:25,997 --> 00:21:27,901
-♪ If you wanna be my lover ♪
447
00:21:27,933 --> 00:21:29,470
♪ You got to get
with my friends ♪
448
00:21:29,502 --> 00:21:32,676
-We love you, Spice Girls!
449
00:21:32,709 --> 00:21:33,979
-Kids just went nuts.
450
00:21:34,012 --> 00:21:37,352
-Girl power.
[ Girls cheering ]
451
00:21:37,385 --> 00:21:40,525
-It turned that whole generation
onto music virtually overnight.
452
00:21:40,558 --> 00:21:41,794
I thought to myself, "Yeah,
453
00:21:41,826 --> 00:21:45,535
that's certainly gonna
stir things up."
454
00:21:45,568 --> 00:21:48,907
-But when the Spice Girls
stir things up in the media,
455
00:21:48,942 --> 00:21:52,915
it's often the people around
them whose lives get shaken.
456
00:21:52,951 --> 00:21:55,387
-They fired the whole
Spice Girls machine
457
00:21:55,422 --> 00:21:56,656
that surrounds them.
458
00:21:56,691 --> 00:21:58,828
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
459
00:22:04,539 --> 00:22:06,009
-The Spice Girls song "Wannabe"
460
00:22:06,042 --> 00:22:09,048
is making "girl power"
a catchphrase of the '90s...
461
00:22:09,082 --> 00:22:11,586
-Girl power.
-[ Cheering ]
462
00:22:11,621 --> 00:22:13,758
-...and launching a wave
of Spice mania...
463
00:22:13,790 --> 00:22:16,999
-♪ ...is too easy,
but that's the way it is ♪
464
00:22:17,030 --> 00:22:19,068
-It's the best group
in the world.
465
00:22:19,103 --> 00:22:21,406
-...that sweeps across Europe
and Asia
466
00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:22,943
before invading America.
467
00:22:22,977 --> 00:22:26,450
-Alright, America, here they
come the Spice Girls.
468
00:22:26,483 --> 00:22:27,987
[ Cheers and applause ]
469
00:22:28,019 --> 00:22:29,923
-Girl power!
-Girl power.
470
00:22:29,957 --> 00:22:32,429
-I want to do this.
Mwah!
471
00:22:32,461 --> 00:22:34,532
[ Audience cheering ]
472
00:22:34,566 --> 00:22:36,936
-The fab five thrill
U.S. television audiences
473
00:22:36,971 --> 00:22:39,476
on shows like "Live with Regis
and Kathie Lee"
474
00:22:39,509 --> 00:22:41,346
and "Saturday Night Live,"
475
00:22:41,380 --> 00:22:44,420
where they perform "Wannabe"
and their next number-one hit,
476
00:22:44,452 --> 00:22:45,888
"Say You'll Be There."
477
00:22:45,923 --> 00:22:47,425
-Girl power.
478
00:22:47,459 --> 00:22:49,462
-The girls are
the hottest group around.
479
00:22:49,496 --> 00:22:51,666
They even have mom's
stamp of approval.
480
00:22:51,701 --> 00:22:53,371
-Spice Mom!
-Whoo!
481
00:22:53,403 --> 00:22:55,575
-As for the man
who invented the Internet,
482
00:22:55,607 --> 00:22:57,778
U.S. Vice President Al Gore,
483
00:22:57,813 --> 00:22:59,650
he can't escape the Spice Girls,
either.
484
00:23:01,519 --> 00:23:02,989
-I don't know.
[ Laughter ]
485
00:23:03,023 --> 00:23:05,795
[ Camera shutters clicking,
indistinct shouting ]
486
00:23:05,828 --> 00:23:11,673
♪
487
00:23:11,707 --> 00:23:13,810
[ Crowd cheering ]
488
00:23:13,846 --> 00:23:18,954
-I couldn't believe
the enormity of it all.
489
00:23:18,988 --> 00:23:24,398
To be plucked from
where we were in a little house,
490
00:23:24,432 --> 00:23:26,604
could this happen?
491
00:23:26,636 --> 00:23:27,672
Yeah.
492
00:23:27,705 --> 00:23:30,845
[ Crowd cheering, shouting ]
493
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,915
[ Horn honks ]
494
00:23:32,950 --> 00:23:35,154
-With the Spice Girls,
495
00:23:35,188 --> 00:23:37,023
that level of fame
was a juggernaut.
496
00:23:37,057 --> 00:23:39,163
[ Crowd screaming ]
497
00:23:39,194 --> 00:23:41,767
Probably not seen
since The Beatles.
498
00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,135
[ Chuckles ]
499
00:23:43,171 --> 00:23:44,807
I'm Shinan Govani.
500
00:23:44,839 --> 00:23:48,078
I'm a longtime social
and pop culture columnist.
501
00:23:48,114 --> 00:23:49,682
-She's brilliant.
-She's brilliant.
502
00:23:49,715 --> 00:23:52,888
-Here we had the only girl band
up until then
503
00:23:52,923 --> 00:23:55,961
who had really sort of played
into the idea
504
00:23:55,994 --> 00:23:59,067
of their own brashness
and their own femininity.
505
00:23:59,102 --> 00:24:01,406
[ Crowd shouting, horn blares ]
506
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,009
-In March of 1997,
507
00:24:03,044 --> 00:24:07,952
the British press prints 141
Spice Girls stories in one week.
508
00:24:07,986 --> 00:24:10,157
That summer, the group
rides girl power
509
00:24:10,191 --> 00:24:12,963
to the cover
of Rolling Stone magazine.
