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Mama (Spice Girls song)

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"Mama"
Single by Spice Girls
from the album Spice
A-side"Who Do You Think You Are"
B-side"Baby Come Round"
Released3 March 1997 (1997-03-03)
Recorded23 December 1995
StudioStrongroom (London, England)
GenrePop
Length5:03
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Matt Rowe
  • Richard Stannard
Spice Girls singles chronology
"2 Become 1"
(1996) 		"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"
(1997) 		"Spice Up Your Life"
(1997)
Music video
"Mama" on YouTube

"Mama" is a song by the British girl group the Spice Girls. It was written by the Spice Girls, Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard, and produced by Rowe and Stannard for the group's debut album Spice, released in November 1996. "Mama" is a pop ballad that features instrumentation from keyboards, a rhythm guitar, a cello, and a violin, and its lyrics deal with the difficulties in relationships between mothers and daughters that appear during their childhood.

It was released as a double A-side with "Who Do You Think You Are", and became the official single of the 1997 Comic Relief. Its Big TV! directed music video, featured the group singing to an audience of children and their own mothers. Despite receiving mixed reviews from music critics, "Mama" was commercially successful. Released as the album's fourth single in March 1997, it became their fourth consecutive number-one single in the United Kingdom, which made the Spice Girls the first act in UK chart history to have its first four singles reach number one. It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The single performed well internationally, reaching the top ten in many European countries and New Zealand, and the top fifteen in Australia.

Writing and inspiration

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"Mama" was written by the Spice Girls with songwriting partners Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard. In an interview about the writing process between the group and the duo, Rowe credits Mel B as the one who came up with the song's concept.[1][2] During the writing process, each member wrote a small verse in a different corner of the recording studio, while the chorus was finished around the piano with a guitar. Then, the producers added a gospel choir filled with the group's harmonies at the end of the song.[3] Brown explained the song's inspiration on the book Real Life: Real Spice The Official Story:[4]

We wrote 'Mama' when I was going through a bad phase with my mum. The sentiments are really that your mum's probably the best friend that you've got. Whether she's an over-protective mother or a bit of a landmine, she probably knows you better than yourself in some ways.

In the same book, Melanie C further elaborated: "'Mama's all about how you're such a cow to your mum when you're going through that rebellious teenage stage. Then when you get a bit older, you realise that whatever she was doing, she was only doing it for your own good. And you think: 'God, I was really horrible.'"[4] "Mama" was released in the UK and Ireland as a double A-side along with "Who Do You Think You Are" in March 1997, timed not only for the Comic Relief telethon, but also for Mothering Sunday.[2]

Composition

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Mama
A 30-second sample of "Mama", featuring the Spice Girls singing the last part of the song, while a choir arranged by Mark Beswick, supplemented them.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Mama" is a pop ballad, written in the key of A-flat major, it is set in the time signature of common time and moves at a moderate tempo of 100 beats per minute.[5] The song is constructed in a verse-chorus form, with a bridge before the third chorus,[5] and its instrumentation comes from keyboards, a rhythm guitar, a cello, and a violin.[6]

It opens with an instrumental introduction, with a chord progression of D♭–E♭–Fm–E♭/G–A♭, that is used in the entire song.[5] Bunton and Brown sing the first and second verse respectively. The bridge and third chorus follow. Then a choir, arranged by Mark Beswick,[6] supplements the group during the last part of the song.[2] "Mama" ends with the group repeating the chorus until the song gradually fades out.[5] Lyrically, the song deals with the difficulties in the relationships between mothers and teenagers that appears during the adolescence, and it was dedicated to the group's mothers.[7]

Reception

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Critical response

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"Mama" received mixed reviews from music critics. The Daily Mirror criticised the song saying "Yuk! We don't want our Spice Girls sweet, ta very much. They should concentrate on the raunch and let Daniel O'Donnell take care of the mums."[8] Dev Sherlock of Yahoo! Music Radio called it a "glossy ballad that would do Mariah Carey proud".[9] Edna Gundersen of the USA Today said that their album Spice "is assembly-line dance-pop", adding that "only the funky 'Say You'll Be There' and touchingly cornball 'Mama' hint at depth".[10]

In a review of their album Spice, Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly called it "a fearlessly corny ballad", and added that it "will likely keep them from being one-hit wonders in America".[11] Melissa Ruggieri of the Richmond Times-Dispatch said that in the song, the girls "are sunny vocalists who harmonize with perfumey sweetness when called upon".[12] Daniel Incognito of Sputnikmusic said that in "Mama" the group "sing with heartfelt emotion", and added that "their somewhat amateurish singing is brought up and pushed along by the production crew, harmonising nicely into a stirring pop hook".[13]

Chart performance

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The group performing "Mama" at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada, during the Return of the Spice Girls tour, with the backdrop screens showing a picture of their mothers.

