Schizophonic
Studio album by
Geri Halliwell
Released7 June 1999
RecordedJuly–December 1998
StudioOlympic Studios (London, England)
Genre
Length40:52
Label
ProducerAbsolute
Geri Halliwell chronology
Schizophonic
(1999)		 Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
(2001)
Singles from Schizophonic
  1. "Look at Me"
    Released: 10 May 1999
  2. "Mi Chico Latino"
    Released: 16 August 1999
  3. "Lift Me Up"
    Released: 1 November 1999
  4. "Bag It Up"
    Released: 13 March 2000
Alternate cover
Alternative cover of Schizophonic

Schizophonic (stylised as Schizö-phonic) is the debut studio album by British pop singer Geri Halliwell. The album was released after her split from popular girl group the Spice Girls. The term schizophonic is a portmanteau of the Greek words schizo ("split", "divide") and phonic ("sound"), and also seemingly a play on the word "schizophrenic" and the musical term "schizophonia". This was the first solo album released by a Spice Girl.

It produced four singles, all of which saw commercial success in the UK—"Mi Chico Latino", "Lift Me Up" and "Bag It Up" reached number one, while the first single "Look at Me" peaked at number two. The album sold over two million copies worldwide.[1]

Background

"Everything I've done I've always done passionately, with all my heart and my soul. I didn't want to leave the Spice Girls and immediately have a record out on the back of that. That's why I've waited. I wanted to find out who I am, weigh up what I wanted to project, and get a structure, a game-plan to it all."

—Halliwell on the time gap between her leaving the Spice Girls and releasing her debut solo album.[2]

On 31 May 1998, it was announced that Halliwell had left girl group Spice Girls, with the singer claiming that she was suffering from exhaustion and wanted to take a break. However, rumours of a feud with fellow member Melanie Brown as the reason for her departure were circulated by the press.[3][4] Halliwell's departure from the group became one of the biggest entertainment news stories of the year, making news headlines the world over.[5] The four remaining members were adamant that the group would carry on, and continued their Spiceworld Tour without her in the summer of 1998.[6][7] In 2007, she stated on BBC One documentary Giving You Everything that she had "given all I could" and felt like she "didn't belong anymore. They didn't need me anymore, really, and I definitely felt very redundant."[8]

As a solo artist, Halliwell signed a three-album deal with EMI worth US$3 million, influenced by Robbie Williams' solo success after leaving Take That.[9] She then started developing her debut album, asking the Absolute production team—Paul Watson and Andy Watkins—who had already produced songs for the Spice Girls, for help. Allegedly, the four remaining girls from the Spice Girls said that if they worked with Halliwell, they could not work with them again. Eventually, the duo decided to work with the singer. The next year, she launched her solo career and released her debut album titled Schizophonic, which she described as "a cross between Julie Andrews and Johnny Rotten".[2]

Promotion

The album's release was promoted with a documentary, Geri, which was directed by Molly Dineen and screened by Channel 4 on 5 May 1999, following Halliwell's life after her departure from the Spice Girls.[10] Later Halliwell admitted that "With hindsight, it was a mistake, but I was very out of sorts, I was lonely and I felt starved of friendship and intellectual company, which Molly gave me because she is so totally intellectual." While she does not regret doing the documentary, she found it "far too upsetting a prospect to even consider watching it again".[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
BBC News(mixed)[13]
Robert Christgau(dud)[14]
Entertainment WeeklyC[15]
The Independent(mixed)[16]
The New Zealand Herald[17]
NME4/10[18]
People(favorable)[19]
Rolling Stone[20]

