1998 Billie: Because We Want To

At fifteen years old, Billie Piper was a year too late to overtake Helen Shapiro's 1961 record of youngest female solo artist to have a UK number one ('You Don't Know') but nevertheless it's interesting to compare the two. Shapiro and her song provide an overcooked tale of angst with a stage school vocal that casts her as the world's oldest fourteen year old. By contrast, Billie sounds every one of her fifteen years with a voice, image and attitude of a would-be streetwise teen raging against the squares and their "Why you gotta play that song so loud?" moaning with her stock answer 'Because we want to' (I guess "Whatever" doesn't scan too well).

Rebellion with a small 'r', this is 'Girl Power' sharpened just enough to give it an edge, which Billie's girl next door persona keens further to wind up suburbia by virtue of her youth alone in a way that Ms Shapiro, moping into her hankies, couldn't possibly have entertained. Junior punk for rebels too young to have a cause, 'Because We Want To' is fun enough, but my enjoyment is tempered by the call and response work on "Why d'you always say what's on your mind? Because we want to! because we want to!" (etc) veering too close to Spice Girls 'Wannabe' for, if not litigation, then certainly comfort. That, and the fact I can never bear to see 'the kids' enjoying themselves of course.