Scamfluencers - Listen Now: Terribly Famous

Episode Date: November 27, 2023

Wouldn’t you love to be a famous? Money. Red carpets. Adoring fans. Did we mention the money? But you’re also on a tightrope. Because when everyone’s watching, you’re only one misstep away from it all going terribly wrong. It’s like Rihanna said: there's a long way to fall when you're so far from earth. Join hosts Anna Leong Brophy and Emily Lloyd-Saini in Wondery’s new show Terribly Famous, as they tell the stories of our most iconic stars. After all, it’s fun to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes – especially when they’re Manolos.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hi scamferences listeners, I'm Anna and I'm Emily and we're quickly dropping in to tell you about our podcast that we think you love. It's called terribly famous and it tells the stories of our favourite celebrities from their perspective. Each season we show you what it's really like being mega super famous by taking you inside the life of a British icon from velvet voiced superstar Adele to runway icon Naomi Campbell. We walk you through their glittering highs and eyebrow-raising lows and ask, is Faman fortune worth it? We're about to play you a clip from our season on Victoria Beckham. If you like what you hear, make sure to search and follow terribly famous wherever you get your podcasts. It's April 1995, a year since the girls first got together.

Twenty one year old Victoria wraps her fingers tightly around the steering wheel of her Renault Clio. She's in a secret location on the outskirts of London and ready to go. The girls have this planned to the last detail. This is a heist. The girls have been working hard on new material, writing songs, getting to know each other and loving it. But they've been getting fed up with their managers, Bob and Chris. They don't seem to listen to what the girls want, so they have decided to break away before signing a contract.

There's just one problem. They need to get hold of all the songs they've written, and Bob and Chris keep the tape under lock and key. This really is a high-stile, I love a high-stile! Jerry has gone to maidenhead to swipe the tape while the two males create a diversion. Victoria and Emma are all at the studios in Woking picking up the rest of their stuff. I love this. This is like a commuter belt.

A commuter belt, Ocean's 11. Yes, it's just slightly more budget. Yes, it's very suburban. They're a gang now. Victoria loves being part of it, and she loves that her gang, like her, want to be in the driving seat. They know what they want. What they really, really want.

Stop it. Okay, I'll stop. They know what they want, what they need to do to succeed. But Bob and Chris won't listen. Their adamant, the girls, should all wear the same clothes, and everyone keeps saying there should be a lead singer What guys know exactly right? That is the opposite of the Spice Girls basically Bob and Chris also think the band should be called touch

Sorry, I'm so sorry. What what don't worry the girls aren't having it Victoria checks the rear view mirror Crane's her neck to look up at the building beside her. It's been ages since Emma went inside whilst taking us so long. She starts to wonder if this whole plan is a good idea. It better work. They could get into a lot of trouble if it doesn't. But the others seem so fearless. She grips the wheel a little tighter. Just then, Emma comes running out of the building carrying two bags stuffed full. Go, go, go! She shouts.

Oh my god, I love it! They're getting away with the loot Emily! They spot Joey's car waiting for them exactly as planned, on a roundabout just off the M4 motorway. Joey gets out, brandishing a tape. Victoria and Emma let out a wop, they've done it, they're free. They hug as cars rush by. Victoria feels invincible now, like she can do anything, say anything. She feels her old reserve slipping away, and it's exhilarating.

Now they need a new manager, but this time they'll be the ones doing the auditioning. In the end, they choose a guy called Simon Fuller. Oh yeah, yeah, we've all heard of him. The axes work with are impressive. Annie Lennox from Eurythmics and legendary songwriter Kathy Dennis, but that's not what impresses Victoria most. She likes how he listens, really listens to what they have to say, and he takes them seriously. He promises them they'll make it, and he promises them they'll be

stars. Yeah, but they already know that. Of course they do, but now they found someone who believes it too. Signing with Simon Fuller was a great move. Within a year they've got a record deal and filmed their first music video, wannabe. Ah, the one when they're on the steps in the hotel, that is like, it is and it's St. Pancras in London, that hotel. And I went there with my mum and I was like, I've been here before mum, I've definitely stayed here before. No, it was just the music video. And that video almost didn't happen. Because when the record company execs see it, they're horrified.