In his review for The Independent, Nicholas Barber declared Schizophonic "considerably more sophisticated and more obviously packed with hits than either of the Spice Girls' albums."[16] People called the album "flip, fun froth from a former Spice." The magazine wrote that "the self-worth, Girl Power sloganeering of her old group is replaced here by Halliwell's plucky, self-deprecating statement of Geri-empowerment [...] Except for a few oversweetened ballads and two ill-advised forays into foreign (Latin and Indian) genres, Solo Girl comports herself well indeed."[19] Karen Schoemer from Rolling Stone remarked that Schizophonic "is more Girl Chutzpah than Girl Power. Geri seems intent on being all spices: sweet, salty, flirty, bossy [...] Geri's voice is flat and unsyncopated – she puts syllables in the darnedest places between the beat – but it has a surprising, undeniable charm. She's like a really enthusiastic impersonator, so anxious to win you over that you give in. Schizophonic doesn't reveal any hidden talents."[20]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt that "unfortunately, Halliwell doesn't have strong collaborators, who know how to exploit her admittedly limited voice, so much of it falls a little flat musically. There are, however, cuts on Schizophonia [that] sparkle with a gleeful, unabashed love of pop and dance. Invariably, the album soars when it's upbeat [...] If Schizophonia doesn't work on some levels, it does succeed as a statement of purpose from the newly independent Halliwell."[12] Chris Charles, writing for BBC News, found that Schizophonic "sees Geri adopt – or attempt to adopt – so many alter-egos that it is difficult to pin-point which is the real her [...] This mixing and matching is Geri all over. One minute she's popping out of a skimpy Union jack number, the next she's the prissie librarian figure clutching her pampered pooch."[13] NME wrote that "Schizo-phonic, breaking every seduction rule of women's magazines, is an act of pure desperation. Count the signs: the 60-piece orchestra; the Latino number; the plucky showstopper, the maudlin ballad. It's clichid like a river of tears running past, yes, a mountain so high, yet when you're trying to be all things to all people, that's inevitable."[18]

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, Schizophonic debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, with sales of 35,000 copies.[21] It sold 483,853 in total, being certified two-times Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 600,000 copies.[22] In Canada, the album debuted and peaked at number 15. With strong long-term sales the album was certified Platinum with just over 100,000 copies shipped. In the United States, the album faced moderate success, selling 40,000 copies in its first week debuting and peaking at number 42 on the Billboard 200, the strongest Spice Girls solo showing on the chart. It shipped 500,000 copies and received a Gold certification in the country by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[23] According to Nielsen SoundScan, Schizophonic has sold 181,000 copies there as of July 2007.[24] The album was also certified Gold in Australia and Spain with shipments of over 35,000 and 50,000 copies, respectively.[25] However, the album only reached number 85 in Japan, selling 3,190 copies. By August of the same year of release, more than 1.3 million copies had been distributed through stores,[26] by 2001, more than two million copies had been sold worldwide.[1]

Singles

Three of the four singles from the album went to number one in the United Kingdom, while the debut single made number two. The lead single was "Look at Me", produced by Absolute and Phil Bucknall. It was released in the United Kingdom on 10 May 1999, the same week as Boyzone's "You Needed Me". In early 1999, Boyzone was at the height of its own success with five UK number-ones, however, Halliwell was confident that "Look at Me" would reach number one. Though more transactions were made of the "Look at Me" single, two CD singles of "You Needed Me" were released in order for fans to purchase both and ensure that Boyzone made it to the number-one position.[27] "Look at Me" entered the UK Singles Chart at number two, selling 140,000 copies in its first week;[28] it was only 700 copies behind "You Needed Me".[29] Halliwell was disappointed with the outcome of the chart performance for "Look at Me", since she had believed that it would reach number one. She had also feared that her career would be ruined six months after the release of the single. However, Halliwell would earn her first UK number-one single with "Mi Chico Latino". "Look at Me" went on to sell 330,812 copies in the United Kingdom alone, being certified Gold by the BPI, and over 1.5 million copies worldwide.[30]

