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{{Short description|1998 single by Spice Girls}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Goodbye
| name = Goodbye
| Cover = Spice_Girls_-_Goodbye.png
| cover = Spice Girls - Goodbye.png
| Border = yes
| alt =
| Artist = [[Spice Girls]]
| border = yes
| B-side = "[[Christmas Wrapping]]"
| type = single
| Released = {{start date|df=yes|1998|12|11}}
| artist = [[Spice Girls]]
| Format = {{flat list|
| album = <!-- "Goodbye" was not released as a single from Forever, it was included on the album two year after release. -->
*[[CD single]]
| B-side =
*[[Music download|digital download]]
* "[[Christmas Wrapping]]"
}}
* "[[Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves]]"
| Recorded = July 16, 1998<br>[[Nashville, Tennessee]]
* "[[We Are Family (song)|We Are Family]]"
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| released = {{start date|df=yes|1998|12|14}}<!-- See Release History -->
| Length = 4:44 {{small|(single version)}}<br />4:35 {{small|(album version)}}<br />4:20 {{small|(radio version)}}<br />4:14 {{small|(orchestral version)}}
| recorded = July 1998
| Label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| studio = [[Ocean Way Recording#Ocean Way Nashville|Ocean Way]] (Nashville)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-60562110/life-after-spice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028205633/https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-60562110/life-after-spice|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2019|title=Life after Spice|date=24 July 1998|access-date=28 October 2019|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]}}</ref>
| Writer = {{flat list|
| venue =
*[[Victoria Beckham]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
*[[Melanie Brown]]
| length = 4:35
*[[Emma Bunton]]
| label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
*[[Melanie Chisholm]]
| writer = {{flat list|
*Spice Girls
*[[Biffco|Richard Stannard]]
*[[Biffco|Richard Stannard]]
*Matt Rowe
*Matt Rowe
}}
}}
| Producer = {{flat list|
| producer = {{flat list|
*Richard Stannard
*Richard Stannard
*Matt Rowe
*Matt Rowe
}}
}}
| Last single = "[[Viva Forever]]"<br>(1998)
| prev_title = [[Viva Forever]]
| This single = "'''Goodbye'''"<br>(1998)
| prev_year = 1998
| Next single = "[[Holler (Spice Girls song)|Holler]]"/"[[Let Love Lead the Way]]"<br>(2000)
| next_title = [[Holler (Spice Girls song)|Holler]]
| next_title2 = [[Let Love Lead the Way]]
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|eegDtyrSUZw|"Goodbye"}}}}
}}
}}


"'''Goodbye'''" is a song recorded by the British girl group the [[Spice Girls]]. It was released by [[Virgin Records]] on 11 December 1998 as a Christmas single, along with the B-side, "[[Christmas Wrapping]]". The song was written by the Spice Girls, [[Biffco|Richard Stannard]], and Matt Rowe, and is the group's first song without the vocals of [[Geri Halliwell]]. "Goodbye" made the Spice Girls the first act to have three consecutive [[Christmas number-one single]]s since [[The Beatles]].<ref name=OCGoodbye/>
"'''Goodbye'''" is a song recorded by British girl group [[Spice Girls]]. It was written by the group, [[Biffco|Richard Stannard]], and Matt Rowe, while it was produced by the latter two. The song became the group's first song without the vocals of [[Geri Halliwell]]. It was released by [[Virgin Records]] on 14 December 1998 and was later included on their third studio album ''[[Forever (Spice Girls album)|Forever]]'' (2000). "Goodbye" is a [[pop music|pop]] [[ballad]] that lyrically consists of the group's farewell to a friend, specifically Halliwell. The lyrics were also seen, by the media and fans alike, as the group's end, although the idea was dismissed by the members.

"Goodbye" received positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music commentators]], who said it was one of the group's best singles. The song was a commercial success, peaking atop the [[UK Singles Chart]] and making the Spice Girls the first act to have had three consecutive [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number-one singles]] since [[The Beatles]] in 1965. Internationally, it was also commercially successful, reaching the top spots in Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Italy and peaking inside the top five on the charts in Australia, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Hungary, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden and Taiwan. Additionally, "Goodbye" peaked at number 11 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].

The accompanying [[music video]] for "Goodbye" was filmed at [[Mentmore Towers]] and featured the group singing the song at a castle; [[Melanie Brown]] and [[Victoria Beckham]] were both pregnant at the time. To promote "Goodbye", the Spice Girls performed the song on several television shows, such as the ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'' and ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', and later on their concert tours [[Christmas in Spiceworld]] (1999), [[The Return of the Spice Girls]] (2007–2008) and [[Spice World – 2019 Tour]] (2019).


==Background==
==Background==
On 31 May 1998, member [[Geri Halliwell]] announced her departure from the [[Spice Girls]]. Through her solicitor, she stated, "Sadly I would like to confirm that I have left the Spice Girls. This is because of differences between us. I'm sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best."<ref name="BBC Geri departure">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/103637.stm|title=Ginger snaps|date=31 May 1998|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=19 November 2018}}</ref> Halliwell claimed that she was suffering from exhaustion and wanted to take a break.<ref>{{cite news|last=Millard|first=Rosie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/yes-geri-its-hard-to-break-out-when-youre-cast-in-plastic-1162320.html|title=Yes, Geri - it's hard to break out when you're cast in plastic|date=1 June 1998|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref> She would later express, via several media outlets—as well as in her autobiography ''If Only''—that she had been invited to speak at a breast cancer awareness event (Halliwell had a benign breast tumor removed at age 19) but was concerned the other Spice Girls wouldn’t approve, as this was during their European tour and just prior to their North American tour. Her departure from the group made news headlines around the world and became one of the biggest entertainment news stories of the year.<ref name="billboard geri">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=946313|title=Spice Girls Break-Up Shook Up 1998|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=4 January 1999|access-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311020701/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=946313|archive-date=11 March 2007}}</ref> The four remaining members were adamant that the group would carry on.<ref name="BBC Geri departure"/>
"Goodbye" was originally written in 1997 with both Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard intending it to be on the ''[[Spiceworld (album)|Spiceworld]]'' album. However, due to time constraints it was not recorded by the Spice Girls at the time. While touring in America after the departure of [[Geri Halliwell]], Stannard and Rowe flew to Nashville, Tennessee to meet the group and rewrite the song. The group put input on the song and recorded it.<ref name="All About Me">Biff, Stannard, Autobiography Spice Girls 1997. p. 156</ref>

In July 1998, during the American leg of their [[Spiceworld Tour]], the group decided to rework "Goodbye", which had been written when Halliwell was still part of the group.<ref name="pregnant">{{Cite web |date=2021-05-06 |title=Goodbye |url=https://spiceversesite.wordpress.com/goodbye/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Spiceverse |language=pt-BR}}</ref> For this, songwriters and music producers [[Richard Stannard (songwriter)|Richard Stannard]] and Matt Rowe flew to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], to meet the group. Recording footage was shown in the [[Channel 4]] documentary ''Spice Girls In America: A Tour Story''.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=Spice Girls In America: A Tour Story|network=[[Channel 4]]|airdate=6 June 1999}}</ref> During the documentary, [[Mel B]] is filmed recording vocals for the song before abruptly removing her headphones and walking out of the studio. She is later interviewed, saying that the recording process for the song had been difficult, and that “…it is about Geri.” Additionally, in an interview two months later in September 1998, she clarified whether or not the song signified the group's split, saying:
<blockquote>
"That was the first time I've cried listening to one of our songs, the first time I instantly cried. It's got a full orchestra on there and it just sounds fantastic. [The song] is really obviously about what's happened during the year, with Geri leaving and then being strong. [...] The song is called 'Goodbye', but it's not goodbye-goodbye, cause the chorus actually is 'goodbye my friend, it's not the end'. So for all those people thinks we're breaking up, we're not. So correct that".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1434467/scary-spice-explains-meaning-of-goodbye-single/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122220805/http://www.mtv.com/news/1434467/scary-spice-explains-meaning-of-goodbye-single/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2017|title=Scary Spice Explains Meaning Of "Goodbye" Single|date=23 September 1998|access-date=10 December 2018|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

