Schizophonic (Geri Halliwell album)
Schizophonic (stylised as Schizö-phonic) is the debut studio album by 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.
Schizophonic | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 7 June 1999 | |||
Recorded | July–December 1998 | |||
Studio | Olympic Studios (London, England) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:52 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Absolute | |||
Geri Halliwell chronology | ||||
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Singles from Schizophonic | ||||
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Alternate cover | ||||
Alternative cover of Schizophonic. |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
BBC News | mixed[2] |
Entertainment Weekly | C[3] |
The Independent | mixed[4] |
The New Zealand Herald | |
NME | 4/10[6] |
People | favourable[7] |
Rolling Stone |
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.
Background
On 31 May 1998, Halliwell left the Spice Girls due to depression and differences between the group.[9] Her former group mates eventually continued the Spiceworld Tour without her.[10] Halliwell then started developing her debut album, asking Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson (collectively known as Absolute) who had already produced songs for the Spice Girls, for help. However, 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 Schizophonic.
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.[11]
Commercial reception
In the United Kingdom, Schizophonic debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, with sales of 35,000 copies.[12] It sold 483,853 in total, being certified two-times Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 600,000 copies.[13] 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).[14] According to Nielsen SoundScan, Schizophonic has sold 181,000 copies there as of July 2007.[15] The album was also certified Gold in Australia and Spain with shipments of over 35,000 and 50,000 copies, respectively.[16] However, the album only reached number 85 in Japan, selling 3,190 copies. As of August 1999, the album had sold 1.3 million copies worldwide.[17]
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. "Look at Me" was followed by three number one singles in the UK Singles Chart; "Mi Chico Latino", "Lift Me Up", and "Bag It Up".
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
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Schizophonic.[18]
All tracks are written by Geri Halliwell, Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Look at Me" | 4:31 | |
2. | "Lift Me Up" | Halliwell, Watkins, Wilson, Tracy Ackerman | 3:52 |
3. | "Walkaway" | Halliwell, Watkins, Wilson, Ackerman | 5:03 |
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, Ackerman | 4:15 |
10. | "You're in a Bubble" | 3:27 | |
Total length: | 40:52 |
B-sides
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 and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[45] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[46] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
France (SNEP)[47] | Gold | 166,000[48] |
Italy (FIMI)[49] | Platinum | 100,000[50] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[53] | Gold | 181,000[15] |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- AllMusic review
- Chris Charles (6 June 1999). "Entertainment: New Music Releases - CD Review: Geri Halliwell". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- Chuck Eddy (1999). "Enterntainment Weekly Review (Schizophonic - Geri Halliwell)". Enterntainment Weekly. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rock-pop-pleased-to-meet-you-again-1098435.html
- Russell Baillie (17 June 1999). "The New Zealand Herald Review: Geri Halliwell - Schizophonic". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- "Schizo-phonic - NME".
- "Picks and Pans Review: Schizophonic". People. 28 June 1999. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- "Schizophonic - Geri Halliwell". Rolling Stone. 8 July 1999. Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- On This Day (30 May 1998): "Ginger leaves the Spice Girls". BBC News.
- "Spice Girls Become a Foursome as Ginger Quits". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/335801.stm
- http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Matthew+Wright%27s+column%3A+Four-Tune+Fails+Geri.-a060450756
- "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- "RIAA Certification for "Schizophonic"". Riaa.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
- "Ask Billboard: The Spice is Right". Prometheus Global Media. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- "Geri Halliwell" (in Spanish). El Periódico. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- Barber, Nicholas (8 August 1999). "What if Geri won't sell?". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- Schizophonic (CD liner notes). Geri Halliwell. EMI Music. 1999. 7243 5 21009 4 1.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Australiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Austriancharts.at – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Ultratop.be – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Ultratop.be – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Geri Halliwell Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8402". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "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.
- "Geri Halliwell: Schizophonic" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Lescharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Greek Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 1999. 34. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 12, 2000". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Italiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "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.
- "Charts.nz – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Swisscharts.com – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- "Geri Halliwell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- UK End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 1999. Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "Canadian album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Music Canada.
- "French album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Albums_Tout_Temps.php?debut=2650
- "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".
- "Geri: "Ho avuto paura di perdere tutto"". Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "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.
- "American album certifications – Geri Halliwell – Schizophonic". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.