Goodbye (song)

"Goodbye"
Single by Spice Girls
from the album Forever
B-side(s)	"Christmas Wrapping"
Released	December 8, 1998 (U.S.) December 14, 1998 (UK)
Format	CD single
Recorded	1998
Genre	Pop, Ballad
Length	4:44
Label	Virgin
Writer(s)	Richard Stannard Matt Rowe Spice Girls
Producer(s)	Richard Stannard Matthew Rowe
Chart positions
1 (UK) 11 (US)
Spice Girls singles chronology
"Viva Forever" (1998)	"Goodbye" (1998)	"Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way" (2000) <tr style="text-align: center;"><th style="background: khaki;" colspan="3">Alternate cover</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center; font-size: smaller;"> <td colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"></td> </tr><tr style="text-align: center; font-size: smaller;"><td colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">UK CD 2 cover</td></tr>

"Goodbye" was the Spice Girls' ninth single release in the United Kingdom (seventh in the United States) and the first release from their third album, Forever. It was also the group's first single as a foursome.

Song information

The song was written by Matt Rowe, Richard Spannard and The Spice Girls members. The lyrics (although written before her departure) seem to pay tribute to Geri, who had at the time recently left the group to pursue a solo career.

The single CD contains different tracks depending on location. The U.S. version includes "Christmas Wrapping", "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" and "We Are Family". The two latter songs are live performances from the end of their Spiceworld Tour in September of 1998. The 2 part UK single release included the same songs that the U.S. received plus an orchestral version of "Goodbye".

The song did once again appear on the girls' third and final album, Forever.

Geri Halliwell is rumored to be covering this song for her greatest hits album along with "Viva Forever". This is unconfirmed, but likely since she took part in writing both songs.

Music video

The video was shot at a castle. Victoria and Mel B were also visibly pregnant.

Tracklisting and formats

• UK CD1

1. "Goodbye [Radio Edit] - 4:20
2. "Christmas Wrapping - 4:14
3. "Goodbye [Orchestral Version] - 4:14

• UK CD2

1. "Goodbye [Single Version] - 4:47
2. "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves [Live] - 4:22
3. "We Are Family [Live] - 3:35

• US CD

1. "Goodbye [Single Edit] - 4:44
2. "Christmas Wrapping - 4:14
3. "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves [Live] - 4:35
4. "We Are Family [Live] - 3:22

Chart performance

"Goodbye" would be their last official release in the United States, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the track became the Spice Girls' eighth #1 single, topping the charts for only one week. The length of its hail could have been prolonged, but it quickly fell to two, sitting there for an additional two weeks.

The song ranks as the third biggest-selling Canadian single of the 1990s, the highest selling single of 1999. It spent 16 weeks at number one on the Canadian singles chart. This came as a surprise to some as critics predicted the Spice Girls would fade away immediately after Halliwell's departure. Although this was not the case, their time as a group was most certainly coming to an end.

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