In the Spice Girls' 1999 autobiography, ''Forever Spice'', group member [[Melanie C]] said, "'Goodbye' was originally about a relationship ending, but now it's about Geri and it's really sad". Stannard elaborated, saying, "It was about moving on and saying ‘goodbye’ to the old Spice Girls. It wasn't ‘Goodbye’ to Geri; it wasn't really literal. A lot of that song was written when they were touring in America. We wrote it in Nashville so I think it has that sentimental feel to it because everyone was kind of homesick and knackered".<ref>{{cite book|title=Forever Spice|last=Girls|first=Spice|date=1999|location=United Kingdom|publisher=[[Little, Brown Book Group]]|isbn=978-0316853613|author-link=Spice Girls}}</ref> Halliwell later declared that she found "very flattering that they dedicated it to me."<ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=James|url=http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/GeriHalliwell/interviews/May1999/interviews18903.asp|title=Geri Halliwell Interview Part 1|date=17 May 1999|access-date=10 September 2020|publisher=[[Dotmusic]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030117102055/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/GeriHalliwell/interviews/May1999/interviews18903.asp
|archive-date=17 January 2003}}</ref>


==Release==
==Release==
"Goodbye" was released in a two-CD format (a standard single and a maxi single). The typical track listing internationally followed the UK track listing. In the U.S., the single was released as an EP and contained only the B-side, "[[Christmas Wrapping]]", which only featured vocals from Melanie C and Emma Bunton, and live versions of "[[Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves]]" and "[[We Are Family (Sister Sledge song)|We Are Family]]", which were recorded at their final concert at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on September 20, 1998. The U.S. single also included a set of four stickers of the girls, portraying them as fairies, similar to their appearance in the music video of "[[Viva Forever]]". In 2000, it was included on the group's third studio album, ''[[Forever (Spice Girls album)|Forever]]''.
"Goodbye" was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1998 as a [[CD single|CD]] and [[cassette single]].<ref name="ukrel">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-12-12.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=24|date=12 December 1998|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref> In the United States, the single was serviced to [[rhythmic contemporary]] and [[contemporary hit radio]] on 24 November 1998, and a [[maxi single|maxi-CD]] was issued on 8 December 1998.<ref name="usradio">{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1275|pages=41, 49, 114|date=20 November 1998}}</ref><ref name="usmaxirel">{{cite web|url=https://tmuchspces.tripod.com/NewDiscography/groupmaterial/forever.html|title=Forever Releases|access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref> The maxi-CD contains a cover of [[the Waitresses]]' 1981 single "[[Christmas Wrapping]]", as well as live versions of "[[Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves]]" and "[[We Are Family (Sister Sledge song)|We Are Family]]" that were recorded at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on 20 September 1998. "Christmas Wrapping" features vocals only from Melanie Chisholm and [[Emma Bunton]] due to the pregnancies of [[Mel B|Melanie Brown]] and [[Victoria Beckham]]. The American release also included a set of four stickers of the girls, portraying them as fairies, similar to their appearance in the music video of "[[Viva Forever]]".<ref name=Billboard1998/>


==Reception==
==Composition==
According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by [[BMG Rights Management]], "Goodbye" is set in [[common time]] with a key of [[E major]]. The girls' vocals range between [[G (musical note)|G<sub>3</sub>]] to [[C (musical note)|C<sub>5</sub>]]. The song has a slow [[Tempo (music)|tempo]] of 68 [[beats per minute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0068717|title=Spice Girls – Goodbye – Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=27 December 2018|date=20 October 2008}}</ref> The song is a [[ballad]] which has the girls singing what Sarah Davis at [[Dotmusic]] called a "sugar-coated" farewell to friend [[Geri Halliwell]], who left the group months prior.<ref name=dot>{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Sarah|url=http://dotmusic.com:80/artists/spicegirls/reviews/December1998/reviews11185.asp|title=Spice Girls - Goodbye|date=5 December 1998|access-date=24 December 2018|publisher=[[Dotmusic]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118210656/http://dotmusic.com/artists/spicegirls/reviews/December1998/reviews11185.asp|archive-date=18 January 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> Coming to a similar conclusion, Kristie Rohwedder with ''[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]'' noted that in the [[Chorus (song)|chorus]] of the song, the Spice Girls sing "Goodbye my friend/I know you're gone, you said you're gone, but I can still feel you here" and "It's not the end/You gotta keep it strong before the pain turns into fear".<ref>{{cite web|last=Rohwedder|first=Kristie|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/40549-the-fact-that-geri-quit-the-spice-girls-on-mel-bs-birthday-inspired-this-goodbye-lyric|title=The Fact That Geri Quit the Spice Girls on Mel B.'s Birthday Inspired This "Goodbye" Lyric Deep Dive|date=18 September 2014|access-date=24 December 2018|work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]}}</ref>
===Critical response===
{{Listen|pos=left|filename=GoodbyeSample.ogg|title="Goodbye"|description=A sample of the song. This is the first song without Halliwell's vocals.|format=[[Ogg]]}}
A review of [[Sputnikmusic]] considered the song "very tasteful and emotionally sweeping,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/33019/Spice-Girls-Greatest-Hits/|title=Sputnikmusic Review - Spice Girls' Greatest Hits|author=David Driver|date=22 October 2009|publisher=Sputnikmusic|accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref> while Tania Kraines from [[BBC Music]] said "the heartbroken post-Geri 'Goodbye' provided the girls with their last really good single."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jn9x|title=BBC - Music - Review of Spice Girls - Greatest Hits|author=Tania Kraines|date=12 November 2007|publisher=BBC UK|accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref> Stephen Thomas Erlewine from [[Allmusic]] said, "neither the production, songs, nor performances [of ''[[Forever (Spice Girls album)|Forever]]''] have much life to them, with the exception of the closer, Goodbye."


Davis also remarked that, as with their previous two end-of-year songs, "[[2 Become 1]]" and "[[Too Much (Spice Girls song)|Too Much]]", "Goodbye" is another ballad in which "the girls take turns at the lead with a chance to come together" on the chorus.<ref name=dot/> Chuck Taylor of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' agreed that it "follows in the spirit of Too Much".<ref name=billboardrev/> ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]''{{'}}s Joe O'Brien called its sound "wintry".<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Joe|url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/07/08/from-wannabe-to-headlines-ranking-the-spice-girls-singles-5977374/|title=From Wannabe to Headlines: 13 Spice Girls singles ranked|date=8 July 2016|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> Fraser McAlpine from [[BBC America]] noted that the song "captures that feeling of a tribute paid to a lost loved one".<ref name=bbcamerica/>
===Chart performance===
In the United Kingdom, the single became the group's eighth number-one single, topping the charts for one week, selling 380,000 in the first week. "Goodbye" got them into the records as the first act to have three consecutive Christmas number-one singles since the Beatles. As of December 2013, the song has sold 884,000 copies in the UK alone, becoming their fourth best-selling single.<ref name=OCGoodbye>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/features/official-charts-flashback-1998-spice-girls-goodbye-2688/|title=Official Charts Flashback 1998: Spice Girls – Goodbye|author=Justin Myers|date=20 December 2013|publisher=Official Charts|accessdate=22 December 2013}}</ref> In New Zealand, it debuted and peaked at number one for two weeks, their second consecutive number one after "Viva Forever", which also debuted and peaked at number one for two weeks. "Goodbye" was their third and final number one hit in New Zealand, with "Wannabe" in 1996 being the first. It was also their ninth consecutive top ten hit for the girls in that country. "Holler" would be their tenth.


