Whether or not they can really sing appears to remain a topic prone to debate but those reunited Spice Girls still know how to put on a show, as proved Sunday night in Vancouver, when they kicked off their 40-date reunion tour.

The Spice Girls are all in their 30s now and four of them are moms; their first concert together in nearly a decade at a Victoria's Secret fashion show was flashy and flamboyant but they lip-synched and were berated badly for it.

Yet Sunday night, in Vancouver, Canada, Spice-mania resurrection seemed to be at its fullest, with more than 15,000 fans, the vast majority teenage females, attending the sold-out gig and making up for a hefty part of an estimated $60 million figure earned in ticket sales for the tour so far.

The spicy British quintet – Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm, Victoria “Posh” Beckham, Emma “Baby” Bunton, Melanie “Scary” Brown and Geri “Ginger” Halliwell, were of course color-coordinated at all times during the show as they changed some eight times, some of the outfits exquisitely designed by Roberto Cavalli.

They were also in top form, as all five singers have taken time to write in their blog on the official website, about countless rehearsals, working together and exercising stage and dance moves. Yes, some of these entries have been sappy, with heartfelt descriptions of how well their children get along.

Sunday’s show included intricate set changes with revolving platforms and trap doors; male dancers wearing dog leashes and playing nice for the Spice Girls, and a revival of their defining costumes in the 1990s: Geri’s Union Jack dress, baby doll dress for Emma, animal print leotard for Mel B etc.

All through the show, the five hugged and giggled and held hands, like real reunited friends do.

The five also took turns performing a song from their solo careers: Mel C (who has always been praised as the one with the best vocal ability) sang “I Turn To You,” Geri sang “It’s Raining Men” while Victoria pretended to strut down a catwalk as paparazzi busily immortalized her. This has drawn some criticism for Posh.

At least she could console herself with the fact that hubby David Beckham also attended the show; the couple reunited for the first time in three and a half weeks, as the soccer star has been in New Zealand, on tour with his team LA Galaxy.

The Spice Girls became a real force in 1996, with their debut single “Wannabe” and liberal attitude. They have sold an estimated 55 million albums worldwide, despite a short-lived career. Geri left the group in 1998 and the remaining four parted ways as well after releasing the album “Forever” in 2000.

Overall, the mature, ten-years-later Spice Girls of Sunday night proved that they still have their flair for showmanship and that they do enjoy entertaining their fans.

The set list included their hits “Spice Up Your Life,” “Stop,” “Say You'll Be There,” “2 Become 1” and the new “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends).” A spokesman for the group has denied reports that they were lip-synching, according to media reports.

The tour will take the Spice Girls to cities such as London, Manchester, Cape Town, Los Angeles, New York, Shanghai, and Beijing.