Spice Girls' Top 8 Biggest Billboard Hits: 'Wannabe,' 'Say You'll Be There' & More | Billboard Spice Girls' Top 8 Biggest Billboard Hits Tim Roney/Getty Images Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Victoria Adams, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm of the Spice Girls, circa 1996. Girl Group Week continues with the biggest Hot 100 hits from planet Spiceworld. Girl Group Week! GIRL GROUP WEEK HOMEPAGE When the Spice Girls arrived on the pop scene nearly two decades ago and proceeded to unequivocally own it, the five-piece seemed to exist from another time and place entirely, and with instantly established identities drawing curious fans into the fold. The same can still be said of the Spice Girls, who existed in a well-remembered vacuum of pop music that produced less than 10 Hot 100 hits, but boy, did the ones that did make it out burn brightly. With Girl Group Week rolling on at Billboard.com, it's time to honor Ginger, Sporty, Posh, Scary and Baby with the Spice Girls' eight biggest Billboard hits!

Note: This ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart through the tally dated March 7, 2015. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years. 8. "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 90 Peak Date: Nov. 24, 2007 Released as the only single from the Girls' compilation album Greatest Hits, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" was also the group's only song to chart on the Hot 100 past its late-90's heyday. Although the Spice Girls may have had an abrupt ending, this swaying ballad reconfirms that the ladies' friendship did not. 7. "Goodbye" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 11 Peak Date: Dec.

26, 1998 A full two years before the Spice Girls' third and final studio album, Forever, was released in late 2000, the Geri Halliwell-less album was previewed by "Goodbye," which would be the group's last Top 20 hit. The pangs of sorrow resulting in the realization that the Spice Girls' pop reign had effectively ended makes "Goodbye" a bittersweet hit. 6. "Stop" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 16 Peak Date: July 4, 1998 Toning down the attitude of "Spice Up Your Life" and swiveling toward Motown, "Stop" was the final hit from the group's Spiceworld album, and holds up relatively well 17 years later. At the 1998 BRIT Awards, the Girls even dressed up as their girl group heroes of the 1960s and busted out the "Stop! In The Name of Love" hand-sign choreography. 5. "Too Much" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 9 Peak Date: Feb.

21, 1998 More pop fans may remember how to sing along to "Spice Up Your Life," but the ballad "Too Much" was actually the only song from Spiceworld to crash the Top 10 of the Hot 100 chart. Not everybody loved "Too Much," however -- the single, which appeared in the Spice World film, was nominated for Worst Original Song at the 1998 Golden Raspberry Awards, alongside Aerosmith's Armageddon anthem "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing." 4. "Spice Up Your Life" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 18 Peak Date: Nov. 29, 1997 At the time of "Spice Up Your Life's" release, the Spice Girls were world-conquerors, making it the perfect occasion to command "every boy and every girl" to spice up their lives. The Latin-tinged dance track served as the ideal lead single to the ambitious sophomore album Spiceworld, powering the group out of their impossibly successful 1997 and into 1998. 3. "2 Become 1" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No.

4 Peak Date: Sept. 6, 1997 Following their breakout success thanks to two uptempo smashes, the Spice Girls slowed things down on "2 Become 1," perhaps the most perfect high school slow-dance song ever created. The manta "I need some love like I've never needed love before" led to another Top 5 hit for the Girls, who were readying a new album, Spiceworld, for a release less than two months after "2 Become 1" peaked on the charts. 2. "Say You'll Be There" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 3 Peak Date: May 31, 1997 If "Wannabe" introduced the Spice Girls to the world at large, "Say You'll Be There" undoubtedly sustained that initial explosion with another enormously catchy hook and smart-but-simple instrumental arrangement. Props to anyone who can still name the girls' alter egos in the "Say You'll Be There" music video off the top of their heads -- Geri Halliwell as "Trixie Firecracker" and Melanie Brown as "Blazin' Bad Zula" are personal favorites. 1.

"Wannabe" Hot 100 Chart Peak: No. 1 Peak Date: Feb. 22, 1997 The Spice Girls' only No. 1 single on the Hot 100 chart remains the group's most iconic song: when "Wannabe" took off, so did the U.K. quintet's U.S. pop takeover. The song stayed atop the Hot 100 chart for four weeks and made the entire world really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig-a. Spice Girls | New Music And Songs | Spice Girls About Spice Girls Spice Girls were the first major British pop music phenomenon of the mid-'90s to not have a debt to independent pop/rock. Instead, the all-female quintet derived from the dance-pop tradition that made Take That the most popular British group of the early '90s, but there was one crucial difference. Spice Girls used dance-pop as a musical base, but they infused the music with a fiercely independent, feminist stance that was equal parts Madonna, post-riot grrrl alternative rock feminism, and a co-opting of the good-times-all-the-time stance of England's new lad culture.

Their proud, all-girl image and catchy dance-pop appealed to younger listeners, while their colorful, sexy personalities and sense of humor appealed to older music fans, making Spice Girls a cross-generational success. The group also became chart-toppers throughout Europe in 1996, before concentrating in America in early 1997. Every member of Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press from the outset, and each label was as much an extension of their own personality as it was a marketing tool, since each name derived from their debut single and video, "Wannabe." Geri Estelle Halliwell was the "sexy Spice"; Melanie Janine Brown was the "scary Spice"; Victoria Adams was "the posh Spice"; Melanie Jayne Chisholm was "the sporty Spice"; Emma Lee Bunton was "the baby Spice." Each persona was exploited in the group's press articles and videos, which helped send "Wannabe" to the top of the charts upon its summer release in 1996. If all of the invented personalities made Spice Girls seem manufactured, that's because they were to a certain extent.

Every member of the group was active in England's theatrical, film, and modeling circuit before the group's formation, and they all responded to an advertisement requesting five "lively girls" for a musical group in the summer of 1993. The manager who placed the ad chose all five members of Spice Girls, yet the women rejected his plans for their career and set out on their own two months after forming. For the next two years, the Girls fought to get a record contract, since most record labels insisted that the band pick one member as a clear leader, which is something the group refused. Eventually, Spice Girls signed a contract to Virgin Records. They were without a manager, though, which made recording a debut album nearly impossible. All five members moved into a house and went on the dole as they searched for a manager. By the end of 1995, the group had signed with Annie Lennox's manager Simon Fuller, and began writing songs with Elliot Kennedy. "Wannabe," Spice Girls' first single, was released in the summer of 1996 and became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the British charts at number one.

