Today in History: Spice Girls release ‘Wannabe,’

LONDON, (CNN) — On July 8, 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut single, "Wannabe," in the United Kingdom.

The song quickly became a worldwide hit. According to Billboard, listeners really, really wanted to hear it, helping it reach No. 1 in 22 countries. In the United States, "Wannabe" spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997.

The song's popularity has endured for decades. In 2014, researchers identified "Wannabe" as the catchiest U.K. hit single, finding that listeners could recognize the song in just over two seconds.

Nearly 30 years after its release, "Wannabe" remains one of the most recognizable pop songs of its era.