510
00:24:12,996 --> 00:24:16,001
♪
511
00:24:16,035 --> 00:24:19,076
Now Britain's biggest
pop-culture phenomenon,
512
00:24:19,107 --> 00:24:21,579
these once-working-class girls
get invited
513
00:24:21,614 --> 00:24:23,884
to the most privileged
of U.K. events.
514
00:24:25,688 --> 00:24:26,856
A royal gala.
515
00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:29,930
-Oh, no!
516
00:24:29,962 --> 00:24:31,799
-You are.
517
00:24:31,835 --> 00:24:35,008
-There's the famous sequence
meeting Prince Charles
518
00:24:35,039 --> 00:24:37,645
where Geri Halliwell
gives a pat on the butt
519
00:24:37,679 --> 00:24:39,615
of the future King.
520
00:24:40,785 --> 00:24:43,857
♪
521
00:24:43,891 --> 00:24:48,000
Charles post-Diana was seen
as somewhat of a fuddy-duddy.
522
00:24:48,032 --> 00:24:51,105
By putting their pixie dust
on him,
523
00:24:51,138 --> 00:24:53,678
they made him instantly cooler.
524
00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,885
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
525
00:24:57,919 --> 00:24:59,221
-We're just having a laugh.
526
00:24:59,255 --> 00:25:02,027
We're just a girl gang
here doing music,
527
00:25:02,060 --> 00:25:04,165
enjoy it to the max.
528
00:25:04,198 --> 00:25:06,436
-Just 10 months
after the release of "Wannabe,"
529
00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:09,209
the Spice Girls achieved
Mel B's goal...
530
00:25:09,241 --> 00:25:13,116
-Hopefully, when we get
where we -- where we want to be,
531
00:25:13,150 --> 00:25:16,522
we'll be able to lay back
in the limousine.
532
00:25:16,557 --> 00:25:17,992
-...helped along by a movie deal
533
00:25:18,027 --> 00:25:21,200
and endorsement contracts
for over 100 products.
534
00:25:21,231 --> 00:25:27,578
-They could have sold
anything anywhere to anyone.
535
00:25:27,612 --> 00:25:29,148
-Sporty Spice.
-I have Baby Spice.
536
00:25:29,181 --> 00:25:31,086
-And I have Posh Spice.
[ Crowd screaming ]
537
00:25:31,118 --> 00:25:33,824
-They were leveraging
their fame...
538
00:25:33,857 --> 00:25:35,160
-Girl power!
539
00:25:35,193 --> 00:25:36,730
-...their moment.
540
00:25:36,763 --> 00:25:38,567
-Girls, we got to go
and press the button.
541
00:25:38,601 --> 00:25:40,738
[ Cheering ]
542
00:25:40,771 --> 00:25:43,778
-Is there such a thing
as too much spice?
543
00:25:43,810 --> 00:25:47,719
The Spice Girls may
be suffering from overexposure.
544
00:25:47,751 --> 00:25:52,161
-I don't think that the
Spice Girls were doing anything
545
00:25:52,194 --> 00:25:57,739
that legions of male pop stars
had not done for decades.
546
00:25:57,771 --> 00:26:01,279
-♪ You're the Pepsi generation ♪
547
00:26:01,313 --> 00:26:03,683
-Michael Jackson was
in Pepsi commercials.
548
00:26:03,718 --> 00:26:05,520
-♪ Hold it down,
feel the noise ♪
549
00:26:05,555 --> 00:26:08,093
-English band the Spice Girls
has made a commercial
550
00:26:08,126 --> 00:26:10,029
for the soft drink giant.
551
00:26:10,064 --> 00:26:15,140
-The Spice Girls were
a brand unto themselves.
552
00:26:15,173 --> 00:26:17,778
-But when the press announced
in 1997
553
00:26:17,811 --> 00:26:20,718
that the Spice Girls would
earn an estimated $500 million
554
00:26:20,750 --> 00:26:24,558
from sponsorships, the backlash
is swift and stinging.
555
00:26:24,593 --> 00:26:27,765
-There's just too much
marketing, not enough music.
556
00:26:27,798 --> 00:26:29,568
-Hey, who needs
Victoria's autograph?
557
00:26:29,603 --> 00:26:31,740
-And the money comes,
of course, from the fans.
558
00:26:31,773 --> 00:26:34,311
Spice girls Limited
operate a mail-order business,
559
00:26:34,346 --> 00:26:37,585
selling everything from jackets
to mugs and T-shirts.
560
00:26:37,618 --> 00:26:39,321
-Oh, God, there was nothing
561
00:26:39,355 --> 00:26:41,727
that the Spice Girls
would not endorse.
562
00:26:41,759 --> 00:26:43,931
-Spice Girls merchandising's
big business.
563
00:26:43,963 --> 00:26:45,934
-People didn't like that
very much.
564
00:26:45,969 --> 00:26:48,272
They felt that music should
exist for a higher purpose.
565
00:26:48,307 --> 00:26:50,278
And art should be taken
more seriously
566
00:26:50,310 --> 00:26:52,648
than the Spice Girls
were taking it.
567
00:26:52,682 --> 00:26:53,851
-Here's the book.
568
00:26:53,884 --> 00:26:55,954
-This is it.
This is the book.
569
00:26:55,988 --> 00:26:58,894
-The Spice Girls' commercialism
is so over the top
570
00:26:58,928 --> 00:27:02,902
that Liam Gallagher of the band
Oasis sparks a media feud
571
00:27:02,935 --> 00:27:08,012
by announcing he's refusing
to attend the 1997 BRIT Awards
572
00:27:08,046 --> 00:27:10,785
because he fears
he will smack them.