==Critical reception==
The song debuted and peaked at number eleven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], with sales of 74,000 copies<ref name=Billboard1998>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.co.ve/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA89&dq=billboard+spice+girls&hl=es&sa=X&ei=5AXyUPTNL8bh0wGY14GgDA&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=billboard%20spice%20girls&f=false|first=Don (26 December 1998)|last=Jeffrey|title=Hot Singles Spotligth|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=2012-01-05}}</ref> at number four on the [[Hot 100 Singles Sales]], and certified Gold for shipments of 600,000 copies<ref name=Billboard1998/>
"Goodbye" was met with positive reception by [[Music journalism|music critics]]. Quentin Harrison from Albumism described it as "a touching ode to beginnings and endings inspired by Horner. As 1998 closed, the triumph of that single in the United Kingdom and abroad was proof positive that the power of the Spice Girls had not been diminished by Horner’s exit."<ref>{{cite web|first= Quentin |last= Harrison |title= Spice Girls' 'Forever' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= 2 November 2020 |access-date= 17 November 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/spice-girls-forever-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[AllMusic]] commented that the song was "actually a pretty good finale".<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000585702 |title=Greatest Hits - Spice Girls|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> Fraser McAlpine from [[BBC America]] said that "this is the song they wrote after Geri left, and is also, coincidentally, the last decent thing they ever did as a group".<ref name=bbcamerica>{{cite web|last=McAlpine|first=Fraser|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/07/to-celebrate-independence-day-five-british-breakup-songs|title=To Celebrate Independence Day: Five British Breakup Songs|date=July 2011|access-date=24 December 2018|publisher=[[BBC America]]}}</ref> Tania Kraines from [[BBC Music]] said "the heartbroken post-Geri 'Goodbye' provided the girls with their last really good single".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jn9x|title=Spice Girls Greatest Hits Review|first=Tania|last=Kraines|date=12 November 2007|publisher=[[BBC Music]]|access-date=29 December 2010}}</ref>

[[Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|Chuck Taylor]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' called the song's melody "absolutely beautiful, in fact, one of the group's most memorable, with well-rounded harmonies".<ref name=billboardrev>{{cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA85|title=Reviews & Previews|date=5 December 1998|access-date=24 December 2018|magazine=Billboard|page=85|volume=110|issue=49|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Another editor, Jason Lipshutz ranked it as the seventh of "The Top 8 Spice Girls Songs" list, based on the songs' performances on the Hot 100 chart, whilst also stating that "the pangs of sorrow resulting in the realization that the Spice Girls' pop reign had effectively ended makes "Goodbye" a bittersweet hit".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6077169/spice-girls-songs-best-hits-list|title=Spice Girls' Top 8 Biggest Billboard Hits|date=6 March 2015|access-date=27 December 2018|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> During his review of ''[[Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)|Greatest Hits]]'', Nick Levine of [[Digital Spy]] said, "Best of all is 'Goodbye', the supremely elegant ballad that became a post-Halliwell Christmas number one".<ref>{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Nick|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/a79868/spice-girls-greatest-hits/|title=Spice Girls: 'Greatest Hits'|date=15 November 2007|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> Sarah Davis from [[Dotmusic]] website commented that the "feelgood" chorus was "strong enough for this otherwise unremarkable song to be lifted above ordinariness".<ref name=dot/>

[[Alexis Petridis]], a journalist from ''[[The Guardian]]'', ranked "Goodbye" 16th on their list "All 43 Spice Girls songs ranked", stating that "calling your comeback single Goodbye was pretty daft – it suggests you have already thrown in the towel – but it was a decent enough song".<ref>{{cite web|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/nov/08/all-43-spice-girls-songs-ranked|title=All 43 Spice Girls songs – ranked!|date=8 November 2018|access-date=27 December 2018|work=The Guardian}}</ref> British music magazine ''[[NME]]'' said "Goodbye" was a fine song in any age.<ref name=nme>{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-spice-girls/9235|title=Spice Girls - Greatest Hits|work=[[NME]]|date=9 November 2007|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111164055/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-spice-girls/9235|archive-date=11 November 2007}}</ref> A review of Sputnikmusic considered the song "very tasteful and emotionally sweeping".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/33019/Spice-Girls-Greatest-Hits/|title=Spice Girls - Greatest Hits|first=David|last=Driver|date=22 October 2009|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=29 December 2010}}</ref> Whitney Matheson of ''[[USA Today]]'', whilst reviewing their last studio album ''[[Forever (Spice Girls album)|Forever]]'', wondered, "who the heck ends their album with an old chart-topper? Is this — like the repeated mentions of Carnie, Wendy and Chyna — a subliminal message? Are the Spice Girls simply playing a game, or are they perhaps saying goodbye to their fans?".<ref name=usatoday>{{cite news|last=Matheson|first=Whitney|title=An evening with the Spice Girls|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/candy/candy39.htm|access-date=6 December 2018|date=15 November 2000|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

==Chart performance==
[[File:Beatles ad 1965 just the beatles crop.jpg|thumb|left|With "Goodbye", the Spice Girls became the first act to have three consecutive [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number-one single]]s since [[The Beatles]] in 1965.]]
On 20 December 1998, "Goodbye" became the Spice Girls' eighth number-one single in the UK, selling 380,000 copies in the first week.<ref name=OCGoodbye/> With the song, the group became the first act to have three consecutive [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number-one single]]s since [[The Beatles]] in 1965. "Goodbye" stayed at number one for one week, remaining inside the chart for twenty-one weeks,<ref name=OCGoodbye/> and was certified [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) only four days after it was released, on 18 December 1998.<ref name=bpi/> As of December 2020, the song has sold 949,000 copies in the United Kingdom, including 5.6 million streams. "Goodbye" is their second best-selling Christmas single and overall their fifth biggest single in the UK.<ref name=OCGoodbye>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/classic-christmas-number-1s-spice-girls-goodbye-completes-a-hat-trick-of-festive-chart-toppers__31877/|title=Classic Christmas Number 1s: Spice Girls' Goodbye completes a hat-trick of festive chart-toppers|date=17 December 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>

Around the world, the song was also successful. In Europe, it reached number two on the [[Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]];<ref name="eurohot"/> reached number one in Ireland and Scotland;<ref name="Ireland"/><ref name="Scotland"/> peaked inside the top ten in Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, and Spain;<ref name="Denmark"/><ref name="Finland"/><ref name="Greece"/><ref name="Italy"/><ref name="Spain"/> and inside the top twenty in Austria, Belgium (both the Flemish and Walloon charts), and Germany.<ref name="Austria"/><ref name="Flanders"/><ref name="Germany"/> In Oceania, it debuted on Australia's [[ARIA Charts]] at number eight, peaking at number five in its fifth week and staying there for another week. It remained on the chart for sixteen weeks,<ref name="Australia"/> and was certified gold by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA).<ref name=ariacert/> In New Zealand, it debuted at the top of the chart, remaining there for the following week <ref name="New Zealand"/> and was certified platinum by [[Recorded Music NZ]] (RMNZ).<ref name=nzcer/> It gave the group their third and final number 1 single in New Zealand.

In the United States, "Goodbye" debuted at number eleven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], on the issue dated 26 December 1998. Although it was receiving radio airplay, it was not until its commercial release that it was able to debut on the chart, with 74,000 copies sold.<ref name=Billboard1998>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA89|first=Theda|last=Sandiford-Waller|title=Hot Singles Spotlight|magazine=Billboard|date=26 December 1998|access-date=9 December 2018|volume=110|issue=52|issn=0006-2510|page=89}}</ref><ref name=bronson>{{cite magazine|last=Bronson|first=Fred|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA94|title='Goodbye' Gets Warm Welcome At Retail|date=26 December 1998|access-date=24 December 2018|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=52|issn=0006-2510|page=94}}</ref> The song was their seventh single to chart, and their best debut since "[[2 Become 1]]", which debuted at number six in 1997.<ref name=bronson/> "Goodbye" spent three weeks at its peak, eleven weeks on the Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/spice-girls/chart-history/hsi/|title=Spice Girls - Goodbye - Chart History|access-date=24 December 2018|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name=riaa/> In Canada, the song reached number fifteen on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' Top Singles]] chart, becoming the girls' seventh top 10 hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Spice+Girls&ChartEn=Top+Singles&|title=Results: RPM Weekly - "Spice Girls", "Top Singles"|work=RPM|access-date=25 March 2018|date=17 July 2013}}</ref> Meanwhile, it peaked at number one on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]] for 13 consecutive weeks, published by ''Billboard'' magazine.<ref name="Spice Girls Awards">{{cite magazine|date=26 December 1998 |title=Hits of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA58|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=52|page=58|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>


