Holler (Spice Girls song)
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox song "Holler" is a song by British girl group Spice Girls, from their third studio album, Forever (2000). It was written by the group, with additional writing by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels and Fred Jerkins III, with Darkchild also serving as the producer. The track was released on 23 October 2000 in the United Kingdom by Virgin Records as the lead single from Forever, as a double A-side single with "Let Love Lead the Way"; the group had previously premiered the song on their official website on 11 September. "Holler" is an R&B and dance song, depicting a departure from the group's past bubblegum pop works. Lyrically, it consists of the members singing "come-ons" to a male.
"Holler" received mixed reviews from music critics; while some complimented the song's production and the Spice Girls' vocals, others found it too similar to works by Destiny's Child, Sister Sledge and TLC and thought it was too different from the group's previous sounds. The song was a commercial success, topping the UK Singles Chart and becoming the band's ninth number-one single in the region. This gave the Spice Girls the record for being the girl group with the most number-one singles. Internationally, it was also commercially successful, peaking inside the top ten in countries such as Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and Spain. In the United States, it did not reach the Billboard Hot 100, but managed to reach number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
The music video for "Holler" was directed by Jake Nava, and filmed around the same time as the video for "Let Love Lead the Way". It depicted the girls playing one of the four elements each, with them also appearing together inside a glass pyramid. The song was promoted by the Spice Girls with performances on British televised shows such as SMTV Live, CD:UK, and Top of the Pops, as well as on the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards in Stockholm, Sweden. "Holler" was performed on three of their concert tours, Christmas in Spiceworld Tour (1999), The Return of the Spice Girls Tour (2007–08) and the Spice World - 2019 Tour (2019).
Background and release
After finishing the Spiceworld Tour in September 1998 and releasing their single "Goodbye" in December, the Spice Girls went into a hiatus period, during which the members of the group focused on their personal lives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group resumed work on their third studio album, Forever, in August 1999.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> They recruited American recording producers such as Rodney Jerkins and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to work on the album; the former was signed up to give the project a "tougher" sound.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=philly>Template:Cite news</ref> He stated that he hoped to bring an "urban, danceable" feel to the project, with "a little harder" beats, while still maintaining a pop appeal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Darkchild traveled to London to work with the group, and together they wrote three songs in five days; the producer also revealed that although he knew he had scheduled recording sessions with them 10 months beforehand, he did not write anything before meeting the girls in London. He also revealed that "everybody I've been playing them for can't believe it's the Spice Girls".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The girls embarked on the brief Christmas in Spiceworld Tour in December 1999, where they debuted three new tracks recorded for Forever, "Right Back at Ya", "W.O.M.A.N." and "Holler", known at the time as "Holler Holler".<ref name=christmas/><ref name=albumism/> In May 2000, member Melanie Chisholm told Heat magazine that the lead single from Forever would be a ballad titled "Let Love Lead the Way" and would be released in August;<ref name="heat">Template:Cite web</ref> however, months later, a representative for the group stated that the first single had not been chosen yet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Finally, in late July, Chisholm confirmed to BBC Radio 1 that the lead single would be a double A-side of "Let Love Lead the Way" and "Holler",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with the latter being available for streaming through the band's official website on 11 September.<ref name="streaming">Template:Cite web</ref> The girls wrote on their official website that the decision was made because they "love[d] both just as much as each other and couldn't decide which to release [first]".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was released in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2000 as a CD and cassette single.<ref name="uksingle">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Holler" was later sent to US contemporary hit radio on 24 October 2000.<ref name="uschr">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Composition
