Here’s 10 things you didn’t know about the Spice Girls hit Wannabe as the track celebrates its 20th anniversary
It contains a drug reference, has featured in The Simpsons and was written in just 30 minutes
CAST your mind all the way back to 1996 - John Major was Prime Minister, Terry Venables had just resigned as England manager and a little known band called the Spice Girls were making waves in the music industry.
It's hard to believe that it's been a whopping two decades since the fun and feisty five-some were thrust into our conscious.
The insanely catchy dance-pop anthem Wannabe, which was released on 8 July 1996, helped launch the era of girl power, made buffalo boots trendy and encouraged women to start screaming "zig-a-zig-ah" at the top of their lungs.
The 2.52 minute track - which included lyrics about friendship and female empowerment - became a worldwide chart topper and turned Victoria Beckham (Posh), Emma Bunton (Baby), Geri Halliwell (Ginger), Melanie Brown (Scary) and Melanie Chisolm (Sporty) into household names.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the girl band classic, here are 10 things you never knew about the smash hit
1. The video was nearly filmed in Spain
In the cheeky music video for Wannabe the girls run amok at a glitzy party by dancing on the tables and flirting with OAPs.
It was supposed to be filmed in an exotic building in Barcelona but, after failing to get permission, director Johan Camitz moved the shoot to the Midland Grand Hotel in St Pancras, London.
Geri revealed: "The video I remember as being very chaotic and cold. It wasn't very controlled—we didn't want it to be. We wanted the camera to capture the madness of the Spice Girls.”
2. Poor Posh didn’t get a solo line
Victoria Beckham (then Adams) didn’t get a chance to showcase her vocal talents on the band’s debut single.
The brunette, famed for wearing super-short, figure-flaunting black dresses, was the only member not to be given a solo line.
However, after Geri left the group in 1998, Posh was given the task of filling in her bits.
3. It was written in just 30 minutes
Mel B said the girls experienced a “sudden creative frenzy” while writing lyrics and managed to pen the track in just half an hour.
The band were keen to include a rap element and made up the phrase, "zig-a-zig-ah”.
Mel C later told Billboard magazine: “You know when you’re in a gang and you’re having a laugh and you make up silly word? We were having a giggle when we made up, zig-a-zig-ah.”
4. It contains a drug reference
There’s apparently an explicit message behind the 90s pop classic that went on to sell seven million copies worldwide.
An unnamed insider told the Daily Star that one lyric refers to two of the girls “enjoying sex whilst on ecstasy”.
The line, sung by Mel B, goes: “We got G (Geri) like MC (Mel C) who likes it on an E.”
5. It won some pretty prestigious gongs
Despite mixed reviews from music big wigs, in 1997 Wannabe went on to win the Best Single at the BRIT Awards and the Best British Written Single accolade at the Ivor Novellos.
In 2014, it was also rated the most easily recognisable pop song of the last 60 years.
6. It has been played on The Simpsons
The track has featured on a number of hit television shows including The Simpsons, Melrose Place, One Tree Hill and Daria.
It has also been played on Disney's Chicken Little movie and the children's film, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.
7. Tony Blair could have made a cameo
A year before he guided Labour to victory at the General Election, Tony Blair was asked to appear in the music video for Wannabe.
Sadly, he decided to decline the Spice Girls' offer.
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8. Mel B's nipples sparked outrage
The laugh-out-loud video was banned in several Asian countries because of Mel B's erect nipples.
TV executives feared her boobs - which were clearly visible through her tight green vest top - were too graphic.
9. It was bigger than The Beatles
The Spice Girls broke the record previously held by The Beatles when Wannabe entered the US Hot 100 at number 11.
It was the highest debut by a new British act since the boyband debuted at number 12 in 1964 with I Want To Hold Your hand.
10. It was the opening track on the Viva Forever! musical
Viva Forever!, a musical which was based on the song of the Spice Girls and was written by Jennifer Saunders, opened in 2012.
Wannabe was the show's opening track and helped hyped the crowd up.
Unfortunately, due to a poor reception and disappointing ticket sales, it closed just seven months after the premiere.