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Geri Halliwell - 'Schizophonic'

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I would never call anyone trash, it's not even a word I use (way too Americanised :lol: ) plus name calling is just not my thing. :heart:

 

I definitely appreciate different tastes will have different opinions, it's just the general tone of Geri's debut was weak it was only her cheap promo tactics that got her success rather than specific people not enjoying the era. I don't like Westlife much for example they bore me but I can appreciate they have success for a reason.

 

I mean, really, Westlife?!??!!? I love you pal, but comparing a market gimmick with another market gimmick doesnt quite work ah

 

Not taking away credit from Geri. It's clear that whatever she was doing, worked for that album, however her solo light soon went dark very quickly too. Clearly the marketing plans didnt go as well once the tide was set against the Spice Girls in general...

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schizophonic is better than spice and spiceworld where you need to edit out the other girls parts to get to geri's xoxo

 

OMGGGG IM SCREAMO! That’s proper

Shade 😬😂

schizophonic is better than spice and spiceworld where you need to edit out the other girls parts to get to geri's xoxo

 

who-hurt-you-curious.gif

I guess I had far lower expectations for Geri's debut than most others here. I liked Geri in the group and also liked her bits on Spice and Spiceworld...but I never thought her voice could carry a solo album (I thought the same about Victoria). So, yeah. I was actually really surprised by how well it turned out. I get that Geri often struggles to sing live and has a limited vocal range, but I actually find her voice on Schizophonic to be mostly very warm and distinct. I like the majority of the songs. And perhaps most importantly, the material is HER. I have no doubts she was behind the steering wheel in the creation of the songs.

 

As for her antics in promoting her records...I'm not bothered by them at all? Frankly, in the wake of Lady Gaga in her prime and Lil Nas X today, I find Geri's promotions to be downright...quaint. (to be clear, I have no issue with anything Gaga or Lil Nas X has done either) If Geri's whole Chris Evans relationship was faked for the sake of Lift Me Up...I don't care? Celebs do that all the time. I actually think she's taken an unusual amount of heat for something so common. And as for her parading out dozens of pink speedo-clad men to promote Bag It Up...nope. Not bothered by that either. I would've added more.

I guess I had far lower expectations for Geri's debut than most others here. I liked Geri in the group and also liked her bits on Spice and Spiceworld...but I never thought her voice could carry a solo album (I thought the same about Victoria). So, yeah. I was actually really surprised by how well it turned out. I get that Geri often struggles to sing live and has a limited vocal range, but I actually find her voice on Schizophonic to be mostly very warm and distinct. I like the majority of the songs. And perhaps most importantly, the material is HER. I have no doubts she was behind the steering wheel in the creation of the songs.

 

As for her antics in promoting her records...I'm not bothered by them at all? Frankly, in the wake of Lady Gaga in her prime and Lil Nas X today, I find Geri's promotions to be downright...quaint. (to be clear, I have no issue with anything Gaga or Lil Nas X has done either) If Geri's whole Chris Evans relationship was faked for the sake of Lift Me Up...I don't care? Celebs do that all the time. I actually think she's taken an unusual amount of heat for something so common. And as for her parading out dozens of pink speedo-clad men to promote Bag It Up...nope. Not bothered by that either. I would've added more.

 

my fav poster on buzzjack make him a mod and ban all the haterz

I completely agree, Piers! Great post. :wub: Schizophonic is essentially a masterclass in going solo and having a successful era - and it was definitely authentic to her.
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I guess I had far lower expectations for Geri's debut than most others here. I liked Geri in the group and also liked her bits on Spice and Spiceworld...but I never thought her voice could carry a solo album (I thought the same about Victoria). So, yeah. I was actually really surprised by how well it turned out. I get that Geri often struggles to sing live and has a limited vocal range, but I actually find her voice on Schizophonic to be mostly very warm and distinct. I like the majority of the songs. And perhaps most importantly, the material is HER. I have no doubts she was behind the steering wheel in the creation of the songs.

 

As for her antics in promoting her records...I'm not bothered by them at all? Frankly, in the wake of Lady Gaga in her prime and Lil Nas X today, I find Geri's promotions to be downright...quaint. (to be clear, I have no issue with anything Gaga or Lil Nas X has done either) If Geri's whole Chris Evans relationship was faked for the sake of Lift Me Up...I don't care? Celebs do that all the time. I actually think she's taken an unusual amount of heat for something so common. And as for her parading out dozens of pink speedo-clad men to promote Bag It Up...nope. Not bothered by that either. I would've added more.

