BBC Radio 2 and other UK stations are playing a censored version of the Spice Girls’ 1997 hit Spice Up Your Life with the word “yellow” removed from the lyrics.
The edit was heard on Scott Mills’ Breakfast show yesterday, where listeners noticed the alteration to the iconic pop song.
The censorship comes despite no apparent public calls for the change to the track, which was one of the biggest-selling girl group’s top five best-selling songs.
The song originally charted in the UK top 20 for six weeks and remained in the top 40 for 12 weeks after its release.
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In the original version of the song, the Spice Girls sing: “Yellow man in Timbuktu. Colour for both me and you.”
The edited version now being played on radio stations has removed the word “yellow” from this line.
The change appears to have been made due to concerns that the term could be considered offensive.
The Spice Girls, comprised of Mel B, Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Victoria Beckham, are the biggest-selling girl group of all time with more than 100 million record sales.
A music insider told The Sun: “Spice Up Your Life is a piece of pop music history — it’s baffling that the Beeb have decided to censor it.”
The source added: “The [band] are singing in celebration of people from all walks of life. It’s clumsy but not insulting.”
They further questioned the decision, saying: “There haven’t been calls to change it so it’s odd they have decided to do so.”
The censorship has sparked debate about whether the lyrics needed changing at all.
According to reports, the Spice Girls considered replacing “yellow man” with “happy people” for their 2019 reunion tour.
However, the group ultimately decided against making the change and performed the original lyrics during their performances.
This stands in contrast to the decision by radio stations to censor the track.
The song was also censored in a 2023 episode of Doctor Who called The Giggle, where characters talked over the controversial line rather than altering it.
A Radio 2 spokesperson clarified that the edit was not made by the BBC itself but told The Sun that the censored version is also being played on other UK stations.
The BBC has not provided further explanation for why the edited version is being used across multiple broadcasters.
This isn’t the first time a popular song has been altered for radio play in recent years.
Radio 1 and 2 both now play an edited version of the 1987 Christmas hit Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.
This version replaces a homophobic slur that appeared in the original recording.
In 2022, a Radio 2 spokesperson explained the decision, saying: “We are reflecting what we are hearing back from many of our listeners who love the song, but find some of the lyrics jarring.”
Recently, fans also criticised the Sex Pistols and new singer Frank Carter for changing the word “f****t” to “loser” in their song New York.