573
00:27:10,817 --> 00:27:13,155
[ Crowd cheering ]
574
00:27:13,190 --> 00:27:16,762
On awards night, Geri tries
to win back British favor
575
00:27:16,797 --> 00:27:19,067
by performing in a dress
she and her sister craft
576
00:27:19,101 --> 00:27:23,142
from a single
Union Jack tea towel.
577
00:27:23,176 --> 00:27:26,616
-♪ Oh, yeah ♪
578
00:27:26,650 --> 00:27:28,787
-And the winner...
579
00:27:28,820 --> 00:27:32,059
the little Spice Girls!
580
00:27:32,094 --> 00:27:33,797
When the Spice Girls
song "Wannabe"
581
00:27:33,830 --> 00:27:35,233
beats out the Oasis song,
582
00:27:35,268 --> 00:27:37,739
ironically called
"Don't Look Back in Anger,"
583
00:27:37,771 --> 00:27:42,247
Sporty Spice can't resist
challenging Liam Gallagher.
584
00:27:42,281 --> 00:27:45,788
-I just want to say, Liam,
come and have a go
585
00:27:45,820 --> 00:27:47,791
if you think you're hard enough.
586
00:27:47,825 --> 00:27:50,063
[ Cheers and applause ]
587
00:27:50,096 --> 00:27:52,902
-That was girl power
personified,
588
00:27:52,934 --> 00:27:58,011
calling out, you know, this rock
hard man at an industry event.
589
00:27:58,046 --> 00:28:00,282
-It's got fuck all
to do with you.
590
00:28:00,317 --> 00:28:02,354
-A month later
at the Capital Awards,
591
00:28:02,387 --> 00:28:04,759
Liam's brother and bandmate
Noel Gallagher
592
00:28:04,792 --> 00:28:06,363
takes his shot
at the Spice Girls
593
00:28:06,395 --> 00:28:08,800
for doing marketing, not music.
594
00:28:11,306 --> 00:28:13,376
[ Cheers and applause ]
True to their brand,
595
00:28:13,410 --> 00:28:16,682
the fab five aren't going to let
Gallagher have the last word.
596
00:28:16,717 --> 00:28:18,721
-Did anybody notice
how Noel Gallagher
597
00:28:18,753 --> 00:28:20,155
ran out after he said that?
598
00:28:20,191 --> 00:28:22,996
-He ran.
[ Cheers and applause ]
599
00:28:23,028 --> 00:28:24,330
-Later that year,
the Spice Girls
600
00:28:24,365 --> 00:28:26,167
do get back to the music,
601
00:28:26,201 --> 00:28:30,143
performing two sold-out shows
to ecstatic fans in Istanbul
602
00:28:30,176 --> 00:28:33,750
that are recorded
and sold on VHS
603
00:28:33,784 --> 00:28:37,023
and releasing a second
hit album, "Spice World,"
604
00:28:37,057 --> 00:28:42,134
along with an autobiographical
movie of the same name.
605
00:28:42,167 --> 00:28:45,140
But behind the scenes,
the girls are beginning to rebel
606
00:28:45,173 --> 00:28:47,076
against their manager
Simon Fuller's
607
00:28:47,111 --> 00:28:48,881
grueling schedule.
608
00:28:48,913 --> 00:28:52,019
♪
609
00:28:52,053 --> 00:28:54,090
-They were getting called
at 5:00 in the morning
610
00:28:54,124 --> 00:28:56,328
to go and do the filming,
611
00:28:56,362 --> 00:28:59,701
and they were ending up
in the recording studio until,
612
00:28:59,736 --> 00:29:03,076
you know,
11:00 or 12:00 the same night.
613
00:29:03,108 --> 00:29:04,913
There were hardly any time
to even go to bed,
614
00:29:04,945 --> 00:29:07,017
let alone have a life.
615
00:29:07,049 --> 00:29:09,421
-Once willing
to pay any price for fame,
616
00:29:09,455 --> 00:29:13,061
the Spice Girls now seem
tired of the cost,
617
00:29:13,096 --> 00:29:16,000
something they dramatize
in their movie.
618
00:29:16,035 --> 00:29:18,440
-We're old enough to
take responsibility
for our own lives.
619
00:29:18,472 --> 00:29:20,109
Do you know what I mean?
-You don't have a life.
620
00:29:20,143 --> 00:29:21,913
You have a schedule.
621
00:29:21,946 --> 00:29:24,818
You are part
of a well-oiled global machine.
622
00:29:24,853 --> 00:29:27,356
-In the movie, they were
just pleading for some time off,
623
00:29:27,391 --> 00:29:30,329
and Richard E. Grant
wouldn't give it to them.
624
00:29:30,364 --> 00:29:31,932
And in real life,
625
00:29:31,967 --> 00:29:34,403
Simon Fuller was more
or less doing the same.
626
00:29:34,439 --> 00:29:36,275
You know, he was saying,
"No, we've got to keep going.
627
00:29:36,308 --> 00:29:38,179
We can't stop."
628
00:29:38,211 --> 00:29:41,451
It all came to a head, really,
when they went to Johannesburg
629
00:29:41,486 --> 00:29:44,726
and did a charity show
for Nelson Mandela.
630
00:29:44,759 --> 00:29:47,263
And Prince Charles
was there at the same time,
631
00:29:47,298 --> 00:29:49,067
and they spent a weekend there.
