I was never really into Spice Girls. Frankly, I used to despise them.
But Spice Girls were a big part of Brit’s 90s culture that basically could not be avoided by anyone growing up in the era. Spice Girls were like a guilty pleasure to me. I loathed them in public, but I secretly hummed to their songs.
However, when they splitted, I started to (openly) liked one of their members, the baby spice Emma Bunton. For me she was more like the indiepop spice or something, singing with Tin Tin Out and had a hit with a touch 60s dance tune “Maybe”.
Back to Soulnation: No, there were no real Spice Girls performing. Only wannabe’s. And of course I had been rather skeptical before, thinking that it would have consisted Indonesian girls who couldn’t really sing. After all, it was very difficult to match the voices and the looks.
But I was wrong.
I think they were really good in impersonating Spice Girls. Especially Sashi Gandarum as Mel C a.k.a. Sporty Spice. She really got both the body and the voice of Mel C. And also Djemima as Mel B a.k.a. Scary Spice, she nailed it very well. And I guess if they already got those two girls right, then they had nothing more to worry about. After all, the two Mels were the main vocalists of Spice Girls.
Well of course they should also consider Geri Haliwell a.k.a. Ginger Spice, whose Union Jack dress became a definite icon of 90s pop culture. It was smart that they chose Lala Karmela, the sexiest of the lot (so I heard from the boys), to be Ginger Spice. Unfortunately, she didn’t bother to dye her hair. What’s the point of being a ginger spice without the ginger hair? It seemed that her hair was slightly reddish, but still, it should have been ginger, not saffron. If saffron, then she should’ve sung “Ready to Go” or “Drop Dead Gorgeous”.
And I’m sorry to say this, but I think the Baby Spice looked a bit too slutty. Why Emma Bunton was called baby spice was because she had that childlike look. And Emily Laras unfortunately.. neither had the look nor style of baby spice.
Last and deliberately least, was Posh Spice/Victoria Adams. And for this one, Renita was just too sweet. Being a posh spice meant that one should be a cold bitch. Although yes I know it would be difficult to have someone too look as vicious as Victoria, but maybe just swap roles with baby spice?
Anyway, when I reached the venue it was merely less than half an hour towards the end. I came in the middle of “Holler”, without the presence of Ginger Spice. And they wrapped up that part with “Goodbye”.
At first I thought, finished already?
But it turned out that they had saved the best for last. With all five girls walking back to the stage, each wearing a distinguishing Spice Girls outfit.
And so they sang “Who Do You Think You Are?” and of course, the big hit that launched the Spice Girls to the top of the charts, “Wannabe”.