It remained there for seven weeks, and by the end of the year, "Wannabe" had hit number one in 21 other countries. Immediately following the success of "Wannabe," Spice Girls became media icons in Britain as stories of their encounters with other celebrities became fodder for numerous tabloids, as did nude photos of Halliwell that she posed for earlier in her career. All of this added to the group's momentum, and their second single, "Say You'll Be There," entered the charts at number one in the fall, selling 200,000 copies a week. Spice, their debut album, was released at the end of the year, accompanied by their first ballad, "2 Become 1." Both the album and single went directly to number one, staying there for several weeks; both records were at number one over the Christmas week, making Spice Girls one of three artists to achieve that feat. Having topped the charts in virtually every other country in the Western world, Spice Girls concentrated on America in early 1997, releasing "Wannabe" in January and Spice in February. They became massive stars in the U.S.

as well, also scoring the hits "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1"; Spiceworld, their second LP, appeared later in the year in conjunction with their feature film of the same name. In May 1998, Geri Halliwell departed from the band, not citing major reasons for leaving the group. She did release a solo album, Schizophonic, a year later, but nothing chart-topping to match the success of her former band. Still not deterred by the absence of Ginger Spice, Spice Girls trudged on -- Melanie B. married Spice Girls dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released the solo single, a duet with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot called "I Want You Back." By Christmas, Spice Girls scored a number one hit with Goodbye and with a career floating high, their personal lives were moving as well. Melanie B. gave birth to a daughter named Phoenix Chi in February 1999, and Adams followed a month later with a son, Brooklyn Joseph. And now only known as Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice married Manchester United soccer star David Beckham later that summer.

Becoming now more noticeable for their social status than their singing, Spice Girls took a well-deserved break while Melanie C. took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the U.S. in fall 1999. The following year, the girls headed back into the studio with high-profile producers Rodney Jerkins, Terry Lewis, and Jimmy Jam (Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige) to record a follow-up to their pop-friendly Spiceworld. In the middle of recording, Melanie B. divorced Gulzar and endured a bitter custody battle throughout the remainder of 2000. Spice Girls' creative power overruled media scrutiny so that they could fully focus on the new R&B sound they were trying for and a the new collaboration united the foursome once again to release the third album Forever, which hit American shores in fall 2000. The group began to splinter not long after the release of Forever, which made little impact outside of the UK where it only had one hit single -- the chart-topping double-sided single “Holler”/”Let Love Lead the Way” -- before the Spice Girls stopped promoting the album.

Just three months after the album's November 2000 release, the band announced that they were separating in February of 2001. Over the next few years, the Spice Girls may not have existed as a group, but they were never out of various taboild headlines in the UK and America. As the wife of football superstar David Beckham, Victoria got the most attention, but Mel B wasn't far behind thanks to her ill-fated romance with actor Eddie Murphy, which resulted in an out-of-wedlock child. Mel Chisholm had a steady career as a pop singer while Emma Bunton had some chart success of her own with her 2001 album A Girl Like Me and its 2004 successor, Free Me. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell split her time between recording and TV projects. After years of persistent rumors of a reunion -- peaking heavily yet never materializing for Bob Geldolf's 2005 charity event Live 8 -- the Spice Girls announced in June 2007 that they would be reuniting for an eleven-concert tour beginning that December, which would be accompanied by a new greatest hits album and documentary.

In 2010, it was announced that the Spice Girls had joined forces with Simon Fuller to develop a musical based on their songs. Viva Forever: The Musical - penned by British comedienne Jennifer Saunders - was announced at a press conference in June 2012. After much speculation in the British press, the Spice Girls reformed once more for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There - YouTube Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Mar 6, 2009 Music video by Spice Girls performing Say You'll Be There.

Category The 11 Best UK Girl Groups Of The Past 25 Years: From Spice Girls To Sugababes | Idolator The 11 Best UK Girl Groups Of The Past 25 Years: From Spice Girls To Sugababes Sam Lansky | October 17, 2012 - 5:30 am Share < br />this article: British boy bands are on the rise, with groups like One Direction and The Wanted making a monster impact on the US charts, but what about the ladies? Just as our neighbors across the pond have produced an inordinate share of the best boy band pop of the last few decades , so have they contributed some absolutely showstopping girl groups, from the iconically well-known ( Spice Girls ) to the relatively obscure — on these shores, at least (Atomic Kitten, anyone?). With Brits carving out a bigger space than ever in the US charts, we’re taking a look back at the finest girl groups that the UK has had to offer from the last 25 years, and the hits that make them still compulsively listenable. 11.

Mis-Teeq: An urban girl group whose smartly produced R&B made them a chart sensation in the UK, Mis-Teeq had a minor US hit in 2004 with “Scandalous” (featured, memorably, in the critically reviled box office bomb Catwoman) before their label went bankrupt. But with seven consecutive Top 10 hits in the their home country and production from Stargate — who went on to create Rihanna ’s signature sound with songs like “What’s My Name?” — Mis-Teeq’s garage-inflected chart pop is remembered fondly. 10. B*Witched: Best remembered in the US as a bubblegum pop novelty act for their 1998 hit “C’est La Vie,” the Irish (not British, but they were a hit there!) girl group B*Witched only released two albums, which spawned four consecutive UK #1 singles. But, the members enjoyed unexpected career longevity in a handful of other ways: singer Edele Lynch wrote songs for Girls Aloud and Sugababes , and later re-teamed up with her sister Keavy to create the dance duo Barbarellas, who released an album in 2011.

9. Atomic Kitten: With a string of UK #1 hits, teen pop trio Atomic Kitten’s US impact was minimal. But when they were good, they were really good. Formed around the millennium in the midst of the post-Spice Girls girl group renaissance, Atomic Kitten went through a handful of line-up changes. However, their output remained consistent: their cover of Blondie ’s “The Tide Is High” went to #1 (and just missed the Top 40 in the US), as did the skittering mid-tempo single “Whole Again,” which is one of the sweetest, loveliest pop offerings from the early ’00s. 8. Eternal: The girl group who were largely considered the UK’s answer to the US R&B phenomena En Vogue and TLC , Eternal’s four studio albums earned them a string of radio smashes in their native UK, as well as the US Top 20 hit “Stay” back in 1993. Their smooth, sultry stylings made such an impression that Monica — then one of the hottest stars in the States — covered their single “Angel Of Mine” for her album The Boy Is Mine. 7.

