2 Become 1 by Spice Girls

Album: Spice (1996)

Charted: 1 4

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

The concept of "soulmates" was big in the '90s, the idea that there was one specific person out there who could make you whole. It's when Renée Zellweger told Tom Cruise, "You complete me" in Jerry Maguire.

It was against this backdrop in 1996 (the same year Jerry Maguire was released) that the Spice Girls delivered "2 Become 1," a song that carries this sentiment, albeit in a more physical way; in the song, the ladies are seducing the lucky guy, letting him know that tonight is the night when two become one.
The Spice Girls were manufactured in England, where they became a sensation in the summer of 1996 with their debut single, "Wannabe." It was a #1 hit in the UK, as was their next single, "Say You'll Be There." "2 Become 1" was their third single, released around the same time as their debut album, Spice. Both the song and the album hit #1 and stayed there during Christmas.

Over in America, there was about an eight-month lag. "Wannabe" was a #1 hit in February 1997; "Say You'll Be There" went to #3 that May, and "2 Become 1" hit #4 that September.
After landing the coveted Christmas #1 in the UK with this song, Spice Girls did it again the next two years, with "Too Much" in 1997 and "Goodbye" in 1998.
Most pop songs pound out the title in the chorus, but this one is more subtle, with the title tucked into the pre-chorus.
The Spice Girls changed a lyric from the song in 2019 to make it more LGBTQIA-friendly when they performed it. Speaking to Gay Times, Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) said they made the decision while on the road to change the lyrics from:

Any deal that we endeavor
Boys and girls feel good together

To

Once again if we endeavor
Love will bring us back together

"We felt like it needed to be more inclusive," Bunton explained.
The iconic lime-green vest worn by Mel C in the Spice Girls debut album artwork was actually borrowed from Mel B and had already appeared in the "Wannabe" video. Mel C only realized years later that she was literally wearing another Spice Girl's clothes while positioned in the "eye" of the album logo, an unintentional Easter egg that even hardcore fans rarely notice.
The five Spice Girls are credited as writers on this song along with their producers, Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard. The group has hinted that the song was inspired by a budding relationship between Rowe and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice).
The song plays a part in the 2025 horror movie Together, where it shows up in a disturbing scene where the characters Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) merge into a single body. We learn in the film that Tim won Millie's heart by showing up on a date with a Spice Girls album, knowing it was her favorite group. When it comes time for them to combine their bodies, they play "2 Become 1" when they do it, giving the song a quite literal meaning.

Comments: 10

Spiceboy from SpiceworldThis song IS about safe-sex, they even mention it in their first official book. With regards to knocking the Dunblane charity single off the number 1 spot, record sales go down to the public- they spoke about that and said pretty much the same thing during an interview on Live & Kicking.
Ws from Seattle, WaExcept they didn’t change the line in 2019? The single version of the song (as one can see in the video) has always had the “once again if we endeavour/love will bring us back together” line in it. This is the version they performed in Istanbul in 1997, on the Spice World tour, and on their first reunion tour. The “Greatest hits” album from ‘07 also contains the single version. So, sure; they did change it for their LGBTQ following, but they changed it back in 1996. I’m really not clear why this is being portrayed as a recent change.
Shawn from Green Bay, WiAll the girls look gorgeous in this video.
This song was the first to exhibit what would become a trend in later Spice Girls' songs- Mel C and Emma doing the majority of the vocals with Mel B getting the bridge. Victoria has one part in the song and Geri only sings background vocals.
Lizzard from El Paso, TxDude!!!!!!! 'Benecio' i think that too ha... all my friends think i'm just dirty minded but i'm not ha...
April from Phx, Azif you also notice in the first version it is Geri who sings the line where as in the changed version and video it is victoria it also says this in geri halliwell's auto biography "if only"
Becky from Box Springs, GaI also noticed that the line was changed from "boys and girls go good together" to "love will bring us back together"....often wondered why the switch
Shari from Gilbert, AzThere's a line in the second verse about "boys and girls" being "good together" and, even as a pretty young kid when this came out, I thought this kind of left out homosexuals. I wasn't offended or anything, but the line stood out to me because the Spice Girls were pretty popular among both the gay and lesbian communities (I'm just generalizing here). Becuase I found the line peculiar, I thought I remembered some later performance having altered that reference. Perhaps, if it was changed, they did it out of respect for their fans?
Benecio from Nyc, NyI thought this song was about safe sex. "Be a little bit wiser baby... put it on, put it on" Also the love and sex references, "wanna make love to ya baby" Weren't the Spice Girls used to spread a positive message among girls?
Josie from Fremantle, AustraliaI think anyone should have got a higher place than this song. It had a horrible outcome, the spice girls became popular!
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThis song's entry at No.1 in the UK at Christmas 1996 cruelly robbed the Dunblane kids' version of Knocking On Heaven's Door of the top spot, when that release was supposed to commemorate the mass murder of a class of schoolkids in Scotland earlier in the year, a factor that turned many less loyal fans against the Spice Girls, accusing them of being selfish and two-faced

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)Pink Floyd

Producer Bob Ezrin convinced Pink Floyd to put a disco beat and children's chorus on "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)," which started out as a short interstitial for their album The Wall.

...Baby One More TimeBritney Spears

Britney Spears was just 16 when her first single, "Baby One More Time," was released. She quickly became a top search term on something called The Internet.

Run To YouBryan Adams

"Run To You" by Bryan Adams was written for Blue Oyster Cult, and the guitar part is modeled after "Don't Fear The Reaper." BOC turned it down, so Adams recorded it for his album Reckless.

Forever In Blue JeansNeil Diamond

Despite his hit "Forever In Blue Jeans," Neil Diamond was rarely seen in denim. He said the jeans are a symbol for how "the simple things are really the important things."

Ebony and IvoryPaul McCartney

Paul McCartney wrote "Ebony and Ivory," his duet with Stevie Wonder, after a tiff with his wife Linda. "It was like, 'Why can't we get it together- our piano can,'" he explained.

Don't Stop Believin'Journey

The "Don't Stop Believin'" lyric was inspired by Sunset Boulevard, making it perfect for the Rock of Ages musical.