"Mi Chico Latino" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Geri Halliwell | ||||
from the album Schizophonic | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Written | Late 1998 | |||
Released | 16 August 1999 | |||
Genre | Latin pop | |||
Length | 3:15 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Absolute | |||
Geri Halliwell singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Mi Chico Latino" on YouTube |
"Mi Chico Latino" (English: "My Latin Boy"), is a song 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 that 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.
"Mi Chico Latino" received mixed reviews from music critics, who noted it was a contribution to the Latin pop phenom at the time, while others criticized Halliwell's Spanish pronunciation. The song was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Halliwell's first number-one solo single in the country. The song also attracted some moderate success worldwide. "Mi Chico Latino"'s accompanying music video was directed by Doug Nichol and filmed on the island of Sardinia. It depicts the singer wearing a black bikini and dancing with semi-nude male dancers on a boat. In order to promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops and Party in the Park in 1999.
"Mi Chico Latino" was written by Halliwell, Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson in late 1998. The singer wanted to make a song with Spanish influences, in order to pay homage for her Spanish mother. During a day in the studio, they came up with a melody but did not have any words. Then she called her mother for help. [1] Halliwell recalled asking her, "Mum, what do you say to a bloke in Spanish if you fancy him and are being romantic?" Her mother then said she did not remember that. So she asked her look at her library of Spanish language romances, and she read the titles out to Halliwell. Eventually she came out with "¿Dónde está el hombre con fuego en la sangre?" ("Where is the man with fire in his blood?" in English), and she liked the way it sounded and included the line at the beginning of the song. After "Look at Me" peaked at number two, her record company wanted her to release "Lift Me Up", while the Absolute team wanted "Bag It Up", but she chose to release "Mi Chico Latino" after receiving good reception from children. [1] She also thought,
"First and foremost I thought it was a good record. It was poppy and catchy and perfect for the summer. I think my core audience is young teenage girls and gay guys. Both of those groups tend to like pure pop music and I think that's what 'Chico' was. It was very different from the slightly leftfield style of 'Look at Me'. [...] The other thing that 'Chico' had going for it was that the music was Latin-based, I had written the song back in 1998 but by the time the summer of 1999 came around Latin-influenced music was ruling the charts. Ricky Martin had recently had a number one and there were others on the way. So it was a strange example of synchronicity that I should be ready to go with a Latin track which I had written almost a year before". [1]
"Mi Chico Latino" is a Latin pop song that moves at a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute. [2] [3] At the beginning of the song, Halliwell chants the spoken word line "¿Dónde está el hombre con fuego en la sangre?" (which translates to Where is the man with fire in the blood?). [4] The lyrics to the song are centred on a lost love theme, with castanets in the background. [3] During the song, the singer also sings in Italian on its chorus, when everything else is Spanish. [3] According to biographer David Sinclair in his book Spice Girls Revisited: How The Spice Girls Reinvented Pop, Halliwell continued to explore the Riviera-pop theme of her former group's song, "Viva Forever", whilst "murmuring sweet nothings in a peculiar brand of estuary Spanish while castanets and timbales clattered alongside a cod-flamenco guitar". [5]
In 1999 Ishtar, the Israeli lead singer of Alabina, said "Mi Chico Latino" was plagiarized from her song "Alabina (De La Noche A La Manana)", released the year before. A spokesman for Alabina's French record label Atal said that they were "anxiously contacting" Halliwell's record label about the songs' similarities. However, no legal actions were made. [6]
"Mi Chico Latino" received mixed reviews from music critics. Jon Perks, whilst reviewing Schizophonic for Sunday Mercury , gave a positive review, stating, "Okay, so it sounds like a hybrid of La Vida Loca and Madonna's La Isla Bonita, but with a swimming-costumed Geri on the cover and a summery tune, it's a winning combination". [7] Chris Charles from BBC News commented that "Mi Chico Latino" could be mistaken with "Spice Up Your Life", Halliwell's previous hit with the Spice Girls. [8] The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen felt that it "is an odd selection for a single". [9] Jonathan O'Brien from Hot Press magazine was negative, stating that "Mi Chico Latino" was "a dreadful pastiche of Madonna's 'La Isla Bonita'". [10] For Russell Baillie from The New Zealand Herald , Halliwell spends time on the album "flashing her eyelashes at [menfolk], especially if they're foreign", calling the song "glutinous". [11] According to Rolling Stone , "Mi Chico Latino" was her "impeccably timed contribution to the Latin-pop phenom, complete with awkwardly pronounced Spanglish". [12]
