what an era to be a closeted teenage lesbian in tho #spicegirls #totp

"Mama" - Spice Girls

Host Kylie Minouge and Michael Hutchence earlier, now Jade and Emma set the romantic gossip a-flutter.

The song is about the mother-and-daughter bond; having never been a mother nor a daughter, it goes over my head.

Interesting that the Spices adopt the mother role with a bunch of kiddies.

Another chance to see "Don't speak" for the playout.

They're not showing the 27 March episode, which I'll briefly summarise with links.

"Who do you think you are" - Spice Girls

From the Comic Relief show later in the night, 1997's big charity fun(d)-raising song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rr75OqvJns

"Who do you think you are" - Spice Girls

Rehearsals day at the Brits. Mel B is dying to go off and get Skin from Skunk Anansie's autograph.

"Listen!" she says, holding the phone towards the stage where Skin's vocals are in action. "Can you hear that? She's excellent."

Mel B is right.

This year's Christmas number one is "2 become 1" - Spice Girls.

A soft and gentle love song, cuddling up to your cutie, getting cosy by the roaring fire.

Condom, anyone?

Only in 1996 could a safer sex anthem get to Christmas number one. Only the Spices could do that.

They're off to conquer North America next year, I'll have to warn my squeeze because her kid sis will go gaga for these five.

"Say you'll be there" - Spice Girls

The first single was their mission statement: we are the Spice Girls, we are powerful young women, watch us rip up the form book.

Here's their utopian dream: we are the Spice Girls, this is the world we can construct, fantastic and playful and sensual, drenched in endless sunshine.

Change.

We're watching Christmas 1996 on #TOTP: the usual Mystery Years begin at 8.35.

"Wannabe" - Spice Girls

They can't re-create the video in the studio, but they can re-create the atmosphere: fast cuts, the way they can go absolutely anywhere on the puny little diamond stage.

Even Mel C's cartwheel. Absolute classic.