632
00:29:49,101 --> 00:29:51,505
They were allowed
a little bit of time off.
633
00:29:53,509 --> 00:29:56,482
-It is one of the greatest
moments in my life.
634
00:29:56,516 --> 00:29:57,852
-Aye!
635
00:29:57,884 --> 00:30:01,459
-It's the second greatest
moment.
636
00:30:01,491 --> 00:30:05,800
-During that South African trip,
637
00:30:05,834 --> 00:30:08,005
I think they got a bit
fed up with hearing
638
00:30:08,038 --> 00:30:11,244
how much they owed
to Simon Fuller.
639
00:30:11,278 --> 00:30:14,284
-And so, like they did
at the dawn of their careers...
640
00:30:14,317 --> 00:30:17,525
[ Glass shatters ]
641
00:30:17,557 --> 00:30:19,193
...the five girls
huddled together
642
00:30:19,228 --> 00:30:21,333
to make a fateful decision.
643
00:30:21,365 --> 00:30:23,936
-That was the time
at which they cooked up
644
00:30:23,971 --> 00:30:26,240
getting rid of Simon Fuller
as their manager.
645
00:30:26,276 --> 00:30:30,517
♪
646
00:30:30,550 --> 00:30:33,390
It was a complete bombshell.
647
00:30:33,422 --> 00:30:36,228
And it was a gift
to the tabloids.
648
00:30:36,262 --> 00:30:37,565
-Wild fans screamed
649
00:30:37,597 --> 00:30:39,434
as the British sensation
Spice Girls
650
00:30:39,468 --> 00:30:41,873
made a grand entrance
at the long-awaited premiere
651
00:30:41,905 --> 00:30:44,076
of their new movie.
652
00:30:44,111 --> 00:30:45,847
-Charles is our new manager.
653
00:30:45,881 --> 00:30:47,917
[ Laughter ]
654
00:30:47,951 --> 00:30:50,522
-But with no Simon Fuller
to protect them,
655
00:30:50,557 --> 00:30:53,229
the Spice Girls are
more vulnerable.
656
00:30:53,261 --> 00:30:55,333
-Suddenly, it was open season.
657
00:30:55,366 --> 00:30:56,869
-The girls have hit back,
658
00:30:56,903 --> 00:30:59,173
saying it was all
a misunderstanding.
659
00:30:59,207 --> 00:31:01,211
[ Crowd booing ]
660
00:31:01,246 --> 00:31:03,316
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
661
00:31:07,490 --> 00:31:09,060
-The Spice Girls
have been booed
662
00:31:09,094 --> 00:31:11,131
for delaying an award ceremony
in Barcelona.
663
00:31:11,164 --> 00:31:12,867
[ Crowd booing,
camera shutters clicking ]
664
00:31:12,902 --> 00:31:15,173
[ Indistinct shouting ]
665
00:31:15,205 --> 00:31:17,042
-A week after firing
their manager,
666
00:31:17,076 --> 00:31:19,247
the Spice Girls refused
to take the stage
667
00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:21,853
at a Spanish awards show
668
00:31:21,885 --> 00:31:25,294
until the photographers
are removed.
669
00:31:25,326 --> 00:31:27,430
-The girls insisted
they had the copyright
670
00:31:27,464 --> 00:31:29,935
on any pictures of them.
671
00:31:29,969 --> 00:31:33,409
When they finally came onstage,
the reaction was mixed.
672
00:31:33,442 --> 00:31:35,980
After they'd sung...
[ Crowd booing ]
673
00:31:36,013 --> 00:31:38,219
...the floor manager
desperately tried
674
00:31:38,251 --> 00:31:40,624
to whip up applause,
but to no avail.
675
00:31:42,359 --> 00:31:46,067
-Headlines and news reports
tell the story.
676
00:31:46,101 --> 00:31:48,338
The girls' spicy
prima donna routine
677
00:31:48,372 --> 00:31:52,346
is beginning to leave a bad
taste in people's mouths.
678
00:31:52,381 --> 00:31:54,284
-What happened last night
is basically
679
00:31:54,317 --> 00:31:57,390
the Spice girls displayed
quite a bit of arrogance.
680
00:31:57,423 --> 00:31:59,561
I think they did
themselves no favors at all
681
00:31:59,595 --> 00:32:02,200
by getting rid of their manager,
Simon Fuller,
682
00:32:02,232 --> 00:32:05,071
who actually, you know, was
responsible for their success,
683
00:32:05,105 --> 00:32:06,910
no matter what they might think.
684
00:32:06,942 --> 00:32:10,951
-There was always going to come
a point where enough was enough.
685
00:32:10,983 --> 00:32:14,089
Historically, pop groups have
a very limited time frame.
686
00:32:14,124 --> 00:32:16,228
You know, they come and they go,
and that's it,
687
00:32:16,260 --> 00:32:17,932
in the press, in the media.
688
00:32:17,964 --> 00:32:19,401
And I think it was
just felt that it was time
689
00:32:19,433 --> 00:32:21,471
to take them down a peg or two.
690
00:32:21,505 --> 00:32:24,076
I mean, Phil Spector
called them the Antichrist.
691
00:32:27,282 --> 00:32:30,623
-The 1997 Christmas season
delivers a sobering blow
692
00:32:30,656 --> 00:32:32,661
to the five Spice Girls
693
00:32:32,694 --> 00:32:34,932
when they're beaten
on the U.K. singles chart
694
00:32:34,965 --> 00:32:38,305
by the four Teletubbies,
695
00:32:38,338 --> 00:32:40,609
whose big hit
"Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'"
696
00:32:40,644 --> 00:32:43,147
wins over the hearts and minds
of children
697
00:32:43,182 --> 00:32:44,351
during the holiday rush.