==Music video==
==Music video==
[[File:Sggoodbvid.JPG|right|thumbnail|The group as a four-piece, in the music video for "Goodbye".]]
[[File:Spice Girls – Goodbye (music video).png|right|thumbnail|220px|The group as a quartet, in the music video for "Goodbye".]]
The music video for the song was filmed at [[Mentmore Towers]] in [[Mentmore]], [[Buckinghamshire]] on 1 and 2 November 1998. It opens with each of the girls in four different black cars: [[Cadillac Fleetwood|1957 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 75]], [[Imperial (automobile)|1955 Imperial Newport, 1958 Imperial Crown]], and white wolves running. They arrive at a castle and walk up the stairs arm-in-arm. When they enter there are frozen couples that the girls observe. The video also shows shots of each girl in a different setting with falling objects and then together as a group. The video ends with the ice melting off the people as they come back to life, then shows the shot of the girls entering in reverse to look like they are leaving.
The accompanying [[music video]] for "Goodbye" was filmed at [[Mentmore Towers]] in [[Mentmore]], [[Buckinghamshire]] on 1 and 2 November 1998, being directed by [[Howard Greenhalgh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openbuildings.com/buildings/mentmore-towers-profile-6653?_show_description=1|title=Mentmore Towers|publisher=Open Buildings|access-date=27 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182835/http://openbuildings.com/buildings/mentmore-towers-profile-6653?_show_description=1|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> who previously directed their music video for "[[Too Much (Spice Girls song)|Too Much]]" (1997).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Setting Their Talent to Music, Aspiring Movie Directors Often Try Ideas in Videos|journal=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=7 February 1998|issn=0747-2099|location=San Jose, California}}</ref> It was premiered through [[MTV]] on 20 November 1998.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls - Goodbye|series=Spanking New Music Week |network=[[MTV]]|airdate=20 November 1998}}</ref> Brown and Beckham were pregnant during the filming of this video.<ref name=pregnant/> It opens with each of the girls in four different black cars [[Cadillac Fleetwood|1957 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 75]], [[Imperial (automobile)|1955 Imperial Newport]], [[Tatra 603]] and white wolves running. They arrive at a castle and walk up the stairs arm-in-arm. When they enter within dry ice clouds, there are frozen couples that the girls observe. The video also shows shots of each girl inside the castle in a different setting with falling objects, namely sheets of paper (Beckham), toilet paper rolls (Bunton), plates (Brown), and an exploding chandelier (Chisholm). They are also seen singing the song together as a group. The video ends with the ice melting off the people as they come back to life, then shows the shot of the girls entering in reverse to look like they are leaving.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rohwedder|first=Kristie|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/60765-23-moments-from-the-spice-girls-goodbye-music-video-thatll-chill-you-to-the-bonevideo|title=23 Moments from the Spice Girls "Goodbye" Music Video That'll Chill You to the Bone—VIDEO|date=27 January 2015|access-date=27 December 2018|work=Bustle}}</ref>

The music video was also the last to be played on [[The Box (British and Irish TV channel)|the English version of The Box]], after which it closed on June 30, 2024, alongside other [[Channel Four Television Corporation|Channel 4]]-owned music channels.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdsckg57GZI |title=Final closure of The Box (UK) - 01/07/2024 12:00am |date=2024-06-30 |last=[bluefrog] |access-date=2024-07-31 |via=YouTube}}</ref>


==Live performances==
==Live performances==
[[File:SpiceGirlWembley150619-68 (49000562412).jpg|thumb|left|The Spice Girls performing "Goodbye" on the [[Spice World - 2019 Tour]]]]
"Goodbye" was included on the setlist of [[Christmas In Spiceworld Tour]] in 1999. The song was performed at the 2000 [[BRIT Awards]] along with "[[Spice Up Your Life]]", "[[Say You'll Be There]]" and forthcoming single "[[Holler (Spice Girls song)|Holler]]". During the ceremony the Spice Girls received an Award for Outstanding Contribution To The British Music Industry. It was also performed on the ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'' in an orchestra format, ''[[Live and Kicking (TV series)|Live & Kicking]]'', ''[[Pepsi Chart]]'' and ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' in 1998 to promote the single. Mel B and Victoria appeared on [[TFI Friday]] in November 1998 to promote the single.
The first live performance of "Goodbye" was on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]'s ''[[Pepsi Chart]]'', before the single's commercial release.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/212190.stm|title=Spice Girls set their sights on Christmas No 1|date=11 November 1998|access-date=10 December 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref> The group followed with performances of the song on the ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'', where they sang sitting down so that Beckham and Brown did not have to dance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/230154.stm|title=Spicy Royal Variety Performance|date=8 December 1998|access-date=10 December 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref> They went on to perform "Goodbye" on ''[[Children in Need]]'', ''[[The National Lottery Draws]]'', ''[[Live & Kicking]]'', ''[[CD:UK]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1424872/all-saints-mel-blatt-gives-birth-bandmates-pull-out-of-charity/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601090310/http://www.mtv.com/news/1424872/all-saints-mel-blatt-gives-birth-bandmates-pull-out-of-charity/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2022|title=All Saints Mel Blatt Gives Birth, Bandmates Pull Out Of Charity|date=23 November 1998|access-date=17 February 2019|publisher=MTV News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=The National Lottery Draws |series-link=The National Lottery Draws |network=[[BBC]]|location=London, United Kingdom|airdate=12 December 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=Live & Kicking |series-link=Live & Kicking|network=[[BBC]]|location=London, United Kingdom|airdate=19 December 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=CD:UK |series-link=CD:UK|network=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]|location=London, United Kingdom|airdate=19 December 1998}}</ref> and on the ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' 1998 Christmas special.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=Top of the Pops |series-link=Top of the Pops|network=[[BBC]]|location=London, United Kingdom|airdate=25 December 1998|season=35|number=62}}</ref> The song was performed at the [[2000 Brit Awards]] along with "[[Spice Up Your Life]]", "[[Say You'll Be There]]" and "[[Holler (Spice Girls song)|Holler]]", which would be released as a single later that year.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spice Girls|series=''[[2000 Brit Awards]]''|network=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]|location=London, United Kingdom|airdate=3 March 2000|edition=20}}</ref> During the ceremony, the Spice Girls received an award for [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music|Outstanding Contribution to Music]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibbons|first=Fiachra|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/mar/04/fiachragibbons|title=Spice whirl casts shadow over Brit awards|work=The Guardian|date=4 March 2000|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>


The Spice Girls have performed the song on three of their tours, the [[Christmas in Spiceworld Tour]],<ref name=tele/> the [[Return of the Spice Girls Tour]],<ref name=mirror/> and the [[Spice World – 2019 Tour]].<ref name=spectator/> "Goodbye" was first included on the setlist of the Christmas in Spiceworld Tour, which had stops in London and Manchester in December 1999.<ref name=tele>{{cite news|last=Horan|first=Tom|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4719222/The-Spice-Girls-wrap-up-Christmas.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115000248/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4719222/The-Spice-Girls-wrap-up-Christmas.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2011|title=The Spice Girls wrap up Christmas|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=6 December 1999|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434444/spice-girls-re-team-brief-tour.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107184410/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434444/spice-girls-re-team-brief-tour.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2014|title=Spice Girls Re-Team For Brief Tour|publisher=MTV News|date=6 December 1999|access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref> In 2007 and 2008, the song was performed on The Return of the Spice Girls Tour, with [[Geri Halliwell]] singing the harmony with the rest of the girls. It was the first song recorded without her vocals that she participated in.<ref name=mirror>{{Cite news|last=Hudson|first=Polly|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/the-spice-girls-are-back-525828|title=The Spice Girls are back!|work=[[Daily Mirror|The Mirror]]|date=4 December 2007|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> It was also performed on the Spice World - 2019 Tour with Beckham's parts being sung by Halliwell.<ref name=spectator>{{cite web|last=Sinclair|first=David|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/06/way-more-fun-than-the-media-would-have-us-believe-the-spice-girls-tour-reviewed/|title=Way more fun than the media would have us believe: The Spice Girls tour reviewed|date=15 June 2019|access-date=14 September 2019|work=[[The Spectator]]}}</ref> It was on the 2019 tour that Halliwell also performed “Holler”, another song that was recorded without her vocals, with the rest of the group. She sang Beckham’s part during that song. During the tour's last show in London's [[Wembley Stadium]], Halliwell publicly apologised for quitting the band before performing the song.<ref>{{cite web|last=Savage|first=Mark|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48635450|title=Spice Girls: Geri apologises for quitting in 1998|date=15 June 2019|access-date=14 September 2019|publisher=BBC}}</ref>
In 2007 and 2008, the song was performed on [[Return of the Spice Girls]] tour. [[Geri Halliwell]] sang the harmony with the rest of the girls. It was the only song recorded without her vocals that she participated in.


