Released 13 March 2000 Recorded 1999 Length 3:46 | Format CD single
cassette Genre Pop, dance-pop | |
B-side "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"
"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" | ||
"Bag It Up" is a song recorded by British singer and songwriter Geri Halliwell for her debut solo album Schizophonic (1999). It was written by Halliwell, Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson and produced by Absolute. It was released as the fourth and final single from Schizophonic on 13 March 2000, by EMI Records.
Contents
Chart performance
"Bag It Up" became Halliwell's third consecutive solo number one on the UK Singles Chart. It has sold over 260,000 copies and been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry. The backing vocals for the song were provided by Tracy Ackerman and Pepsi & Shirlie, formerly of Wham!.
Music video
Directed by Dawn Shadforth and shot in January 2000, the humorous and raunchy video for "Bag It Up" presents an advert promoting the male-behaviour-altering "Girl Powder". Girl Powder, administered in small doses, transforms any male into an obedient domestic servant and also a sex slave. The video starts with a domestic scene. Geri and her shirtless 'boyfriend' (played by Aiden Turner) are sitting down in a living room watching television when an advert comes on for Girl Powder, which declares that it is "Heaven in a box".
Halliwell is seen doing all the housework and cooking for her 'boyfriend'. She then goes to the kitchen to make him coffee, when really she is preparing the Girl Powder drink. Once her boyfriend drinks it, his hair becomes pink and he has been transformed into a subservient male.
The action then moves to the "Girl Powder" factory, where Geri has been transformed into a catsuit-clad superheroine boss, controlling (along with other females in white lab coats) a factory operated by many pink-haired men. The next time Geri and her boyfriend are seen, the roles have been reversed. Geri is now the one in control, with the semi-clad sex slave pandering to her every whim, even acting as a human table. We then return to the factory, where Geri eventually strips the oiled-up dancers down to hot pants, bunny ears and high-heeled ankle boots. Eventually they end up pole-dancing, acting as bunny boys and parodying Playboy Bunnygirls, this time with the male as the sex object. We then see Geri parading the bunny boys on a leash at the end of the video, exhorting female listeners to "Treat him like a lady" and declaring "Who's wearing the trousers now?".
Live performances
To promote the single, Halliwell performed the song on Top of the Pops, Pepsi Chart, CD:UK, Live & Kicking, Party in the Park and 2000 BRIT Awards.
The performance at the BRIT Awards was a raunchy and controversial performance. Halliwell emerged from a pair of giant inflatable legs, accompanied by a sexy troupe of pink-haired male dancers. During the song, the dancers stripped down to pink hotpants, with Halliwell unbuttoning her shirt before walking over the kneeling dancers.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Bag It Up".
UK & Europe CD1 (Released 13 March 2000)
- "Bag It Up" – 3:46
- "These Boots Are Made for Walking" – 3:03
- "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" – 2:21
- "Bag It Up" (enhanced video)
UK & Europe CD2 (Released 13 March 2000)
- "Bag It Up" – 3:46
- "Bag It Up" (D-Bop's Chocolate Vocal Edit) – 4:26
- "Bag It Up" (Trouser Enthusiasts' Edit) – 6:07
- "Bag It Up" (Yomanda Edit) – 5:41
European 2-track CD single (Released 13 March 2000)
- "Bag It Up" – 3:46
- "These Boots Are Made for Walking" – 3:03
- "Bag It Up" (enhanced video)
Official versions and remixes
* only appears on promotional singles