While the country's in a bit of a pickle over the B-word right now, one thing in particular's keeping us positive: THE SPICE GIRLS TOUR.
In just thirty nine days (yep, we have a countdown on the wall at heat Towers) Spice Girls Emma Bunton, Geri Horner, Melanie C and Mel B will kick off their Spice World 2019 tour at Croke Park in Dublin; and the band are already teasing pics from rehearsals.
After stamping out those reports tour plans had been 'abandoned' in their massive Buffalo boots, the girls have officially begun rehearsals at a secret London location with their twenty-strong team of dancers; and it looks like each member's recruited five of 'em for their own 'houses.'
Behold: 'Baby House.'
Chucking a pic from rehearsals with five of the crew on her Instagram, Emma teased: "My baby house!!! βπ½ #firstday #rehersals #spiceworld" [sic].
Does this mean we'll be getting Scary House, Sporty House and Ginger House, too? π
Emma also shared a clip of her en route to rehearsals on Instagram Stories, saying: "So it's the first day of Spice Girls rehearsals.
"I'm really excited, a little bit nervous. I'm even wearing a tracksuit, what's happened to me?"
Now if you'll just excuse us, we'll be dancing round the office to Who Do You Think You Are. Karen from accounts won't know what's hit her.
BELOW: Spice Girls arrive at their Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
Spice Girls arrive at Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
Spice Girls arrive at Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
Spice Girls arrive at Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
Spice Girls arrive at Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
Spice Girls arrive at Spice World 2019 tour rehearsals
NOW READ: 14 shocking facts you NEVER knew about the Spice Girls
14 shocking facts you NEVER knew about the Spice Girls
1. 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. 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. 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. 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 β and said we would never work. I like that fact."
5. 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. 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. The Wannabe video was BANNED in some parts of Asia
This was due to Mel B's erect nipples.
8. 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 (Β£41,320) at a Hard Rock Cafe auction. It's since been spotted on display at a casino in the US.
9. 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. 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. They were Nelson Mandela's 'heroes'
His words!
12. 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. 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. 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.
Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell has also shared a behind-the-scenes snap from rehearsals, saying: "Day 1 π With a whole lot of π #dontcrackunderpressure" [sic].
If youβre a sucker for the Spice Girls and love a bit of One Direction, you need heat Radio in your life.
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