==Formats and track listings==
==Formats and track listings==
Line 65: Line 96:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*'''UK CD 1'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-UK-CD1-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000I2NN|title=Amazon.com: Goodbye UK CD 1: Spice Girls: Music|author=Virgin Records Us|date=4 May 1999|publisher=Amazon|accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref>
*'''UK CD 1/European Maxi CD 1/Australian Maxi CD 1/Brazilian Maxi CD/Japanese Maxi CD/Mexican Maxi CD/South African Maxi CD/Digital EP 1'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-UK-CD1-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000I2NN|title=Goodbye UK CD 1: Spice Girls|website=Amazon |access-date=29 December 2010}}</ref>
# "Goodbye" {{small|(radio edit)}} – 4:20
# "Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 4:20
# "[[Christmas Wrapping]]" – 4:14
# "[[Christmas Wrapping]]" – 4:14
# "Goodbye" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:14
# "Goodbye" (Orchestral Mix) – 4:14


*'''U.S CD/Australian CD/Japanese CD single'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-US-CD-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000FXYG|title=Amazon.com: Goodbye US CD: Spice Girls: Music|author=Virgin Records Us|date=8 December 1998|publisher=Amazon|accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref>
*'''UK CD 2/European Maxi CD 2/Argentine Maxi CD/Australian Maxi CD 2/Digital EP 2'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-UK-CD2-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000FDH5|title=Goodbye UK CD 2: Spice Girls|website=Amazon |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref>
# "Goodbye" {{small|(full single version)}} – 4:47
# "Goodbye" (Album Version) – 4:35
# "Christmas Wrapping" – 4:14
# "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (Live) – 4:22
# "[[Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves]]" {{small|(live)}}4:35
# "We Are Family" (Live) – 3:35
# "[[We Are Family (Sister Sledge song)|We Are Family]]" {{small|(live)}} – 3:22


{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*'''US/Canadian/CD single'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-US-CD-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000FXYG|title=Goodbye US CD: Spice Girls|website=Amazon |access-date=29 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Goodbye|others=Spice Girls|date=1998|type=Australian release liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=7243 8 95593 2 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Goodbye|others=Spice Girls|date=1998|type=Japanese release liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VJCP-12117}}</ref>
*'''UK CD 2'''
# "Goodbye" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:47
# "Goodbye" (Album Version) – 4:35
# "Christmas Wrapping" – 4:14
# "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" {{small|(live)}} – 4:22
# "We Are Family" {{small|(live)}}3:35
# "[[Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves]]" (Live) – 4:35
# "[[We Are Family (Sister Sledge song)|We Are Family]]" (Live) – 3:22


*'''South Korean/Indonesian Maxi CD/Malaysian Maxi CD/Philippine Maxi CD/Singaporean Maxi CD/Taiwanese Maxi CD/Thai EP'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Goodbye|others=Spice Girls|date=1998|type=Malaysian release liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=7243 8 95608 00}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Goodbye|others=Spice Girls|date=1998|type=South Korean release liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VKPD-0277}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Goodbye|others=Spice Girls|date=1998|type=Thai release liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=7243 8 95608 00}}</ref>
*'''Malaysia, Indonesia & Taiwan EP'''
# "Goodbye" {{small|(full single version)}} – 4:47
# "Goodbye" (Album Version) – 4:35
# "Christmas Wrapping" – 4:14
# "Christmas Wrapping" – 4:14
# "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" {{small|(live)}} – 4:22
# "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (Live) – 4:22
# "We Are Family" {{small|(live)}} – 3:35
# "We Are Family" (Live) – 3:35
# "Goodbye" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:14
# "Goodbye" (Orchestral Mix) – 4:14
# "Goodbye" {{small|(music video - enhanced interactive element)}}
# "Goodbye" (Music Video - Enhanced Interactive Element) – 4:34
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


==Credits and personnel==
==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from ''Forever'' album liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Forever|others=[[Spice Girls]]|date=2000|type=CD Album liner|publisher=[[Virgin Records]]|id=7243 8 50467 42}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*Spice Girls – [[Lyricist|lyrics]], [[Singing|vocals]]
*Spice Girls – lyrics, vocals
*[[Biffco|Richard Stannard]] – lyrics, [[Record producer|production]]
*[[Biffco|Richard Stannard]] – lyrics, [[Record producer|production]]
*Matt Rowe – lyrics, production
*Matt Rowe – lyrics, production
*Adrian Bushby – [[Audio engineering|recording engineer]]
*Adrian Bushby – [[Audio engineer|record engineering]]
*Jake Davies – assistant
*Jake Davies – assistance
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Wil Malone]] - [[String section|string arrangement]]
*[[Wil Malone]] [[String section|string arrangement]]
*Paul Waller – [[drum programming]]
*Paul Waller – [[drum programming]]
*[[Mark Stent|Mark "Spike" Stent]] – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|audio mixing]]
*[[Spike Stent|Mark "Spike" Stent]] – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|audio mixing]]
*Paul "P.Dub" Walton – assistant
*Paul "P.Dub" Walton – assistant
*Jan Kybert – assistant
*Jan Kybert – assistant
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}

Published by EMI Music Publishing (WP) Ltd., Universal Music Publishing.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Forever|others=[[Spice Girls]]|date=2000|type=CD Album liner|publisher=[[Virgin Records]]|id=7243 8 50467 42}}</ref>


==Charts==
==Charts==
Line 114: Line 144:


