Music History Today: February 22, 2022

February 22, 1997: The Spice Girls' debut single, "Wannabe," took the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

"Wannabe" is a moderately paced dance-pop song which features Mel B and Geri Halliwell rapping. 

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The lyrics, which address the value of female friendship over the heterosexual bond, became an iconic symbol of female empowerment and the most emblematic song of the group's Girl Power philosophy. The song won for Best British-Written Single at the 1997 Ivor Novello Awards and for British Single of the Year at the 1997 Brit Awards. 

Read more: Wikipedia

February 22, 1964: The Four Seasons peaked at Number 3 on the American chart with "Dawn (Go Away)."

After launching their tenure on Philips Records with the folk collection Born to Wander, the Four Seasons returned only one month later with a pop album patterned after their earlier Vee Jay LPs, which is to say a set of doo wop covers filling out an album keyed to a current hit single. In this case, the hit was "Dawn (Go Away)," which would have been a number one hit if it hadn't been for the Beatles, who had a lock on the top of the charts. 

Read more: Allmusic

February 22, 1969: "Build Me Up Buttercup" by  The Foundations topped out at Number 3 in the US.

This was written by Mike D'Abo and Tony Macaulay. D'Abo was lead singer of Manfred Mann, and Macaulay was a successful songwriter who also wrote The Foundations hit "Baby Now That I've Found You" as well as songs by The Hollies, Andy Williams and The New Seekers. David Essex, who was unknown at the time but went on to success with "Rock On," was offered this song, but he turned it down as he didn't like the title. 

Read more: Songfacts

February 22, 1986: Dream Academy made it to Number 7 in the US with their debut single "Life in a Northern Town."

"Life in a Northern Town" is from the self-titled debut studio album The Dream Academy.

The song was written as an elegy to British folk musician Nick Drake. Written by band members Nick Laird-Clowes and Gilbert Gabriel. It was produced by Laird-Clowes with help from Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. 

Read more: Wikipedia

February 22, 1992:  Shakespear's Sister took over at Number 1 on the UK Singles chart for an eight-week run at the top with "Stay."

Shakespear's Sister

Shakespears Sister, the duo of Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit, brought together influences as divergent as reggae, pop, punk and soul to create their own unique sound. That musical alchemy clearly worked and their second album, 1992’s Hormonally Yours went on to spend 55 weeks on the charts, gaining Double Platinum status along the way. Much of that success was down to the single Stay, a gothic pop masterpiece which haunted the music world for many months. 

Read more: Songwriting Magazine

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