Oh so naughty and Spice

Exclusive interview: The Spice Girls are the hottest group since the Beatles, but even Girl Power can't save them from the pitfalls of fame

LONDON -- Here we are face to face with a marketing miracle, five girls-next-door in their early 20s with a few catchy tunes riding the capricious beast of kiddie pop.

Should we be captivated by their sexy, sassy chutzpah or, spurning the season of goodwill, sneer at them as squawking shopgirls whose incredible luck is running out?

The Spice Girls are easy to mock, but the terrible truth is they are instantly likeable. Somehow they have contrived to remain unspoilt and unfazed at becoming the focus of fantasy for everyone from five-year-olds to politicians knowing a vote catcher when they see it.

Their debut album Spice has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide, almost a quarter of them in the United States. Britain is the epicentre of Spice Girls mania, with their first five singles having all reached the number one slot in the British charts. Not even the Beatles, the Rolling Stones or more recently Oasis could match that.

Despite speculation about the Girls' ability to perform live and whether they play any part in composing their songs (they are listed as co-writers), they have gone from strength to strength. Even their minor exploits are regularly reported in the tabloid press -- it was front-page news when Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) fell off her high heels and twisted an ankle.

Apart from hype, the main reason for their success is obvious as soon as they enter the room: They are strong, energetic individuals who provide something for everyone -- blonde, brunette and ginger; black and white; north and south; working class and, let's be charitable to Victoria Adams (Posh), faintly middle class.

They give a bravura ensemble performance and although you may hate one of them, or even four, only a dedicated misanthrope could dislike all five as they giggle, pout, shout, give vent to their limited vocabulary, and finish each others' sentences.

"Let's go, babe," urges buxom Geri Halliwell (Ginger), in a lacy, black, low-cut dress. She was formerly a dancer, topless model and game show hostess in Turkey. She says that Margaret Thatcher was the original Spice Girl and in spite of that wondrous conceit, is clearly the most articulate and forceful.

"That's because she doesn't shut up and we can't get a bloody word in," says Melanie Brown (Scary), her rival for volubility, who wears a colorful pant suit and frizzy hair.

Emma squeaks a lot for a peroxide blonde doll in a beige mini who insists her relationship with their former manager Simon Fuller ("Do I look as if I'd fancy someone with dyed black hair?") didn't bring the group to the point of break-up last month.

Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), with gold tooth and tattoo of Japanese symbols for woman and strength on her right arm, is possibly the vibrant thinker of the group -- although Victoria in grey trousers and long coat over a black crop top, remains either in deep thought or boredom, as well she might. She is allegedly marrying Manchester United footballer, David Beckham, next July. "We all want to be mothers, but not in the near future" she says.

Geri, in mother-hen mode, begins a conversation about modern relationships. "Immaculate conception has gone, girls, but we have a power to give life. We can freeze your sperm," she says with a vengeful look.

A crushing putdown, but she backtracks. "I like men. We need you. Nineties man is not afraid of being sensitive. You can be masculine as well, same as Girl Power goes with femininity. But if you're a boy, don't pretend to be anything else."

"Yeah, drop all the macho stuff," advises Mel B. "Moulding is a good thing to do for a boy. You can teach them things, but it's nice to have a conversation with a man without beady eyes where they shouldn't be. Platonic, like."

"Obviously we're young girls and have numerous relationships," adds Mel C. "You want someone to take care and treat you good. But you don't want some guy ..."

"Fumbling," shrieks Mel B.

They are full of spirit, after a long day, although they are in the midst of a difficult few weeks as classic victims of the build-them-up-and-knock-them-down tradition of celebrity.

Booed off stage in Barcelona, sacking their manager, criticism of their film, Spice World, now released in the U.K. and coming to North America next month. They are remarkably soigne and take refuge in blaming the press for exaggeration, although naturally they don't complain their wild success was equally exaggerated.

"It's very desettling for male dominated newspapers to realize that five women in short skirts have got a brain on them," observes Geri.

"I'm not wearing a short skirt," shouts Sporty Mel C. She is, as usual, in a blue and white shell suit appealing, perhaps, to the less traditionally feminine teenies.

Never has life been so precarious for a gaggle chained together by the 30 million pounds they are alleged to have earned this year alone. "The last few weeks have been fun, madness, laughter," says Geri, dismissing all reports of dissension.

They are even upbeat about the film, which has so many cliches that its popularity is probably ensured. There is a bus jumping Tower Bridge, a stern policeman who succumbs to their charms, aliens, a baby born in the nick of time so the girls can give an Albert Hall concert, a child saved from drowning, caricature newspaper proprietor, and 22 stars from Roger Moore to Meatloaf who give the bemused appearance of being lost in a dud home movie.

Ruthless manipulator

Their manager, played by Richard E Grant, is a monstrous and ruthless manipulator, and Stephen Fry gives them a lecture on the backlash which successful artists must expect.

