Spice Girls Week! #2 - Viva Forever 

We need a second spice girls week - Holler, Spice Up Your Life, Too Much, Goodbye & Stop (assuming Wannabe is tomorrow)

I 100% think the music video represents losing a friend. The fairies are like the Angel of Death and the gumball machine is the grave. The song also reflects that. Saying goodbye but that you'll always remember them and the memories. It was very poetic because when this song was released is when Geri decided to leave the group abruptly (and on Mel B's birthday) in the middle of their tour so in a way this song's meaning reflected in real life. Then their next single after was 5 months later called 'Goodbye' and it was about Geri leaving but also about them creating timeless memories that are stuck in time that won't get erased.

Spice Girls week 2; 5: Holler 4: Goodbye 3: Too Much 2: Stop 1: Spice Up Your Life

I cry almost everytime I see this music video…it’s definitely about a loss of innocence how to take that loss i think is up to interpretation.

I think the music video is meant to represent the loss of youth and childhood. The end shot is like a graveyard of toys which could be a metaphor for children that have grown up. The child that the fairies take is essentially that child growing into adulthood and so their childhood is now forever stuck in a capsule forever.

Such a unique video. The last shot of the fairies leaving at the very end there is only 4 of them, Signalling Geri had left the band.

I read an interview with the director of the 'Viva Forever' music video in Crack Magazine. Steve Box explained that the video is about childhood and growing up, and losing innocence along the way. It's not really about death, but more about remembering how things used to be. He got ideas from old children's stories to make it feel dreamy and thoughtful. The video makes you think about how life changes and the memories that stick with you ❤

This song and video holds a special place in my childhood. I have vivid memories of what I was doing and where I was when this song came out. ❤

Scary DOES always wear leopard print. Even sometimes to this day. Not everytime but it's a recurring theme in her style. She even said she had leopard print furniture.

The director of the video recently said: The video’s strangeness emerged as a result of - rather than in spite of - restrictive industry demands. “At that time videos were primarily aimed at a programme called The Chart Show,” explained Box. “They would tell us that you’d hear the first verse and the first chorus and that was all that they were going to show on the programme. So we put all the energy, the most polished piece of animation, into that area.” This gave Box space to experiment. “I just didn’t want to do something too direct. I thought it would be a good chance to do something really unusual, that was unexpected.” The video, it turns out, does touch on loss, but not exactly the loss of life. Instead, Box explains, it’s actually about the loss of youth. “It’s like the sadness of the song is leaving your childhood behind. Pop music is all about sex and love, so becoming interested in that, you suddenly put the toys away, you start to grow up in a different way.” This loss of innocence, Box explains, was something he felt the Spice Girls represented at the time. But they were part of a larger identikit pop music scene, with massed produced hits similar to toys. “I came up with this idea for the girls to be tin toy fairies that were like lost toys, which was a little bit of a comment on that modern pop: you buy it, you put your money in, you get your music and then shortly afterwards it will disappear.” Furthermore, with full creative freedom Box ultimately wanted to evoke images he had encountered, as a father of young children, in children’s annuals. “At the time, I was reading a lot of the old Rupert the Bear ones from the 1940s and 50s. Often Rupert comes across some weird living toy in the woods or some secret doorway in a tree. They’re quite surreal stories, quite magical.” But why does the boy disappear into a machine in a graveyard of plastic containers?” “They’re toys, just images of youth - that’s all. It’s supposed to be a bit metaphorical,” he explains. But what about the Rubik’s Cube going backwards! Never to be seen again! He laughs - “That doesn’t really make sense does it.” “That’s where it becomes very metaphorical. It becomes more like a David Lynch film.” It’s this Rupert the Bear nostalgia and offbeat imagery that gives off the undertone of death, but it seems that both the Spice Girls FanWiki and I were off the mark. I broached Box with my theory on the video, on what had been unsettling me since I was seven. Turns out, I wasn’t that far from the truth. “Ooh,” he exclaimed. “I like yours better than mine. Let’s go with yours.” Also, Ginger had recently left the group before the release of this song as a single, so an animation style video was an easy fix to a missing Spice Girl 🤷‍♂️ Also the longer "Album Version" is amazing. The strings and guitar solo are even more beautiful... also check out some of their solo stuff. It didn't really make it to the states but some of it was very good. I'll put some suggestions under this comment. Hope this helps!

Such a beautiful song.

The video is quite cute played in reverse. The spice fairies bring the boy a best friend😊

I was hoping Too Much would be on the list… my favorite video by them!

I totally feel the Bridge to Tarabithia connection.

I think the oddity of the video and the theorising about what it all means actually takes away from what a stunning song this is. It's definitely one of their best singles. The live versions are very good because of the vocal harmonies in play during the chorus. A beautiful song.

Ok so Joe & Mike this week was so fun cos I grew up on their music. And I loved your reactions but can I please give a minor tiny request. We know your thing is music videos and that's your focus but we literally didn't know if u liked the songs (not just this week, Brandy week too) so if u can just give us 20 seconds from now on just to say if u liked the song u reacted to and what u liked about it. U know I love u guys. ❤

Ngl, the faces of those fairy puppets are terrifying hahaha!