Template:Listen "Holler" was recorded in September 1999 at Sarm Hook End and Whitfield Street Studios in London, United Kingdom by Brad Gilderman, who also provided audio mixing for the track.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref><ref name="notes"/> It was written by the members of the group along with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels and Fred Jerkins III. Production was handled by Darkchild, while vocal production was done by LaShawn Daniels.<ref name="notes"/> Mason Jr. was in charge of the Pro Tools for the track, whereas Dave Russell and Ian Robertson served as assistants during its production.<ref name="notes"/> "Holler" was mixed at Larrabee North Studios in Los Angeles, California, by Gilderman and Darkchild, while being mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, along with all other tracks present on Forever.<ref name="notes"/>
Musically, "Holler" is an R&B and dance song,<ref name=dot1/><ref name=newsbbc>Template:Cite news</ref> representing a shift from the previous bubblegum pop works from the group, transitioning into a more mature and sexier sound.<ref name=ew2>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=philstar>Template:Cite web</ref> Quentin Harrison from Albumism also noted a "contemporaneous electronic sheen" into its composition.<ref name=albumism>Template:Cite web</ref> The track also contains vocoder effects on the vocals.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Subscription required</ref> It starts with Darkchild's voice announcing, "Spice Girls, Darkchild, 2000";<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he became the first male vocalist to be featured on a Spice Girls track.<ref name=freaky/><ref name=standard>Template:Cite web</ref> During the song, the members sing "come-ons" to a male, with lyrics such as "Let me take you into my fantasy room" and "I wanna make you holler, and hear you scream my name".<ref name=standard/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> At one point, Chisholm sings "I want to make you do things you thought you'd never do".<ref name=washington/> Luke Abrahams for the London Evening Standard commented on the lyrical content, "Geri [Halliwell] was gone, and so was all the subtlety."<ref name=standard/> According to BillboardTemplate:'s Chuck Taylor, "each of the girls is given the chance to shine" on the song.<ref name=billboard/> Emma Bunton commented on "Holler"'s production:
"[I]t's a real dance track that everyone can groove to. Then, as soon as you hear our voices and our melodies, you can tell straight away that it's the Spice Girls, and that is what we wanted to achieve. We wanted to make it funkier, and we're all grown up [...] But we still wanted it to have a Spice-y feel, and I think it's definitely worked out well."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Critical reception
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Upon its release, "Holler" received mixed reviews from music critics. Taylor highlighted the quality and confidence of the members' vocals, as well as the "bold, saucy attitude evident here that's more convincing than in the past." He also complimented the "swift, clever, kicky" production.<ref name=billboard>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Craig Seymour of Entertainment Weekly gave the track a B− rating, writing that the girls "sound like they really, really wanna be Destiny's Child" on the song. Seymour also praised "its charms", praising the "easy yet funky groove, their exaggerated British accents", as well as Darkchild's "familiar slapping, kinetic beats". He also called it "their most compelling reason to dance" since their single "Say You'll Be There" (1996).<ref name=ew>Template:Cite news</ref> Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic simply picked the song as one of the best from Forever.<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> According to Jackson Langford from MTV Australia, "Holler" was "easily the biggest surprise the Spice Girls ever managed to pull off", but it "feels so far apart from what fans are used to", although being "at least somewhat enjoyable".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Similarly, Julia Jafaar from the New Straits Times wrote, "Those who have heard the hit single, Holler, from the new album, would probably attest that the music arrangement and style" were atypical of the group and its previous hits.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jenny North from Dotmusic considered the track "slick, fun, as catchy as crabs and the girls are sounding sexier than ever before", predicting it would "lodge itself in your head with the rest of their back catalogue" after a few listens.<ref name=dot1>Template:Cite web</ref> Writing for the same website, Cyd Jaymes wrote that "Holler" and "Let Love Lead The Way" were the best songs on Forever "by a country mile", but they still did not "deserve to be singles".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Whitney Matheson of USA Today called it similar to the works of Sister Sledge, Destiny's Child and Nu Shooz songs, writing that, "while the No Scrubs-y vibe briefly tempted me to shout a dirty word and bare my navel, styrofoam phrases such as 'Don't be afraid to play my game' are more Teletubby than T-Boz."<ref name=usatoday>Template:Cite news</ref> Arion Berger of The Washington Post compared the track to "catching your little sister making out with some guy at the mall".<ref name=washington>Template:Cite news</ref> In a review for the album, the Lincoln Journal Star staff considered that "attempts at uptempo, funky sounds" such as "Holler" "fall flat almost instantly".