It’s official.

The Spice Girls are reuniting for a world tour, the Associated Press reported last

week.

Apparently the news has been met with huge publicity, especially in England, home of the super Girl Power group.

It leaves me wondering, however.

Most of the fans of the girl band were in their tweens when the Spice Girls split up in 2001. Will the now college-age kids still be anxious to attend concerts and buy records?

And certainly “Sporty Spice” and “Baby Spice” will have to find a new image. Right? Maybe not.

AP reported that fans stood outside the news conference, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Spice Girls.

For those who may not remember the group, the Spice Girls had a hit with “Wannabe,” which was released in 1996 and topped charts in 31 countries. They went on to sell more than 55 million records.

The reunion announcement reminded me of a conversation I overheard about 10 years ago when the group was at the pinnacle of its success.

The discussion was between a mother and her daughter, who looked to be about eight or nine years old.

Girl: “I want the Spice Girls CD, but I know Daddy won’t let me have one.”

Mother: “Why not?”

Girl: “You know …”

Mother: “No. I don’t know. Why wouldn’t he let you have a Spice Girls CD?”

Girl: “Because they’re … you know …”

Mother: “They’re what?”

Girl: “Well, because they’re leprechauns.”

Mother: “Because they’re what?”

Girl: “You know … leprechauns.”

Mother: “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Girl: “Leprechauns. You know. Women who love other women.”

Mother: “Oh. You mean lesbian.”

Girl: “Huh?”

Mother: “Women who love other women are called lesbians. But I don’t think the Spice Girls are.”

Girl: “You don’t.”

Mother: “No. I think they’re just British.”

Anyway, if you’re a fan of the Spice Girls, you probably consider last week’s announcement a good thing.

If you don’t get a chance to see them in concert (the closest they’ll be to us is Las Vegas), a greatest hits album will be released in November.

The news had me thinking about other groups I’d like to see reunite. Of course the quintessential reunion would be The Beatles, but since John and George have died, that’s not going to happen.Although there was a pseudo reunion last week on Larry King Live with Paul, Ringo, Yoko Ono (John’s widow) and George Harrison’s widow. They were promoting a Cirque du Soliel show in Las Vegas featuring Beatles music.)

The Police have reunited and are currently on a tour that is getting great reviews.

Occasionally we hear about reunions by 70s groups like Journey, Jefferson Starship or Atlanta Rhythm Section. In fact, they sometimes play at festivals or venues in our state.

Still, somehow that just doesn’t generate the same publicity as the Spice Girls.

Must be the outfits.

Tammy Leytham is editor of The Selma Times-Journal.