Christine (song)
Encyclopedia
"Christine" is a song recorded by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song was written by Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux
and Steven Severin
and it was released as the second single from the band's third album Kaleidoscope
.
"Christine" marked a change in musical direction for the band, with new guitarist John McGeoch
. The song begins with a distinctive riff played on an acoustic guitar. The chorus is topped with synthesizer
s. The close of the song utilizes a strong flanging
effect.
Lyrically the song is about mental illness as it describes Christine, a woman with "22 faces" ("...Personality changes behind her red smile / Every new problem brings a stranger inside / Helplessly forcing one more new disguise..."). The song was inspired by the story of Christine Costner-Sizemore
, whose battle with dissociative identity disorder
was dramatized in the film The Three Faces of Eve
. Two of Christine's identities, the Strawberry Girl and the Banana Split Lady, are mentioned in the lyrics of the song. The two most extreme characters of this woman were named "Eve White" and "Eve Black" : that is the title of the B-side recorded for that single.
The single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart
.
The song was covered by Red Hot Chili Peppers
at their V2001 Festival's concert.
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
and Steven Severin
Steven Severin
Steven Severin , is an English musician, composer, bassist and co-founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees....
and it was released as the second single from the band's third album Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (Siouxsie album)
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1980. Following the departure of two band members, the band regrouped and redirected their sound for their third record. Departing from their previous work, the Banshees incorporated synthesizers...
.
"Christine" marked a change in musical direction for the band, with new guitarist John McGeoch
John McGeoch
John Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
. The song begins with a distinctive riff played on an acoustic guitar. The chorus is topped with synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s. The close of the song utilizes a strong flanging
Flanging
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum,...
effect.
Lyrically the song is about mental illness as it describes Christine, a woman with "22 faces" ("...Personality changes behind her red smile / Every new problem brings a stranger inside / Helplessly forcing one more new disguise..."). The song was inspired by the story of Christine Costner-Sizemore
Chris Costner-Sizemore
Chris Costner Sizemore is a woman who, in the 1950s, was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder, now known as dissociative identity disorder. Her case, with a pseudonym used, was depicted in the 1950s book and film The Three Faces of Eve by her psychiatrists, Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M....
, whose battle with dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis and describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities , each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment....
was dramatized in the film The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve is a 1957 American film adaptation of a case study by Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. It was based on the true story of Chris Costner Sizemore, also known as Eve White, a woman who suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as multiple personality...
. Two of Christine's identities, the Strawberry Girl and the Banana Split Lady, are mentioned in the lyrics of the song. The two most extreme characters of this woman were named "Eve White" and "Eve Black" : that is the title of the B-side recorded for that single.
The single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song was covered by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
at their V2001 Festival's concert.