The Spice Girls marked 30 years since “Wannabe” with a major anniversary release, but many fans had hoped for something very different.
Instead of announcing a reunion tour, Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell-Horner and Victoria Beckham unveiled The Singles Collection. The set brought together the group’s singles, B-sides and previously unreleased recordings.
Spice Girls announce a 30th anniversary collection with four unreleased recordings
The group announced the Spice Girls Singles Collection on Instagram and revealed plans to release it on November 6.
“The Singles Collection. ALL the singles. ALL the B-sides. And a few surprises from the vault…” the group wrote.
The CD edition included an additional disc with four Spice Girls unreleased songs and demos from the group’s archive. One of those recordings, “Do You Think About Me,” dated back to the band’s early years.
The vinyl edition featured all 14 singles on individually colored 7-inch records. Each record also included its original lead B-side and sleeve artwork.
The collection additionally featured new anniversary messages from all five members.
However, the announcement disappointed fans who expected the group to celebrate the Spice Girls 30th anniversary with a full reunion.
“I’ll tell you what I want! What I really really want…..A TOUR WITH ALL 5!!!” one fan commented.
Another wrote, “We want a tour. Nothing else but that.”
The reaction followed a cryptic teaser that had increased expectations before the announcement. The group filmed the video at London’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which appeared in the original Spice Girls “Wannabe” music video.
Rumors about another reunion had circulated for months. Earlier reports claimed all five members discussed anniversary concerts but failed to reach an agreement.
Mel C later confirmed that no reunion had taken shape, although she remained hopeful about performing with the group again.
“No, there is no reunion. We are communicating all the time. We want to do something – who knows when,” she said.
Victoria had also previously expressed doubts about returning to touring because she wanted to focus on her fashion career.
While fans did not get the reunion many wanted, The Singles Collection gave them previously unheard material three decades after “Wannabe” launched the group’s global career.
