Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Here are their love letters to records that forever changed their lives.
Jess Locke: Spice Girls – ‘Spice’
People often ask me if there was a point in my life when I realised that I was into music. It’s pretty hard to answer but I think it would have had to be pretty close to the time I first heard the Spice Girls. Never before and never since have I got such innocent and simple joy from music.
I remember seeing the video clip for ‘Wannabe’ for the first time – it must have a been a Saturday morning on Video Hits and I would have been about eight years old. I was instantly in love. So catchy, so much attitude, the rap section, the great fashion and, most importantly, GIRL POWER!!! The spice girls weren’t about one person but the friendship between everyone (although for some reason Geri was always my favourite).
When I saw the ‘2 Become 1’ single CD at the shops one day, I begged my mum to buy it for me and proceeded to sing the chorus to prove I knew the song. The saucy lyrics (‘wanna make love to ya baby’) seemed to concern her a little but not too much I guess because I got the CD and spun it over and over again including all the remixes.
That Christmas, the real bounty came it. Not only did I get the full Spice album on CD, but I also got the follow-up album Spice World, which I guess must have just come out. Needless to say, I played both albums on repeat and I have many fond memories of dancing around the living room to them in ecstasy. But wait! There’s more! I also got a Spice Girls T-Shirt, sticker book based on the movie (great movie btw) and the official Spice Girls Impulse spray. I had scored big time.
My favourite track from the album has always been ‘Say You’ll Be There’. To this day, it stands up as a great song, not to mention a great video clip. The harmonica solo is an unexpected but completely perfect fit and Mel C really shines towards the end of the song. I find myself Googling it more often than you might think, for a little dose of spice…
The Spice Girls will always have a special place in my heart. They take me back to simpler times when I can just be that eight year old for a few minutes, mesmerised by the bright colours, the strange fashions and the music.
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You can catch Jess Locke and a whole host of other talented artists – including these kickass ladies – at The Plot when the festival takes over Parramatta Park on the 18th of November. Catch full lineup details here.
The Plot 2017
Saturday, 18th November
Parramatta Park, Sydney
Tickets: Moshtix