"Mi Chico Latino" was released in the United Kingdom on 16 August 1999 as two CD singles and a cassette single. [13] The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 22 August 1999, selling 132,000 copies in its first week, [14] becoming Halliwell's first number-one solo single in the country. [15] It also was the beginning of a sequence of four consecutive Halliwell singles reaching number one in the United Kingdom. [4] It spent fifteen weeks in the charts, [16] and went on to sell over 400,000 copies in the UK and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). [17] "Mi Chico Latino" experienced moderate success in other European markets. In Austria, it entered the singles chart at number 34, eventually peaking at number 27 and spending a total of eight weeks on the chart. [18] In France, the song peaked at number 40, remaining on the chart for ten weeks in total. [19] On the Swiss Singles Chart dated 19 September 1999, it peaked at number 26. [20] In Australia, "Mi Chico Latino" was released on 23 August 1999 and debuted at its peak of number 43 on the ARIA Singles Chart on the issue dated 5 September 1999. [21] [22] In the United States, the song was serviced to contemporary hit radio on 21 September 1999 and peaked at number 19 on Billboard 's Dance Club Play chart. [23] [24]
The accompanying music video for "Mi Chico Latino" was directed by Doug Nichol and filmed in Sardinia from 5–8 July 1999. [1] [25] Halliwell wanted the video for the song to be very different in style to her previous single "Look at Me", as that one was filmed in Prague in the freezing cold, and she wanted something to connect with her fans. According to her, the video was also pretty easy to get: "a yacht, a girl in a bikini and some wicked boy dancers to keep both sets of fans [gay guys and teenage girls] happy". After the video was released, the singer got a huge amount of attention from it. "People came up to me and told me how great and how sexy it was. They also told me I looked really healthy, but how wrong they were. I wasn't healthy because I wasn't eating properly and although I was slim at the time, that was a mirage too because the tough regime of the diet was always going to lead me to binge and put the weight back on", and later, she began taking recovery meetings for bulimia. [1]
Halliwell first performed "Mi Chico Latino" as the opening number at her show held at G-A-Y nightclub. According to Brian Logan from The Guardian , the performance "served only to stress" her certain brand of pop, referring to it as "Madonna-lite." [26] Halliwell also performed the single in front of 100,000 fans at Party in the Park event in early July 1999. [6] On 26 August 1999, the singer performed the song on Top of the Pops . [27] On 8 July 2001, whist promoting her second album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster , she performed the song again on Party in the Park. [28]
UK CD1 and European maxi-CD single [29]
UK CD2 single [30]
European CD single [31]
| Australian maxi-CD single [32]
French CD single [33]
Italian 12-inch single [34]
|
Credits and personnel are adapted from Schizophonic album liner notes. [35]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [17] | Gold | 391,500 [55] |
Geraldine Estelle Halliwell-Horner is an English singer, songwriter, television personality, author, and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Ginger Spice. 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 for a greatest hits album (2007) and two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World (2019).
"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" 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.
Schizophonic is the debut solo studio album by British pop singer Geri Halliwell. The album was released in June 1999, after her 1998 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.
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.
"Kids" is a duet between singers Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, released on 9 October 2000 as the second single from Williams' third studio album, Sing When You're Winning, and as the third single from Minogue's seventh studio album, Light Years.
"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.
"Angel of Mine" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal from their first compilation album, Greatest Hits (1997). It was written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, produced by Lawrence, and released on 29 September 1997. The song became Eternal's 12th and final top-10 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four. "Angel of Mine" was the ensemble's final single as a three-piece, as after its release, Kéllé Bryan left the group. In June 2019, "Angel of Mine" was ranked at number 91 on the Official Charts Company's "Top 100 Girl Band Singles of the Last 25 Years".
