Rhetorical Analysis: Song

"Wannabe"
The Spice Girls

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, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha.

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, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha.

If you wanna be my lover, you 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.

What do you think about that now you know how I feel,
Say you can handle my love 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, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha.

If you wanna be my lover, you 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.

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,
we got G like MC who likes it on an
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady,
and as for me..ah 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,
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.

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta, you gotta, you
gotta,
you gotta, you gotta, slam, slam, slam, slam
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down zigazig ah
If you wannabe my lover.

1. Identify the argument - If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends.

2. Target Audience - Any guy who has an interest in one of the Spice Girls or any girl that has adopted the Spice Girls' songs as part of their own personal mantra. These men could range from 18 to 45 and the girls probably range from 20 to 30. They obviously have to pay attention to pop culture so they have some idea of who the Spice Girls are and they probably either own an entire Spice Girl's album or at least a few of their songs.

3. How the Argument is Made
Ethos - Well the Spice Girls are the foremost authority on who they would choose to be they're lover so as far as being experts in any one field, that would be it. They address their audience in a catchy pop song which makes it kind of hard to take them seriously, but the Spice Girls are good looking ladies so I think men listened to what they said based solely on that fact. Their various "titles" - Sporty, Baby, Posh, Ginger, and Scary - would suggest that they each have a specific area of expertise within the group, although none of them are relevant to this song.

Pathos - The sex appeal of this song is quite strong. The entire thing is about what you have to do in order to become one of these girls' lovers. But they are not only speaking to boys, they are also trying to teach girls that no matter how attractive a guy is, he can never take the place of your friends. So the song is also making an appeal to friendship and feelings of belonging.

Logos - Logos has never been one of the Spice Girls' strong points, but in this song they tell you quite plainly that "if you wannabe my lover you goota get with my friends" and "you have got to give". So logically if you fulfill those to requirements, you'll hit the jackpot, Spice Girl-style. But then they kind of throw some other stuff in the mix, but the most important is probably the line that says, "I'll give you a try, if you really bug me then I'll say goodbye". Apparently you are not automatically in if you pass the test of the chorus, you also have to not be annoying, not be hasty, forget her past, and then depending on which Spice you desire there are some other things you should know like, "V" or Victoria "doesn't come for free, she's a real lady" or "Em" a.k.a. Emma who "likes it in her face", etc. And finally you are told to "Slam your body down and wind it all around" basically the song abandons any sort of logic by the end

Sufficient Evidence - I'm not sure that there is sufficient evidence because these girls seem really straight forward, but also kind of confident and bratty - "Think you can handle my love? Are you for real?" - I don't think this song gives you enough evidence to support the argument.

Relevant Evidence - Again, not a lot. "Slam your body down and zigahzig ah" isn't even English so I am not sure what they are trying to argue with that. But there is some relevant evidence, like when they try to tell explain why you have to get with they're friends in order to be they're lover - "Friendship never ends".