The Saturdays: Upon their debut in 2008, The Saturdays were initially perceived as an off-brand iteration of the UK’s reigning queens Girls Aloud, since — like Aloud — The Saturdays were a five-piece girl group who sang chic, club-ready dance-pop. But over the last half-decade, they’ve carved out a real niche as the originators of consistently high-quality radio pop that wasn’t quite as cluttered as Girl Aloud’s overstuffed style. Occasionally — like with their debut single “If This Is Love” — they’re even brilliant. A US launch reportedly in the works, meaning The Saturdays may be the newest girl group to storm American shores. 6. All Saints: The hipper, sulkier counterpart to the Spice Girls’ hyperactive euphoria, All Saints had a big late-’90s hit in the US with “Never Ever.” Alas, they were relegated to stateside one-hit-wonder status after their successive UK smashes failed to perform, even as their music got better and better.

That said, the quartet’s 2006 LP Studio 1 is one of the sharpest, grimiest pop records of the last decade, and that spoken-word intro to “Never Ever” — which went to #1 in the UK and earned them a Brit Award — remains one of the best moments of ’90s girl group mania. 5. Bananarama: The girl group that dominated the ’80s and early ’90s with their ebullient dance-pop, Bananarama paved the way for acts like the Spice Girls to take the reins years later. Their songs like the much-covered global hit “Venus,” the iconic “Cruel Summer” and the US Top 10 hit “I Heard a Rumour” made them a household name. And although they’ve undergone line-up changes (and have since gone from trio to duo), they’re still on their grind: their 2009 album Viva was a mix of covers and original material, turning out the dance single “Love Comes,” and Bananarama just wrapped their first US tour in decades. 3 – 4.

Sugababes/Mutya Keisha Siobhan: Originally created in 1998 as the brainchild of three teenage girls — Siobhan Donaghy , Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan — the Sugababes made an instant splash with their innovative hit “Overload.” Over the following decade, they went through so many Destiny’s Child -esque line-up changes that by 2010, the group no longer featured any of its original members (each having been replaced, over time, by Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen, respectively). Sugababes were at their best in their second iteration (after Donaghy left and was replaced by Range), but the original girls have reunited under the name Mutya Keisha Siobhan (with tracks courtesy of Emeli Sande , no less). Both groups — the original ‘babes and their 2.0 version — deserve a space on this list for their sleek R&B-pop and effortlessly cool attitude. Sugababes 1.0/Mutya Keisha Siobhan: Sugababes 2.0 2.

Girls Aloud: Founded on the inauspiciously titled Pop Stars: The Rivals TV show back in 2002, Girls Aloud became the most cutting-edge girl group in British history as a result of their risk-taking, inventiveness and close collaboration with the critically acclaimed production troupe Xenomania. (They’re also the Most Successful Reality TV Group in history, according to the Guinness World Records.) The quintet reunited this year for an upcoming greatest hits collection (the lead single from that compilation, “Something New,” dropped this week). The Cheryl Cole -featuring band’s impact can be heard in the current dance sound that dominates the charts on both sides of the pond, which Girls Aloud were doing even when R&B dominated the airwaves. Their sweet, retro single “The Promise” topped the UK chart and earned them their first Brit Award in 2009 for Best British Single. While they’ve never cracked the US, Girls Aloud also never bothered trying. Why would they? They’re a quintessentially British treasure. 1.

Spice Girls: The Spice Girls are the best-selling girl group of all time, and the most successful British band since The Beatles — and their music remains some of the most searingly brilliant pop ever created. Like, ever. The global smash “Wannabe” remains their best-known hit (it did, after all, go to #1 in 30 countries), though it’s the group’s legacy that lives on, both via the Girl Power movement that’s cemented in the cultural consciousness, and the fact that they ushered in the teen-pop tsunami that dominated the late ’90s and early millennium. Spice Girls’ most memorable smashes like “Say You’ll Be There,” “2 Become 1″ and “Spice Up Your Life” are the stuff of pop legend. In the space of only three albums, they managed to inarguably redefine what pop meant to the world. Do you agree with the rankings our list of the Top 11 UK girl groups, or did we leave off your favorite? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter ! Spice Girls on Apple Music To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music.

Biography Spice Girls were the first major British pop music phenomenon of the mid-'90s to not have a debt to independent pop/rock. Instead, the all-female quintet derived from the dance-pop tradition that made Take That the most popular British group of the early '90s, but there was one crucial difference. Spice Girls used dance-pop as a musical base, but they infused the music with a fiercely independent, feminist stance that was equal parts Madonna, post-riot grrrl alternative rock feminism, and a co-opting of the good-times-all-the-time stance of England's new lad culture. Their proud, all-girl image and catchy dance-pop appealed to younger listeners, while their colorful, sexy personalities and sense of humor appealed to older music fans, making Spice Girls a cross-generational success. The group also became chart-toppers throughout Europe in 1996, before concentrating in America in early 1997.

Every member of Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press from the outset, and each label was as much an extension of their own personality as it was a marketing tool, since each name derived from their debut single and video, "Wannabe." Geri Estelle Halliwell was the "sexy Spice"; Melanie Janine Brown was the "scary Spice"; Victoria Adams was "the posh Spice"; Melanie Jayne Chisholm was "the sporty Spice"; Emma Lee Bunton was "the baby Spice." Each persona was exploited in the group's press articles and videos, which helped send "Wannabe" to the top of the charts upon its summer release in 1996. If all of the invented personalities made Spice Girls seem manufactured, that's because they were to a certain extent. Every member of the group was active in England's theatrical, film, and modeling circuit before the group's formation, and they all responded to an advertisement requesting five "lively girls" for a musical group in the summer of 1993. The manager who placed the ad chose all five members of Spice Girls, yet the women rejected his plans for their career and set out on their own two months after forming.

For the next two years, the Girls fought to get a record contract, since most record labels insisted that the band pick one member as a clear leader, which is something the group refused. Eventually, Spice Girls signed a contract to Virgin Records. They were without a manager, though, which made recording a debut album nearly impossible. All five members moved into a house and went on the dole as they searched for a manager. By the end of 1995, the group had signed with Annie Lennox's manager Simon Fuller, and began writing songs with Elliot Kennedy. "Wannabe," Spice Girls' first single, was released in the summer of 1996 and became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the British charts at number one. It remained there for seven weeks, and by the end of the year, "Wannabe" had hit number one in 21 other countries. Immediately following the success of "Wannabe," Spice Girls became media icons in Britain as stories of their encounters with other celebrities became fodder for numerous tabloids, as did nude photos of Halliwell that she posed for earlier in her career.