It's too dark, too scrappy, and worst of all, wait for it. And then, I'm like, I'm going to go to the hotel. I'm going to go to the hotel, I'm going to go to the hotel. I'm going to go to the hotel, I'm going to go to the hotel. And that video almost didn't happen because when the record company execs see it, the horrified is too dark, too scrappy, and worst of all, wait for it, you can see Melby's nips. What are no, no nips, but the girls won and the video was massive. Huge! I mean, I think it's really easy to forget how revolutionary the Spice Girls were. Because they were shouting about feminism,

girl power, they came from a diverse range of backgrounds. Yeah. And they didn't have a lead singer. And they were genuine friends on top of that. And I honestly think that's a key part of their success. Yeah, that was lucky. It's July 1996. Victoria can't stop grinning as she tipped toes across the dark stage. She's excited. All the girls are. They're about to perform their hit single, wannabe, on a TV show. It's top of the pops. From the back of the stage, Victoria can see the TV cram was glinting in front of her, the famous logo on the walls. That was my Friday night, every Friday night top of the pops. Oh, it was huge, so big.

The music starts. Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. No, no, do the whole thing, please. Haha. Victoria, you can see the others going crazy. Emma flings her arm around Mel B as she wraps. Mel C busts out a back flip while Jerry gets up close and personal with the camera. They're at the top of their game because this is what they all dreamed of. And Victoria? Victoria's feeling, well, a little left out.

She doesn't have a line of her own to sing. She was away to wedding the day the other girls finished writing wannabe. By the time they came to record it all the parts have been divided up already. Each girl took it in turns to sing a line in the verses except Victoria. She was there to record backing vocals, no line of her own. She was really upset. I would be so upset Emily if you did that to me. What if I wrote a sketch show and said sorry you're away. So I forgot you. You're going to be on your own age. This kind of thing is a source spot for Victoria.

She didn't really have close friends until she met the spice girls. At school, she was bullied for her spots, her playground dance routines, and her background. She was the only one who's dad drove a Rolls Royce. Oh, yeah, I can really relate to this because my mom used to drop me to school. a mini metro with a go faster stripe on the side that says Studio 2. So you can relay very like a Rolls Royce. You name it,

she was teased about it. Feeling left out is something that goes way back. Being with the girls gives Victoria confidence but her old insecurities are never that far away. And now, onstage at top of the pops, she's hitting all the right moves and chiming in on the chorus. She knows she looks amazing, but she doesn't feel amazing. She feels like a good break, standing at the back without a solo bit of her own. Then it hits her.

There's a lot more to pop start and then just singing. There's pointing. It's a lot more to pop started than just singing. There's pointing. It's 99% pointing. Victoria throws one leg to the side, pulls her head back and pouts as she points at the camera. You know, that lot, I can see it now. Yep, the point, the pout, the pose. It makes up for not singing.

I mean, it really does, you couldn't miss her. That whole look is fire. The poker straight, Bob, the heels, the little back dress. Am I right in thinking it was a Gucci? Ah, ding-ding, lots of people think that that was Gucci. Actually, she bought it in Miss Selfridge. The Gucci of the High Street. In the 80s.

It was the Gucci of the High Street. Not long after that, Victoria's dubbed posh by magazine editor. She's not sure she likes the nickname, but she knows a good brand when she sees one. And that image, that's all her right from the start. Wanna be stays at number one for seven weeks. You can't put on the radio without hearing it. It's everywhere.

It was just the soundtrack of my childhood. It is manic. Victoria and the rest of the girls start getting recognised wherever they go. And wannabe breaks records for a debut single. It's not just big in the UK. It ends up going to number one in more than 30 countries. But that doesn't stop some people saying the spice girls are one hit wonders. Listen to terribly famous now, wherever you get your podcasts. Some people saying the spice girls are one hit wonders. Listen to terribly famous now wherever you get your podcasts.