698
00:32:44,384 --> 00:32:46,153
-Eh-oh!
699
00:32:46,188 --> 00:32:48,392
-You think this is
the beginning of the end.
700
00:32:48,424 --> 00:32:49,561
-Yeah.
701
00:32:49,595 --> 00:32:51,064
-But while critics are quick
702
00:32:51,097 --> 00:32:52,667
to write the Spice Girls'
obituary...
703
00:32:52,701 --> 00:32:54,638
-Girl power!
704
00:32:54,672 --> 00:32:57,376
-...news of their demise
proves premature
705
00:32:57,410 --> 00:33:01,317
when their announced 102-date
world tour sells out in minutes.
706
00:33:01,351 --> 00:33:04,257
-How long do you think
the Spice Girls are gonna last?
707
00:33:04,290 --> 00:33:06,996
-Forever.
708
00:33:07,029 --> 00:33:09,467
-As they perform
before screaming fans,
709
00:33:09,501 --> 00:33:13,075
it appears Spice mania
can't be stopped.
710
00:33:13,107 --> 00:33:14,510
-It's like a marriage.
-It is.
711
00:33:14,545 --> 00:33:16,013
-Yeah.
-Totally, and I don't think
712
00:33:16,048 --> 00:33:17,550
we'll ever lose that.
I think we --
713
00:33:17,584 --> 00:33:21,157
We always say we're gonna
be like the Golden Girls.
714
00:33:21,191 --> 00:33:23,228
-All of these girls
are strong individuals.
715
00:33:23,261 --> 00:33:26,401
They just ignore the tabloids,
went on on their business
716
00:33:26,434 --> 00:33:30,209
and what they had to achieve
and what they had to do.
717
00:33:30,241 --> 00:33:32,046
Eszteca Noya.
718
00:33:32,079 --> 00:33:33,749
My name is Eszteca Noya,
719
00:33:33,782 --> 00:33:36,253
and I was one
of the main dancers
720
00:33:36,288 --> 00:33:39,227
on the Spice Girls
world tour 1998.
721
00:33:39,259 --> 00:33:42,200
Just wanted to make sure,
you know.
722
00:33:42,232 --> 00:33:47,577
I'm a street dancer, and I was
lucky to end up as a Spice Boy.
723
00:33:47,609 --> 00:33:50,215
To be onstage
with the Spice Girls,
724
00:33:50,249 --> 00:33:51,419
that was incredible.
725
00:33:51,451 --> 00:33:53,255
[ Crowd cheering ]
726
00:33:53,288 --> 00:33:55,159
-As Baby Spice's dance partner,
727
00:33:55,192 --> 00:33:58,164
Eszteca basks in the glow
of the spotlight.
728
00:33:58,198 --> 00:34:01,238
[ Cheers and applause ]
729
00:34:01,270 --> 00:34:02,974
-The view here is nice.
730
00:34:03,008 --> 00:34:04,611
-And offstage...
731
00:34:04,644 --> 00:34:06,314
-Geri.
732
00:34:06,347 --> 00:34:08,519
The bodyguard, all fans here.
733
00:34:08,552 --> 00:34:10,990
-...Eszteca has a front-row
seat to what happens
734
00:34:11,023 --> 00:34:13,128
in the shadows of Spiceworld.
735
00:34:13,161 --> 00:34:15,432
-Eszteca, you're a lazy bitch.
736
00:34:15,465 --> 00:34:17,436
-Spice Girls.
737
00:34:17,469 --> 00:34:20,175
The daily routine
just exhausts you.
738
00:34:20,208 --> 00:34:21,612
-Oi, come like this.
Do it.
739
00:34:21,644 --> 00:34:24,349
Stage it like it is,
do it and get on with it.
740
00:34:24,385 --> 00:34:28,324
-The girls were always
getting homesick, as well.
741
00:34:28,358 --> 00:34:30,429
-Aah!
742
00:34:30,463 --> 00:34:32,400
-So the girls try
to keep things light
743
00:34:32,432 --> 00:34:34,438
to relieve the tour's
daily grind.
744
00:34:38,445 --> 00:34:40,382
-[ Laughs ]
745
00:34:40,416 --> 00:34:42,452
Yeah, there was some specifics
746
00:34:42,487 --> 00:34:44,356
of which I heard about
pajama parties,
747
00:34:44,389 --> 00:34:46,094
but I'd rather not tell that.
748
00:34:49,300 --> 00:34:51,338
-But he will confirm
that some of the girls
749
00:34:51,371 --> 00:34:53,809
are relieving homesickness
in the company
750
00:34:53,842 --> 00:34:55,346
of their male dancers.
751
00:34:55,380 --> 00:34:57,717
-[ Laughs ]
752
00:34:57,750 --> 00:34:59,554
-We've got Spice Boys.
753
00:34:59,588 --> 00:35:01,659
-[ Speaks Spanish ]
754
00:35:01,690 --> 00:35:06,300
-You heard
Christian is together with Geri
755
00:35:06,333 --> 00:35:09,641
and Mel B's together with Jim.
756
00:35:09,673 --> 00:35:12,079
It was like, "Okay.
757
00:35:12,112 --> 00:35:13,817
Okay, cool."
758
00:35:13,849 --> 00:35:17,123
They didn't hide it.
They were very open about it.
759
00:35:18,425 --> 00:35:21,664
That's how it all
went into the media.