All of this added to the group's momentum, and their second single, "Say You'll Be There," entered the charts at number one in the fall, selling 200,000 copies a week. Spice, their debut album, was released at the end of the year, accompanied by their first ballad, "2 Become 1." Both the album and single went directly to number one, staying there for several weeks; both records were at number one over the Christmas week, making Spice Girls one of three artists to achieve that feat. Having topped the charts in virtually every other country in the Western world, Spice Girls concentrated on America in early 1997, releasing "Wannabe" in January and Spice in February. They became massive stars in the U.S. as well, also scoring the hits "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1"; Spiceworld, their second LP, appeared later in the year in conjunction with their feature film of the same name. In May 1998, Geri Halliwell departed from the band, not citing major reasons for leaving the group.

She did release a solo album, Schizophonic, a year later, but nothing chart-topping to match the success of her former band. Still not deterred by the absence of Ginger Spice, Spice Girls trudged on -- Melanie B. married Spice Girls dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released the solo single, a duet with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot called "I Want You Back." By Christmas, Spice Girls scored a number one hit with Goodbye and with a career floating high, their personal lives were moving as well. Melanie B. gave birth to a daughter named Phoenix Chi in February 1999, and Adams followed a month later with a son, Brooklyn Joseph. And now only known as Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice married Manchester United soccer star David Beckham later that summer. Becoming now more noticeable for their social status than their singing, Spice Girls took a well-deserved break while Melanie C. took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the U.S. in fall 1999. The following year, the girls headed back into the studio with high-profile producers Rodney Jerkins, Terry Lewis, and Jimmy Jam (Janet Jackson, Mary J.

Blige) to record a follow-up to their pop-friendly Spiceworld. In the middle of recording, Melanie B. divorced Gulzar and endured a bitter custody battle throughout the remainder of 2000. Spice Girls' creative power overruled media scrutiny so that they could fully focus on the new R&B sound they were trying for and a the new collaboration united the foursome once again to release the third album Forever, which hit American shores in fall 2000. The group began to splinter not long after the release of Forever, which made little impact outside of the UK where it only had one hit single -- the chart-topping double-sided single “Holler”/”Let Love Lead the Way” -- before the Spice Girls stopped promoting the album. Just three months after the album's November 2000 release, the band announced that they were separating in February of 2001. Over the next few years, the Spice Girls may not have existed as a group, but they were never out of various taboild headlines in the UK and America.

As the wife of football superstar David Beckham, Victoria got the most attention, but Mel B wasn't far behind thanks to her ill-fated romance with actor Eddie Murphy, which resulted in an out-of-wedlock child. Mel Chisholm had a steady career as a pop singer while Emma Bunton had some chart success of her own with her 2001 album A Girl Like Me and its 2004 successor, Free Me. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell split her time between recording and TV projects. After years of persistent rumors of a reunion -- peaking heavily yet never materializing for Bob Geldolf's 2005 charity event Live 8 -- the Spice Girls announced in June 2007 that they would be reuniting for an eleven-concert tour beginning that December, which would be accompanied by a new greatest hits album and documentary. In 2010, it was announced that the Spice Girls had joined forces with Simon Fuller to develop a musical based on their songs. Viva Forever: The Musical - penned by British comedienne Jennifer Saunders - was announced at a press conference in June 2012.

After much speculation in the British press, the Spice Girls reformed once more for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Top Albums Record-Breakers and Trivia - everyHit.com Back To The 'Records & Trivia' Index Most Number 1s This, possibly the most important record, is held by Elvis Presley. He has had 21 chart-toppers, 18 of them different songs (three titles have topped the chart on two distinctly separate chart runs as part of the series of re-issues to commemorate what would have been Elvis' 70th birthday in 2005). You can see how this record has 'changed hands' over the years here . The Beatles are the top group with 17 number 1s. Madonna is the top woman with 13 (as of April 2008). Top female group is The Spice Girls with 9. Only seven acts in chart history have got into double figures with their tally of chart-toppers.

They are: Elvis Presley (21, 18 different songs), The Beatles (17), Cliff Richard (14 : six of them with The Shadows, one with The Drifters, one with The Young Ones), Westlife (14 : one of them with Mariah Carey), Madonna (13), The Shadows (11 : six of them with Cliff Richard, two of these also with The Norrie Paramor Strings) and Take That (11: one featuring Lulu). Westlife hold the record for getting into double-figures in the shortest time (2 years and 10 months [ie. 149 weeks] - more than 3 months quicker than The Beatles (who took 165 weeks). Unlike Westlife, however, The Beatles tended to spend several weeks at the summit, slowing down their release rate.) It is worth pointing out that Paul McCartney has appeared on more Number 1s than any other artist under a diverse range of credits.

He has, in fact, appeared on 24 Number 1s; solo (1), with Wings (1), Stevie Wonder, The Christians et al (1), Ferry Aid (1), Band Aid (1), Band Aid 20 (1) and The Beatles (17). In total, twenty-one artists have appeared on ten or more number one singles. They are: Paul McCartney (24), Elvis Presley (21), John Lennon (20), George Harrison (18), Ringo Starr (16), Cliff Richard (15), Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan (14), Robbie Williams, Madonna (13), Gary Barlow, Brian McFadden (12), Mel C , Geri Halliwell (11), Mel B, Emma Bunton, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen (10). Artist with Most Weeks at Number 1 It's Elvis Presley. He has topped the chart for a total of 80 weeks (as of w/e 5th Feb 2005). Top group is The Beatles (69 weeks).

Top female performer is Madonna (29 weeks - as of w/e 17th May 2008). In his many different manifestations, however, Paul McCartney has spent 93 weeks at the top. Most Consecutive Number 1s 7 - by The Beatles and Westlife. The Beatles' stretch began with "A Hard Day's Night" in 1964 and lasted to "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" in 1966. The run was broken when "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" merely made the number 2 position the following year! Westlife's stint began with their debut, "Swear it Again" in 1999 and ran through to "My Love" in November 2000 (though one hit was a 'duet' with Mariah Carey). It was broken by "What Makes A Man" which peaked at number 2 the following month. Beatles fans are, however, quick to point out that "Ain't She Sweet" (which made number 29 in 1964) was recorded in 1961, well before their EMI contract.