"Mi Chico Latino" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 22 August 1999, selling 132,000 copies in its first week,[31] becoming Halliwell's first number-one solo single in the country.[32] It also was the beginning of a sequence of four consecutive Halliwell singles reaching number one in the United Kingdom.[33] It spent fifteen weeks in the charts,[34] and went on to sell almost 383,000 copies in the UK and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[22] "Mi Chico Latino" experienced moderate success in other European markets. In Austria, it entered the singles chart at number 34, eventually peaking at number 27 and spending a total of eight weeks on the chart.[35] In France, the song peaked at number 40, remaining on the chart for ten weeks in total.[36] On the Swiss Singles Chart dated 19 September 1999, it peaked at number 26.[37] In Australia, "Mi Chico Latino" debuted at its peak of number 43 on the issue dated 5 September 1999.[38] The song also experienced success in the United States, peaking at number 19 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[39]

"Lift Me Up" was the third single from the album and the second single which ultimately reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 13 November 1999,[32] selling 140,000 copies in its first week, 30,000 more copies than "What I Am".[40] Its total sales are 346,000 copies in the United Kingdom,[41] and the single enjoyed a fifteen-week run in the UK chart. The music video for "Lift Me Up" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and filmed in October 1999 in Málaga, Spain.

"Bag It Up" was the final single from the album and was sold 106,000 copies in its first week,[42] becoming Halliwell's third consecutive solo number one on the UK Singles Chart.[43] It has sold over 260,000 copies and been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[43] The music video to "Bag It Up" was filmed in January 2000 and was directed by Dawn Shadforth.

Album covers

Schizophonic was released with two different covers, representing an angel (white), and a devil (red); both covers are the same edition of the album. On the first "O" on Schizophonic, there is an angel halo on the white cover and horns on the red cover. On the back cover, the song titles are written in both red and white, relating the theme of the song to one of the personalities. The booklet of the album features both covers on all editions, and the lyrics of the songs are included on the side that they are marked on the back cover.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Geri Halliwell, Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, except where noted

Schizophonic track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Look at Me" 4:31
2."Lift Me Up"Halliwell, Watkins, Wilson, Tracy Ackerman3:52
3."Walkaway"Halliwell, Watkins, Wilson, Ackerman5:03
4."Mi Chico Latino" 3:16
5."Goodnight Kiss" 4:38
6."Bag It Up" 3:46
7."Sometime" 4:01
8."Let Me Love You" 3:45
9."Someone's Watching Over Me"Halliwell, Watkins, Wilson, Ackerman4:15
10."You're in a Bubble" 3:27
Total length:40:52

B-sides

B-sides of singles from Schizophonic
Title Single B-side Producer(s) Length
"G.A.Y." "Mi Chico Latino" CD single Absolute, Steve Fitzmaurice 3:22
"Summertime" 3:35
"Very Slowly" "Lift Me Up" CD single Phil Thornally 3:59
"Live and Let Die" Steve Power 3:10
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" "Bag It Up" CD single 3:03
"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" 2:21

Personnel

  • Geri Halliwell – vocals
  • Absolute – all instruments
  • Milton McDonald – guitar
  • Phil Hudson – guitar (track 2)
  • Paul 'P-Dub' Walton – engineer