More Spice Girls !!!! ❤ I every Cry with this song ! And thanks of you I realize at the end the kid comes out in fairy from the big machine toys ! I love them since 1997!

😂😂😂 i can’t stop counting the yawnings!

This may be about the passing of a friend but it also means about growing up. You have that one childhood friend you played with your entire childhood then time comes when you both grow up, separate ways and find new friends. The fairies the spice girls represent are the new group of friends we have as teenagers and adults. Then you just realize you have to say goodbye to your childhood friend, to your childhood.

This song came out as Geri left the group abruptly. I can still remember vividly I cried many days in disbelief. This was my very first heartbreak. 😭😭 But I still love you Geri. Spice Girls forever!! ❤❤❤

Not only my favourite Spice Girls song but one of my favourite songs, period! Amazing video. It was great watching you guys mesmerised by it 😂😂 If you dont leave with a newfound respect for the SG's, then there's something wrong!

Yes! they were real dolls created and animated for the video. It's a beautiful music video 😍

They all sounded so good on this track✨

As a kid I was scared of the part when the kid is put into the Rubik’s cube, it just gave me so much anxiety lol but also love this song, I haven’t heard it in so long 🥹

There is a rumour that Geri wrote the lyrics about her love to Mel B. They were obviously in love.

the live version at Wembley Stadium 1998 is sensational

Oh the smile on Mikes face when he is reminiscing the Peru experience! 😍🤩

This Song is jusssss uggghhhh 🖤

Ginger did her thing putting together this song

I believe the video tries to capture the themes of the song, the opening line being "do you still remember how we used to be?" The song to me is about remembering someone from your past who maybe isn't in your life anymore. I think the spice fairies could be compared to the folklore of a fairy ring, a place people get enchanted by fairies and taken away by them. So the boy being taken away by the spice fairies kinda represents maybe a childhood friend that the other boy only has memories of from childhood, and that's where the nostalgic toys come in? The song and video have always struck me as very deep. Also quick sidenote the song was released shortly after Geri left the group although she was very much part of its creation and appeared in early tv performances of it, the video took several months to make and was in production before she left but when it got released people thought they did it to cover for the fact she wouldnt be there to film it with the others. I think the real reason for an animated video is that they were on a world tour on the run up to it being released. Love the song, its one of my favourites but the video can be confusing to people and the song often becomes secondary to it, i had the benefit of listening to the album for months before the song became a single and thats where my love of it came from. Ps you guys are great thanks for reacting to my favourite group!

A song that makes me happy and sad at the same time. Reminds me of the one of the best summers ever, when my parents took me and my best friend on a theme park tour through Europe. Memories of this summer alsways make me smile, yet it makes me so sad, that these days are gone. My best friend and I still see each other regularly, however, we both have our own families now, jobs, kids, ... Sweet melancholy!

I think tomorrow will be Wannabe, but can we get a bonus video with Goodbye please 🙏🙏🙏

Great memories. Love this song. Always thought the song was about losing someone or something that you will never get back and you will never recover from losing.

Literally my reaction when I first saw this😂

I wouldn't say no to you both ha! Hey from South Wales UK ❤

My favourite song of Spice girls - many times sang it in the karaoke :-)

Love this song ❤ VIVA FOREVER ❤

The end, when Mel C started "viva foreveeeeer"ing gave me chills.

Loooove this song

Thats my favorite video. Nostalgic mode on❤

Beautiful song

OMG THE SONG ❤❤❤❤

Omg I needed this laugh today!!!!!😂

Mel C (sporty) just has the best voice. Her solo career has been the most successful imho. Her hit with Bryan Adams 'When You're Gone' is phenomenal as is her club hit 'I Turn To You'. I would highly recommend her album Northern Star.

My songgggg! 2 Becomes 1 is the best but this one always gets me 😢❤🎉

One of their most beautiful songs, live version is even better with Mel B y Mel C singin

100% they kidnapped that boy - like I know the fairies are supposed to look cute, but those smiles are evil to me.

My friend and I watched BTT when it came out as kids and my mum was not expecting us to come out of the sitting room bawling our eyes out at a kids movie (we thought😭). Hot chocolate helped

great reaction , great track.

Assuming Wannabe is going to be #1 for Spice Girls week, HIGHLY recommend Never Give Up On The Good Times, because as someone who's first concert was Spice Girls in the 90's, that song still slaps today. Love to see you guys react to new music!

정말 좋아했던 노래😂 그때 저는 울었음

This wouldn't make my top 5. Bonus video should be "Too Much"

The pixie faces are scary. And yes, this is a sad video.

Love this video!

This song is my favorite from them. From there..I thought the video was cool...How Ginger Spice is half Spanish, I suppose this song has a few words in Spanish. Like Viva which means living and Hasta mañana = See you tomorrow...

Please please do a second week of Spice Girls! 😊😊😊

Yall really not gonna talk about the song at all?? Damn..

Ah, man. The nostalgia. Oof.

The fairies are stop motion, a couple of the girls (at least Emma and Victoria as far as I know) still own them. The song and video are NOT about Geri departing the band. They had commissioned the director to make it well before she left the group.

