BBC Radio 2 is now playing a censored version of a Spice Girls’ classic, nearly 30 years after its release.
The station has not commented but has now removed an offending word from its programmed version of Spice Up Your Life – a number one hit from 1997.
Radio 2 played the song on Wednesday, following news that the Spice Girls are going to be holding their latest reunion, with Mel C teasing “something special” for the 30th anniversary of their debut single Wannabe in 2026.
It’s understood that Spice Up Your Life, the lead single from second album Spiceworld, will be altered across all radio stations, beyond the BBC.
The BBC and the Spice Girls have been approached for comment.
“We are reflecting what we are hearing back from many of our listeners who love the song, but find some of the lyrics jarring,” a spokesman from the BBC told the Sun in 2022.
Why has Radio 2 removed a lyric from Spice Up Your Life?
Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills played the new version of Spice Up Your Life on Wednesday but made no comment about a missing lyric.
The line “yellow man in Timbuktu, colour for both me and you”, has been altered, with the word “yellow” being removed. The term is considered offensive to east Asians and those of east Asian heritage.
According to the Sun, the decision is not a recent one and it was dubbed over in a 2023 episode of Doctor Who in which it features.
The tabloid added that the girls had considered replacing the line “yellow man” with “happy people” for their 2019 tour but ultimately sang the original.
The lyrics were written by producers Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard – alongside the five Spice Girls – but it is unclear who penned the offending ‘yellow’ line.
Other songs with lyrics removed
Spice Up Your Life is not alone in having lyrics retrospectively modified.
Kesha announced last year that her breakout hit Tik Tok would no longer contain reference to “feeling like” P Diddy – the US rapper having now been disgraced with sex abuse allegations. The new line is: “Wake up in the morning, like fuck P Diddy.” The new version is obviously being blanked out on radio stations.
Radio 1 had surprisingly played Wet Leg’s 2022 song Wet Dream unaltered for a long period but has now changed the “you’re touching yourself” line to a re-recorded “just you and yourself”.
A longstanding one is The Pogues Christmas classic Fairytale of New York – which has had Kirsty McColl’s “You scumbag, you faggot,” line removed, as well as Shane MacGowan’s “old slut on junk” taken out on radio stations.
And Taylor Swift is not immune to changing her lyrics. Better Than Revenge was originally: “She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think, she’s an actress / She’s better known for the things that she does on the mattress.” But the song will now be heard as: “He was a moth to the flame, she was holding the matches.” She also removed the word “gay” from 2006 song Picture to Burn after it was deemed homophobic.
