It’s hard to believe, but Girl Power has been with us for a quarter-century. The Spice Girls are gearing up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their breakthrough 1996 single “Wannabe” by asking their fans to share their Spice-y stories.
“It’s official! It’s been 25 years of the Spice Girls,” the group wrote in an Instagram post on Monday morning (June 14) in an announcement of their upcoming celebration of the debut song that made them international icons. “We believe there is a Spice Girl in all of us, and we want you to join us on a trip down memory lane! We want to see you singing your heart out, showing off your best dance moves and hear how you’ve been inspired, influenced and excited by everything People Power.”
As part of the celebration, an anniversary edition of the song, “Wannabe25,” will be issued on a picture disc EP and on cassette, featuring the original song, a remix by Junior Vasquez, the previously unreleased original “Wannabe” demo recording and a demo of a previously unreleased ballad penned by “Wannabe” co-writers Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe, “Feed Your Love”; the EP will be available for streaming on July 9 and physically on July 23rd.
Fans are encouraged to share their stories via the #IAmASpiceGirl hashtag (or by sending them to spicegirls@umusic.com), with the tales to be shared on the group’s website and socials. “Wannabe” was originally released on July 8, 1996 and rose to become the seventh best-selling debut single of all time, as well as the longest-running No. 1 by a girl group.
Check out the video promoting the anniversary and some of the early fan entries below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGSTsaiZ5x/
#iamaspicegirl I bought every one of their albums and had their poster in my high school locker… I listened to their albums so much I wore them out. I always wanted to see them in concert but was never lucky enough to get tickets. Would love to see a tour!
— Robin Jefferson (@RobinJ1980) June 14, 2021
Thank you for allowing my best friend @shaunrobert__ and I share so many magical memories with you @spicegirls solo you taught us to believe in ourselves. Together we became unstoppable #IAmASpiceGirl pic.twitter.com/NO7FP44Mxj
— ꧁☬𝐻𝑅𝐻 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒫𝒽𝑜𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓍☬꧂ ™ (@Prince_Phoenix) June 14, 2021
I may be a boy, but still… #IAmASpiceGirl pic.twitter.com/751HVluNfX
— Gary Andrew Stinson✌🏼 (@Gary_Andrew) June 14, 2021
Always girls, thanks for being a constant in my life for 25 years, you have inspired me, I have danced & sung my heart out to your music & it’s the most incredible thing to be part of #IAmASpiceGirl ✌️♥️ @spicegirls https://t.co/oVpFgcw2ms pic.twitter.com/czS8QgIQ2a
— 🎭 Matthew 🎭 (@cub_poplad) June 14, 2021
Me in 1997 with my friends. We loved the Spice Girls! I got to see them for the first time on the last tour and I cried so much. They were my first idols 💗🇬🇧 @spicegirls #IAmASpiceGirl pic.twitter.com/oOKSu22zSS
— Amy (@AmyDaisies) June 14, 2021
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