Spice Girls’ classic song ‘Spice Up Your Life’ is being censored by radio stations after one of its lyrics has been deemed controversial. The line in question, “Yellow man in Timbuktu. Colour for both me and you,” has been edited and stations including BBC Radio 2 are playing an amended version with the word “Yellow” removed.
The track was released back in 1997, the lead single from the group’s second album ‘Spiceworld‘, and is one of the signature songs of the Spice Girls. It was an instant hit, staying in the Top 20 for six weeks and remaining in the Top 40 for 12.
Spice Girls themselves (Mel B, Melanie C, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell) have mulled over the lyric before, with reports that they were considering replacing the word “Yellow” with “Happy” for their reunion tour in 2019. They ultimately decided against it, sticking with the original lyrics.
A Radio 2 spokeswoman said that the edit wasn’t made by them, after playing the newly censored version on Scott Mills’ Breakfast Show. They also noted that other UK radio stations are playing the same edited version.
A music insider told The Sun: “Spice Up Your Life is a piece of pop music history — it’s baffling that the Beeb have decided to censor it.
“The [band] are singing in celebration of people from all walks of life. It’s clumsy but not insulting.
“There haven’t been calls to change it so it’s odd they have decided to do so.”
Spice Girls have created a lasting legacy in pop music, being the biggest-selling girl group of all time with more than 100 million record sales. Fans have wished for a comeback for a while now – their most recent performances were for their 2019 reunion tour, without Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham). The last time all the girls got together publicly was at the London Olympics closing ceremony in 2012.
Throughout the years, rumours have come and gone, as the group members tease the idea of the group getting back together. Most recently, Mel C appeared on The Jimmy & Nath Show with Emma on Australia’s 2Day FM, saying that her and the rest of the Spice Girls want to do “something special” for the 30-year anniversary of their breakout single, “Wannabe”.
She said: “It’s 30 years next year since the release of Wannabe. We have to do something special.
“Obviously I can’t say too much but we are talking about things. Hopefully a nice little world tour!”
Last April, more reunion rumours spread after the girls were seen giving a surprise performance of their hit song ‘Stop’ at Victoria Beckham’s 50th birthday party. You can see the video below.
