‘Spice’, the debut album from the Spice Girls, was released in the UK 25 years ago today. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since Girl Power took hold of the UK, if not the world, as five unknown British girls took on the pop world. I remember seeing them on TV for the first time earlier that year when they released their first single Wannabe – there’s not many bands that leave such a lasting memory. Somewhere I’ve got a signed copy of that album.

A few years later, I wrote about them, as well as Take That and S Club 7, for my university dissertation on manufactured bands. I listened to their music a lot whilst writing those circa 10,000 words as I analysed their impact on the music world and decided that my favourite album was Goodbye.

In 2007 I went to see them at the o2 in London on their reunion tour. I generally don’t go to gigs at such large venues as I prefer a more intimate music experience, but I knew it would be a one off chance to see them put on a show, and that they did. As well as performing as a group they each did a solo performance. Of course Victoria’s performance was less singing and more acting like a model, as she waltzed up and down the catwalk part of the stage. I don’t think she was ever in the group for her singing abilities.

Looking back, I’m not sure how positive their impact on the music world was, but you can’t deny that they brought a fresh new energy to the pop world. Whatever you think of their Girl Power mantra, they gave young girls someone to look up to alongside all the boy bands of the day and lead the way for a new kind of pop. Maybe in another 25 years we’ll see if they left a real lasting legacy.

Let me know in the comments who your favourite Spice Girl was.