It was issued by Polydor to 'cash in' on the success of the fab four. Fans argue that this was not an "official" Beatles release. If this logic is accepted (though the track did make the charts), The Beatles run of successive number ones begins with "From Me To You" in April 1963 - making a total of 11. Top female group is The Spice Girls (6 in a row from "Wannabe" through to "Too Much"). Longest Span of Number 1 Singles 47 years, 6 months and 23 days. Held by Elvis Presley. His first number 1 was "All Shook Up" in 1957 (w/e 13th June). His most recent chart-topper was the re-issue of "It's Now Or Never" in 2005 (w/e 5th Feb). Runner up is Cliff Richard. His first chart-topper was "Living Doll" in 1959. His latest was "The Millennium Prayer" in 1999, a span of 40, 4 months and 15 days. (+ 21 days for total span).

Longest span for a female artist with solo credit is Madonna on 20 Years, 7 Months, 1 Day (from "Into The Groove", 3rd Aug 1985 to "Sorry", 4th March 2006 - ie. a total span of 1074 weeks). [NB: if we include "4 Minutes" - which also credited Justin Timberlake, the span runs through to 10th May 2008 (22 years, 9 Months, 13 Days) but then this record is broken by Cher - see below.] Kyie Minogue is still both popular and productive and, on 15 Years, 9 Months, and 23 Days (ie. 825 weeks from "I Should Be So Lucky", 23rd Jan 1988 to "Slow"; 15th Nov 2003), regularly poses a threat to Madonna in this regard. If we allow 'credits' on singles rather than solo performances, Cher easily takes the record.

Her duet with Sony, "I Got You Babe" (Aug 1965) to "Believe" (Oct-Dec 1998) gives a total span of 33 years, 3 months, and 14 days [ie. 1738 weeks]. Also worthy of a mention is Tammy Wynette. Her single "Stand By Your Man" made no. 1 in 1975. She was a guest vocalist on the 'various artists' single "Perfect Day" which topped the chart in 1997-8 (22 Years, 7 Months, 24 Days - ie. 1183 weeks). Diana Ross, though not individually credited, provided vocals on the Supremes 1964 chart-topper "Baby Love". She most recently had a solo no. 1 with "Chain Reaction" in 1986 (21 Years, 4 Months, 1 Day - or 1114 weeks - total span).

First Artist To Enter At Number 1 Al Martino's "Here In My Heart" was the track to Top the first ever chart (Nov 1952) so, technically, this was the first track to debut at Number 1. But ignoring this, the first artist to enter at Number 1 in the established chart was Elvis Presley ("Jailhouse Rock", Jan 1958). First Artist To Enter At Number 1 With Consecutive Releases Slade. In 1973 they debuted at the top with both "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me." Fastest Hat-Trick of Number 1s A one-a-week series of re-issued Elvis Presley singles in 2005 enabled him to have three different chart-toppers in just four weeks; ("Jailhouse Rock" w/e 15th Jan; "One Night" / "I Got Stung" w/e 22nd Jan; "It's Now Or Never" w/e 5th Feb). The record for the fastest hat-trick of non re-issued number ones is held by John Lennon.

Following his death in December 1980, there was an almost frenzied buying of his singles. This resulted in him topping the chart no fewer than three times within an 8 week period ["(Just Like) Starting Over" w/e 20th Dec 1980; "Imagine" (a re-entry but nevertheless, not a re-issue, w/e 10th Jan 1981; "Woman" w/e 7th Feb 1981.] First Artist To Enter At Number 1 With A Hat-Trick of Consecutive Releases Take That. In fact, from July 1993 to April 1994, all four of their single releases went straight in at No.1 ("Pray", "Relight My Fire" [featuring Lulu], "Babe", "Everything Changes"). The band repeated this feat in the period from Oct 1994 to March 1996. Most Entries at Number 1 From May 1999 to November 2006, Westlife entered the chart at No. 1 on 14 occasions.

First Entry At Number 1 By A Debuting Act Excluding Al Martino, who was No. 1 in the first ever chart, Billy Preston was the first artist to enter at No. 1 with a debut single. To be fair, he performed the song ("Get Back," 1969) with The Beatles and so, quite literally, can't claim the entire credit for this feat. The Band Aid charity ensemble made its debut at No. 1 ("Do They Know It's Christmas?", 1984) but this comprised a number of already successful artistes. The first act to make its chart debut at No. 1 on its own 'merit' was the Danish vocalist Whigfield (1994). Her song "Saturday Night" (with its associated dance) had been huge on the continent for some months and the demand from Brits returning home built up an enormous head of steam prior to its release. First British act to debut at No. 1 was Robson & Jerome ("Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs Of Dover", 1995). First solo male to debut at No.

1 was Babylon Zoo (a name used by British vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, Jas Mann) with "Spaceman" (1996). First British female act to make her debut at No. 1 was Billie ("Because We Want To", 1998). First all-girl group to make their chart debut at No. 1 was the Irish quartet B*Witched (with "C'est La Vie") in 1998. First British all-girl group to make its debut at No. 1 was Girls Aloud ("Sound Of The Underground", 2002). Most Entries at Number 1 by a Debuting Act On 11 Nov 2000, Westlife became the first act to have their first seven singles enter the chart at Number 1 as "My Love" crashed in at the top spot. First Act To Reach Number 1 With Their First Three Releases Gerry And The Pacemakers. Their debut single, "How Do You Do It?" was released in March 1963. After five weeks it made number 1.

It was followed later that year by "I Like It" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (both topped the charts four weeks after first appearing in the Top 40). This feat was not matched until 21 years later when Frankie Goes To Hollwood took each of their first three singles to the top (1984).

Self-Replacement At Number One On nine occasions in history, one title by an act has knocked another hit, by the same act, off the number one spot: Ray Conniff and his Orchestra (Jan 1957) "Just Walking In The Rain" replaced by "Singing The Blues." Norrie Paramor and the string section of his orchestra (Mar 1963) - "The Wayward Wind" was replaced by "Summer Holiday." The Shadows (Aug 1960) "Please Don't Tease" knocked off the top spot by "Apache." The Shadows (Jan 1963) "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" replaced by "Dance On!" The Shadows (Mar 1963) "Summer Holiday" replaced by "Foot Tapper." The Shadows (Apr 1963) "Foot Tapper" replaced by "Summer Holiday." The Beatles (Dec 1963) "She Loves You" replaced by "I Want To Hold Your Hand." John Lennon (Feb 1981) "Imagine" replaced by "Woman." Elvis Presley (Jan 2005) "Jailhouse Rock" replaced by "One Night"

 / "I Got Stung." NB: Full credits: -"Just Walking In The Rain" - Johnnie Ray, Ray Conniff and his Orchestra / "Singing The Blues" - Guy Mitchell, Ray Conniff and his Orchestra.