"Mama" was released in the UK as a double A-side single with "Who Do You Think You Are" on 3 March 1997.[14] It debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number one on Mother's Day,[15] with sales of 248,000 copies,[16] becoming the group's fourth consecutive chart-topper.[17] This achievement made the Spice Girls the first act in UK chart history to have its first four singles reach number one, breaking the record set by Gerry & The Pacemakers, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, and Robson & Jerome with three number ones each.[18] It spent three weeks at number one, nine weeks in the top forty, fifteen weeks in the top seventy-five,[15] and sold 786,000 copies as of May 2019,[19] earning a platinum certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

"Mama" was commercially successful in Europe. It peaked at number three on the Eurochart Hot 100,[20] and performed similarly in other European charts. It became the group's third number-one single in Ireland,[20] and peaked inside the top ten in Belgium (both the Flemish and French charts), Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.[21][22][23] "Mama" was released as a standalone single in Austria and Finland. In Austria, it was released on 23 March 1997, debuting on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 at number thirty-one. It peaked at number one in its ninth week, and remained fifteen weeks on the chart.[24]

In Oceania, its commercial performance was generally positive, though not as overwhelming as their three first singles. In New Zealand, it debuted on 23 March 1997 at number ten, while their three first singles were slowly descending from the chart. It peaked at number six and stayed fifteen weeks on the chart.[25] In Australia, it did not perform as well as their previous releases. On 27 July 1997, it debuted on the singles chart at number thirteen, but was unable to reach a higher position and dropped off the chart after fourteen weeks.[26]

Music video

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The group in a studio singing "Mama" to an audience of children.

The music video for "Mama" was directed in February 1997 by Big TV!, and filmed in a studio in Ealing, London.[7] It features the group singing to an audience of children and their own mothers. The video alternated between this scenes and shots of 10 child actors playing younger versions of the Spice Girls doing various things all together, such as playing and practicing singing and dancing, though none of the group's members grew up together.[27] It also shows each mother of the girls holding a picture of their daughter.

There are two versions of the music video, which are edited slightly differently to one another.

The original video features the crowd chanting "Spice Girls," then Geri and Emma arriving at the stage in a convertible, Victoria and Mel B entering the stage through a set of wooden French doors, and Mel C arriving on the stage by sliding down a rope. It has a young boy directing the show, and has Emma start the singing standing up on stage.

Whereas the re-edited version pans to the girls already sat in a circle on stage, along with a slide show displaying photos of the real band members as children. This version has Emma start the singing sitting down on her stool.

About the shoot, Victoria Beckham commented: "It took such a long time to film the 'Mama' video, but it was nice that our mums were there and could see what we're doing. It's good, because they were actually knackered at the end of the day and I said to my mum: 'Ha! Now you know how I feel every day!"[7] Geri Halliwell commented: "I found it a bit bizarre bringing my mum to work with me on the 'Mama' video. You know: 'This is what I do—come and do it, too.' If you worked in Sainsbury's, you wouldn't get your mum to sit with you on the till".[4]

Live performances

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The Spice Girls, accompanied by their mothers and children, performing the song at the final night of their Spice World - 2019 Tour at the Wembley Stadium in London.

The song was performed many times on television, including An Audience with..., Live & Kicking, Top of the Pops, the 1997 Prince's Trust Gala, and the 1997 Comic Relief.[28][29][30][31] In October 1997, the group performed it as the thirteenth song of their first live concert at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The performance was broadcast on Showtime in a pay-per-view event titled Spice Girls In Concert Wild!.[32] However, the VHS and DVD release of the concert, Girl Power! Live in Istanbul, does not include the performance.[33] The song was also used during the climax of their 1997 film, Spice World.[34] In the scene, the group performs "Mama" at London's Royal Albert Hall, surrounded by the media and thousands of fans. The scene was included as a bonus performance in the VHS and DVD release of the movie.[35]

The group have performed the song on their four tours, the Spiceworld Tour, the Christmas In Spiceworld Tour, the Return of the Spice Girls Tour and the Spice World - 2019 Tour.[36][37][38][39] It remained in the group's live set after Halliwell's departure at the end of the European leg of the Spiceworld Tour. The performance at the tour's final concert can be found on the video: Spice Girls Live at Wembley Stadium, filmed in London, on 20 September 1998.[40] During the Return of the Spice Girls tour, "Mama" was performed as the second song from the show's fifth segment. All five girls stood together holding hands to perform it, while the LED screens in the background showed photos of their mothers holding baby pictures of the group, and a montage of them and their children.[41][42] For the British shows, fifty young girls from the Capital Children's Choir dressed in white came out from a platform and lined the stage against the backdrop screens to sing with the Spice Girls.[43]

Formats and track listings

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These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Mama":

Credits and personnel

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Published by Windswept Pacific Music Ltd/PolyGram Music Publishing Ltd.[44]

Charts

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All entries charted with "Who Do You Think You Are" unless otherwise noted.

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Mama"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[67] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[68] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[69] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[71] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] Platinum 786,000[72]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Mama"[a]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Germany 3 March 1997 Maxi CD EMI
[74]
United Kingdom
Virgin
[75]
Japan 16 April 1997 Maxi CD Toshiba EMI
[76]
Germany 25 April 1997 Maxi CD (limited) EMI
[77]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Mama" was released as a double A-side single with "Who Do You Think You Are".