Thank's for your great reaction guys :)) You do have a good eye when it come to certain things I have to say! The Spice Girls are legends and this song is absolutely legendary, definitely one of my favorites by them. Now the video is something else.. I also to this day have question and am not sure if I got it.. When I was a kid I though it was two but but apparently the one with the glasses is a girl, the puppets were real and specifically made for this music video, now I'm not completely sure about this one but I think the song is about death/rebirth or is it just the video, I don't know. Although it's a besutiful video, I do get the shivers watching it sometimes, it’s magical but at the same time it has definitely something sinister/dark about it. And yes Mel B is wearing Leopard print, it's her thing, her trade mark to this very day.

Fun Fact: It is stop animation! It was created by Aardman Animation, the team behind Wallace & Gromit! The original fairies were made out of tin.

Plesse resct to their iconic Brit Awards performance 1997

Too Much should have been on the list. Considering others popular songs they have left. Ill be surprise if its #1. This top 5 list isnt what I expected but congrats to the person who got it.

❤

Xscape Week 5. Just Kickin It 4. Who Can I Run To 3. Run To The Arms of The One Who Loves You 2. Tonight 1. Understanding

Do 'En Vogue', 'The Cranberries' , 'Grimes', 'Sugababes' ❤

You have to do holler one of the best songs

I’ve heard this song a million times and never seen the video. On reflection, it’s better without the video. What IS THIS??

I was hoping Holler would be in the top 2 😢

N°1 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!!! PLEASE!!!

i remember when i was a kid watching this music video traumatised me

the fairies are tin sculptures/action figures and the video was created by the same people who did Wallace and Gromit!

I love you guys and I appreciate what you do, but I kinda wish you had just sorta accepted that you didn’t get the music video (understandably) and then focused on the song a little more. It’s such a gorgeous song with a beautiful Spanish guitar solo and amazing vocals (THOSE LOW NOTES!). I just kinda feel like this was a missed opportunity, unfortunately, because the video threw you off. Again, I say all this with gratitude and appreciation. ❤️

Please do little mix

Im from Peru!! cant belive you were here!!! how you like it!?

❤❤❤❤

I remember being just as perplexed regarding the video back then as I am now. I know that Geri (Ginger) had left the group when this was released, which caused such chaos on their schedules. So much so that this release was delayed. The video was filmed before Geri's departure from the Spice Girls which is why she was still featured in it. Other than that, I'm still at a loss for an explanation of the video. Perhaps it was their way of explaining Geri's departure? Seeing a friend get seduced by other people and getting taken away.

They were incredibly busy also and reworking everything without Geri. Also there was a possibility she might return. Beautiful video nonetheless and def their best song

THE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY WANT AN AALIYAH WEEK #2. LOOK AT THE NUMBERS COMPARED TO ANY “ARIST WEEK” YALL REACTED TO SINCE THEN(LAST 3 MONTHS). SHE HAS AT LEAST 15K+ VIEWS EACH ON ALL YALL VIDEOS REACTION OF HER. WE WANT AN AALIYAH WEEK #2 SO WE CAN GIVE YALL MORE OF THEM HIGH NUMBER VIEWS. EVERYONE LOVES AALIYAH.

The insane is that this video is studied by scholars to this day. It seems the consensus is the video deals with loss of childhood and innocence - growing up if you prefer.

Oh wow, I have never seen this video. That was weird and disturbing. The kid at the end yeets his friend into the gumball machine and then just casually walks away. Thanks for nothing, bro. 😂 Haha, okay, another commenter said something about it possibly being played in reverse which maybe makes more sense?

SG fans have no idea what it’s about lol 😊

can you guys react to Snooze by SZA ?

sorry guys, but i don't think you understand this jewel

Wow, this was too goofy for me to appreciate,I’d never heard the song or seen this video.( lol) I’d love for you to get into some of their fast paced songs, too many slow songs.😢

wasnt it meant to be about geri leaving the group

The only semi intelligent thing an American can say, is admitting that they aren't.. so congrats to u both

Can you react to INNA pls?🥹 Or popular romanian songs like Stereo Love, Mr Saxobeat, Dragostea din tei, Hot, Made in Romania etc.

Honestly never liked the song and the video, now as an adult still don't like the video but I do feel this is about loosing someone and also getting old and shit, also weren't they about to separate or something?

If you pick wannabe for number 1 I’m going to be so embarrassed for you

No hate, but why THIS song? They have many better ones.

Viva forever sucks. Should've been Holler

I loatheeeeeee this video, I found it incredibly childish when it came out. I expected it to be of higher standard since it's such a good song. It also has NOTHING to do with the meaning of the song. The song was written mainly by Geri Halliwell and it's about a summer romance that ended and she reflects on. Those dolls were practical, it's stopmotion.

Ok so Joe & Mike this week was so fun cos I grew up on their music. And I loved your reactions but can I please give a minor tiny request. We know your thing is music videos and that's your focus but we literally didn't know if u liked the songs (not just this week, Brandy week too) so if u can just give us 20 seconds from now on just to say if u liked the song u reacted to and what u liked about it. U know I love u guys. ❤