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Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)
Encyclopedia
For the Alcazar
song, see Headlines (song)
.
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" is a song performed by British group the Spice Girls
. It was released as the only single
from the group's compilation
album, Greatest Hits
on November 12, 2007. It was also announced it would be the last single from the group until the finishing of their world tour The Return of the Spice Girls
(2007). The song is the first commercial single release to feature the group's original lineup since Geri Halliwell
left in 1998. Halliwell described the single as a "big love song" and "a Spice Girl classic". Another group member, Melanie Chisholm
in her 2008 appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
announced, that she thought "this song is not good at all" and that at least she was against the release of any new material when the record company was trying to market the Greatest Hits
release.
The song was also the official Children in Need
single of 2007. The five-piece performed the song especially for the telethon on November 16, 2007, live from Los Angeles. They also recorded a performance of the song for the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but the performance did not make the televised broadcast of the show.
and Geri Halliwell
with help from producers, with the other three girls adding later on. Although gossip sites claimed that Victoria Beckham
had a significantly shorter solo than the rest of the girls, a spokesperson denied the accusation, saying that the parts were divided equally. In fact, it is Melanie Brown
with an almost non-existent solo part. Her lone solo can be found at the very end, where she sings "'Cause I'm giving it all/Yeah, I'm giving it all to you." Additionally, during the solos of Halliwell and Beckham, Bunton harmonizes and Brown provides backup vocals ("ahhh..."). Along with her solo, Beckham is the only girl to sing in between the second chorus (with the exceptions of the lines "Say you love me and I'll say I love you too" and "Just remember what simple words can do"). Beckham is also the only Spice Girl to sing the song's subtitle of "Friendship never ends."
Musically, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" is a pop
and electronic
-ballad
song, which talks about the group reuniting, mainly talking about their friendship throughout two decades together.
called the song a "classic Spice ballad". NME
had gave it a mixed review, saying "while new ballad ‘Headlines’ is functional but lacks a certain, ahem, zig-a-zig aaaaaaargh."
, becoming the group's first single not to peak inside the top ten, or indeed the top two. Among this, it became a minor hit worldwide.
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" debuted at number forty-two on the Canadian Singles Chart
, only staying in for three weeks in the charts. The song became a very minor hit in that country. The song debuted at number ninety on the U.S. Billboard
Hot 100, only peaking on the charts for one week. The song debuted at number sixty-seven on the Austrian Singles Chart, the group's lowest charting single in that country. The song debuted at number fifty-two on the Dutch Top 40
on the issue date 17 November 2007. The single later slipped to number ninety-three after one week, thus the single became the group's third single to miss the top ten in that country.
In some countries it peaked in some high peaks. On the issue date 15 November 2007, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" debuted at number three on the Swedish Singles Chart, the group's highest single since 1999's Goodbye. The song only stayed on for five weeks. The song peaked at number two in Italy
, becoming a success in that country, staying in for seven weeks. It debuted at number twenty-four in New Zealand
(RadioScope). The song peaked at number six, making it the eleventh and the all the group's tenth top single.
On the October 15, 2007 episode of Dancing With the Stars
, it was confirmed that the Spice Girls would be filming a music video the following week. A world exclusive screening of the video of "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", which launched the run up to Children in Need
Night, aired on BBC One
on Friday November 2.
The video opens on a stately room, with plum colored walls and antique furniture. Emma opens a large, black door and is followed by Geri (marking her first appearance in a Spice Girls music video since "Stop
" in 1998), Victoria, Mel B. and finally Melanie C. The girls are dressed in beautiful gowns throughout the video, presumably designed by Roberto Cavalli
, who designed the costumes for the Return of the Spice Girls tour. Vignettes of the girls singing together and separately are sewn together to create a collage. Fading in and out,the music video ends with the girls combined together although they are at different places. The video was directed by Anthony Mandler
and was filmed at Pinewood Studios
.
Alcazar (band)
Alcazar is a Swedish eurodance group which has established themselves as one of Sweden's most successful music groups with a string of hits since their debut single in 1999. Worldwide, Alcazar sold over 12 million records between 2001 and 2004...
song, see Headlines (song)
Headlines (song)
For the Spice Girls song, see Headlines .For the Drake song, see Headlines ."Headlines" is a song by Swedish pop group Alcazar. The song was an entry in Melodifestivalen 2010 for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, where it reached the "Second Chance" whis was held on March 6, 2010 at Conventum Arena...
.
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" is a song performed by British group the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
. It was released as the only single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the group's compilation
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)
-Background:The plan to reform and release a greatest hits had long been speculated by the media, but its planned release was first confirmed by Melanie Brown in June 2005. Speaking just before a planned reunion for Live 8 , she stated: "We'll get back together because we all want to. I know...
on November 12, 2007. It was also announced it would be the last single from the group until the finishing of their world tour The Return of the Spice Girls
The Return of the Spice Girls
The Return of the Spice Girls was the second Europe-North America concert tour by British girl group the Spice Girls. This reunion tour visited five countries in both North America and Europe. This tour marked the group's first tour since 1999's Christmas in Spiceworld tour of the United Kingdom,...