===Weekly charts===
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Goodbye"
!Chart (1998–1999)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Australia"|rowheader=true}}
! Chart (1998-1999)
! Peak<br />position
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Australia|3|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Australia"}}
{{single chart|Austria|13|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Austria"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Austria|13|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Austria"}}
{{single chart|Flanders|14|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Flanders"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Flanders|13|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Flanders"}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|12|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Wallonia"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref name="Spice Girls Awards"/>
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Wallonia|12|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Wallonia"}}
|1
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|15|chartid=7495|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=25 March 2018|rowheader=true}}
! scope="row"| Canada (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Finland|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Finland"}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|10|chartid=7484|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=9 August 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|France|21|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="France"}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|22|chartid=7467|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=10 June 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Denmark ([[IFPI Denmark|IFPI]])<ref name="Denmark">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-01-16.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=16 January 1999|access-date=22 June 2018|volume=16|issue=1–3|oclc=29800226|page=9}}</ref>
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Germany|17|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=30 December 2010|refname="Germany"}}
|5
|-
|-
!scope="row"|El Salvador ([[Notimex]])<ref>{{cite journal|title=Cantantes latinos siguen cosechando éxitos|journal=[[El Siglo de Torreón]]|date=February 15, 1999|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT/1999/02/15/46/Ar04600.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=2213569&PageLabelPrint=91&skin=%45%6c%53%69%67%6c%6f&AppName=%32&sLanguage=%45%6e%67%6c%69%73%68&Content=%41%4c%4c&selLanguage=&sPublication=%45%44%54&sDateFrom=%30%31%25%32%46%30%31%25%32%46%31%39%39%39&sDateTo=%31%32%25%32%46%33%31%25%32%46%31%39%39%39&dummy=%31%39%39%39&sQuery=%73%68%61%6b%69%72%61%2b%74%75&x=%36&y=%36&ViewMode=HTML|language=es}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/christmas/christmas4.htm|title=Irish Charts - Spice Girls - Goodbye|publisher=Irish Singles Chart|date=24 December 1998|accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|-
!scope="row"|[[European Hot 100 Singles]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref name="eurohot">{{cite magazine|date=9 January 1999|access-date=24 December 2018|title=Hits of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|issue=2|page=39|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Italy|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Italy"}}
|2
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|New Zealand|1|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="New Zealand"}}
{{single chart|Finland|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Finland"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Dutch100|5|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Netherlands"}}
{{single chart|France|21|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="France"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Norway|6|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Norway"}}
{{single chart|Germany|17|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|songid=3816|access-date=30 December 2010|refname="Germany"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref name="Greece">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-02-06.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|access-date=22 June 2018|volume=16|issue=7|oclc=29800226|page=12}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|accessdate=2011-01-26|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|7
|align="center"|8
|-
!scope="row"|Hungary ([[MAHASZ]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-02-13.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|access-date=22 June 2018|volume=16|issue=6|oclc=29800226|page=12}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2978421#page/n11/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40|newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|Dagblaðið Vísir]]|language=is|page=12|date=18 December 1998|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>
|21
|-
!scope="row"|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])<ref name="Ireland">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/christmas/christmas4.htm|title=Irish Charts - Spice Girls - Goodbye|publisher=Irish Singles Chart|date=24 December 1998|access-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125126/http://www.irishcharts.ie/christmas/christmas4.htm|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Italy ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref name="Italy">{{cite web|url=http://www.it-charts.150m.com/chartrun/spices-s-fimi.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720164203/http://www.it-charts.150m.com/chartrun/spices-s-fimi.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2007|title=FIMI Charts 1997-1999|language=it|access-date=26 November 2023|publisher=FIMI Charts}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Malaysia ([[Recording Industry Association of Malaysia|RIM]])<ref name="Malaysia">{{cite magazine|date=23 January 1999|access-date=5 September 2020|title=Hits of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yg0EAAAAMBAJ|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|issue=4|page=51|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|5
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|4|year=1998|week=52|access-date=19 June 2018|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|5|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Netherlands"|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="New Zealand"|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|6|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Norway"|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=19981220|rowheader=true|access-date=24 December 1998|refname="Scotland"}}
|-
!scope="row"|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref name="Spain">{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|8
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Sweden"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Sweden|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Sweden"}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="Switzerland"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Taiwan ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]])<ref name="taiwan">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org.tw/chart/1999/single05.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991222154740/http://ifpi.org.tw/chart/1999/single05.htm|title=IFPI Taiwan Single Top 10|date=25-31 January 1999|archive-date=22 December 1999|language=zh|access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Switzerland|8|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="Switzerland"}}
|3
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|UK|1|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|date=1998-12-26|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="UK"}}
{{single chart|UK|1|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|date=1998-12-26|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="UK"|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|11|artist=Spice Girls|artistid={{BillboardID|Spice Girls}}|song=Goodbye|accessdate=29 December 2010|refname="US"}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|11|artist=Spice Girls|song=Goodbye|access-date=29 December 2010|refname="US"|rowheader=true}}
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1998 year-end chart performance for "Goodbye"
!align="left"|Country
!Chart (1998)
!align="left"|Year
!Position
!align="left"|Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
|align="left"|Australia<ref>{{cite web | author=Australian Recording Industry Association | title=Aria 1998 Charts | publisher=aria.com.au | year=1998 | url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1998.htm | accessdate=3 January 2011}}</ref>
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1998/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>
|99
|1998
|align="center"|99
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=19980001|title=Årslista Singlar - År 1998|publisher=GLF|access-date=24 December 2018|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006174102/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=19980001|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>
|align="left"|Australia<ref>{{cite web | author=Australian Recording Industry Association | title=Aria 1999 Charts | publisher=aria.com.au | year=1999 | url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1999.htm | accessdate=3 January 2011}}</ref>
|29
|1999
|-
|align="center"|45
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=7|date=16 January 1999}}</ref>
|8
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1999 year-end chart performance for "Goodbye"
!Chart (1999)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1999/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>
|45
|-
!scope="row" |Brazil ([[Crowley Broadcast Analysis|Crowley]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/1999/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1999|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=[[Crowley Broadcast Analysis]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>
|35
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9952&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9952.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9952|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|date=13 December 1999|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref>
|96
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9964|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|date=13 December 1999|access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref>
|75
|-
!scope="row"|European Hot 100 Singles (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-01-01.pdf|title=Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=17|issue=1|page=11|date=1 January 2000|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>
|41
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1999.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1999|language=nl|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref>
|107
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999|publisher=[[Dutch Charts|MegaCharts]]|language=nl|access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref>
|64
|}
|}


===Certifications===
===Decade-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{Certification Table Top}}
|+Decade-end chart performance for "Goodbye"
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|artist=Spice Girls|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|autocat=yes|accessdate=2011-09-28}}
!Chart (1990–1999)
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|salesamount=200,000|certyear=1998|autocat=yes|accessdate=2011-09-02}}
!Position
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Goodbye|artist=Spice Girls|certyear=1999|type=single|award= Platinum|id=1751|accessdate=3 February 2012|salesamount=15,000|certref=<ref name=nzcer>{{Cite web|url=http://rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp|title= Top 50 Singles Chart, 10 January 1999|publisher=''Recording Industry Association of New Zealand''|accessdate=2012-01-05}}</ref>}}
|-
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certref=<ref name=scer>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.se/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf|title=IFPI Swedish Awards 1987-1998|publisher=''International Federation of the Phonographic Industry''|accessdate=2012-01-05}}</ref>|autocat=yes|accessdate=2011-09-28}}
!scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|title=Top 100 singles of the 1990s|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|publisher=[[Jam!]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|archive-date=29 August 2000|access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref>
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|salesamount=884,500|salesref=<ref name=OCGoodbye/>}}
|3
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|relyear=1998|award=Gold|salesamount=600,000|salesref=<ref name=Billboard1998 />|autocat=yes|accessdate=2011-09-28}}
|}
{{Col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Goodbye"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|refname=ariacert|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1998|access-date=2 September 2011}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Goodbye|artist=Spice Girls|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|type=single|award=Platinum|id=1999-01-08|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname=nzcer}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Spice Girls|title=Goodbye|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=1988|salesamount=949,000|salesref=<ref name=OCGoodbye/>|id=2607-1952-1|access-date=31 July 2021|refname=bpi}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Spice Girls|title=Goodbye|type=single|relyear=1998|award=Gold|refname=riaa|salesamount=600,000|salesref=<ref name=Billboard1998 />|access-date=November 12, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{col-end}}


==Release history==
==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Goodbye"
|-
! Country
! Region
! Date
! Date
! Format
! Format(s)
! Label
! Label(s)
! {{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| United States

| 24 November 1998
! scope="row"| United Kingdom<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-CD-1-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000I2NN</ref>
| {{hlist|[[Contemporary hit radio]]|[[rhythmic contemporary radio]]}}
| 11 December 1998
| [[CD single]] (CD1)
| [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| align="center"| <ref name="usradio"/>
|-
! scope="row"| Germany
| 7 December 1998
| rowspan="2"| [[Maxi single|Maxi CD]]
| rowspan="3"| [[EMI]]
| {{center|<ref name="Germany"/>}}
|-
! scope="row"| Canada
| rowspan="3"| 8 December 1998
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=Album Releases: December 1998|publisher=[[Jam!]]|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1998/dec.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232125/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1998/dec.html|archive-date=17 August 2000|access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| France
| {{hlist|[[CD single|CD]]|maxi CD}}
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fnac.com/a746962/Spice-Girls-Goodbye-CD-single|title=Goodbye &ndash; Spice Girls &ndash; CD single|publisher=[[Fnac]]|location=France|language=fr|date=8 December 1998|accessdate=20 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fnac.com/a746963/Spice-Girls-Goodbye-vol-1-CD-maxi-single|title=Goodbye / vol.1 &ndash; Spice Girls &ndash; CD maxi single|publisher=[[Fnac]]|location=France|language=fr|date=8 December 1998|accessdate=20 October 2022}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| United States
| {{hlist|[[Cassette single|Cassette]]|maxi CD}}
| rowspan="2"| [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| {{center|<ref name="usmaxirel"/>}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom

