We've got to hand it to our bank; their fraud department's on the ball. Earlier today, they gave us a call after detecting some 'suspicious' activity on our card. Did we really mean to spend that much in one transaction? What could possibly be worth such a sum of money?
It wasn't until we told them the Spice Girls have just released a 25th anniversary edition of their debut album Spice, complete with previously unreleased remixes and demos, across approximately 90 formats that they apologised for the misunderstanding and congratulated us on our impeccable taste.
Yep - TWENTY FIVE BLOOMIN' YEARS after its initial release Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Melanie C, Mel B and Victoria Beckham are set to re-release the album that defined a generation with a special 2-disc set (!), individual cassettes (!!) and five WELL FANCY collectors' vinyls with Ginger, Baby, Sporty, Scary and Posh covers (!!!). And you'd better believe we've just spent the contents of our lockdown piggy bank on the lot. Hashtag no regrets.
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After the girls' Wannabe25 celebrations went down a storm earlier this summer, they're set to mark the anniversary of their debut album with the new version featuring b-sides, banging remixes and buried-away demos.
Hell, they've even released the 7" Radio Mix of Say You'll Be There on streaming services today to celebrate.
Chatting about the release, Victoria said, "We couldn't let 25 years pass without thanking the fans for their incredible support. There are so many people who have played a part in the success of the Spice Girls throughout the years, you know who you are and we thank you."
Mel B added, "All I ever wanted was to be accepted and to make everyone around me – gay, straight, brown, black, shy or loud like me – to feel they can celebrate who they are and to be free to be themselves.
"All I hope – 25 years on – is that message has been heard loud and clear. It’s true that in the end love IS all you need so I thank everyone who has ever bought a Spice Girls record or stood in the rain to greet us or got dressed up in pink, in a tracksuit, a ginger wig, a leopard print catsuit or put on Vic’s iconic pout!"
Details of all the formats available to pre-order (there's a LOT) ahead of its October 29th 2021 release are available on the Spice Girls' official store.
Check out: 14 facts you probably never knew about the Spice Girls
14 shocking facts you NEVER knew about the Spice Girls
1 of 141. They were originally called Touch
When the girls first got together, they were called Touch. It wasn't until Geri thought to change their name to Spice that the band eventually agreed on Spice Girls.
2 of 142. Geri MISSED the original audition
After getting sunburnt on a ski trip to Spain, she thought better than to turn up to the auditions with a red face. Thankfully then-manager Robert 'Bob' Herbert gave her a second chance when she called after the original search.
3 of 143. Emma wasn't in the original line-up
Baby Spice was last to join the group after original member Michelle Stephenson quit the band in 1994. Victoria went on to claim Michelle 'just couldn't be arsed' to put in the same work as the rest of the girls.
4 of 144. They're Simon Cowell's 'biggest regret'
Speaking to Jay Leno in 2013, Simon said: "Spice Girls is probably my biggest mistake," before explaining "I offered them a deal, but they didn't want to sign to me, so that kind of hurt at the time."Victoria doesn't agree with Simon's account, though. Claiming he passed up on their offer on Idol in 2009, she said: "He is the only man in the music industry who turned down the Spice Girls – and said we would never work. I like that fact."
5 of 145. They didn't come up with their own nicknames
That was the idea of former Top of the Pops Magazine editor Peter Lorraine back in 1996. It just stuck.
6 of 146. Wannabe almost wasn't their debut single
The girls have explained they had to fight for the pop classic to be their first single, while the record label reportedly wanted Love Thing. IMAGINE.
7 of 147. The Wannabe video was BANNED in some parts of Asia
This was due to Mel B's erect nipples.
8 of 148. Geri's Union Jack dress made a FORTUNE
The infamous dress Ginger wore to perform Wannabe/Who Do You Think You Are? at the 1997 BRIT Awards was sold at auction in 1998 for $68,000 (£41,320) at a Hard Rock Cafe auction. It's since been spotted on display at a casino in the US.
9 of 149. Speaking of the Union Jack dress...
It was actually made of a 'boring' black Gucci dress - the outfit Geri was originally supposed to wear - and a Union Jack tea towel.Explaining how the look came about, Ginger's former stylist Emma Poole told The Telegraph: "Two nights before, Geri said, 'You know what, Emma? I'm not really comfortable with the dress I'm wearing, I've got a much better idea. I'm going around to my sister's, she's got these great Union Jack tea-towels. I'm going to make a dress.'"
10 of 1410. Geri WROTE Goodbye
Sort of. Although the girls' third Christmas number 1 is thought to be written about Geri's departure, she was actually involved in the early stages of the track when it was intended to be included on the Spiceworld album. Mel C explains in the girls' autobiography Forever Spice: "Goodbye was originally about a relationship ending, but now it's about Geri and it's really sad."Ginger isn't credited as a writer for the released version of the track.
11 of 1411. They were Nelson Mandela's 'heroes'
His words!
12 of 1412. Victoria's the only member WITHOUT a solo number 1
Out of Your Mind - her collaboration with True Steppers and Dane Bowers - was pipped to the post by Spiller's Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) back in August 2000. Oh, how we miss those big chart battles.
13 of 1413. The Viva Forever video is DEEP
As the girls were too busy touring to film a video for Viva Forever - their last single featuring Geri - they turned to Aardman Animations for the treatment.In an interview with Crack magazine, director Steve Box explained that the video's about loss of youth. He said: "It's like the sadness of the song is leaving your childhood behind. "Pop music is all about sex and love, so becoming interested in that, you suddenly put the toys away, you start to grow up in a different way."
14 of 1414. And the Spice Up Your Life video's pretty dark
An unreleased alternative ending to the video shows an erotic dancer in front of a 'SEXXXY SPICE GIRLS' sign, somebody seemingly choking and what appears to be a stack of dead bodies. YouTube it. It's SO WEIRD.
The full original album has also been recreated in snazzy Dolby Atmos/Apple Spatial Audio for Apple Music users.
Those buying the 2CD version with its A5 hardback booklet, images and brand new messages from the band, can look forward to the original 1996 album plus these rarities:
CD1
Wannabe (02:53)
Say You’ll Be There (03:56)
2 Become 1 (Single Version) (04:05)
Love Thing (03:39)
Last Time Lover (04:11)
Mama (05:05)
Who Do You Think You Are (04:01)
Something Kinda Funny (04:05)
Naked (04:26)
If U Can’t Dance (03:49)
CD2
Wannabe (Dave Way Alternative Mix) (03:25)
Say You’ll Be There (7-inch Radio Mix) (04:09)
2 Become 1 (Orchestral Version) (04:05)
Mama (Biffco Mix) (05:49)
Love Thing (12-inch Unlimited Groove Mix) (06:25)
Take Me Home (04:07)
Last Time Lover (Demo) (04:05)
Feed Your Love (04:36)
If U Can’t Dance (Demo) (03:36)
Who Do You Think You Are (Demo) (03:49)
One of These Girls (03:33)
‘Shall We Say Goodbye Then?’ (00:53)
Fancy some '90s nostalgia? Here's a bit of Wannabe25 for your eyes and ears
Spice25 is available to pre-order now and released on October 29th 2021.