760
00:35:21,699 --> 00:35:23,570
-As did a Spice Girl
relationship
761
00:35:23,601 --> 00:35:26,141
not involving a member
of the crew.
762
00:35:26,173 --> 00:35:28,445
Posh Spice lives
in the tabloid headlines
763
00:35:28,478 --> 00:35:30,782
alongside her
equally famous fiancé.
764
00:35:30,817 --> 00:35:33,655
-David Beckham, one of the
most famous faces in football,
765
00:35:33,690 --> 00:35:36,293
and Victoria Adams,
better known as Posh Spice,
766
00:35:36,327 --> 00:35:39,467
posing for pictures after
announcing their engagement.
767
00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:41,739
-The paparazzi hound
Posh and Becks
768
00:35:41,771 --> 00:35:44,210
on the European leg of the tour.
769
00:35:44,244 --> 00:35:47,650
-They were both just so hot.
770
00:35:47,684 --> 00:35:53,630
We had just come out of the
Diana/Charles rise and fall.
771
00:35:53,663 --> 00:35:55,331
-I'm embarrassed now.
Stop it.
772
00:35:55,365 --> 00:35:59,440
-If Posh and Becks didn't exist,
the British tabloids,
773
00:35:59,474 --> 00:36:01,911
they would have had to
make them up.
774
00:36:01,945 --> 00:36:04,150
-And like with Princess Diana,
775
00:36:04,182 --> 00:36:06,121
the tabloid encounters
with the Spice Girls
776
00:36:06,153 --> 00:36:09,226
become increasingly ruthless
and relentless,
777
00:36:09,260 --> 00:36:13,434
something Mel C speaks frankly
about during a 2022 podcast.
778
00:36:13,467 --> 00:36:16,340
-They called me Sumo Spice.
779
00:36:16,373 --> 00:36:19,347
I mean, how disgusting is that?
780
00:36:19,380 --> 00:36:22,753
-There was a lot of focus
on their bodies at the time.
781
00:36:22,786 --> 00:36:25,125
-As Geri reveals
when interviewed,
782
00:36:25,159 --> 00:36:27,697
the cruelty of the tabloids
is hard to bear.
783
00:36:27,730 --> 00:36:30,735
-When somebody calls me
a fat old slag, you know,
784
00:36:30,769 --> 00:36:32,440
if I wasn't sure
of what I was doing,
785
00:36:32,472 --> 00:36:34,344
I wouldn't be able to continue.
786
00:36:34,376 --> 00:36:36,748
-They were privy
to all kinds of headlines
787
00:36:36,780 --> 00:36:42,293
that would certainly not pass
muster in our time today.
788
00:36:42,326 --> 00:36:43,829
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
789
00:36:43,862 --> 00:36:46,735
When you become famous
at that level,
790
00:36:46,768 --> 00:36:50,608
it is Pandora's box.
791
00:36:50,641 --> 00:36:54,684
It's inevitable that the fame
begins to eat you alive.
792
00:36:54,717 --> 00:36:56,387
-No!
793
00:36:56,420 --> 00:36:58,657
-And also devours
relationships.
794
00:36:58,692 --> 00:37:00,228
-Have you cut short
the tour out there?
795
00:37:00,262 --> 00:37:01,231
-No.
-No.
796
00:37:01,264 --> 00:37:02,900
-We're not telling you.
797
00:37:02,932 --> 00:37:05,338
-The pressure and the pace
and the amount of work
798
00:37:05,371 --> 00:37:08,445
that they'd done,
it all started to take its toll.
799
00:37:08,478 --> 00:37:11,483
[ Indistinct shouting ]
800
00:37:11,518 --> 00:37:13,889
-People start to wear down...
801
00:37:13,922 --> 00:37:15,827
[ Shouting continues ]
802
00:37:15,858 --> 00:37:18,764
...spit out what they
really felt inside.
803
00:37:18,798 --> 00:37:22,306
[ Shouting continues ]
804
00:37:22,338 --> 00:37:23,943
We were asking ourselves like,
"Wow,
805
00:37:23,976 --> 00:37:26,313
there's something going on."
806
00:37:26,347 --> 00:37:28,351
[ Indistinct talking ]
807
00:37:28,385 --> 00:37:31,190
-[ Sobbing ]
808
00:37:31,224 --> 00:37:33,561
-But we didn't know
what was going on.
809
00:37:33,596 --> 00:37:36,367
♪
810
00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:38,438
-[ Sobbing ]
811
00:37:38,472 --> 00:37:41,478
-Something snapped
at that point.
812
00:37:41,510 --> 00:37:43,315
-In May 1998,
813
00:37:43,347 --> 00:37:46,989
the Spice Girls perform
together in Helsinki, Finland.
814
00:37:47,021 --> 00:37:50,262
And everything seems normal.
815
00:37:50,295 --> 00:37:53,635
-It's the midweek
National Lottery draw.
816
00:37:53,668 --> 00:37:57,476
-But when the group returns
to London for a TV appearance,
817
00:37:57,510 --> 00:37:59,981
not all of them
make it to the studio.
818
00:38:00,014 --> 00:38:02,353
-Are we not missing somebody?
-We are.
819
00:38:02,385 --> 00:38:04,356
-Unfortunately,
Geri's not very well tonight,
820
00:38:04,389 --> 00:38:06,494
so get well soon, Geri.
821
00:38:06,527 --> 00:38:09,467
[ Cheers and applause ]
822
00:38:09,500 --> 00:38:11,804
-When Geri
just didn't show up,
823
00:38:11,838 --> 00:38:15,980
it was a pop-culture
earthquake.