! scope="row"| United Kingdom<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-CD-2-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000I2NO</ref>
| 14 December 1998
| 14 December 1998
| {{hlist|Cassette|two maxi CDs}}
| CD single (CD2)
| align="center"| <ref name="ukrel"/>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Japan

| 23 December 1998
! scope="row"| Japan<ref>http://www.amazon.co.jp/Goodbye-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000FDH4</ref><ref>http://www.amazon.co.jp/Goodbye-Spice-Girls/dp/B00000FDH5</ref>
| Maxi CD
| 22 December 1998
| [[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]]
| CD single (CD1, CD2)
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/95993/products/296694/1/|title=グッドバイ &ndash; スパイス・ガールズ|language=ja|location=Japan|publisher=[[Oricon]]|date=23 December 1998|accessdate=20 October 2022}}</ref>}}
| [[EMI]]
|-

|}
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==References==
==References==
{{Refbegin}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Melanie|authorlink=Melanie Brown|title=Catch a Fire: The Autobiography|year=2002|publisher=[[Hodder Headline|Headline Book Publishing]]|isbn=0-7553-1063-2}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|spice-girls|goodbye}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Spice Girls}}
{{Spice Girls singles}}
{{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1990s|song}}
{{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1990s|song}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodbye (Spice Girls Song)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodbye (Spice Girls Song)}}
[[Category:Songs about parting]]
[[Category:Songs about friendship]]
[[Category:1990s ballads]]
[[Category:1990s ballads]]
[[Category:1998 singles]]
[[Category:1998 singles]]
[[Category:Canadian Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Richard Stannard (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Richard Stannard (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Emma Bunton]]
[[Category:Songs written by Emma Bunton]]
[[Category:Songs written by Matt Rowe (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mel B]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mel B]]
[[Category:Songs written by Melanie C]]
[[Category:Songs written by Melanie C]]
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[[Category:Songs written by Victoria Beckham]]
[[Category:Songs written by Victoria Beckham]]
[[Category:Spice Girls songs]]
[[Category:Spice Girls songs]]
[[Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Matt Rowe (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 04:01, 23 November 2024

"Goodbye"
Single by Spice Girls
B-side
Released14 December 1998 (1998-12-14)
RecordedJuly 1998
StudioOcean Way (Nashville)[1]
GenrePop
Length4:35
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Richard Stannard
  • Matt Rowe
Spice Girls singles chronology
"Viva Forever"
(1998)
"Goodbye"
(1998)
"Holler" / "Let Love Lead the Way"
(2000)
Music video
"Goodbye" on YouTube

"Goodbye" is a song recorded by British girl group Spice Girls. It was written by the group, Richard Stannard, and Matt Rowe, while it was produced by the latter two. The song became the group's first song without the vocals of Geri Halliwell. It was released by Virgin Records on 14 December 1998 and was later included on their third studio album Forever (2000). "Goodbye" is a pop ballad that lyrically consists of the group's farewell to a friend, specifically Halliwell. The lyrics were also seen, by the media and fans alike, as the group's end, although the idea was dismissed by the members.

"Goodbye" received positive reviews from music commentators, who said it was one of the group's best singles. The song was a commercial success, peaking atop the UK Singles Chart and making the Spice Girls the first act to have had three consecutive Christmas number-one singles since The Beatles in 1965. Internationally, it was also commercially successful, reaching the top spots in Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Italy and peaking inside the top five on the charts in Australia, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Hungary, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden and Taiwan. Additionally, "Goodbye" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The accompanying music video for "Goodbye" was filmed at Mentmore Towers and featured the group singing the song at a castle; Melanie Brown and Victoria Beckham were both pregnant at the time. To promote "Goodbye", the Spice Girls performed the song on several television shows, such as the Royal Variety Performance and Top of the Pops, and later on their concert tours Christmas in Spiceworld (1999), The Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World – 2019 Tour (2019).

Background

[edit]

On 31 May 1998, member Geri Halliwell announced her departure from the Spice Girls. Through her solicitor, she stated, "Sadly I would like to confirm that I have left the Spice Girls. This is because of differences between us. I'm sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best."[2] Halliwell claimed that she was suffering from exhaustion and wanted to take a break.[3] She would later express, via several media outlets—as well as in her autobiography If Only—that she had been invited to speak at a breast cancer awareness event (Halliwell had a benign breast tumor removed at age 19) but was concerned the other Spice Girls wouldn’t approve, as this was during their European tour and just prior to their North American tour. Her departure from the group made news headlines around the world and became one of the biggest entertainment news stories of the year.[4] The four remaining members were adamant that the group would carry on.[2]

In July 1998, during the American leg of their Spiceworld Tour, the group decided to rework "Goodbye", which had been written when Halliwell was still part of the group.[5] For this, songwriters and music producers Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe flew to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet the group. Recording footage was shown in the Channel 4 documentary Spice Girls In America: A Tour Story.[6] During the documentary, Mel B is filmed recording vocals for the song before abruptly removing her headphones and walking out of the studio. She is later interviewed, saying that the recording process for the song had been difficult, and that “…it is about Geri.” Additionally, in an interview two months later in September 1998, she clarified whether or not the song signified the group's split, saying:

"That was the first time I've cried listening to one of our songs, the first time I instantly cried. It's got a full orchestra on there and it just sounds fantastic. [The song] is really obviously about what's happened during the year, with Geri leaving and then being strong. [...] The song is called 'Goodbye', but it's not goodbye-goodbye, cause the chorus actually is 'goodbye my friend, it's not the end'. So for all those people thinks we're breaking up, we're not. So correct that".[7]

In the Spice Girls' 1999 autobiography, Forever Spice, group member Melanie C said, "'Goodbye' was originally about a relationship ending, but now it's about Geri and it's really sad". Stannard elaborated, saying, "It was about moving on and saying ‘goodbye’ to the old Spice Girls. It wasn't ‘Goodbye’ to Geri; it wasn't really literal. A lot of that song was written when they were touring in America. We wrote it in Nashville so I think it has that sentimental feel to it because everyone was kind of homesick and knackered".[8] Halliwell later declared that she found "very flattering that they dedicated it to me."[9]

Release

[edit]

"Goodbye" was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1998 as a CD and cassette single.[10] In the United States, the single was serviced to rhythmic contemporary and contemporary hit radio on 24 November 1998, and a maxi-CD was issued on 8 December 1998.[11][12] The maxi-CD contains a cover of the Waitresses' 1981 single "Christmas Wrapping", as well as live versions of "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" and "We Are Family" that were recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 September 1998. "Christmas Wrapping" features vocals only from Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton due to the pregnancies of Melanie Brown and Victoria Beckham. The American release also included a set of four stickers of the girls, portraying them as fairies, similar to their appearance in the music video of "Viva Forever".[13]

Composition

[edit]

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by BMG Rights Management, "Goodbye" is set in common time with a key of E major. The girls' vocals range between G3 to C5. The song has a slow tempo of 68 beats per minute.[14] The song is a ballad which has the girls singing what Sarah Davis at Dotmusic called a "sugar-coated" farewell to friend Geri Halliwell, who left the group months prior.[15] Coming to a similar conclusion, Kristie Rohwedder with Bustle noted that in the chorus of the song, the Spice Girls sing "Goodbye my friend/I know you're gone, you said you're gone, but I can still feel you here" and "It's not the end/You gotta keep it strong before the pain turns into fear".[16]

