Music Review: Spice Girls "Say You'll Be There"

Say You'll Be There
Album: Spice
Year: 1996

Emma Bunton and her sorta-but-not-really boyfriend try to figure out their relationship in the smashing "Say You'll Be There."

The sound of the needle on the record can be heard. People are chattering in the background as the record plays. The keyboards start slow then become festive, setting an exciting tone. The first part of the chorus begins the song. Bunton would like him to stay in her life. She tells him that she will be his best friend and cheer him up with her perky demeanor.

"Say you'll be there /I'mgiving you everything /All that joy can bring this I swear."

In the first verse, Bunton says they've discussed having a romantic relationship. However, she nixed it and told him she wasn'tready. A couple months later, the topic comes up again. She wonders if they will ever find out where they stand. Mel B says he has told her that he cares for her. She asks for him to slow down. She was expecting the usual response: "yeah, we're cool. It could work."

"Last time that we had this conversation/I decided we should be friends, hey/But now we're going round in circles/Tell me will this deja vu never end, oh/Now you tell me that you've fallen in love/Well I never ever thought that would be/This time you gotta take it easy /Throwing far too much emotions at me."

In the pre-chorus, Victoria Beckham says it's obvious that both Bunton and the guy are made for each other.

"But any fool can see they're falling/I gotta make you understand."

In the chorus, Bunton wants to be reassured that their relationship will still be as strong as it is now.

"I'm giving you everything /All that joy can bring this I swear (I give you everything)/And all that I want from you /Is a promise you will be there/Say you will be there (Say you will be there)/Won't you sing it with me."

In the second chorus, Geri Haliwell says they've never have been friends. They've always liked each other. The friendship they have is simply a means to get to the romance. She says it's time for them to make a firm decision and quit dancing around it.

"If you, put two and two together /You will see what our friendship is for (oh) /If you can't work this equation then/I guess I'll have to show you the door."

In the pre-chorus, Beckham tells him they don't have to talk about their feelings. They already know them.

"There is no need to say you love me/It would be better left unsaid."

The chorus is sung again.

In the bridge, Bunton says she wants to date him.

"Yeah, I want you."


A snazzy harmonica solo follows.

The first pre-chorus is sung again.

"Any fool can see they're falling/I gotta make you understand."

Mel B raps the first two lines of the chorus. The Spice Girls continue to sing the rest of it normally.

The chorus is then sung again to close the song.

Bunton is in a complicated friendship that's hard to define. She's dated guys while knowing him and so has he. However, she has found herself breaking up the guy and turning to her friend instead. Both, however, denied that something was going on between them. Then, he broached the subject of them dating. However, she was worried things would be weird between them and the friendship would be over. But now, she's realized that he's not going to flake out on her. He'sfinally going to be her boyfriend.

The Spice Girls vocals are charming. Each girl sparkles in her own section. Their vocals are tongue-in-cheek and spunky. They absolutely do not care if they are cheesy. They relish the fun of the song. Mel B's rap is surprisingly effective. She gets into it and has fun.

The keyboard arrangement is vivacious and bright. It doesn't take itself seriously for a second.

"Say You'll Be There" is an upbeat, savory four minutes.

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