ARTIST: Spice Girls
TITLE: “Voodoo”
WEB DEBUT: Nov. 4, 2007
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: If the Spice Girls’ people are trying to get fans to buy the group’s upcoming greatest-hits album by very aggressively reminding them of the songs that didn’t quite make the singles cut on Spice and Spiceworld, the plan is, uh, “working.” As “Headlines” smooshed together “Goodbye” and “2 Become 1,” “Voodoo” is a tepid blend of “Wannabe” and “Who Do You Think You Are,” with the non-Melanie C members’ voices blending together into a pitch-shifted soup as they sing in unison about voodoo, fever, and getting on the dance floor. (Mel C, meanwhile, breezily contributes a bridge that, if not amazing, at least stands out. Was she really the only Spice with a recognizable voice back in the day?) On the bright side, the inevitable performance of this song at the soon-to-be-launching reunion tour will give everyone in the audience the chance to go to the bathroom/pick up merch.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Music 4 U Now has links to MP3s, but it’s also streaming at YouTube.




















Just yesterday I was bemoaning the lack of new songs that dared to rhyme “star” with “are.” Thanks also to the Spice Girls for urging me to “be the best [I] can” and to “get my booty on the dancefloor.” Next time I visit 1973, I’ll be sure to follow those instructions.