Music Review: Spice Girls "Wannabe"

Wannabe
Album: Spice
Year: 1996

For the Spice Girls, bests friends are more important than dates in the bubbly "Wannabe."

Mel B laughs to start the single. Next, she declares she wants something. To which, Geri Haliwell says for her to do so. However, Mel B says it was "zigazig ah," which means nothing. But Mel B's tone suggests it was relaxation. The Spice Girls trade lines in the first verse, with the exception of Victoria Beckham who doesn't have any. Mel C says a guy has to concentrate on who she is now and not get caught up with her past indiscretions. Emma Bunton says a guy has to make his move quickly or she'll lose interest. Mel B prefers a guy who's actually interested in her and not just casually flirting with her. Haliwell says her guy needs to straighten up some. Otherwise, they're cool. ("Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want/
So tell me what you want, what you really really want/I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want/So tell me what you want, what you really really want/I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ah/If you want my future forget my past/If you wanna get with me better make it fast/Now don't go wasting my precious time/Get your act together we could be just fine.")

Without a pause, Mel B and Haliwell return to the pre-chorus.("I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want/So tell me what you want, what you really really want/I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ah.")

All the Spice Girls sing the chorus. If a guy would like to date either of them, the guy has to become friends with the all of them. For them, it's part of the give-take process of relationships. If the guy doesn't want to be around them, the relationship is over. ("If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends/Make it last forever friendship never ends/If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give/Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is.")

For the second verse, the vocals are the same as the first verse. Mel B wonders if he's all right with the conditions. Bunton is suspicious, thinking he's just saying it. Mel C's willing to give him a chance. However, Haliwell will kick him out of her life if he annoys her. ("What do you think about that now you know how I feel/Say you can handle my love are you for real/I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try/If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye.")

After the pre-chorus and chorus, is the Mel B's rap. She spotlights each of the Spice Girls' personalities. She says Bunton is straightforward and Haliwell is racy. Haliwell interrupts Mel B's with a wink and a nudge. Haliwell says Beckham is sophiscated and Mel B says fans will soon find out what she's like. Then, Mel B and Haliwell tells listeners to shake their hips. ("So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me you gotta listen carefully/We got Em in the place who likes it in your face/we got G like MC who likes it on an.../Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady/and as for me you'll see/Slam your body down and wind it all around/
Slam your body down and wind it all around.")

After the chorus is sung, the last section adds "slam your body down and wind it all around" and edits out the rest of the chorus. The only exception is "if you wanna be my lover/you gotta get with my friends/make it last forever...") ("If you wanna be my lover, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, slam, slam,slam, slam/Slam your body down and wind it all around/Slam your bodydown and wind it all around/Slam your body down and wind it all around/Slam your body down zigazig ah.")

The catchy, addictive melody speeds along one last time. The single ends with the Spice Girls singing "if you wanna be my lover."

The irresistably cheesy "Wannabe" has aged really well. It's mostly due to the tongue-in-cheek attitude of the single. The Spice Girls know "Wannabe" isn't the greatest song ever made but they might as well have fun anyway. Mel B's rap is pulled off better than most professional rappers in the genre. She carries the beat with aplomb. "Wannabe" proves once again that the Britons have the handle on pop music. A classic pop song.

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