Sometimes, social media is so misleasing. It had been buzzing for days that Geri Horner-Halliwell or Halliwell-Horner, or just Horner or just Halliwell, was releasing a tribute track to George Michael. It's no secret that the two had gotten really close after she'd promptly left the Spice Girls in 1998. George's place was already a refuge for several survivors of teen pop bands who had been struggling with success, insecurities and life. Much like George.
Going on the buzz, and the fact that this is Geri's first single in many years of silence, my level of expectation had sky rocketed. Perhaps the power of a song so publicly personal was putting Geri back on the map again or surprised people of her abilities. I've often noticed it myself, that the more personal the songs get, the more people seem to appreciate them and the song, "Angels In Chains", is a very personal farewell from one friend to another, but that is also where it ends.
For some reason, I don't think Geri is very well suited for these types of the songs. She gets blown out of the water, vocally, by the background singers in the second verse. She suffers from the same issue I run into, where her voice sounds too thin to get away with everything. However, I am surprised that I spot a voice in her that might actually work on more guitar based songs and I think she could pull of a slow jam then too. (I'm thinking of the same sound other Spice Girl Emma sang when she initially went solo).
But performance is not really what this song is about. All semi criticism aside, I can't dispute the personal expression with this song. In the second verse, she even directs her attention directly to George, but mainly the song is completely jampacked with references to George's songs, which already starts from the very first sentence. It's a sweet attempt and because we all miss George Michael in our own way, all of us can relate to the song thanks to these references. It's due to this that I still consider this track to be ok, but not at all what I expected when I first hurt about this single. It checks all the boxes of a sweet tribute, especially with the great, soulish background vocals and the carefully planned built-up.
