Wannabe

Album: Spice (1996)
Charted: 1 1
Play Video
  • Ha ha ha ha ha
    Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
    So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
    I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
    So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
    I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
    I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah

    If you want my future, forget my past
    If you wanna get with me, better make it fast
    Now don't go wasting my precious time
    Get your act together we could be just fine

    I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
    So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
    I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
    I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
    If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
    (Gotta get with my friends)
    Make it last forever, friendship never ends
    If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
    Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is

    Oh, what do you think about that?
    Now you know how I feel
    Say you can handle my love, are you for real?
    (Are you for real?)
    I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
    If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye

    Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
    So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
    I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
    I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah

    If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
    (Gotta get with my friends)
    Make it last forever, friendship never ends
    If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
    (You've got to give)
    Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is

    So, here's a story from A to Z
    You wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully
    We got Em in the place who likes it in your face
    You got G like MC who likes it on a
    Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady
    And as for me, ha you'll see

    Slam your body down and wind it all around
    Slam your body down and wind it all around

    If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
    (Gotta get with my friends)
    Make it last forever, friendship never ends
    If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
    (You've got to give)
    Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is

    If you wanna be my lover
    You gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta
    Slam, slam, slam, slam (make it last forever)

    Slam your body down and wind it all around
    Slam your body down and wind it all around
    Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
    Slam your body down and wind it all around
    Slam your body down and zigazig ah
    If you wanna be my lover Writer/s: Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Matthew Paul Rowbottom, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Richard Stannard, Victoria Beckham
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

  • Jonathan from United KingdomIt topped the charts in 37 countries!
  • Kaden Vanciel from Visalia, CaliforniaThis song was also used in trailers for Excess Baggage(1997) and The Boys(2019).
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaYou say: A "Wannabe" is a person who aspires to be someone else, generally a celebrity, and imitates that person. The phrase has very little to do with the song, but makes a catchy title.

    It's everything to do with the song -- if you wanna be my lover (zigazag(presumedly sex)). . . you got to get with my friends (UK slang = "get along with", unless influenced with US slang, then = "have sex with"(presumably to have your prowess tested & reported on)

    That's the hook -- sexual prowess -- but then it focuses on relationship (forget my past(=girl power aspect))

    Friendship is listed as most important, for "forever" & getting along with her friends is critical.

    But the song finishes off as purely about sex.

    i.e. playing the socially presumed man's game (switched to she just wants sex, but he wants love/forever)
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaI can't stand the opening of this song, and the rest isn't much better. Fortunately, the Spice Girls' subsequent songs were pretty good.
  • Shawn from Green Bay, WiI'm a man, and I love the Spice Girls. They are about my age, and I remember when they first came out. I was a fan because they were hot at first, but now I like a lot of their music. "Say You'll Be There," "2 Become 1," and "Stop" are all good tunes, and "Too Much" is a GREAT song. This song is better in a live performance than recorded. It is a fun, energy-packed song that the girls have a lot of fun performing.
    And I absolutely LOVE Mel C, the girl a prior poster referred to as "a man." Hahaha.... Idiot. Go on youtube and look up a recent live performance of Mel C once, and then tell me she isn't a beautiful and talented woman.
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love this music video and song. What does Zigazag Ah mean?
  • Mike from Matawan, Nj*see: People/Groups no one really cares about anymore.

    But take heart Spice Broads, Brittany will be joining you soon
  • Marissa from Akron, OhThis song brings back memories all the way from second grade. It's a great song to blast when you're in the car with your best girlfriends, as I know from experience.
  • Bender from East West Virginia, VaIt must have been cold when they filmed this vid.
  • Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomSo annoyingly catchy...I remember the video vividly.
  • Becky from Chicago, Ili've heard that the phrase "zig-a-zig-ah" means Orgasam.
    is that right?
  • Julie from Taylor, Txi just have to say one thing.....Stop hating on this song! You knoe it freakin rox!
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceEven after the years of hype surrounding this all-girl group and its members, "Wannabe" is an exhilarating listening pleasure. "Girl power" from the group swept the U.K. in 1996 and then conquered America the following year.
  • Ethan from Mason, MiI think that when it comes to this song people are very shallow! No one ever realizes what they say and how stupid they're being when this song is the topic of discussion.

    First of all, I've witnessed people talk about this song and most of the time they don't know more than the chorus. So if they did hear the verses they'd be like, "wha- whats this song?"

    Also, I think it's pathetic that no one can admit how great the spice girls are and that they use them for an object of humor. They are the one of the most talented, great-spirted, and beautiful girls in the world!

    Why is it that in the world we live in today, people must choose not to admit what music they enjoy only to protect their self image? I think it's sick.

    I for one love the Spice Girls, and yes, I'm a guy.
  • Matthew from Milford, MaI'll also admit that I don't even want to know what "slam your body down and wind it all around" could mean..
  • Matthew from Milford, Ma...Well, okay, I'll admit that the "zigzag" thing is kind of random.
  • Matthew from Milford, MaSilly? The meaning of this song is quite deep, actually. It's about the distinction between sycophantic clingers and true friends; the latter are much better to have around!!!
  • Mark from Lancaster, OhFor heaven's sakes. I never understood why everyone attached such significance to the Spice Girls' music. It's happy, great fun to listen to, and perfectly silly, as girls have a tendency to be. They were a fine group.
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaThe beginning of this song is AWFUL! When they rap "Tell me what you want, what you really really want.." my first thought is, "I want to hear a better song." The rest of the song is just plain dull. Their follow-up songs were an improvement, thankfully.
  • Hayley from Mckinney, Txthe spice s were huge.. but one was a man.. so like the spice boys kicked pure ace!
  • Kat from Sydney, Australiayay Australia, 11 weeks, gotta be proud! (i shouldnt say nething i bought that song!)
  • Laura from Melbourne, AustraliaYes,well,last time I was reading the dictionary, i didn't see the word 'silutaneously'. However I am intrigued to be offered an explantion for this perhaps versatile word or possible spelling error. P.S Spice girls were not a cult fad of the 90's, they were 'silutaneous', in the true sense of the word. You're a good sport pommy
  • Claire from Oak Ridge, Tni remember being 5 and tagging along dancing to this with my older sister and her in-the-know friend.
  • Martin from London, EnglandWith 7 weeks at No. 1, 26 weeks on the chart and sales of 1.27m in the UK, this track was the 12th best seller of the 90s and, at the time of its release, the 31st best-selling single ever in the UK.
  • Martin from London, EnglandThis, the Girls' first single, was silutaneously No. 1 in Australia for 11 weeks, during which time their 2nd and 3rd singles were No. 1 in the UK. In the US, it was simultaneously No. 1 with the Girls' 4th single at No. 1 in the UK.
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesThre 'forever friends' stigma exploded in the Spice Girls' faces with Geri Halliwell's acrimonious split from the band in May 1998.
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