I wrote an essay about seeing the Spice Girls last month.
This weekend, I spiced up my life. I laughed it off the past month when my roommate kept bringing up the fact that her father had the ability to get us tickets to see the Spice Girls in Hartford, Connecticut. It didn’t seem real. The Spice Girls? Seriously? But then the weekend was drawing near and my disbelief changed to me telling anyone who would listen about my plans for the upcoming night. Then Friday was finally upon us, and it was time for my roommate and I to head to the Civic Center in Hartford. Her dad played a little trick on us- instead of the box seats that his company has priority over, me and my roommate were upgraded to sit in the section just above the floor. Her dad said it was a sort of reward for being a good student or something.
We weren’t sure what kind of audience to expect at this concert. Were all the other patrons willing to spend over 100$ to see a band that reached their peak in the late-90’s going to be old enough to buy beer? Have their own kids? We walked into the Civic Center and saw a mass of all ages and types of people- moms, young moms, kids, people with cups full of beer, boys, one really old creepy dude. We were utterly confused about how anyone older or younger then us would be interested in this concert. I remember dancing to “Wannabe” in my living room with my neighbors, creating literal dance moves and arguing about my favorite Spice. I must have been in 4th grade then. Who are these other girls? They must have been in kindergarten when the Spice Girls hit the music charts- surely not old enough to have the CDs in their collections.
The Girls were supposed to hit the stage at 8pm, or so the ticket said. The ticket also revealed the exorbitant ticket price, which makes me shudder when I think about it. Sitting there with my roommate waiting for the show to begin, I wasn’t sure what I thought about the whole thing. Part of me was totally embarrassed that I was engaging in this teeny-bopper dream. Another part of me echoed what my roommate had said about the concert at an earlier time: what an amazing part of pop culture to consume, and how easy it was. The Spice Girls were so epic when I was growing up- this was something that probably should have happened for me 10 years ago, but now works too.
When they came onstage at 9pm, this weird but totally amazing feeling overtook me. Sometimes I feel like seeing a band live can ruin it for you- but in this case it was the opposite. First of all, the Girls don’t seem to have aged a day. Sure, they’re wearing tons of stage makeup, but Jesus Christ they look better then I think I ever will. I don’t even know how old they are, what, 25? The stage was enormous and covered in thousands of lights and different structures which prove essential later in the performance. It was the perfect pop concert- lots of dancing and fog and disappearing into the stage floor. Oh, you’re going to sit on this couch or pretend to fellate this male audience member? Awesome, I’m so into this. They opened their performance with “Spice Up Your Life.” I thought that I’d be able to play it cool, as I often try to at concerts. I refuse to clap when the struggling bass player elicits audience participation. I sing along but then giggle when I forget the words then get discouraged in picking back up. That’s why this concert experience was unlike any of my others. Immediately I was transformed back to a 10-year-old girl dancing to a boombox in my suburban split-level home. I had a permanent smile plastered to my face. I was screaming the words, dancing and clapping along to the manufactured beats. My roommate and I decided that the Spice Girls was one of the few aspects of our childhoods that could make us react and feel this way. They represented strong females to our 11-year-old selves. They were sort of role models.
To my younger self, these strong women officially stood for “girl power.” Watching them now, however, I saw a slightly different message. I noticed plenty of young and impressionable girls in the audience (myself included). I think that the Spice Girls probably aren’t sure who their fan base is even comprised of anymore. The show had plenty of questionable content. These women, not Girls, are old enough to do this, obviously, but they had to have known that there were plenty of young girls in the audience. Onstage one of the Girls said, “fuck.” Scary Spice pretended to fellate a male audience member (as previously mentioned). The Girls danced around individual candy cane poles, which really resembled something a stripper might dance on. At the same time, they’re singing about how friendship lasts forever and never ends. Part of me wishes that the Girls would focus more on the friendship aspect of their shtick. Another part of me realizes that women need to be portrayed as multifaceted and perhaps this sexual representation isn’t a bad thing. Either way, it was just slightly shocking, and I can’t decide what kind of implications it has.
Why is it that a musical group that I loved when I was young is able to strike such a significant chord with me, years later? People I’ve talked to think it’s because the Girls were such a substantial part of popular culture- everyone knew about them. They weren’t some cool, hip, underground group that only certain people knew about. I saw them on MTV, heard them on the radio, bonded with my friends while listening. I guess I never really got closure with their music. It sounds silly, I know it does. But all the females that I tell about it are either jealous or understanding. Most of the males that I tell about the concert, however, either make fun of me or are indifferent, or even hint at disapproval. But I don’t care. All my wildest little girl fantasies came true that snowy Hartford, Conn. night. I’m even tempted to listen to some of their music and maybe not laugh this time around.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more pervasive. I was just checking out my facebook homepage, when something on the sidebar caught my eye. I figured it was an advertisement but I just couldn’t look away. “People you may know.” It sort of startled me. Should I know these people? I looked at the names and photos listed. YES I recognize these people. I went to high school with many of these people. Now, I realize that’s not anything too severe- our listed high schools are the same, but still. Seeing photos of people who look like slightly awkward copies of people I used to know, is strange. I’m wondering if this new service from Facebook is going to bring lots and lots of people together. I should probably friend that kid that I used to sit next to in 9th grade band class. But I’m not really going to. Facebook has brought down so many normal barriers. I friend people that I don’t plan on saying Hi to. I don’t get it either. Even though I think it’s kinda strange, I’m secretly hoping for the “people you should date” function to be next. 
oh hey Mark. Lawlin’ all the way to the bank.[Photos from http://reporter.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/30/facebook.jpg and http://prnewser.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/facebook_advertising.jpg, respectively.]
Just stare at that face for a little bit. Totally dead behind the eyes. And forced. Anyway – I never 