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Retrospective reviews for the single have also been mixed. Will Stroude of Attitude considered the track "funky, attitude-filled", but acknowledged that retrospective reviews of the song "haven’t always been kind, but they make the mistake of defining the era based on the cultural craze that had come before, rather than taking it on its own terms", but asserted that "connoisseurs know that ‘Holler’ still slaps almost two decades later."<ref name=attitude>Template:Cite web</ref> While reviewing their Greatest Hits album, Nick Levine of Digital Spy stated that "Jerkins' slick, stuttering R&B numbers" from Forever, which included "Holler", failed to capitalise on the group's "very British sense of mischief".<ref name=digitalspy>Template:Cite news</ref> According to The GuardianTemplate:'s Alexis Petridis, Jerkins was a "great signing" as producer, although his "more avant tendencies" were "hemmed in by the necessity of making Spice Girls records with direct pop appeal"; hence, he described "Holler" as "serviceable, rather than thrilling".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dom Passantino of Stylus Magazine rated the single 3/10, saying the song is his "personal pick for the worst production job in musical history, ol' Darkchild took the most unique, epoch-defining, cultural maelstrom of a group he could find, and turned them into a facsimile of Fanmail-era TLC."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tom Ewing of e-zine Freaky Trigger said the song "shifts and shuffles in a competent, modish way", but criticized the group and the producer for "not trying to change any games". He also described the intro as sounding dated: "Like 'Holler' needed to sound any more 2000."<ref name=freaky>Template:Cite web</ref>
Chart performance
On 24 October 2000, early sales figures reported that "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way" was set to debut at number one on the UK Singles Chart, selling 31,000 copies during the first day on sale.<ref name=newsbbc/> On 29 October 2000, the song debuted at the top of the charts, selling 106,000 copies on its first week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With this feat, the Spice Girls became the first female group to have nine number-one singles, sharing the same amount with ABBA.<ref name=newsbbc/><ref name=newsbbc2>Template:Cite news</ref> They were placed only behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and Madonna overall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song also became Chisholm's 11th number-one single as a songwriter in the region, making her the female artist with more number ones than any other in chart history at the time. She remains the only female performer to top the charts as a solo artist, as part of a duo, quartet and quintet.<ref name=peermusic>Template:Cite web</ref> The single stayed at number one for one week, remaining inside the chart for 21 weeks,<ref name=uksinglesbyname/> and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) only four days after it was released, on 27 October 2000.<ref name="bpi"/> As of May 2019, it has sold 287,000 copies in the United Kingdom, becoming their 10th biggest selling single in the region.<ref name="uksales"/>
Around the world, "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way" was also successful. In Europe, it reached number two on the Eurochart Hot 100;<ref name="BB-2000-11-18"/> and reached number one in Scotland;<ref name="sco"/> peaked inside the top ten in countries such as Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Spain;<ref name="BB-2000-11-18"/><ref name="den"/><ref name="fin"/><ref name="ire"/><ref name="ita"/> and inside the top twenty in Belgium's Walloon region, Germany and the Netherlands.<ref name="wal"/><ref name="ger"/><ref name="dut"/> In Oceania, the release entered at its peak of number two on Australia's ARIA Charts, staying there for another week, becoming their highest charting-single in the country since "Viva Forever" (1998). It remained on the chart for 15 weeks,<ref name="AUS chart"/> and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).<ref name="auscert"/> In New Zealand, "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way" debuted at number 47 on the charts, remaining for another week at the position. The following weeks, it rose to its peak of number two, becoming the band's 10th consecutive top-10 single,<ref name="NZ chart"/> and was certified gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).<ref name="nzcert"/>
"Holler" was released separately from "Let Love Lead the Way" in Canada. It debuted at number two on the chart compiled by Nielsen Soundscan, only behind the Backstreet Boys' "Shape of My Heart", whereas "Let Love Lead the Way" peaked at number five the same week.<ref name="canada"/> On the RPM magazine's chart, the song managed to reach number 12, until publication was ceased in November 2000.<ref name=rpm/> In the United States, the track peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, an extension of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.<ref name=bubbling/> "Holler" additionally reached numbers 31 and 40 on the Dance Club Songs and Rhythmic charts, compiled by Billboard.<ref name=dancechart/><ref name=rhythmicchart/>
Music video