- "The Wayward Wind" - Frank Ifield, with Norrie Paramor and his Orchestra / "Summer Holiday" - Cliff Richard, The Shadows and the Norrie Paramor Strings. - "Please Don't Tease", "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" and "Summer Holiday" were credited to Cliff Richard and The Shadows. Longest Gap Between Number 1s 31 years 0 months - for George Harrison. "My Sweet Lord" first made the top spot in Jan 1971. A few weeks after his death, it returned to number 1 (Jan 2002). In second place is the artist who also holds the record for the longest gap between number 1s with different tracks and the record for longest gap between number 1s within the lifetime of the artist; Leo Sayer. In Feb 1977 he hit the top with "When I Need You". He didn't return until Feb 2006 (a day shy of 29 years gap) - with "Thunder In My Heart Again" (a remix of his 1977 hit, as 'Meck featuring Leo Sayer').

The longest run between original number 1s (i.e not a re-release/remix) is 18 years and 3 months for Blondie (Nov 1980, "The Tide is High", to Feb 1999, "Maria"). Biggest run for a female artist is 14 years 6 months by Diana Ross - from the prophetic "I'm Still Waiting" (Sep 1971) til "Chain Reaction" (Mar 1986). Special mention must be made here of Stevie Winwood. Though not specifically credited, he hit number 1 with The Spencer Davis Group ("Somebody Help Me") in Apr 1966. A barren period then followed before a sample of his solo hit "Valerie" formed the basis of Eric Prydz's chart-topper "Call On Me" in Sep 2004; an hiatus of 38 years and 5 months between appearances, albeit uncredited, at number 1. Longest Time For An Artist To Get To Number 1 34 Years, 10 Months, and 2 Days; Tony Christie.

His first single, "Las Vegas", entered the Top 40 on w/e 16th Jan 1971, peaking at no. 21. His single from November of that year, "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" was used in 2005 by comedian Peter Kaye in various TV performances, ultimately leading to a re-release in aid of Comic Relief. That catapulted the track back into the chart - at no. 1 - on w/e 26th Mar 2005. This broke the record set over 18 years previously by Jackie Wilson. His "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town)" topped the chart in Dec 1986; 29 Years, 1 Month, and 11 Days after it first entered the chart. The longest time for a female soloist to take to reach Number 1 is 25 Years, 8 Months and 15 Days for Cher [from her first solo hit, "All I Really Want To Do", 19th Aug 1965 to "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", 4th May 1991].

She had, though, previously topped the chart as half of Sonny and Cher before going solo. In terms of contributing to a Number 1: Ozzy Osbourne holds the male record. He first hit the Top 40 as a member of Black Sabbath with "Paranoid" on w/e 12th Sep 1970. 33 years, 3 months and 8 days later (w/e 20th Dec 2003; a total of 1736 weeks) he achieved the top spot with "Changes" (a duet with daughter Kelly - and a version of a Black Sabbath album track from 1972). The previous record holder was Eric Clapton. He first hit the chart as a member of the Yardbirds in 1965 ("For Your Love", w/e 20th Mar 1965) but did not form part of a chart-topping combo until hit collaboration with Cher (her again!), Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry ("Love Can Build A Bridge", w/e 25 Mar 1995); 30 years, 0 months and 5 days [1567 weeks].

Lulu holds the female record. Her first Top 40 hit was "Shout" (w/e 16th May 1964). She finally hit the top spot with Take That ("Relight My Fire", 9th Oct, 1993); 29 Years, 4 Months and 23 Days. Posthumous Number 1s A morbid one - but one about which, nonetheless, we receive constant emails. Artists which have topped the chart following their death are: Artist Spice Girls Bio | Spice Girls Career | MTV Pop Spice Girls were the first major British pop music phenomenon of the mid-'90s to not have a debt to independent pop/rock. Instead, the all-female quintet derived from the dance-pop tradition that made Take That the most popular British group of the early '90s, but there was one crucial difference. Spice Girls used dance-pop as a musical base, but they infused the music with a fiercely independent, feminist stance that was equal parts Madonna, post-riot grrrl alternative rock feminism, and a co-opting of the good-times-all-the-time stance of England's new lad culture.

Their proud, all-girl image and catchy dance-pop appealed to younger listeners, while their colorful, sexy personalities and sense of humor appealed to older music fans, making Spice Girls a cross-generational success. The group also became chart-toppers throughout Europe in 1996, before concentrating in America in early 1997. Every member of Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press from the outset, and each label was as much an extension of their own personality as it was a marketing tool, since each name derived from their debut single and video, "Wannabe." Geri Estelle Halliwell was the "sexy Spice"; Melanie Janine Brown was the "scary Spice"; Victoria Adams was "the posh Spice"; Melanie Jayne Chisholm was "the sporty Spice"; Emma Lee Bunton was "the baby Spice." Each persona was exploited in the group's press articles and videos, which helped send "Wannabe" to the top of the charts upon its summer release in 1996. If all of the invented personalities made Spice Girls seem manufactured, that's because they were to a certain extent.

Every member of the group was active in England's theatrical, film, and modeling circuit before the group's formation, and they all responded to an advertisement requesting five "lively girls" for a musical group in the summer of 1993. The manager who placed the ad chose all five members of Spice Girls, yet the women rejected his plans for their career and set out on their own two months after forming. For the next two years, the Girls fought to get a record contract, since most record labels insisted that the band pick one member as a clear leader, which is something the group refused. Eventually, Spice Girls signed a contract to Virgin Records. They were without a manager, though, which made recording a debut album nearly impossible. All five members moved into a house and went on the dole as they searched for a manager. By the end of 1995, the group had signed with Annie Lennox's manager Simon Fuller, and began writing songs with Elliot Kennedy. "Wannabe," Spice Girls' first single, was released in the summer of 1996 and became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the British charts at number one.