Davis also remarked that, as with their previous two end-of-year songs, "2 Become 1" and "Too Much", "Goodbye" is another ballad in which "the girls take turns at the lead with a chance to come together" on the chorus.[15] Chuck Taylor of Billboard agreed that it "follows in the spirit of Too Much".[17] Metro's Joe O'Brien called its sound "wintry".[18] Fraser McAlpine from BBC America noted that the song "captures that feeling of a tribute paid to a lost loved one".[19]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Goodbye" was met with positive reception by music critics. Quentin Harrison from Albumism described it as "a touching ode to beginnings and endings inspired by Horner. As 1998 closed, the triumph of that single in the United Kingdom and abroad was proof positive that the power of the Spice Girls had not been diminished by Horner’s exit."[20] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic commented that the song was "actually a pretty good finale".[21] Fraser McAlpine from BBC America said that "this is the song they wrote after Geri left, and is also, coincidentally, the last decent thing they ever did as a group".[19] Tania Kraines from BBC Music said "the heartbroken post-Geri 'Goodbye' provided the girls with their last really good single".[22]

Chuck Taylor from Billboard called the song's melody "absolutely beautiful, in fact, one of the group's most memorable, with well-rounded harmonies".[17] Another editor, Jason Lipshutz ranked it as the seventh of "The Top 8 Spice Girls Songs" list, based on the songs' performances on the Hot 100 chart, whilst also stating that "the pangs of sorrow resulting in the realization that the Spice Girls' pop reign had effectively ended makes "Goodbye" a bittersweet hit".[23] During his review of Greatest Hits, Nick Levine of Digital Spy said, "Best of all is 'Goodbye', the supremely elegant ballad that became a post-Halliwell Christmas number one".[24] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic website commented that the "feelgood" chorus was "strong enough for this otherwise unremarkable song to be lifted above ordinariness".[15]

Alexis Petridis, a journalist from The Guardian, ranked "Goodbye" 16th on their list "All 43 Spice Girls songs ranked", stating that "calling your comeback single Goodbye was pretty daft – it suggests you have already thrown in the towel – but it was a decent enough song".[25] British music magazine NME said "Goodbye" was a fine song in any age.[26] A review of Sputnikmusic considered the song "very tasteful and emotionally sweeping".[27] Whitney Matheson of USA Today, whilst reviewing their last studio album Forever, wondered, "who the heck ends their album with an old chart-topper? Is this — like the repeated mentions of Carnie, Wendy and Chyna — a subliminal message? Are the Spice Girls simply playing a game, or are they perhaps saying goodbye to their fans?".[28]

Chart performance

[edit]
With "Goodbye", the Spice Girls became the first act to have three consecutive Christmas number-one singles since The Beatles in 1965.

On 20 December 1998, "Goodbye" became the Spice Girls' eighth number-one single in the UK, selling 380,000 copies in the first week.[29] With the song, the group became the first act to have three consecutive Christmas number-one singles since The Beatles in 1965. "Goodbye" stayed at number one for one week, remaining inside the chart for twenty-one weeks,[29] and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) only four days after it was released, on 18 December 1998.[30] As of December 2020, the song has sold 949,000 copies in the United Kingdom, including 5.6 million streams. "Goodbye" is their second best-selling Christmas single and overall their fifth biggest single in the UK.[29]

Around the world, the song was also successful. In Europe, it reached number two on the Eurochart Hot 100;[31] reached number one in Ireland and Scotland;[32][33] peaked inside the top ten in Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, and Spain;[34][35][36][37][38] and inside the top twenty in Austria, Belgium (both the Flemish and Walloon charts), and Germany.[39][40][41] In Oceania, it debuted on Australia's ARIA Charts at number eight, peaking at number five in its fifth week and staying there for another week. It remained on the chart for sixteen weeks,[42] and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[43] In New Zealand, it debuted at the top of the chart, remaining there for the following week [44] and was certified platinum by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[45] It gave the group their third and final number 1 single in New Zealand.

In the United States, "Goodbye" debuted at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated 26 December 1998. Although it was receiving radio airplay, it was not until its commercial release that it was able to debut on the chart, with 74,000 copies sold.[13][46] The song was their seventh single to chart, and their best debut since "2 Become 1", which debuted at number six in 1997.[46] "Goodbye" spent three weeks at its peak, eleven weeks on the Hot 100,[47] and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[48] In Canada, the song reached number fifteen on the RPM Top Singles chart, becoming the girls' seventh top 10 hit.[49] Meanwhile, it peaked at number one on the Canadian Singles Chart for 13 consecutive weeks, published by Billboard magazine.[50]

Music video

[edit]
The group as a quartet, in the music video for "Goodbye".

The accompanying music video for "Goodbye" was filmed at Mentmore Towers in Mentmore, Buckinghamshire on 1 and 2 November 1998, being directed by Howard Greenhalgh,[51] who previously directed their music video for "Too Much" (1997).[52] It was premiered through MTV on 20 November 1998.[53] Brown and Beckham were pregnant during the filming of this video.[5] It opens with each of the girls in four different black cars – 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, 1955 Imperial Newport, Tatra 603 – and white wolves running. They arrive at a castle and walk up the stairs arm-in-arm. When they enter within dry ice clouds, there are frozen couples that the girls observe. The video also shows shots of each girl inside the castle in a different setting with falling objects, namely sheets of paper (Beckham), toilet paper rolls (Bunton), plates (Brown), and an exploding chandelier (Chisholm). They are also seen singing the song together as a group. The video ends with the ice melting off the people as they come back to life, then shows the shot of the girls entering in reverse to look like they are leaving.[54]

The music video was also the last to be played on the English version of The Box, after which it closed on June 30, 2024, alongside other Channel 4-owned music channels.[55]

Live performances

[edit]
The Spice Girls performing "Goodbye" on the Spice World - 2019 Tour

The first live performance of "Goodbye" was on Channel 5's Pepsi Chart, before the single's commercial release.[56] The group followed with performances of the song on the Royal Variety Performance, where they sang sitting down so that Beckham and Brown did not have to dance.[57] They went on to perform "Goodbye" on Children in Need, The National Lottery Draws, Live & Kicking, CD:UK,[58][59][60][61] and on the Top of the Pops 1998 Christmas special.[62] The song was performed at the 2000 Brit Awards along with "Spice Up Your Life", "Say You'll Be There" and "Holler", which would be released as a single later that year.[63] During the ceremony, the Spice Girls received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.[64]

The Spice Girls have performed the song on three of their tours, the Christmas in Spiceworld Tour,[65] the Return of the Spice Girls Tour,[66] and the Spice World – 2019 Tour.[67] "Goodbye" was first included on the setlist of the Christmas in Spiceworld Tour, which had stops in London and Manchester in December 1999.[65][68] In 2007 and 2008, the song was performed on The Return of the Spice Girls Tour, with Geri Halliwell singing the harmony with the rest of the girls. It was the first song recorded without her vocals that she participated in.[66] It was also performed on the Spice World - 2019 Tour with Beckham's parts being sung by Halliwell.[67] It was on the 2019 tour that Halliwell also performed “Holler”, another song that was recorded without her vocals, with the rest of the group. She sang Beckham’s part during that song. During the tour's last show in London's Wembley Stadium, Halliwell publicly apologised for quitting the band before performing the song.[69]

Formats and track listings

[edit]

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Goodbye".

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Forever album liner notes.[78]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Goodbye"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[107] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Platinum 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[108] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Platinum 949,000[29]
United States (RIAA)[48] Gold 600,000[13]

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

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Goodbye"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 24 November 1998 Virgin [11]
Germany 7 December 1998 Maxi CD EMI
Canada 8 December 1998 [109]
France
United States
Virgin
United Kingdom 14 December 1998
  • Cassette
  • two maxi CDs
[10]
Japan 23 December 1998 Maxi CD Toshiba EMI

References

[edit]
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