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Goodbye (Spice Girls song)

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"Goodbye"
Song
B-side"Christmas Wrapping"

Goodbye is the Spice Girls’ ninth single in the UK and is the group's first single without former band mate, Geri Halliwell. Since the single was out of print, Goodbye was added to the end of Forever which was released two years later.

Goodbye was written by Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard and the Spice Girls. The lyrics (although written before her departure) seem to pay tribute to former band mate Geri Halliwell, who departed on 31 May 1998. It is highly rumored that the lyrics were technically penned by band mates Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell. However until the Forever era, all five girls were credited as writers on previous albums.

For the reunion tour, all five of them perform the song, including Geri. However, the Greatest Hits contains the radio edit of the song, without her vocals.

There are a total of three different versions of Goodbye (not counting the Orchestral Version). There is the standard single edit (or radio edit), which runs four minutes and twenty seconds, the single version (this is the full recorded version) which runs a total of four minutes and forty-four seconds and the video edit, which runs four minutes and thirty-five seconds (this version is included on the commercial release of Forever).


Commercial release

Goodbye was released throughout the world in December 1998. The single was first released in the USA followed quickly by the rest of the world. The single was technically released in the US as an EP single (extended play). Standard CD singles were released throughout the rest of the world. The song was later included on the girls third LP, Forever. Some fans view this as the first single from Forever, when in actuality the double A-side single Holler / Let Love Lead The Way is the first single. It was decided by Virgin that Goodbye be placed on the album since the CD single was out of print. Goodbye is not included on some international versions of Forever.

In December of 1998 Goodbye was released throughout most of the world in a two CD format (stranded single and a maxi single). The typical track listing internationally followed the UK track listing. However in the US the single was released as an EP and contained only the bonus track, "Christmas Wrapping", and live versions of "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" and "We Are Family", which were recorded at the final concert at Wembley Stadium in September 1998.

B-side

"Christmas Wrapping" was included on the single released. The song was recorded by Melanie C and Emma Bunton as a duet. Victoria and Mel B did not participate due to being heavily pregnant at the time. The song got released to the press and radio stations to help promote the Christmas release of "Goodbye".

Chart performance

"Goodbye" so far is the Spice Girls final commercial CD single release within the US (Holler was released to the US, however a commercial CD single was never made available for purchase). The single peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number three on the US Singles Sales Charts. In the United Kingdom, the single became the girls' eight number one single, topping the charts for only one week. Goodbye was also their third consecutive number one Christmas single in the UK (2 Become 1 and Too Much were previous Christmas No.1’s). Many critics believe the girls could have held the number one spot for another two weeks with proper promotion since the single slipped to the number two spot for two weeks.

However, the most impressive chart run of "Goodbye" was in Canada, where the single sat at the number one position for sixteen consecutive weeks. The song ranks in Canada as the third best-selling single of the 1990’s and the highest selling single of 1999.

The song topped the Asia Hitlist one week after its debut, making it the fastest single to reach number one. It also became their third consecutive Christmas number one, topping the charts for 5 weeks.

Music video

File:Sggoodbvid.JPG
Spice Girls (for the first time as a four-piece) in "Goodbye"

The video (shot November 1 and November 2, 1998) starts with each of the girls in four different black Rolls-Royce and white wolves running. They arrive at a castle and they all 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 and they come back to life. Then it shows the shot of the girls entering in reverse to look like they are leaving. Victoria Beckham and Mel B were visibly pregnant in the video.


Formats and track listings

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

  • UK CD1
  1. "Goodbye [Radio Edit] - 4:20
  2. "Christmas Wrapping - 4:14
  3. "Goodbye [Orchestral Version] - 4:14
  • UK CD2
  1. "Goodbye [Single Version] - 4:44
  2. "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves [Live] - 4:22
  3. "We Are Family [Live] - 3:35

CD2 contained four limited edition post cards of each girl

  • Canadian CD/US CD
  1. "Goodbye [Single Version] - 4:44
  2. "Christmas Wrapping - 4:14
  3. "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves [Live] - 4:35
  4. "We Are Family [Live] - 3:22

The US & Canadian version contained five limited edition stickers of the Spice Girls as the Spice Fairies, as seen in the Viva Forever video.

Goodbye was released commercially as an EP/Single throughout China, South Korea and South East Asian countries in a six track format. These releases seem to be the most rare since the music video for the single was included.

  1. "Goodbye [Single Edit] - 4:20
  2. "Goodbye [Single Version] (South Korea only) - 4:44
  3. "Christmas Wrapping - 4:14
  4. "Sisters Are Doing It For Themseleves [Live] - 4:35
  5. "We Are Family [Live] - 3:22
  6. "Goodbye [Orchestral Version] - 4:14
  7. "Goodbye Music Video - 4:35

Charts, peaks & certifications

Chart positions

Preceded by UK Christmas number-one single
1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK singles chart number one single
December 20 1998 - for 1 week 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish Singles Chart number one single
December 26 1998 - for 1 week 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New Zealand RIANZ singles chart number one single
December 20 1998 -January 3 1999 		Succeeded by


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