If Only (book)

Last updated
If Only
GeriIfOnly.jpg
Author Geri Halliwell
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Subject Geri Halliwell
Genre Biography
Publisher Delacorte Press
Publication date
19 October 1999
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages400
ISBN 0-385-33475-3

If Only is an autobiography by English singer Geri Halliwell, chronicling her own life. The book was released on 19 October 1999, by Delacorte Press in the United Kingdom. If Only chronicles the singer's rise to international fame as a member of the Spice Girls, while also documenting her struggle to overcome the eating disorder bulimia and her breast cancer. She found the experience of committing her memories to paper "cathartic", and reckons the result is "a real honest, emotional story". [1]

Halliwell donated US$804,000 she received as an advance for the book to the charity Breast Cancer Care, a London-based organization that provides information and services for those affected by breast cancer and their families. [2] The book topped the best-sellers list and sold over 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom alone as of 2000. [3]

Related Research Articles

Spice Girls British girl group

The Spice Girls are a British girl group formed in 1994. The group comprises Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B, Melanie Chisholm, or Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham. With their "girl power" mantra, the Spice Girls redefined the girl group concept by targeting a young female fanbase. They led the teen pop resurgence of the 1990s, were a major part of the Cool Britannia era, and became pop culture icons of the decade.

Emma Bunton English singer

Emma Lee Bunton is an English singer, actress, and media personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the group became the best-selling female group of all time.

Geri Halliwell English singer

Geraldine Estelle Horner, is an English singer, songwriter, author, actress, and philanthropist. She rose to prominence in the 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time. Their slogan "girl power" was most closely associated with Halliwell, and her Union Jack dress from the 1997 Brit Awards also became an enduring symbol. Halliwell left the Spice Girls in 1998, citing exhaustion and creative differences, but rejoined when they reunited in 2007.

Mel B British singer, actress and TV personality

Melanie Janine Brown is an English singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Scary Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the group became the best-selling female group of all time.

Its Raining Men 1982 single by the Weather Girls

"It's Raining Men" is a song by the American musical duo the Weather Girls from their third studio album Success (1983). It was released as the album's lead single on September 10, 1982, through Columbia Records and CBS Records International. Paul Jabara wrote the song in collaboration with Paul Shaffer, and produced the song in collaboration with Bob Esty. "It's Raining Men" is a Hi-NRG and post-disco that incorporates elements of R&B, soul, and 1970s-style electronic dance music. Its lyrics describe an excitement and enjoyment of many different types of men.

<i>Schizophonic</i> (Geri Halliwell album) 1999 studio album by Geri Halliwell

Schizophonic is the debut studio album by pop singer Geri Halliwell. The album was released after her split from popular girl group the Spice Girls. The term schizophonic is a portmanteau of the Greek words schizo and phonic ("sound"), and also seemingly a play on the word "schizophrenic" and the musical term "schizophonia". This was the first solo album released by a Spice Girl.

<i>Scream If You Wanna Go Faster</i> 2001 studio album by Geri Halliwell

Scream If You Wanna Go Faster is the second studio album by British singer Geri Halliwell, released on 14 May 2001 by EMI Records. Following the commercial success of her solo debut album Schizophonic two years before, the singer began working on its follow-up with producers such as Gregg Alexander, Rick Nowels, Stephen Lipson, as well as previous collaborators, the duo Absolute. The album's artwork depicting Halliwell on roller skates, holding onto the back of a car, was criticised by road safety organisations, who said the singer was setting a wrong example to children.

Kelly Price American singer

Kelly Price is an American R&B and gospel singer. She started her singing career in 1992. Price was on several hit singles by other R&B, hip hop and soul artists, including "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G., "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey and "Feel So Good" by Mase.

Goodbye (Spice Girls song) 1998 single by Spice Girls

"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 16 November 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.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Non-profit organization

Susan G. Komen is a breast cancer organization in the United States.

Lift Me Up (Geri Halliwell song) 1999 single by Geri Halliwell

"Lift Me Up" is a song recorded by English singer Geri Halliwell for her debut solo album, Schizophonic (1999). It was written by Halliwell, Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, whilst produced by the latter two, who are known collectively as Absolute. "Lift Me Up" was released as the album's third single on 1 November 1999, by EMI. It debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart, winning the chart battle against fellow Spice Girls member Emma Bunton's "What I Am" by 33,000 copies. To promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops, Pepsi Chart, Musica Si and National Lottery.