References

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  1. ^ Sinclair, 2004. p. 52.
  2. ^ a b c Kutner, Leigh, 2005. pp. 361–362.
  3. ^ Canfield, Hansen, Geffen, Dozier, 2009. p. 24.
  4. ^ a b c Cripps, Peachey, Spice Girls, 1997. p. 99.
  5. ^ a b c d Spice Girls, 2008. pp. 9–13.
  6. ^ a b Spice (CD booklet). Spice Girls. London: Virgin Records. 1996. p. 6. CDV2812.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b c Spice Girls, 1997a. pp. 42–43.
  8. ^ "See the Spice Girls Live in Scotland!; Ticket Contest". Daily Mirror. 2 March 1997. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  9. ^ Sherlock, Dev (4 February 1997). "Album Review > Spice". Yahoo! Music Radio. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  10. ^ Gundersen, Edna (4 March 1997). "'Lost Highway' a find; Spice Girls add little to pop mixture". USA Today. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  11. ^ Tucker, Ken (26 September 1997). "Music Review: Spice (1997)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  12. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (6 February 1997). "Spice Girls' Album is Surprisingly Bland". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  13. ^ Incognito, Daniel (5 October 2006). "Spice Girls: Spice". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  14. ^ Sinclair, 2004. p. 298.
  15. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Spice Girls – Mama/Who Do You Think You Are". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  16. ^ Jones, Alan (15 March 1997). "The Official UK Charts". Music Week. 39 (11): 11. ISSN 0265-1548.
  17. ^ a b "Spice Girls: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  18. ^ McGibbon, 1997. p. 128.
  19. ^ "Spice Girls' Top 10 biggest singles on the Official Chart". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  20. ^ a b c d "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 (Music & Media) 03/27/97". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 14. Nielsen Business Media. 5 April 1997. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
  21. ^ a b "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Spice Girls – Mama" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  27. ^ Spice Girls, 1997a. pp. 8–9.
  28. ^ "Red Nose Day – 1997 Small change, big difference". Comic Relief. 3 March 1997. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  29. ^ De Ribera Berenguer, 1997. p. 38.
  30. ^ Wright, Matthew (10 November 1997). "We're Spice Boys!; Fab Five make celebrity Wannabes stars of their TV show". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  31. ^ Mulchrone, Patrick (9 May 1997). "Spice Babes". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  32. ^ "Spice Girls Go Pay-Per-View". MTV. 3 December 1997. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  33. ^ Spice Girls (1998). Girl Power! Live in Istanbul (VHS). Virgin Records.
  34. ^ Spice Girls, 1997b. p. 64.
  35. ^ Spice Girls (1998). Spice World (VHS). Columbia Pictures. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  36. ^ "See the Spice Girls Live in Scotland!; Ticket Contest". Daily Record. 19 March 1998. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  37. ^ Graham, Brad L. (4 August 1998). "Spice Girls Show Mixes Glitz and Fun". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  38. ^ Horan, Tom (6 December 1999). "The Spice Girls wrap up Christmas". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  39. ^ "Set List; The Return of the Spice Girls". Sunday Mirror. 16 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  40. ^ Spice Girls (1998). Spice Girls Live at Wembley Stadium (VHS). Virgin Records.
  41. ^ Derdeyn, Stuart (2 December 2007). "The Spice Girls are back!". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  42. ^ Hudson, Polly (4 December 2007). "Spice Girls kick off world tour in Vancouver – fans get what they really, really want". National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 5 August 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  43. ^ Bray, Elisa (17 December 2007). "Girl Power back to give fans what they really really want". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  44. ^ Mama (UK CD1 Single liner). Spice Girls. Virgin Records. 1997. VSCDG 1623.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Spice Girls: Mama" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  47. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  48. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Hits of the World: Italy (Musica & Dischi/FIMI) 04/07/97". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 16. Nielsen Business Media. 19 April 1997. p. 62. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  50. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama". VG-lista. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  52. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  53. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  54. ^ "Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are / Mama". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  55. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 19/3/2021 19 March 2021 - 25 March 2021". Official Charts. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  56. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  57. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1997" (in German). Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  58. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  59. ^ "Rapports annuels 1997" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  60. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  61. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  63. ^ "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  64. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  65. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1997" (in German). Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  66. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  67. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  68. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Spice Girls; 'Who Do You Think You Are/Mama')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  69. ^ [Unknown Region "Dutch single certifications – Spice Girls – Mama/Who Do You Think You Are"] (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 19 February 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help) Enter Mama/Who Do You Think You Are in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  70. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Spice Girls – Mama/Who Do You Think You Are". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  71. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  72. ^ Copsey, Rob (24 May 2019). "Spice Girls' Top 10 biggest singles on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  73. ^ "British single certifications – Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  74. ^ "Who do You Think You Are/Mama". Amazon Germany.
  75. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1 March 1997. p. 31. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  76. ^ "ママ – スパイス・ガールズ" (in Japanese). Japan: Oricon. 16 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  77. ^ "Mama/Who do You Think You Are". Amazon Germany.

Bibliography

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