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Schizophonic
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[70] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[71] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[72] Gold 100,000*
Italy (FIMI)[73] Platinum 100,000[74]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[77] Gold 500,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 2,000,000[1]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stevenson, Jane (17 May 2001). "Blond Geri's just as sassy: Geri Halliwell launches CD, unfazed by the good and bad publicity about her new look". The Province. ProQuest 269289017. Retrieved 19 January 2022 – via ProQuest. It follows her 1999 solo debut, Schizophonic, which sold platinum in Canada (100,000 copies) and two million worldwide.
  2. 1 2 "Dotmusic - Geri Halliwell". dotmusic.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 1999. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Sherman, Heidi (2 June 1998). "Ginger Spice's Departure Marks "End of the Beginning"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Millard, Rosie (31 May 1998). "Yes, Geri - it's hard to break out when you're cast in plastic". The Independent. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Spice Girls Break-Up Shook Up 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ginger snaps". BBC News. 31 May 1998. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  7. ↑ "Spice Girls Become a Foursome as Ginger Quits". The New York Times. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Why did Geri leave the Spice Girls and when did she return?". Heart. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Geri Halliwell Signs Solo Deal, Set To Become UN Ambassador". MTV News. 19 October 1998. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Geri tells all on TV". BBC News. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Duerden, Nick (27 May 2005). "Geri Halliwell: Spice odyssey". The Independent. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  12. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Schizophonic - Geri Halliwell". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  13. 1 2 Charles, Chris (6 June 1999). "Entertainment: New Music Releases - CD Review: Geri Halliwell". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Geri Halliwell". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Browe, David (21 June 1999). "Schizophonic". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  16. 1 2 Barber, Nicholas (6 June 1999). "Rock & Pop: Pleased to meet you ... again". The Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. ↑ Baillie, Russell (17 June 1999). "Geri Halliwell - Schizophonic". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Schizo-phonic". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Picks and Pans Review: Schizophonic". People. 51 (24). 28 June 1999. ISSN 0093-7673. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Schizophonic - Geri Halliwell". Rolling Stone. 8 July 1999. Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "Matthew Wright's column: Four-Tune Fails Geri. - Free Online Library".
  22. 1 2 "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  23. ↑ "RIAA Certification for "Schizophonic"". Riaa.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  24. ↑ "Ask Billboard: The Spice is Right". Prometheus Global Media. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Geri Halliwell" (in Spanish). El Periódico. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  26. ↑ Barber, Nicholas (8 August 1999). "What if Geri won't sell?". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  27. ↑ Halliwell, Geri; London, UK (2002). Just for the Record (autobiography), p. 122.
  28. ↑ "Official Charts Flashback 1999: Geri Halliwell – Look at Me".
  29. ↑ Halliwell, pg. 122–123.
  30. ↑ ""Look at Me" sales and certifications". Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  31. ↑ "Number 1 today in 1999: Geri Halliwell – Mi Chico Latino". OfficialCharts.com.
  32. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 637. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  33. ↑ "Number 1 today in 1999: Geri Halliwell – Mi Chico Latino". Official Charts Company. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Mi Chico Latino". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Discographie" (in German). Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  36. ↑ "French Charts > Geri Halliwell" (in French). lescharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  37. ↑ "Swiss Charts > Geri Halliwell" (in German). hitparade.ch Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  38. ↑ "Australian Charts > Geri Halliwell". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  39. ↑ Geri Halliwell - Dance Club Songs Billboard.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  40. ↑ ""Lift Me Up" lifts Geri up to number 1". 25 November 2004. Archived from the original on 25 November 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ↑ Copsey, Rob (29 June 2017). "The ultimate Official Spice Girls solo chart: all their singles ranked by sales". Official Charts. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  42. ↑ "Chart flashback: Geri Halliwell beats Blink 182 to Number 1". OfficialCharts.com.
  43. 1 2 "Number 1 today in 2000: Geri Halliwell beats Blink 182 to the top". OfficialCharts.com.
  44. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  45. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  46. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  47. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  48. ↑ "Geri Halliwell Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  49. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8402". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  50. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  51. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 26. 26 June 1999. p. 9. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 11 September 2019 – via American Radio History.
  52. ↑ "Geri Halliwell: Schizophonic" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  53. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  54. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  55. ↑ "Greek Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  56. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1999. 34. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  57. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 12, 2000". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  58. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  59. ↑ "スキッゾフォニック ジェリ・ハリウェルのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  60. ↑ "Charts.nz – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  61. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  62. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  63. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  64. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  65. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  66. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  67. ↑ "Geri Halliwell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  68. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  69. ↑ UK End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 1999. Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  70. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  71. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Music Canada.
  72. ↑ "French album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  73. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2000" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Schizophonic" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  74. ↑ "Geri: "Ho avuto paura di perdere tutto"". Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  75. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  76. ↑ "British album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Schizophonic in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  77. ↑ "American album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Recording Industry Association of America.
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