Look at Me (Geri Halliwell song) Geri Halliwell single

"Look at Me" is a song by British singer Geri Halliwell, who recorded and released it after leaving Spice Girls. Written and composed in collaboration by Halliwell, Paul Wilson, and Andy Watkins, it was released on 10 May 1999 as the first single from Halliwell's debut solo album, Schizophonic. It peaked at number one in New Zealand, number two in the United Kingdom and number three in Australia and Ireland. To promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops, Party in the Park, Wetten Dass, Tickled Pink, Tapis Rouge, Musica Si, Festival Bar 1999, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Graine de Star and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Mi Chico Latino Geri Halliwell single

"Mi Chico Latino", is a song recorded by English singer Geri Halliwell for her debut solo album Schizophonic (1999). It was written by Halliwell, Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, whilst produced by the latter two, who are known collectively as Absolute. "Mi Chico Latino" was released as the album's second single on 16 August 1999 by EMI Records. It is a Latin pop song which is centred on a lost love theme. The song was written by Halliwell in order to pay homage to her mother, who has Spanish background, whilst it also has a number of Spanish lyrics.

Bag It Up 2000 single by Geri Halliwell

"Bag It Up" is a song recorded by British singer and songwriter Geri Halliwell for her debut solo album Schizophonic (1999). It was written by Halliwell, Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson and produced by Absolute. It was released as the fourth and final single from Schizophonic on 13 March 2000, by EMI Records, and topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming Halliwell's third consecutive number-one single in the UK.

Before I Say Goodbye is a book by Ruth Picardie. Compiled and edited by her sister and husband, it uses Picardie's newspaper columns and correspondence to tell the story of her life with breast cancer, to which she succumbed in September 1997.

Geri Halliwell discography

The discography of Geri Halliwell, an English pop music singer, contains three studio albums, nine singles, and ten music videos. In 1999, Halliwell launched her solo career and released her debut album Schizophonic, with the lead single "Look at Me", produced by Absolute "Look at Me" would go on to sell over one million copies worldwide followed by further number ones at the UK Singles Chart "Mi Chico Latino", "Lift Me Up" and "Bag It Up". "Look at Me" was released to radio in the United States in late 1999, receiving limited airplay. With only a radio single, Schizophonic debuted at number forty-two on the Billboard 200 before dropping out within the next month. The album was eventually certified Gold, distributing over 500,000 copies. "Mi Chico Latino" did not have a big impact on American radio, and no further singles from Schizophonic or albums were released in the United States.

Ugenia Lavender

Ugenia Lavender is the title character in a series of children's novels written by Geri Halliwell, who achieved fame as a member of the Spice Girls and as a solo singer-songwriter before deciding to pursue a career as an author. Halliwell began writing the books in 2004. Macmillan Children's Books announced that Halliwell had signed a contract to write six books featuring the character on 12 April 2007.

The 1997 Brit Awards were the 17th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 24 February 1997 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.

Union Jack dress Dress consisting of the Union Jack worn by Geri Halliwell

The Union Jack dress was an item of clothing worn by singer Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls at the 1997 Brit Awards. The mini dress featured a flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack, on the front, and a white CND symbol emblazoned on the black-coloured back of the dress. The next day the images of the dress made the front page of various newspapers around the world, and is now remembered as one of the most iconic pop moments of the 1990s and Brit Awards history. The dress has become synonymous with the Spice Girls, Halliwell and the notions of Girl Power, and Cool Britannia.

Half of Me 2013 single by Geri Halliwell

"Half of Me" is a song by British singer-songwriter Geri Halliwell. It was released on 25 October 2013 by Sony Music Australia. The song marked as Halliwell's first single release in eight years since her 2005 single "Desire".

References

  1. "Geri's 'folk tale' life story". BBC News. 13 October 1999. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. Basham, David (15 September 1999). "Geri Halliwell To Donate Book Royalties To Cancer Charity". MTV News . Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  3. "Spicy memoirs attract big book deal". CNN. 19 October 2000. Retrieved 11 September 2020.