 

 

I am resigning right now and passing on the mod crown to YOU!!! :heart:

I guess I had far lower expectations for Geri's debut than most others here. I liked Geri in the group and also liked her bits on Spice and Spiceworld...but I never thought her voice could carry a solo album (I thought the same about Victoria). So, yeah. I was actually really surprised by how well it turned out. I get that Geri often struggles to sing live and has a limited vocal range, but I actually find her voice on Schizophonic to be mostly very warm and distinct. I like the majority of the songs. And perhaps most importantly, the material is HER. I have no doubts she was behind the steering wheel in the creation of the songs.

 

As for her antics in promoting her records...I'm not bothered by them at all? Frankly, in the wake of Lady Gaga in her prime and Lil Nas X today, I find Geri's promotions to be downright...quaint. (to be clear, I have no issue with anything Gaga or Lil Nas X has done either) If Geri's whole Chris Evans relationship was faked for the sake of Lift Me Up...I don't care? Celebs do that all the time. I actually think she's taken an unusual amount of heat for something so common. And as for her parading out dozens of pink speedo-clad men to promote Bag It Up...nope. Not bothered by that either. I would've added more.

 

I guess she was one of the first to be so publicly obvious about it in our generation?... I dont really care if others do it too. Good for them, I guess? I just really find it cringe. Like, let the music speak for itself. In the case of Gaga and Lil Nas X - to touch on two examples you said here - I find their music has substance and interesting nuances. Geri's? Not so much. It felt like a calculated, produced-by-marketing-department album. Same with the videos and overall promotion.

 

I think one of the main things that bothered me is this perception that Schizophonic would have been the 3rd Spice Girls album, as if Geri wasnt simply replicating the sound of the Spice Girls as a whole with it instead of creating something new. Yes she had absolute but the Spice Girls sound was very much also the fruit of their collaborations with the other producers too. Geri and Absolute replicated it. I too never expected her to be amazing, but it was still dissapointing precisely because it was meant to be GERI, the drama girl who was always different and extravagant. Instead we got a budget and badly-sang version of Spiceworld.

I guess she was one of the first to be so publicly obvious about it in our generation?... I dont really care if others do it too. Good for them, I guess? I just really find it cringe. Like, let the music speak for itself. In the case of Gaga and Lil Nas X - to touch on two examples you said here - I find their music has substance and interesting nuances. Geri's? Not so much. It felt like a calculated, produced-by-marketing-department album. Same with the videos and overall promotion.

 

I think one of the main things that bothered me is this perception that Schizophonic would have been the 3rd Spice Girls album, as if Geri wasnt simply replicating the sound of the Spice Girls as a whole with it instead of creating something new. Yes she had absolute but the Spice Girls sound was very much also the fruit of their collaborations with the other producers too. Geri and Absolute replicated it. I too never expected her to be amazing, but it was still dissapointing precisely because it was meant to be GERI, the drama girl who was always different and extravagant. Instead we got a budget and badly-sang version of Spiceworld.

 

I have a very different view of her. I don't view an album as odd as Schizophonic as a produced-by-marketing-department album. I think that's true of some songs on the other girls' solo albums (largely the Mel B and Victoria songs that didn't have their writing credits). As 1999 goes, I don't think Geri did anything as bold as Mel C launching her album with Goin Down...or Mel B doing a video as risqué as Word Up. But I don't view Schizophonic as entirely generic and safe. To my ears, Look at Me is a very weird song. I like it...but I don't think another artist on her level of mainstream would have thrown in the "...my little white lie" part. Tracks like You're In A Bubble and Let Me Love You are overtly weird. Most producers would have swayed Geri from the big vocals on Walkaway.

 

Lift Me Up and Bag It Up (and especially their videos) are high camp. The perspective on this may differ a bit on where you live. But for me living in the US, the Bag It Up video was among the most gay-positive videos I'd ever seen at that point. And it came out during a time Eminem was in his videos nearly barfing over the sight of two men together. That was the mainstream sensibility. Not Geri's. Even what I'd consider her most straightforward track on the album (Mi Chico Latino) has that oddball Spanish (sorta) rap. To me, the album's full of quirks...and her producers let her be her. I view a lot of decisions as something of a gamble. I think it paid off in the UK, and it didn't in the US.

 

In terms of her retaining the Spice sound, my feeling is...she's entitled to it. Not just her. They all were. I view all five girls and their producers as the architects of that sound. And, frankly, I think some of the others' solo offerings would be better if they employed the Spice producers more often. I think Victoria's unreleased stuff with Biff is quite a bit better than a lot of VB.

Edited by Piers

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In terms of her retaining the Spice sound, my feeling is...she's entitled to it. Not just her. They all were. I view all five girls and their producers as the architects of that sound. And, frankly, I think some of the others' solo offerings would be better if they employed the Spice producers more often. I think Victoria's unreleased stuff with Biff is quite a bit better than a lot of VB.

 

 

What is VB's unreleased stuff with Biff?? Open your eyes?

What is VB's unreleased stuff with Biff?? Open your eyes?