"Lift Me Up" is a song 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 Records. It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, winning the chart battle against fellow Spice Girls member Emma Bunton's "What I Am" by 30,000 copies. To promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops, Pepsi Chart, Musica Si and National Lottery.
"Look at Me" is the debut solo single by British singer Geri Halliwell from her debut solo studio album, Schizophonic (1999). It was written by Halliwell in collaboration with Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, members of the Absolute production duo, who also produced the track. The song was released on 10 May 1999 in the United Kingdom by EMI Records as the lead single from Schizophonic. Musically, "Look at Me" is a jazz-pop song featuring a nine-piece brass section, while the autobiographical lyrics depict Halliwell demanding the attention of everyone around her.
"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.
"Scream If You Wanna Go Faster" is a song by British singer Geri Halliwell from her second album of the same name (2001). It was released on 30 July 2001 as the second single from the album by EMI Records. Written by Halliwell and Rick Nowels on the day of her first recovery meeting for bulimia, she described the song as "the things I did to avoid staying still and deal with my seemings". It is Halliwell's most rock-based song to date, and was inspired by her listening to Led Zeppelin the previous summer as encouraged by close friend Robbie Williams.
"Calling" is a song by British singer Geri Halliwell. It was written by Halliwell and Peter-John Vettese for her second album, Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (2001), while production was helmed by Stephen Lipson. The song was released as the third and final single from the album. Just like Halliwell's previous single, "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster", the success for "Calling" was limited. In certain regions, the song was released in a French version, called "Au nom de l'amour". To promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops, Top of the Pops Germany, CD:UK, Children in Need 2001, Blue Peter, This Morning and the Pepsi Chart.
"Desire" is a song by English singer Geri Halliwell from her third solo studio album, Passion (2005). The song was written by Henrik Korpi, Mathias Wollo, Terry Ronald and Halliwell, and produced by Korpi & Blackcell. "Desire" metaphorically describes the persona as a feline with sexual desires.
"Sleeping Satellite" is a song by British singer-songwriter Tasmin Archer, released in September 1992 by EMI and SBK as the first single from her debut album, Great Expectations (1992). The song was written by Archer with John Beck and John Hughes, and produced by Julian Mendelsohn and Paul Wickens. It received favorable reviews from music critics and became an international hit. "Sleeping Satellite" peaked at number one in the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, and Israel, and reached the top 20 in 13 other countries, as well as numbers 32 and 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 in June 1993. There were two different music videos produced to promote the single.
"June Afternoon" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released in January 1996 as the second single from their second greatest hits compilation album, Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits (1995). The single was only released in Europe, Australia, and Canada, peaking at number one in the Czech Republic and within the top 40 in numerous territories. Its accompanying music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund.
"Again" is a song by American singer Faith Evans. It was written by Ivan Barias, Carvin Haggins, and Evans for her fourth studio album The First Lady (2005), while production was helmed by Barias and Haggins under their production moniker Carvin & Ivan. It contains a sample from "Genuine" by American 1970s soul group the Whatnauts. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Jerry Harris and Venus Dodson are also credited as songwriters. "Again" addresses Evans's 2004 arrest for drug possession.
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.
"In Walked Love" is a song by the American girl group Exposé. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, the song can be found on the group's 1992 album Exposé, their third studio album. Lead vocals on the pop ballad were performed by Ann Curless. The song features Al Pitrelli as guest guitarist. In 1996, British singer Louise covered the song and reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart with her rendition.
"Tequila" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision, written by the band and Chuck Rio and produced by Scottish musician Edwyn Collins. The song originally appeared on the band's fourth studio album, Shaving Peaches (1998), and was released as the album's second single on 18 January 1999. For the single release, English music producer Mint Royale remixed the track. These remixes were heavily championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zoe Ball, allowing the song to reach number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Terrorvision's highest-charting song in the UK. In 1999, the song won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.
"Perseverance" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision, written by the band and produced by Gil Norton. Recorded at Parkgate Studios in Battle, England, it is the third track on their third studio album, Regular Urban Survivors (1996). The band's frontman, Tony Wright, composed the music by stitching together several guitar riffs and penned the lyric based on his personal opinions and experiences, including a line about whales and dolphins that has resounded with audiences.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)