(2007). The song is the first commercial single release to feature the group's original lineup since Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
left in 1998. Halliwell described the single as a "big love song" and "a Spice Girl classic". Another group member, Melanie Chisholm
Melanie Chisholm
Melanie Jayne Chisholm is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C . She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice"...
in her 2008 appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
announced, that she thought "this song is not good at all" and that at least she was against the release of any new material when the record company was trying to market the Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)
-Background:The plan to reform and release a greatest hits had long been speculated by the media, but its planned release was first confirmed by Melanie Brown in June 2005. Speaking just before a planned reunion for Live 8 , she stated: "We'll get back together because we all want to. I know...
release.
The song was also the official Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
single of 2007. The five-piece performed the song especially for the telethon on November 16, 2007, live from Los Angeles. They also recorded a performance of the song for the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but the performance did not make the televised broadcast of the show.
Background and composition
The song was initially written by Emma BuntonEmma Bunton
Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
and Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
with help from producers, with the other three girls adding later on. Although gossip sites claimed that Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
had a significantly shorter solo than the rest of the girls, a spokesperson denied the accusation, saying that the parts were divided equally. In fact, it is Melanie Brown
Melanie Brown
Melanie Janine "Scary Spice" Brown , often better known as Mel B, is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter...
with an almost non-existent solo part. Her lone solo can be found at the very end, where she sings "'Cause I'm giving it all/Yeah, I'm giving it all to you." Additionally, during the solos of Halliwell and Beckham, Bunton harmonizes and Brown provides backup vocals ("ahhh..."). Along with her solo, Beckham is the only girl to sing in between the second chorus (with the exceptions of the lines "Say you love me and I'll say I love you too" and "Just remember what simple words can do"). Beckham is also the only Spice Girl to sing the song's subtitle of "Friendship never ends."
Musically, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" is a pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
-ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
song, which talks about the group reuniting, mainly talking about their friendship throughout two decades together.
Critical reception
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" has received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic gave it a mixed review, as they said that as well with "Voodoo" were "forgetable and a sleeper hit". He also said "which isn't as self-referential or clever as its title suggests." Talia Kraines from BBC MusicBBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
called the song a "classic Spice ballad". NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
had gave it a mixed review, saying "while new ballad ‘Headlines’ is functional but lacks a certain, ahem, zig-a-zig aaaaaaargh."
Chart performances
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" was the first single released in the UK. The song debuted at number twenty on 17 November 2007. The song later climbed and peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
, becoming the group's first single not to peak inside the top ten, or indeed the top two. Among this, it became a minor hit worldwide.
"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" debuted at number forty-two on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
, only staying in for three weeks in the charts. The song became a very minor hit in that country. The song debuted at number ninety on the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100, only peaking on the charts for one week. The song debuted at number sixty-seven on the Austrian Singles Chart, the group's lowest charting single in that country. The song debuted at number fifty-two on the Dutch Top 40
Dutch Top 40
The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...
on the issue date 17 November 2007. The single later slipped to number ninety-three after one week, thus the single became the group's third single to miss the top ten in that country.
In some countries it peaked in some high peaks. On the issue date 15 November 2007, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" debuted at number three on the Swedish Singles Chart, the group's highest single since 1999's Goodbye. The song only stayed on for five weeks. The song peaked at number two in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, becoming a success in that country, staying in for seven weeks. It debuted at number twenty-four in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(RadioScope). The song peaked at number six, making it the eleventh and the all the group's tenth top single.
Track listing
- CD single
- "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" - 3:28
- "Wannabe" [Soul Seekerz 2007 Mix] - 6:56
Music video
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
, it was confirmed that the Spice Girls would be filming a music video the following week. A world exclusive screening of the video of "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", which launched the run up to Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
Night, aired on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
on Friday November 2.
The video opens on a stately room, with plum colored walls and antique furniture. Emma opens a large, black door and is followed by Geri (marking her first appearance in a Spice Girls music video since "Stop
Stop (Spice Girls song)
"Stop" is a song by the British pop group Spice Girls. It was written by the group members with Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins—the songwriters and production duo known as Absolute—at the same time as the group was filming scenes for their movie Spice World...
" in 1998), Victoria, Mel B. and finally Melanie C. The girls are dressed in beautiful gowns throughout the video, presumably designed by Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer from Florence.-Biography:Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute,...
, who designed the costumes for the Return of the Spice Girls tour. Vignettes of the girls singing together and separately are sewn together to create a collage. Fading in and out,the music video ends with the girls combined together although they are at different places. The video was directed by Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler is a commercial and music video director, who has written and directed music videos for several artists. His most notable and frequent collaborator is Rihanna...
and was filmed at Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
.
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... ) |
67 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... ) |
42 |
| Germany (Media Control Charts Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... ) |
46 |
| Ireland (IRMA International Recording Media Association The International Recording Media Association , previously known as the International Tape Association , is an international trade association dealing with every facet of recording, media and related industries... ) |
29 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 2 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... ) |
52 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 6 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE PROMUSICAE Spanish Music Producers is a trade group representing the Spanish recording industry... ) |
2 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... ) |
3 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot 100 |
90 |