EMMA Bunton made a triumphant return to London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday night – 22 years after the Spice Girls played the venue in cult film Spice World.
The singer was supported by a ten-piece band as she belted out her solo hits including Maybe and Take My Breath Away, as well as a series of Christmas covers, in her first major solo show in over a decade.
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Dressed in a white sequinned mini dress, and later a fringed silver number, Baby Spice was joined by special guests including Will Young, Matt Goss and fiancé Jade Jones.
She opened the show with her 2003 hit Maybe, complete with choreography and eight suited male backing dancers.
But she admitted: “This has been a long time coming. For so long I’ve wanted to do my very own show.
“I think that’s mummy Bunton’s fault, she made me love Christmas.”
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Emma was supported by Spice Girls bandmate Geri Horner who was in the crowd, along with Myleene Klass, Kelly Brook, Vanessa Feltz and Lizzie Cundy.
Of course Emma didn’t ignore the Spice Girls back catalogue though, performing Spice Up Your Life with four young girls dressed up as Geri, Mel B, Mel C and Victoria, as well as a jazz version of Say You’ll Be There.
Speaking about the summer’s Spice World tour, she told the crowd: “It was the best time ever. It feels so weird being up here without my girls.
“I know my Geri’s here tonight, I love my Geri.
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We have reimagined these songs just for this.”
Her genuinely brilliant vocals sounded great live in the iconic venue, where she was a perfect show woman.
And for her version of Mama, she brought on children from inclusive theatre company Chickenshed.
She said: “I’ve got an amazing song that I’d like to dedicate to all the mums out there – and all the mums who aren’t here tonight.
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“I feel so privileged to introduce you to the children from Chickenshed. I have been a patron now for many, many years. Please welcome the Chickenshed kids.”
As a playful dig at her Baby Spice nickname, she also performed a steamy rendition of Madison Avenue’s Don’t Call Me Baby.
If this becomes an annual fixture at Royal Albert Hall, she will have to do more than one night.
The set list
- Maybe
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
- Jingle Bell Rock
- Baby It’s Cold Outside with Jade Jones
- Here Comes the Sun
- I Only Want To Be With You with Will Young
- Winter Wonderland
- Santa Baby
- Take My Breath Away
- Free Me
- Don’t Call Me Baby
- Baby Please Don’t Stop
- Too Many Teardrops
- All I Need To Get By
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Let It Snow
- Spice Up Your Life
- Say You’ll Be There
- Viva Forever
- Mama
- 2 Become 1
- What Took You So Long
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Coming Home For Christmas
- Rockin’ Robin
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