824
00:38:16,014 --> 00:38:18,251
-Girl power may not be enough
825
00:38:18,284 --> 00:38:21,590
to hold the most popular
girl group of the '90s together.
826
00:38:21,623 --> 00:38:24,329
Ginger Spice missed
a concert last night.
827
00:38:24,362 --> 00:38:26,034
-Ginger Spice is missing.
828
00:38:28,338 --> 00:38:29,507
-No way!
829
00:38:29,539 --> 00:38:31,543
-Yeah.
-Where's Geri gone?
830
00:38:31,577 --> 00:38:33,481
-♪ Where has Geri gone? ♪
831
00:38:33,514 --> 00:38:35,018
-♪ Where has Geri gone? ♪
832
00:38:35,052 --> 00:38:36,420
-What happens now?
833
00:38:40,596 --> 00:38:42,565
-After four days
of wild speculation
834
00:38:42,599 --> 00:38:45,005
over Ginger Spice's whereabouts,
835
00:38:45,036 --> 00:38:48,644
Geri Halliwell's lawyer reads
her statement to the world.
836
00:38:48,677 --> 00:38:51,952
-"I wish to apologize
to all the fans.
837
00:38:51,985 --> 00:38:55,893
I would like to confirm that
I have left the Spice Girls.
838
00:38:55,927 --> 00:38:58,764
This is because of differences
between us."
839
00:38:58,797 --> 00:39:00,735
-Geri hasn't revealed
her future plans,
840
00:39:00,769 --> 00:39:02,539
but the remaining four
Spice Girls say
841
00:39:02,572 --> 00:39:06,380
they'll be pressing on
with their American tour.
842
00:39:06,414 --> 00:39:08,818
-When Geri leaves the band,
843
00:39:08,851 --> 00:39:13,527
for those who were invested
in these five women,
844
00:39:13,561 --> 00:39:18,304
it represented
an abrupt break, death, end.
845
00:39:18,338 --> 00:39:20,942
-[ Screams ]
846
00:39:20,976 --> 00:39:23,882
-And it invited
so much speculation
847
00:39:23,916 --> 00:39:28,056
about who was to blame,
what led up to it, you know,
848
00:39:28,090 --> 00:39:31,496
where do the Spice Girls go now?
849
00:39:31,530 --> 00:39:32,900
-What did she say that day?
850
00:39:32,932 --> 00:39:35,539
-Funny enough, she didn't.
851
00:39:35,572 --> 00:39:37,543
-Geri is asked
the same question
852
00:39:37,576 --> 00:39:39,346
since leaving the Spice Girls.
853
00:39:39,380 --> 00:39:41,016
-Why?
Why did you leave?
854
00:39:41,048 --> 00:39:44,056
-You know, I have my reasons
why I left the Spice Girls.
855
00:39:44,090 --> 00:39:45,425
But it's like a marriage.
856
00:39:45,458 --> 00:39:47,628
I think, you know,
857
00:39:47,663 --> 00:39:50,768
you should keep those kind
of things private to a degree.
858
00:39:50,802 --> 00:39:53,875
-But time will do what
Barbara Walters couldn't --
859
00:39:53,909 --> 00:39:57,349
get Geri to reveal how
her struggles as a Spice Girl
860
00:39:57,382 --> 00:39:59,519
helped contribute
to her leaving.
861
00:39:59,552 --> 00:40:02,960
-"They called her old, fat,
and ugly, as they often did."
862
00:40:02,994 --> 00:40:05,364
Isn't that horrible?
863
00:40:05,398 --> 00:40:06,900
-And in 2016,
864
00:40:06,934 --> 00:40:08,538
Geri reveals to Oprah Winfrey
865
00:40:08,570 --> 00:40:11,677
just how serious
her problems became.
866
00:40:11,711 --> 00:40:15,117
-We all use different tools
to get by.
867
00:40:15,152 --> 00:40:17,054
You know, coping mechanisms.
868
00:40:17,088 --> 00:40:18,992
Mine was controlling
my body weight.
869
00:40:19,025 --> 00:40:21,764
I started being bulimic.
870
00:40:21,797 --> 00:40:25,773
-If you're under
that kind of spotlight,
871
00:40:25,806 --> 00:40:33,521
all kind of scrutiny can affect
one's imbalances.
872
00:40:33,554 --> 00:40:36,561
-Victoria and Mel C have both
revealed their own struggles
873
00:40:36,594 --> 00:40:38,130
with eating disorders
and depression...
874
00:40:38,164 --> 00:40:39,967
-Victoria Adams.
875
00:40:40,001 --> 00:40:42,873
-...made worse by the media's
obsession with their weight,
876
00:40:42,905 --> 00:40:45,110
which includes live humiliation
on TV
877
00:40:45,144 --> 00:40:47,215
two months after Posh
has a baby.
878
00:40:47,248 --> 00:40:48,853
-Is your weight back to normal?
-Yeah, it is.
879
00:40:48,885 --> 00:40:50,454
-Can I check?
Do you mind?
880
00:40:50,489 --> 00:40:52,927
-Oh, no. You did this to Geri,
didn't you?
881
00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:54,931
No, but Geri was, like,
really small.
882
00:40:54,965 --> 00:40:56,800
-But it's alright.
