Spicemania: How the Spice Girls Conquered 1997

When the Spice Girls hit U.S. shores in 1997—after having spent 1996 rocketing to era-defining superstardom in their U.K. home—they detonated on impact. Within six months of the stateside release of debut single “Wannabe” in January, they had a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, three top five hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and a cultural footprint that seemed to expand every five minutes. It was a phenomenon that defined global pop music and transformed the sound of the decade’s top 40.

On this episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, we dive deep into the pivotal takeover year of 1997. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by an unlikely “Spice Boy” in Austin folk/Americana singer-songwriter and actor Shakey Graves, whose superfandom started at the turn of his teens and has lasted well into adulthood. We explore his connection to the group, including his own live covers of their hits, while also touching on his latest musical projects.

Throughout the discussion, we tackle the essential questions of the Spicemania era: What made “Wannabe” such an unstoppable lead single? How did the group’s distinct personalities redefine the concept of a girl group? We also examine the legacy of Spice World, the impact of Geri Halliwell’s departure, and the enduring power of their “Girl Power” vision.

Check out the episode above, along with a curated playlist of the Spice Girls’ biggest 1997 moments. For more weekly discussions on the history of pop stardom, subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on your preferred platform.