“You’re going to see the Spice Girls?”

Whether said in disgust or jealousy, I heard that phrase repeatedly during the weeks prior to the Feb. 13 Spice Girls reunion concert.

“Yes, don’t judge me,” I replied. I acknowledge the fact that as a junior in college, my obsession with the girl group that asked me what I really really wanted back in the fifth grade should be over, but I can’t help it. When I heard the Spice Girls were coming back for their one and only reunion tour, the 11-year-old girl inside of me flipped out. I knew getting tickets would be difficult but I had completely lost hope of being able to go when I found out they were going for upwards of $300.

However, I was able to score tickets within my price range and thankfully, it completely lived up to my expectations (which have been 10 years in the making).

While the group lived up to their reputations as divas, making the crowd wait an hour after the supposed 7:30 p.m. curtain call, the in-house DJ played music to keep us pumped for the show. Not only was there a DJ for entertainment but my friends and I spent the time counting all the makeshift Spice Girls (costumed fans) seen in the sold-out crowd.

The concert finally began with the Girls appearing in silhouettes atop pedestals in front of a giant screen which flashed the headlines about them over the years: From the very beginning of Spice-mania, through their break-up due to the Geri Halliwell departure, all the way to their return.

We finally see the Girls, and not just their fit to emaciated frames (yes, Victoria Beckham really is as skinny as she looks in pictures), as they opened the concert with arguably their most upbeat song, “Spice Up Your Life.” They continued with their other popular singles, “Stop” and “Say You’ll Be There.”

The rest of the concert was a mix of singles and songs from the two albums, “Spice” and “Spiceworld” as well as songs from “Forever,” the CD made after Ginger (Geri) left the group. Each Girl also got a solo. All of the girls sang except Posh, who opted to walk the runway to “Like a Virgin.” While vocally, Sporty (Mel C), reigned supreme with her solo, “I Turn To You,” Scary (Mel B) was easily the most entertaining. Coming out in her signature leopard catsuit complete with a whip, she promised to “show us the real Scary Spice” and she did. After sending her male back-up dancers in the crowd to kidnap probably the only seemingly straight male in the audience she proceeded to punish him by harnessing him into a ladder-like bondage contraption which she climbed and mounted, finishing her dance by gyrating in front of his face and shaking her head in front of his crotch, apparently simulating fellatio.

It was definitely entertaining for me and my 20-year-old friends, but probably not the most appropriate thing for the 8-year-old girl in front of us to watch. At the same time, none of the Spice Girls bit off the head of a bat during the concert and the only wardrobe malfunction was “a sparkly thing” that fell from Posh’s outfit so it could’ve been a lot worse.

They ended the show with “Wannabe,” their first single and most recognizable song and a reprise of “Spice Up Your Life.” The outfits for the tour were designed by Roberto Cavalli and the Girls looked fantastic in them. Ginger donned her trademark British flag dress although this time around it was embellished with sequins. Sporty donned her track suits and Posh looked posh, however Baby didn’t wear her hair in pigtails like she did 10 years back (although in her defense she is 32 now). All in all I was not even remotely disappointed in the reunion tour. The 11-year-old inside of me can rest easy … until I hear about the *NSYNC comeback.