Hustler

Flow

Be With You

I Should've Known Better

Give It All Away

Bittersweet

Here's my track by track review of Geir Halliwell's debut album 'Schizophonic'

Look At Me
The album kicks off in style with lead single ‘Look At Me’, where Geri faces her demons head on & launches herself as a solo artist with something that could only have been the lead for this project with such a statement attached to it. The song is pop with a little bit of Jazz & a whole lot of theatrics thrown into the mix. Even way back in 1999 nothing else sounded like this on the radio, which made this stand out in a good way. Geri’s strong & bold vocals injects some personality into this rather catchy number that doesn’t take itself too seriously & even on her own she still has that fun energy she had while still with the group. Not only was this a fantastic start to the album, but a great starting point to kick off a new chapter in Geri’s life.

Lift Me Up
Next up is the 3rr single & Geri’s first solo ballad effort & it’s a pretty track with a sweeping chorus & uplifting production. Geri’s husky tones during the verses adds a nice touch, then stretches her vocals during the soaring climax & yes sometimes her ambition outmatches her ability, but what this lacks in technique the song more than makes up for it with effort & a whole lot of heart. A great single & a well earned chart topper.

Walkaway
Another down-tempo track is up next with a nice mellow atmosphere throughout which gives the meaningful lyrics a calm relaxing vibe, giving it a very dreamlike quality. The orchestra adds a touch of class to the whole thing, as well as Geri’s emotional vocals which gives this that extra lift. Okay this isn’t quite as strong as the previous 2 tracks, but still a decent effort.

Mi Chico Latino
Geri makes a play for the Latin pop market now as she taps into her Spanish roots on this sensual yet playful number that of course became the album’s 2nd single & gave Geri her first solo chart topper & it was simply well deserved. This makes a nice contrast to the lead single with its dramatic guitar strums, hissing maracas & well crafted verses that are delivered with fleeting passion & even the Spanish spoken middle-eight adds a charming flair to the proceedings (even if some of the translations are questionable at best). None of that matters as this feels like a more confident pop song that’s structured around the strengths of her vocals.

Goodnight Kiss
Another strong number follows with this strutting cabaret torch song which is definitely the sexiest song on the album with Geri’s sultry yet playful vocals goes beautifully with the Jazzy production. A fun little number that captures that sensual midnight lounge singer feel wonderfully.

Bag It Up
The girl power anthem ‘Bag It Up’ follows next, which became the album’s 4th & final single, as well as her 3rd solo chart topper & therefore setting Geri’s transition from Spice Girl to solo artist in stone, making her an almighty force to be reckoned with. With its disco-pastiche production, the track dials up the camp factor to an almighty extreme as it explodes into life during the joyous chorus, then dials itself back for the verses. The track has a fantastic energy about it & Geri’s vibrant charisma really sells the track’s message. Brilliant track nothing more, nothing less.

Sometime
A rather nice sincere song that begins with church organs & soft vocals, then builds to a more rock tone with a shouty delivery, before it eases back into its mellow tones which becomes rather jarring at first, but it does give it a rather interesting flavour to it & the melodies are quite nice.

Let Me Love You
This next track begins with some odd Bollywood styled chants that seem way too out there at first, but when the sitars & Indian influenced beats kicks in it becomes a more conventional pop song, yet with a more interesting vibe that sets itself apart from its surroundings & plus Geri adds some great vocal ab-libs towards the end of the track.

Someone’s Watching Over Me
A delicate yet moving feel good ballad that has a beautiful sentiment attached to it, along with an okay R&B tinge to it, but on the whole the track fails to go anywhere interesting.

You’re In A Bubble
Probably the album’s most risqué track due to Geri’s questionable rapping (if you can call it that). This is very tongue & cheek with its twisted rhythm patterns & at best I find this a rather cute number, but not something I’d ever go back to again unfortunately – It’s a rather curious ending to a rather enjoyable album.


it was so nice to finally hear a quality SPICE GIRL album without any of the other four hogging up the spotlight :wub:
it was so nice to finally hear a quality SPICE GIRL album without any of the other four hogging up the spotlight :wub:

 

This. And finally we got to hear her voice shining on legendary tracks like Lift Me Up: soaring vocals, belting notes, adlibs (sorry Sporty), and a touching middle 8 sung beautifully. Liiiiftt me uyyuyuyhhghhhhhhhp

Edited by dancinqueen

This. And finally we got to hear her voice shining on legendary tracks like Lift Me Up: soaring vocals, belting notes, adlibs (sorry Sporty), and a touching middle 8 sung beautifully. Liiiiftt me uyyuyuyhhghhhhhhhp

 

SANG IT KWEEN!!!! :cheer:

 

God, how dare BLAND C hog the adlibs when Gerita the Chicita was right there waiting for her moment? Bitch.

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