So, before I go off on why the Spice Girls reunion performance at last night’s Olympic closing ceremonies was incredibly important for people the world over, I have to give a disclaimer: I’m a mega-fan. I’ve read (and own!) Geri Halliwell’s autobiography, I had a framed picture of them proudly displayed in my apartment for years (I think it got lost in my last move–must replace!), and I maybe once wrote a 25-page thesis in college about how the Spice Girls were basically carrying out Jane Austen’s vision of girl power and ultimate feminism. (I got an A.) So, yeah. I’m crazy. And I love the Spice Girls.
 
 
But! The Spice Girls reunion really was the best thing ever, and the reasons why are legit. Here’s the countdown . . .

10. Geri’s Tiara
I mean . . . amazing. She knows she’s the Queen of Spice (even though she was the first to leave the group) and she owned it with that sparkly gold number on top of her head. I’m thinking of having a replica made and wearing it every day. I’m sure that’ll go over really well with my boss, boyfriend, friends–but um, whatevs.

9. Friendship Over Fighting
Okay, so we all remember that there were nasty rumors of why the girls broke up the Spice Girls, not to mention why Geri left in the first place (in her book, she says the other girls weren’t okay with her doing a documentary on AIDS, so she quit the group!). But you know what? Instead of holding a grudge, these girls were able to get back together to do something awesome that made the world smile. No pettiness here!

7. The Fun!
So often, bands reunite and then they just go through the motions, or you can tell they’re just doing it because they need some extra cash. But Ginger, Baby, Posh, Sporty, and Scary genuinely seemed to be having the most freaking fantastic time out there! You can’t help but smile watching them.

6. The Clothes
Everyone looked super gorgeous, no?! I love that they were able to update everyone’s signature look without making them look cheesy or dated. Did you SEE the train on Victoria’s little black dress? So great.

5. The Money
Okay, so I just said I get annoyed when bands reunite just to make extra cash–which I don’t think was the case here–but I love that the Spice Girls are the best selling girl group of all time. As of 2010, they’d sold over 75 million records . . . and that was two years ago! Proof that girls can make it just as big (if not bigger!) than the boys.

4. The (Totes Doable) Dance Moves
Is it just me who gets annoyed by super slick, complicated dance moves in music videos? I’m like, UM, no. I’m never going to be able to do that thing where you slid on the floor and then did a back flip over some dude to get back up again. But the Spice Girls moves? Cute and totally doable! Thanks, ladies for making me feel like I’ve got the moves.

3. They’ll Never Give Up On The Good Times
These chicas practice what they preach. Never give up on the good times? Oh, they have not. And revisiting their biggest hits at the Olympics closing ceremonies surely reminded people around the world of their most fun, happy times in the ’90s when the Spice Girls were literally everywhere.

2. Age Don’t Mean A Thing!
A lady never tells her age, nor does she comment on other ladies’ ages, but let’s just state the obvious: Not even Baby Spice is a baby anymore. The Spice Girls may no longer be in their 20s, but they still look and sound just as amazing now (if not even moreso!) proving that age is just a state of mind.

1. The Message
I could write a whole book about this, but I’ll try to keep it short. The Spice Girls are all about girl power, feminism, friendship, and team work. They took the stereotypes that society puts on women and girls (that you’re a jock or into fashion–or you’re exotic or playful or sexy) and showed that women CAN be those things if they want to and also be powerful. They taught girls to stick with their friends over boys, and that if a dude won’t have safe sex with you, he’s not worth having sex with at all. Sure, they get dismissed as bubblegum pop, but there’s a lot more substance to chew on than most people think.

So, people of the world, are you ready to spice up your life? I think you are. Watch their Olympic closing ceremony performance here at this link!

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