883
00:40:56,833 --> 00:40:59,172
-The media's quick
and constant reactions
884
00:40:59,206 --> 00:41:01,476
to the Spice Girls'
weight fluctuations
885
00:41:01,510 --> 00:41:02,981
may have led
to their instability
886
00:41:03,014 --> 00:41:05,585
and mental health issues,
887
00:41:05,619 --> 00:41:09,025
something Mel C has been honest
about in recent interviews.
888
00:41:09,057 --> 00:41:11,931
-I'd spent years trying
to make myself smaller.
889
00:41:11,965 --> 00:41:15,070
And it was killing me.
I had depression.
890
00:41:15,103 --> 00:41:18,978
I just knew I'd lost
control over my eating.
891
00:41:19,012 --> 00:41:22,485
-Fame definitely comes
with a price.
892
00:41:22,518 --> 00:41:25,759
For the girls, it
probably got too much for them
893
00:41:25,791 --> 00:41:27,829
through those pressures.
894
00:41:27,862 --> 00:41:30,635
When you're trying
to kind of keep a steady ship,
895
00:41:30,668 --> 00:41:35,978
that becomes, you know,
quite damaging.
896
00:41:36,012 --> 00:41:37,815
-No, no.
897
00:41:37,849 --> 00:41:41,088
-In a documentary film shortly
after she leaves the group,
898
00:41:41,123 --> 00:41:45,164
Geri drops hints that another
Spice Girl prompted her exit.
899
00:41:45,197 --> 00:41:47,936
-I had no choice.
I had no choice.
900
00:41:47,969 --> 00:41:49,172
Absolutely no choice.
901
00:41:49,206 --> 00:41:50,708
-Do you think
they wanted you out?
902
00:41:50,742 --> 00:41:53,047
-Yes.
One particular member did.
903
00:41:53,079 --> 00:41:54,650
-[ Vocalizing ]
904
00:41:54,682 --> 00:41:55,684
-♪ Everything... ♪
905
00:41:55,719 --> 00:41:57,021
-Rumors involving Mel B,
906
00:41:57,054 --> 00:41:58,757
who helps Geri pull
the group together
907
00:41:58,791 --> 00:42:00,961
back during their
boot camp days,
908
00:42:00,996 --> 00:42:04,036
have never gone away.
909
00:42:04,068 --> 00:42:05,806
In a recent interview,
910
00:42:05,838 --> 00:42:09,079
Mel B speaks candidly
about their relationship.
911
00:42:09,112 --> 00:42:11,048
-There were rumors
that you and Geri
912
00:42:11,083 --> 00:42:13,820
were, you know, more than
just good friends.
913
00:42:13,856 --> 00:42:15,224
You'd had a little dabble.
914
00:42:15,257 --> 00:42:17,528
-Oh.
915
00:42:17,561 --> 00:42:19,032
She had great boobs.
916
00:42:19,065 --> 00:42:20,635
[ Laughter ]
917
00:42:20,668 --> 00:42:22,706
-So you did?
918
00:42:22,739 --> 00:42:24,876
Yes, really?
919
00:42:24,911 --> 00:42:28,016
-Even Mel C seemed shocked
by the admission.
920
00:42:28,050 --> 00:42:32,759
-This was like an earthquake
revelation.
921
00:42:32,793 --> 00:42:34,797
Geri has denied this,
922
00:42:34,829 --> 00:42:37,802
so I guess the truth
lies somewhere.
923
00:42:37,836 --> 00:42:40,608
[ Camera shutters clicking,
indistinct shouting ]
924
00:42:40,641 --> 00:42:43,313
[ Crowd cheering ]
925
00:42:43,347 --> 00:42:45,217
-After Geri's departure,
926
00:42:45,251 --> 00:42:47,222
the four remaining
Spice Girls finish
927
00:42:47,255 --> 00:42:48,990
the world tour in America.
928
00:42:49,025 --> 00:42:50,929
-Spice Girls rule!
929
00:42:50,963 --> 00:42:56,139
-Then they record
a third album called "Forever."
930
00:42:56,172 --> 00:42:58,677
Aside from their reunion tour
in 2007,
931
00:42:58,710 --> 00:43:01,583
the Spice Girls haven't
performed as a full group
932
00:43:01,617 --> 00:43:04,121
since the 2012 London Olympics.
933
00:43:04,155 --> 00:43:08,664
-The Spice Girls effectively
only existed for a few years.
934
00:43:08,697 --> 00:43:13,106
Of course, their legacy lives on
in a whole new generation
935
00:43:13,139 --> 00:43:16,847
of female pop stars
inspired by them.
936
00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:20,221
-What it did for me
was springboard me
937
00:43:20,255 --> 00:43:21,757
into the music industry.
938
00:43:21,791 --> 00:43:25,632
-♪ Oh, oh ♪
939
00:43:25,664 --> 00:43:27,202
-When I look at the Spice Girls,
940
00:43:27,233 --> 00:43:30,675
I don't feel any bitterness,
remorse,
941
00:43:30,708 --> 00:43:32,110
because I still look at
that band,
942
00:43:32,144 --> 00:43:36,085
and it's still part
of my legacy.
943
00:43:36,119 --> 00:43:37,956
They still hold the crown.
944
00:43:37,989 --> 00:43:40,728
They're still
the biggest girl band.
945
00:43:40,762 --> 00:43:42,298
-They've all come through it.
946
00:43:42,331 --> 00:43:46,338
They all have children who seem
to be reasonably adjusted.
947
00:43:46,373 --> 00:43:51,083
They've all found their own
place in the scheme of things
948
00:43:51,114 --> 00:43:52,751
at the end of it all.
949
00:43:52,786 --> 00:43:55,123
And that was what girl power
was all about, you know?