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The music video for "Holler" was filmed at the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England, during July 2000, and was directed by Jake Nava.<ref name=yahoo>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=rockol>Template:Cite web</ref> It was filmed around the same time as the music video for "Let Love Lead the Way".<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Before its release, Chisholm revealed that the girls would play one of the four elements each – water, air, fire and earth – in both videos: "We liked the theme coz' we’re all so different and we all come together and make the Spice Girls and the elements come together to make the earth."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For her part, Brown described the visual as "very, very futuristic and it's very funky. We had a great time doing it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The clip first premiered through the Spice Girls' official website on 11 September 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before airing on television for the first time through MuchMusic the following day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The video begins zooming into a seemingly glass pyramid where the four girls are dancing on a square platform in a circle. Melanie Brown represents fire as she sits in a dark room with fire rolling along the floor. Chisholm is seen levitating above cracked mud inside a room with wooden walls as the floor blooms into plant life, representing earth. Bunton wears a short blue dress with a white coat, while dancing in a blue room under water with reflections bouncing off the walls. Finally, Victoria Beckham, who embodies the element of air, is seen inside a wind tunnel playing with shiny prisms as they are blown by. All the girls are then seen together in the pyramid watching their respective male dancers – who are seen in each of their solo shots – dancing on the square platform. At the end of the video, the group embrace in a hug.
Rockol website commented that "the four put aside striped trousers and improbable outfits with preposterous colors to focus, also in this case, on black and above all on sexy winks and at least naughty necklines."<ref name=rockol/> According to Mark Elliott from Yahoo! Music, it "suggests much of what might have proved a fascinating new musical direction if the band hadn’t taken a lengthy break after the album’s release."<ref name=yahoo/> Niellah Arboine of Bustle noted that "it all feels a bit more grown. Mel B’s gone blonde, Emma’s not in pink, and can we take a moment to appreciate Victoria Beckham with long hair in a white jumpsuit and sunglasses getting Matrix-style blown around in a wind tunnel?".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> John Dingwall from the Daily Record compared the video to works by Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, as the group "squeezed into leather and looking mean and moody".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The clip received the "Worst Video" prize at the 2000 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was ripped off in the music video for Nawal El Zoghbi's song "Elli Tmaneito" (2002), which was called "a total copycat" of "Holler".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Live performances
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The group first performed "Holler" on their Christmas in Spiceworld tour in December 1999, as one of the songs to be included on their then-upcoming third studio album.<ref name=christmas>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was later performed at the 2000 Brit Awards and was excluded from the TV broadcast due to technical problems arising during the performance but the song was heard on the live radio broadcast.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> During the ceremony, the Spice Girls received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In order to promote Forever, the group performed it on British televised shows such as SMTV Live, Top of the Pops and CD:UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also performed the track at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards on 16 November 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden; before the performance, Chisholm declared that it could be their last appearance together before going on a hiatus to focus on their solo careers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the number, the group wore leather outfits, ending with them going through the floor with large orange pyrotechnic flames blazing up.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Spice Girls performed the song on their first reunion tour, The Return of the Spice Girls Tour in 2007 and 2008. They were dressed in dominatrix leather outfits, and had their dancers on leashes, on their knees. Jon Pareles from The New York Times considered the performance the "raciest stage moment" of the show,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while according to Chicago TribuneTemplate:'s Alison Bonaguro, the number "took things too far with the Spice Girls dressed in black leather and the dancers in collars and leashes."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Though Halliwell had returned to the group at this point, she did not take part in the performance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For their second reunion tour, the Spice World - 2019 Tour, "Holler" was performed with elements of "Sound Off"; it also marked the first time Halliwell performed the song live with the group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Holly Williams from The Independent reacted negatively to the number, saying it reminds "why they stopped making music". She also called a "real misstep" when "over a marching band (very budget Beyoncé) they revive their old chant 'we know how we got this far/strength and courage in a Wonderbra'. As a vision of feminism, this maybe – maybe – passed muster in the Nineties, but sounds woefully out of step in 2019".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Track listings
