Christine (song)

"Christine"
Single by Siouxsie and the Banshees
from the album Kaleidoscope
B-side	"Eve White, Eve Black"
Released	30 May 1980
Format	7" single
Recorded	1980
Genre	Post-punk
Length	3:00
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Siouxsie Sioux Steven Severin
Producer	Nigel Gray Siouxsie & the Banshees
Siouxsie and the Banshees singles chronology
"Happy House" (1980) "Christine" (1980) "Israel" (1981)

"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 synthesizers. 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. ^[1]

Notes

1. ^ "saunalahti.fi" (Red Hot Chilli Peppers'site). setlist of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' concert performing "Christine" at the V2001 festival