It remained there for seven weeks, and by the end of the year, "Wannabe" had hit number one in 21 other countries. Immediately following the success of "Wannabe," Spice Girls became media icons in Britain as stories of their encounters with other celebrities became fodder for numerous tabloids, as did nude photos of Halliwell that she posed for earlier in her career. All of this added to the group's momentum, and their second single, "Say You'll Be There," entered the charts at number one in the fall, selling 200,000 copies a week. Spice, their debut album, was released at the end of the year, accompanied by their first ballad, "2 Become 1." Both the album and single went directly to number one, staying there for several weeks; both records were at number one over the Christmas week, making Spice Girls one of three artists to achieve that feat. Having topped the charts in virtually every other country in the Western world, Spice Girls concentrated on America in early 1997, releasing "Wannabe" in January and Spice in February. They became massive stars in the U.S.

as well, also scoring the hits "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1"; Spiceworld, their second LP, appeared later in the year in conjunction with their feature film of the same name. In May 1998, Geri Halliwell departed from the band, not citing major reasons for leaving the group. She did release a solo album, Schizophonic, a year later, but nothing chart-topping to match the success of her former band. Still not deterred by the absence of Ginger Spice, Spice Girls trudged on -- Melanie B. married Spice Girls dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released the solo single, a duet with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot called "I Want You Back." By Christmas, Spice Girls scored a number one hit with Goodbye and with a career floating high, their personal lives were moving as well. Melanie B. gave birth to a daughter named Phoenix Chi in February 1999, and Adams followed a month later with a son, Brooklyn Joseph. And now only known as Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice married Manchester United soccer star David Beckham later that summer.

Becoming now more noticeable for their social status than their singing, Spice Girls took a well-deserved break while Melanie C. took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the U.S. in fall 1999. The following year, the girls headed back into the studio with high-profile producers Rodney Jerkins, Terry Lewis, and Jimmy Jam (Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige) to record a follow-up to their pop-friendly Spiceworld. In the middle of recording, Melanie B. divorced Gulzar and endured a bitter custody battle throughout the remainder of 2000. Spice Girls' creative power overruled media scrutiny so that they could fully focus on the new R&B sound they were trying for and a the new collaboration united the foursome once again to release the third album Forever, which hit American shores in fall 2000. The group began to splinter not long after the release of Forever, which made little impact outside of the UK where it only had one hit single -- the chart-topping double-sided single “Holler”/”Let Love Lead the Way” -- before the Spice Girls stopped promoting the album.

Just three months after the album's November 2000 release, the band announced that they were separating in February of 2001. Over the next few years, the Spice Girls may not have existed as a group, but they were never out of various taboild headlines in the UK and America. As the wife of football superstar David Beckham, Victoria got the most attention, but Mel B wasn't far behind thanks to her ill-fated romance with actor Eddie Murphy, which resulted in an out-of-wedlock child. Mel Chisholm had a steady career as a pop singer while Emma Bunton had some chart success of her own with her 2001 album A Girl Like Me and its 2004 successor, Free Me. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell split her time between recording and TV projects. After years of persistent rumors of a reunion -- peaking heavily yet never materializing for Bob Geldolf's 2005 charity event Live 8 -- the Spice Girls announced in June 2007 that they would be reuniting for an eleven-concert tour beginning that December, which would be accompanied by a new greatest hits album and documentary.

In 2010, it was announced that the Spice Girls had joined forces with Simon Fuller to develop a musical based on their songs. Viva Forever: The Musical - penned by British comedienne Jennifer Saunders - was announced at a press conference in June 2012. After much speculation in the British press, the Spice Girls reformed once more for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Biggest Girl Group Songs of All Time | Billboard Getty Iamges Diana Ross of The Supremes, Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC. For over five decades, girl groups have been responsible for some of the most enduring singles in modern pop music. From "Wannabe" to "Weak," from the heyday of Motown to the explosion of 80's pop-rock to the R&B collectives of the 2000's and everything in between, girl groups have evolved and triumphed on top 40 radio and beyond, and the Billboard Hot 100 chart wouldn't look quite the same without them.

To celebrate all things girl groups, Billboard is presenting the 40 biggest girl group songs of all time! Pop Shop Podcast: Talking TLC With Chilli, Plus Our Favorite Girl Groups, Rihanna's Double No. 1s & More Note: This ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart through the tally dated April 2, 2016. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years. Check out the top 40 girl group songs of all time below, to see if your favorite single made the list: 40. The Bangles, "Eternal Flame" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: April 1, 1989 39. Go-Go's "We Got The Beat" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: April 10, 1982 38.

Destiny's Child, "Say My Name" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: March 18, 2000 37. The Supremes, "Stop! In The Name of Love" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: March 27, 1965 36. Divine, "Lately" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: November 28, 1998 35. The Dixie Cups, "Chapel of Love" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: June 6, 1964 34. TLC, "Baby-Baby-Baby" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: August 15, 1992 33. Destiny's Child, "Jumpin', Jumpin'" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 3 Peak Date: August 19, 2000 32. Expose, "Seasons Change" Hot 100 Peak Position: No.

1 Peak Date: February 20, 1988 31. Bananarama, "Venus" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: September 6, 1986 30. Labelle, "Lady Marmalade" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: March 29, 1975 29. The Pussycat Dolls Feat. Busta Rhymes, "Don't Cha" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: August 20, 2005 28. TLC, "Unpretty" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: September 18, 1999 27. Klymaxx, "I Miss You" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 5 Peak Date: December 28, 1985 26. Wilson Phillips, "You're In Love" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: April 20, 1991 25.

The Shirelles, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: February 4, 1961 24. Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: December 27, 1969 23. En Vogue, "Hold On" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: July 21, 1990 22. Sweet Sensation, "If Wishes Came True" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: September 1, 1990 21. SWV, "Weak" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: July 10, 1993 20. The Pointer Sisters, "Slow Hand" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: August 29, 1981 19. The Shirelles, "Soldier Boy" Hot 100 Peak Position: No.

1 Peak Date: May 5, 1962 18. The Angels, "My Boyfriend's Back" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: August 31, 1963 17. The Supremes, "Come See About Me" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: December 19, 1964 16. The Supremes, "Where Did Our Love Go" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: August 22, 1964 15. Spice Girls, "Wannabe" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: February 22, 1997 14. The Supremes, "Baby Love" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: October 31, 1964 13. Wilson Phillips, "Release Me" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: September 15, 1990 12.

En Vogue, "Don't Let Go (Love)" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: January 18, 1997 11. Silver Convention, "Get Up and Boogie (That's Right)" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2 Peak Date: June 12, 1976 10. The Chiffons, "He's So Fine" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: March 30, 1963 9. 702, "Where My Girls At?" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 4 Peak Date: June 19, 1999 8. TLC, "No Scrubs" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: April 10, 1999 7. Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Love Child" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: November 30, 1968 6. Wilson Phillips, "Hold On" Hot 100 Peak Position: No.

