POPinion: Spice Girls reunited after world tour

By: Kathleen McKiernan

Posted: 4/9/08

04/09/08 - Is it me or are the 2000s becoming a repeat of the 1990s? It seems more and more like a comeback of the '90s pop generation of music artists-something completely unexpected to me.

When the various pop groups and singers dazzled the airwaves with their catchy tunes in the late '90s to early 2000s, I never expected them to return.

The music business retreated from the fan-friendly sugary songs and artists that broke records with their album sales.

By 2001, it seemed pop music had reached its heyday with the rise of more catchy beats and songs about "My Humps" and "Gold Digger(s)" in the music industry.

Even the big names of those moneymaking groups broke out into their solo careers, distancing themselves from their early bubbly sounding tunes (See: Justin Timberlake and Beyonce). As more rap and R&B songs abounded from the airwaves, it seemed pop music was of a bygone era.

Yet in June 2007, the 1994-2000 girl band, the Spice Girls, announced their reunion-seven years after officially disbanding-exciting their dormant fans. They initially planned to have only 11 shows across the world to compliment their greatest hits CD. However, in December, they kicked off their world tour with an additional 36 shows as a result of ticket demand.

Ticket sales for the "Return of the Spice Girls" sold out in 38 seconds, prompting sixteen additional show dates at the O2 London Arena. The band netted $20 million each for the London shows alone. Rather than the two concerts in America, the girls played 18, selling out at all venues. The Spice Girls, probably the most successful girl group ever (besides Destiny's Child), brought their '90s girl-power ideals back to the 2000s.

When the "Return of the Spice Girls" tour ended in February, you'd think you had seen the last of the comebacks - but you thought too soon. Selling over 70 million albums worldwide, the band that defined dance moves and vocals needed to win over millions of fans. They announced their return on April 4, 2008 after months of speculation. After 14 years of pursuing their solo careers in acting, singing and even real estate, the late '80s and early '90s, boy band, the New Kids on the Block have also returned. The band that paved the away for acts like N*SYNC and the Backstreet Boys, announced a world tour to start in the fall and a new album. Although not kids anymore, the boys from the block are still "Hangin' Tough," promising more off their well known dance moves.

I think reunions and comebacks are great. They definitely make breakups worthwhile, but still it gets me wondering why all of a sudden there is a rush of reunions- particularly from the '90's decade. And not only are record-breaking bands returning, but even television shows are speculated to be coming back- "Beverly Hills 90210" is rumored to have a remake on the CW.

Is nostalgia running this? Have bands and their fans simply wanted to reclaim some of their past glory? Is the fact that the 1990s were great- not only for pop music and TV, but in terms of the general prosperity of life -driving the comebacks with people wanting a return to the good old days?

Or is it simply that one band's comeback and success made others think they could achieve the same success if they did the same? Who knows really? For me, I like to think that dissatisfaction with the pop music industry is causing the overabundance of reunions. It is clearly noticeable that, as of late, no artist has achieved great success. The radio is filled with one hit wonders and American Idols, who soon disappear.

Sold out world tours with their high-tech lights, talented back up dancers, and glitzy outfits have been absent for a while. Many pop acts can hardly achieve the album sales, disregarding iTunes.

It seems farfetched to believe that artists today will receive a global "Icon" award down the line like the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child won from the 2008 Capital Awards in London. Although the rap and R&B music industry is doing quite well, pop music is having a bit of a drought. Maybe, the answer simply is that pop music is not what it used to be and that old bands have to come back to fill the void they left. The fact that they can return with enormous success tells you something.

I think fans will agree that whatever the reason is, they are ecstatic about the return of their long-lost favorite bands.

Although only some bands have recently returned, while others have not, leaving their fans still hoping. I get the feeling that 2008 will not be the last year you see the last of the return and comebacks from the 1990s groups. As each decade is defined by its music, it seems more likely that this decade will be defined by the return of bands from a previous time.