"2 Become 1" is a song by the British pop group Spice Girls. Written by the group members, Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard during the group's first professional songwriting session, it was produced by Rowe and Stannard for the group's debut album Spice, released in November 1996. It was inspired by the special relationship that was developing between Geri Halliwell and Rowe during the writing session.
"2 Become 1" is a pop ballad, that features instrumentation from a guitar, an electronic keyboard, and string instruments. The lyrics focuses on the bonding of two lovers, and also address the importance of contraception. Its Big TV!-directed music video, which features the group in Times Square in New York City with fast moving cars appearing around multi-coloured lights, was completely shot against a green screen at a studio in London. The backdrop was later superimposed.
Released as the group's third single in December 1996, it was generally well received by music critics and was a commercial success. It topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks, becoming the group's third consecutive chart-topper, their second million-selling single, and their first Christmas number-one single in the United Kingdom. In July 1997, the song was released in the United States, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and receiving a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It performed similarly internationally, peaking inside the top ten on the majority of the charts that it entered.
Read more about 2 Become 1: Background, Writing and Inspiration, Composition, Release, Music Video, Live Performances, Cover Versions, Formats and Track Listings, Credits and Personnel, Charts