Spice Girls

The last years of the 20th century were marked, musically, by a phenomenon that seemed poised to change the face of society yet survives now only as a vague and implausible memory - The Spice Girls. Not the first all-girl band in the world but still, at least in financial terms, the most successful ever, they caught the mood of the moment with the rallying cry of Girl Power, launched a career in which their very first not-terribly-well-sung song became their anthem, and sold hundreds of union-jack minidresses.

The five Spice Girls, Ginger, Baby, Posh, Scary and Sporty, couldn't have had a higher media profile or been a more perfect fit for the times. Yet having embarked on a Beatle-like path to fame and considerable fortune, they faded away leaving only the memory of Geri's tiny dresses, Emma's... er... tiny dresses, and everyone's general inability to sing very well together, which at the time made little or no difference at all. Posh married Becks, became even posher, and is now a legendary fashionista and media celebrity. Ginger lives quietly in England and writes childrens books. Baby is a TV and radio presenter, Scary is a TV personality and recording artist, and Sporty has sold more than 10 million records as a solo artist and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones by a female artist.

For those of us who were there the first time around and remember, the Spice Girls captured a mood and an enthusiasm for life that comparative boy bands didn't come close to. Sadly, though, this official site died in 2008 along with the band, and is more of a dusty memorial than anything else. But it's worth a look, just as a reminder, and it might tempt you to look further at an episode in England's musical history that almost entirely lacked substance or significance but was above all, fun.