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- UK CD 1 / Australian CD 2<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
- "Holler" Template:Small – 3:55
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small – 4:15
- "Holler" Template:Small – 8:30
- "Holler" Template:Small – 4:11
- Japanese CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
- "Holler" Template:Small – 3:55
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small – 4:15
- "Holler" Template:Small – 4:11
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small – 4:14
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small
- Digital EP<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Holler" Template:Small – 3:55
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small – 4:15
- "Holler" Template:Small – 8:30
- "Holler" Template:Small – 8:30
- Digital EP (MAW Remixes)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Holler" Template:Small – 7:10
- "Holler" Template:Small – 3:12
- "Holler" Template:Small – 6:46
- "Holler" Template:Small – 7:15
- European CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
- "Holler" Template:Small – 3:55
- "Let Love Lead the Way" Template:Small – 4:15
- UK 12-inch single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
- A1. "Holler" Template:Small – 8:30
- A2. "Holler" Template:Small – 3:12
- B1. "Holler" Template:Small – 7:10
- B2. "Holler" Template:Small – 6:46
- C1. "Holler" Template:Small – 8:30
- C2. "Holler" Template:Small – 7:15
Credits and personnel
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Spice Girls – lyrics, vocals
- David Adams - Backing vocals
- Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins – lyrics, production, audio mixing
- LaShawn Daniels – lyrics, vocal production
- Fred Jerkins III – lyrics
- Harvey Mason Jr – Pro Tools
- Brad Gilderman – recorder, audio mixing
- Dave Russell – assistant
- Ian Robertson – assistant
Published by Rodney Jerkins Productions, EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Fred Jerkins Music Publishing, Famous Music Corp and EMI Music Publishing (WP) Ltd.<ref name="notes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
Charts
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Weekly charts
| Chart (2000–2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref name="canada">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 2 |
| Croatia International Airplay (HRT)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)<ref name=den>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 4 |
| El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón)<ref name="h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx">Template:Cite web</ref> | 6 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref name="BB-2000-11-18">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 2 |
| Greece (IFPI)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 5 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 20)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | 4 |
| Latvia (Latvijas Top 30)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 18 |
| Poland (Polish Singles Chart)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 |
| Portugal (AFP)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 3 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref name="rt100">Template:Cite web</ref> | 4 |
| Spain (AFYVE)<ref name="BB-2000-11-18"/> | 5 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 61 |
| Brazil (Crowley)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 30 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | 79 |
| Ireland (IRMA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 78 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref name="rt100"/> | 54 |
| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 57 |
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 156 |
Certifications
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 11 September 2000 | Streaming | Virgin | Template:Center |
| Germany | 23 October 2000 | Maxi CD | EMI | Template:Center |
| United Kingdom | Template:Hlist | Virgin | Template:Center | |
| United States | 24 October 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | Template:Center | |
| Japan | 22 November 2000 | Maxi CD | Toshiba EMI | Template:Center |
| France | 28 November 2000 | CD | EMI | Template:Center |
References
Notes Template:Notelist
Citations Template:Reflist
Bibliography Template:Refbegin
- Pages with broken file links
- 1999 songs
- 2000 singles
- British contemporary R&B songs
- Music videos directed by Jake Nava
- Number-one singles in Scotland
- Song recordings produced by Rodney Jerkins
- Songs written by Emma Bunton
- Songs written by Fred Jerkins III
- Songs written by LaShawn Daniels
- Songs written by Mel B
- Songs written by Melanie C
- Songs written by Rodney Jerkins
- Songs written by Victoria Beckham
- Spice Girls songs
- UK singles chart number-one singles
- Virgin Records singles