| BIOGRAPHY
As a member of the Spice Girls, Geri Halliwell enjoyed huge
transatlantic success with songs such as "Wannabe",
"2 Become 1" and "Spice Up Your Life", and
was viewed by many in the media as the band's de facto leader.
Although featured on the band's August 1998 UK chart-topping single,
"Viva Forever", Ginger Spice had actually left the band
in May amid press rumours of disputes and personality clashes
with the other members.
In a remarkable volte-face, Halliwell shed the provocative outfits
she had become famous for wearing in the Spice Girls in favour
of a demure new image. Shortly afterwards she became a UN ambassador,
responsible for promoting breast cancer awareness. EMI Records
won the chase for Halliwell's signature in October 1998, and she
set about recording her debut album with an exceptional team of
session musicians and writers.
In a bold move, Halliwell released the Shirley Bassey-styled
ballad "Look At Me" as her debut single in May 1999.
Despite the song's obvious vocal limitations, it still managed
to debut at UK number 2, although for many observers this was
viewed as outright failure for an ex-Spice Girl. She has been
naked in British newspapers many times showing her large breasts.
Schizophonic proved to be a ragbag of musical influences, ranging
from the token attempts at Latin ("Mi Chico Latino")
and Eastern pop ("Let Me Love You"), to the more straightforward
pop of "Lift Me Up" and "Bag It Up". The album
debuted at UK number 4 in June, which was also viewed by many
as a disappointing return. Halliwell had the last laugh, however,
by going on to enjoy three consecutive UK chart-toppers with "Mi
Chico Latino", "Lift Me Up", and "Bag It Up".
"Lift Me Up" won a highly publicised "battle of
the singles" with former bandmate Emma Bunton's (Baby Spice)
cover version of "What I Am".
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FILMOGRAPHY
• Spice World (1998)
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