It so mirrors their recent crises that cynics might suggest events were manipulated in order to boost the movie. "It would be a good publicity stunt," agrees Mel C, although Mel B spoils it by adding, "We're not actually that clever" and Geri brings us down to earth, explaining, "The whole thing's a parody. Everyone thinks Victoria never smiles and is a measly old Posh Spice, but she has a wicked sense of humor." Victoria brightens briefly. "We take the piss out of ourselves and the media. At the end of the day we take our music very seriously, but we're not afraid to laugh at ourselves."

"It's very ironic," says Mel C. "Very," agrees Mel B. "But purely coincidental," adds Mel C. "There's gags we had to remove out of respect -- references to Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Gianni Versace," explains Geri. Such awesome prescience. Is it art imitating life, or the other way round? "A bit of both."

This all comes at the end of a weird, whirlwind year. They've had cheeky conversations with Prince Charles. Mel B, excited by her own recent tongue stud, says she asked if he had a "Prince Albert," which he may not have realized is a penis ring. "I'm not telling you his answer, but he's a lovely man with a great sense of humor."

Who would have thought Nelson Mandela is a fan, or that last month when they met in South Africa Geri would compare his struggle with Girl Power. "Some people found that a little, er, not arrogant, but it's all relative. Everyone has their fight for freedom and this is our little quest. We were very privileged to meet Nelson Mandela. I've read his biography, and he admires anyone that's fighting a cause. The only comparison between us is triumph over adversity. From when time began there have been strong females -- Joan of Arc, suffragettes, Queen Boadicea ..."

"I admire my mum," says Emma. "She's a very strong female, a one-parent family who has gone on to do different things. That's Girl Power."

"Girls are doing karate kicks on boys at school," reports Mel B. "Slowly but surely that's our next generation. Life's going to be more equal."

"We went through a lot of barriers," explains Emma. "When we started, it was, 'Five girls? That'll never work.' We've had to knock down them walls. We don't claim to be perfect. We're not six foot, skinny models. We get spots. It's good for children to look up to us because we're not, er ..."

"Stereotyped," interjects Mel B, helpfully.

Girl Power, which is symbolized by a Winston Churchill V-for-Victory sign, is a convenient gimmick, but some parents believe it encourages the female 'lads' who imitate the Spice Girls' sexiness. "Sexiness is in the eye of the beholder," explains Mel C. "Some people might find us completely unattractive, do you know what I mean? I think we're very positive role models because we won't compromise our personalities. We are who we are."

"And if a young girl tries to emulate us, it's all really naive," adds Geri. "I tried to copy Madonna when I was younger, but didn't understand words like 'virgin.' I thought the words were 'like a gherkin.' We represent the younger generation because we're five different girls and lots of people think the same as us. I'm not sure Oasis are an ambassador for England."

"We don't promote cigarettes and alcohol," says Mel B.

Can Girl Power be misconstrued as girls drinking too much and taking their clothes off? "That's a lack of Girl Power," explains Geri, as gently as she can. "But each to their own. Maybe one girl is quite happy taking off her clothes, and another isn't. It's whatever's your bag. Girl Power is being a strong single-parent mother. It's being in a pop group and having a say. It's control of your own destiny and supporting your friends. We come from different backgrounds (all their parents are divorced except Victoria's) and our paths crossed. We've done exactly what we want to do.

"It's so important for young kids to think, 'Hold on a minute, I can be an astronaut or a scientist, if I want.' We were on the dole and now we've reaped the rewards, but Spice Girls is not fundamentally about money. Love and friendship is far more permanent."

"Money's great, though," grins Mel B.

"We all appreciate simple things in life," adds Victoria. "Spending the day with your family doesn't have to cost a lot." Mel B looks a little uncertain. "The five of us are a mixed bag. We have so much to give. We love performing, writing music and lyrics, but we like trying everything. It goes to show that if you have brains and know what you want, a pop band can be anything." They have proved that formidably, with so many endorsements -- for potato chips, phone cards, Polaroids, deodorant, lollipops, duvets, clothes and so on. I ask if they've neglected music in favor of flogging souvenirs.

"We believe in everything we endorse," says Mel C. "I like crisps."

"And I love being involved in chocolate," adds Emma. 'Overpriced rubbish'

"A lot of overpriced rubbish is sold to kids," explains Geri. "We think it's our duty to give them value for money." The same with their audiences, which is why they insist on controlling photographers. "We're there to perform, and it's very distracting if you have a sea of them slamming away..."

"Trying to take pictures of your knickers," says Victoria scornfully.

So let's enter the cliche mode. Does anyone really, really care if they are no longer here at the end of the day? If their film fails, Mel B says, "We'll probably laugh" and Geri adds, "We'll pat ourselves on the back and say we're proud of it, and so are our mums and dads. We rise above negativity. The Spice Girls will continue. We have such wild imaginations so never underestimate what lies ahead for us. Music is our first love and we're still banging out them tunes like there's no tomorrow."

Mel C sums up, "Actions speak louder than words. We're still here and the only thing we take seriously is our music and it's like, 'Come on, everyone, why don't you listen and see where we're coming from, know what I mean?"

Their new single is called Too Much. Are they waggling their clairvoyant antennae again?