- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: BRITISH BAND THE SPICE GIRLS LAUNCH UK'S POPPY APPEAL
- Date: 29th October 1997
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM OCTOBER 29, 1997) (RTV) MAN SAYING, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I THINK THEY'RE TALENTLESS REALLY, THEY JUST LOOK GOOD DON'T THEY?" (ENGLISH) GIRL SAYING, "THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, THEY'RE ON EVERY OTHER ADVERT ON TV - SPICE GIRLS. SO, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THEM." (ENGLISH) "THEY'RE GETTING A BIT TO POPULAR, THEY'RE ON EVERYTHING NOW, ALL MAGAZINES TELEV
- Embargoed: 13th November 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA96EK7UIXWRVBTVNNB2K54YCO2
- Story Text: All-girl band the Spice Girls launched Britain's annual Poppy Appeal in London on Wednesday (October 29) - as a survey revealed two-thirds of people feel that companies are over-spicing their advertising campaigns.
Launching the 1997 appeal, Geri, Mel B, Mel C, Victoria and Emma were joined by honorary Spice Girl Dame Vera Lynn.
Famous for her 1940's war ballad "We'll Meet Again" Dame Vera Lynn said she was pleased the Spice Girls had agreed to take part in the appeal.
"I think it was a great idea because for so long now we've been trying to encourage younger people to become involved with the British Legion...I think it was a great idea and a great scoop, and I'm pleased that they were able to come," she said.
The fiercely patriotic Spice Girls Fab Five, all dressed in black and sporting large red poppies, stepped forward to urge Britain's young people to go out and buy the paper flowers before Remembrance Day on November 11.
With the Spice Girl support, the legion hopes to raise more than ever before to help ex-service people in need.
During the launch, the Spice Girls each read a line from Laurence Binyon's poem "The Fallen".
Photographers observed the request to stop taking pictures as they read out: "They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them." In unison, they said "We will remember them." The five member band have endorsed a range of products this year from body sprays to cameras and signed advertising deals with Pepsi and Walker's crisps.
But a survey by Britain's CIA MediaLab Sensor found that the public is growing fed up with links to the feisty five.
Researchers found two-thirds of people feel the band is used too often for product promotion. Even young consumers in the 15-24 age group say the girls are over-exposed.
Londoners on Wednesday appeared unimpressed with the band's latest venture. "They're everywhere, they're on every other advert on TV...you can't get rid of them," one young girl said.
"They're getting a bit too popular, they're on everything now, all magazines, television, all the time," one boy said.
The Legion brushed the survey's finding aside, saying it was thrilled to have the band behind the appeal. A spokesman for the Royal British Legion claimed interest in the Poppy Appeal had boomed since they announced that Posh, Baby, Ginger, Sporty and Scary would be launching this year's campaign. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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