Holler

Infobox Single
Name = Holler


Artist = Spice Girls
Album = Forever
B-side = "Let Love Lead the Way"
Released = 23 October 2000 (UK)
25 October 2000 (Japan)
Format = CD single, 12" single, cassette single
Recorded = 2000
Genre = Pop, R&B
Length = 4:15 (Album Version)
3:56 (Radio Edit)
Label = Virgin
Writer = Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III
Producer = Darkchild
Certification = Silver (BPI)Platinum [http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue566.PDF] flagicon|AUS
Chronology = Spice Girls UK singles
Last single = "Goodbye"
(1998)
This single = "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way"
(2000)
Next single = "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)"
(2007)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Type = single


Lower caption = French CD single cover Extra album cover 2


Lower caption = UK promo CD single cover Extra album cover 2

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Lower caption = UK 12" single cover Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = Holler
Audio file = HollerSample.ogg

"Holler" is one of the two songs picked as the first (and final) single from the Spice Girls' third studio album, "Forever" (2000). The single was released as a double A-side single (with "Let Love Lead the Way") internationally, except within the United States and Canada. The song was written by Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, and Fred Jerkins III. It was added to the "Greatest Hits" album, but was left intact, without the addition of Geri Halliwell's vocals, as she left the group in 1998. Prior to the release, the single had been referred to as Holler, Holler.

Commercial release and success

The single was once again another number one for the girls in the United Kingdom, becoming their ninth chart-topper in their homecountry also making the top ten in eleven different countries. However the single only peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (essentially the equivalent of number one hundred and seven on the "Billboard" Hot 100), but at number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

"Holler" was the first single from the re-formed Spice Girls that did not receive a commercial CD single release within the U.S. Also due to poor promotion and radio airplay, the single failed to enter the "Billboard" Hot 100. However, the music video managed to peak at number five on the U.S. version of MTV's "TRL".

"Holler" became the eleventh UK number-one single with Melanie Chisholm as a songwriter. She surpassed the record set by former bandmate Geri Halliwell, whose tenth UK number one "Bag It Up" had topped the charts the previous March. Mel C held this record until Madonna tied it in 2005 with "Hung Up", and surpassed it in 2006 with "Sorry".

Reception

This single topped the "MTV Asia Hitlist" amidst competition between girl group Destiny's Child, whose number-one hit "Independent Women Part I" had strong radio airplay at that time. Since "Holler" had a slow time to be picked up on radio, the single had a low charting debut at number eighteen. It climbed the chart two notches at a time, a slow pace for a Spice Girls single, until it reached the top ten. The following weeks were tougher, because fellow pop acts Backstreet Boys and Westlife had released their singles at that time. Westlife was able to top the charts faster with their single "My Love" but since the Spice Girls had larger radio airplay and requests the following week, "Holler" inched its way three notches to gain the top spot for one week, before the Backstreet Boys' "Shape of My Heart" dethroned them the week after.

Track listings and formats

;UK CD 1/Australian CD single/South African CD single
#"Holler" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
#"Let Love Lead the Way" (Radio Edit) – 4:15
#"Holler" (MAW Remix) – 8:30
#"Holler" (Video)

;European CD single
#"Holler" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
#"Let Love Lead the Way" (Radio Edit) – 4:15

;Japanese CD single
#"Holler" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
#"Let Love Lead the Way" (Radio Edit) – 4:15
#"Holler" (Video)
#"Let Love Lead the Way" (Video)
#"Let Love Lead the Way" (4x30 sec Behind the Scenes Clips)

;UK 12" single
# A1:"Holler" (MAW Remix) – 8:30
# A2:"Holler" (MAW Spice Beats) – 3:12
# B1:"Holler" (MAW Tribal Vocal) – 7:10
# C1:"Holler" (MAW Dub) – 6:46
# C2:"Holler" (MAW Remix Instrumental) – 7:14
# D1:"Holler" (MAW Tribal Instrumental) – 7:15

Music video

The video was directed by Jake Nava. It begins zooming into a seemingly glass pyramid where the four girls are dancing on a square platform in a circle. Each of the four girls represents a different element. The first verse is sung by Brown, who 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; she represents earth. Bunton is wearing a short blue dress with a white coat and is dancing in a blue room under water with reflections boucing off the walls. Finally 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. In Chisholm's solo room, a piece of wood is changed into a white python. Finally by the end of the song, all four girls join hands and form a beam of energy which then shoots out the top of the pyramid. The girls embrace in a hug and the video ends.

Live performances

The group debuted the song on their Christmas in Spiceworld Tour in 1999, before the album's release. The sound was much more pop-oriented, and it is presumed that the production of the song was altered for the album. After that, the song was performed at the 2000 BRIT Awards (but never broadcasted) and at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards.

The four members performed the song again on their reunion tour The Return of the Spice Girls in 2007. Even though group member Geri Halliwell had returned to the group at this point, she does not take part in this song as with "Let Love Lead the Way" which signals her departure from the group in the concert's storyline. She reunites with the group just as the song ends by rising from the ground.

The performance on stage was very similar to the video's premise, with four chairs facing outwards.

Charts