1 Peak Date: June 9, 1990 5. TLC, "Waterfalls" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: July 8, 1995 4. TLC, "Creep" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: January 28, 1995 3. The Bangles, "Walk Like an Egyptian" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: December 20, 1986 2. Destiny's Child, "Independent Women Part I" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: November 18, 2000 1. The Emotions, "Best of My Love" Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 Peak Date: August 20, 1977 Spice Girls — Listen for free on Spotify Spice Girls Play on Spotify Spice Girls were the first major British pop music phenomenon of the mid-'90s to not have a debt to independent pop/rock.

Instead, the all-female quintet derived from the dance-pop tradition that made Take That the most popular British group of the early '90s, but there was one crucial difference. Spice Girls used dance-pop as a musical base, but they infused the music with a fiercely independent, feminist stance that was equal parts Madonna , post-riot grrrl alternative rock feminism, and a co-opting of the good-times-all-the-time stance of England's new lad culture. Their proud, all-girl image and catchy dance-pop appealed to younger listeners, while their colorful, sexy personalities and sense of humor appealed to older music fans, making Spice Girls a cross-generational success. The group also became chart-toppers throughout Europe in 1996, before concentrating in America in early 1997.

Every member of Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press from the outset, and each label was as much an extension of their own personality as it was a marketing tool, since each name derived from their debut single and video, "Wannabe." Geri Estelle Halliwell was the "sexy Spice"; Melanie Janine Brown was the "scary Spice"; Victoria Adams was "the posh Spice"; Melanie Jayne Chisholm was "the sporty Spice"; Emma Lee Bunton was "the baby Spice." Each persona was exploited in the group's press articles and videos, which helped send "Wannabe" to the top of the charts upon its summer release in 1996. If all of the invented personalities made Spice Girls seem manufactured, that's because they were to a certain extent. Every member of the group was active in England's theatrical, film, and modeling circuit before the group's formation, and they all responded to an advertisement requesting five "lively girls" for a musical group in the summer of 1993. The manager who placed the ad chose all five members of Spice Girls, yet the women rejected his plans for their career and set out on their own two months after forming.

For the next two years, the Girls fought to get a record contract, since most record labels insisted that the band pick one member as a clear leader, which is something the group refused. Eventually, Spice Girls signed a contract to Virgin Records. They were without a manager, though, which made recording a debut album nearly impossible. All five members moved into a house and went on the dole as they searched for a manager. By the end of 1995, the group had signed with Annie Lennox 's manager Simon Fuller, and began writing songs with Elliot Kennedy. "Wannabe," Spice Girls' first single, was released in the summer of 1996 and became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the British charts at number one. It remained there for seven weeks, and by the end of the year, "Wannabe" had hit number one in 21 other countries. Immediately following the success of "Wannabe," Spice Girls became media icons in Britain as stories of their encounters with other celebrities became fodder for numerous tabloids, as did nude photos of Halliwell that she posed for earlier in her career.

All of this added to the group's momentum, and their second single, "Say You'll Be There," entered the charts at number one in the fall, selling 200,000 copies a week. Spice, their debut album, was released at the end of the year, accompanied by their first ballad, "2 Become 1." Both the album and single went directly to number one, staying there for several weeks; both records were at number one over the Christmas week, making Spice Girls one of three artists to achieve that feat. Having topped the charts in virtually every other country in the Western world, Spice Girls concentrated on America in early 1997, releasing "Wannabe" in January and Spice in February. They became massive stars in the U.S. as well, also scoring the hits "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1"; Spiceworld, their second LP, appeared later in the year in conjunction with their feature film of the same name. In May 1998, Geri Halliwell departed from the band, not citing major reasons for leaving the group.

She did release a solo album, Schizophonic, a year later, but nothing chart-topping to match the success of her former band. Still not deterred by the absence of Ginger Spice, Spice Girls trudged on -- Melanie B. married Spice Girls dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released the solo single, a duet with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot called "I Want You Back." By Christmas, Spice Girls scored a number one hit with Goodbye and with a career floating high, their personal lives were moving as well. Melanie B. gave birth to a daughter named Phoenix Chi in February 1999, and Adams followed a month later with a son, Brooklyn Joseph. And now only known as Victoria Beckham , Posh Spice married Manchester United soccer star David Beckham later that summer. Becoming now more noticeable for their social status than their singing, Spice Girls took a well-deserved break while Melanie C. took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the U.S. in fall 1999. The following year, the girls headed back into the studio with high-profile producers Rodney Jerkins , Terry Lewis, and Jimmy Jam ( Janet Jackson , Mary J.

Blige ) to record a follow-up to their pop-friendly Spiceworld. In the middle of recording, Melanie B. divorced Gulzar and endured a bitter custody battle throughout the remainder of 2000. Spice Girls' creative power overruled media scrutiny so that they could fully focus on the new R&B sound they were trying for and a the new collaboration united the foursome once again to release the third album Forever, which hit American shores in fall 2000. The group began to splinter not long after the release of Forever, which made little impact outside of the UK where it only had one hit single -- the chart-topping double-sided single “Holler”/”Let Love Lead the Way” -- before the Spice Girls stopped promoting the album. Just three months after the album's November 2000 release, the band announced that they were separating in February of 2001. Over the next few years, the Spice Girls may not have existed as a group, but they were never out of various taboild headlines in the UK and America.

As the wife of football superstar David Beckham, Victoria got the most attention, but Mel B wasn't far behind thanks to her ill-fated romance with actor Eddie Murphy, which resulted in an out-of-wedlock child. Mel Chisholm had a steady career as a pop singer while Emma Bunton had some chart success of her own with her 2001 album A Girl Like Me and its 2004 successor, Free Me. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell split her time between recording and TV projects. After years of persistent rumors of a reunion -- peaking heavily yet never materializing for Bob Geldolf's 2005 charity event Live 8 -- the Spice Girls announced in June 2007 that they would be reuniting for an eleven-concert tour beginning that December, which would be accompanied by a new greatest hits album and documentary. In 2010, it was announced that the Spice Girls had joined forces with Simon Fuller to develop a musical based on their songs. Viva Forever: The Musical - penned by British comedienne Jennifer Saunders - was announced at a press conference in June 2012.

After much speculation in the British press, the Spice Girls reformed once more for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Read More Show less

Question: Which all-girl group had a hit in 1996 with 'Say You'll Be There'?
Answer: 'SPICE GIRLS'