B-side "Eve White, Eve Black" Format 7" vinyl Genre Post-punk | Released 30 May 1980 Recorded 1980 Length 3:00 | |
"Christine" is a song by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song was written by Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin and was released in 1980 by record label Polydor as the second single from the band's third album, Kaleidoscope.
Contents
Content
"Christine" marked a change in musical direction for the band, with new guitarist John McGeoch. The song begins with a distinctive riff played on an acoustic guitar. The chorus is topped with synthesisers. The close of the song utilizes a strong flanging effect.
Lyrically the song is about mental illness as it describes Christine, a woman with "22 faces" ("...Personality changes behind her red smile / Every new problem brings a stranger inside / Helplessly forcing one more new disguise..."). The song was inspired by the story of Chris Costner Sizemore, whose battle with dissociative identity disorder was dramatized in the film The Three Faces of Eve. Two of Christine's identities, the Strawberry Girl and the Banana Split Lady, are mentioned in the lyrics of the song. The two most extreme characters of this woman were named "Eve White" and "Eve Black"; those combined names became the title of the single's B-side.
Release
"Christine" was released as a single on 30 May 1980 by record label Polydor. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart. Due to an industrial dispute involving the Musicians' Union and Top of the Pops at the time (July–August 1980), there were no editions of the latter broadcast during the peak chart run of this single, hence Siouxsie and the Banshees never managed to perform it on the programme.
Cover versions
The song was covered by Red Hot Chili Peppers at their V2001 Festival performance and by Simple Minds in 2009 on the deluxe edition of their Graffiti Soul album. Tasmanian black metal outfit Striborg also covered the song.