Editing 2 Become 1

{{Short description|1996 single by the Spice Girls}}
{{About||the Jewel song|2 Become 1 (Jewel song)|the 2006 film |2 Become 1 (film){{!}}''2 Become 1'' (film)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = 2 Become 1
| cover      = 2 Become 1.jpg
| alt        = 
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Spice Girls]]
| album      = [[Spice (album)|Spice]]
| B-side     =
* "One of These Girls"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "2 Become 1" (Spanish version)
| released   = {{Start date|1996|12|16|df=y}}
| recorded   = 10 December 1995
| studio     = Strongroom, London
| genre      = 
* [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length      =
* 4:01 (album version)
* 4:05 (single version)
| label       = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| writer      = 
* [[Spice Girls]]
* Matt Rowe
* [[Biffco|Richard Stannard]]
| producer    = 
* Matt Rowe
* Richard Stannard
| prev_title  = [[Say You'll Be There]]
| prev_year   = 1996
| next_title  = [[Mama (Spice Girls song)|Mama]]
| next_title2 = [[Who Do You Think You Are (Spice Girls song)|Who Do You Think You Are]]
| next_year   = 1997
| misc        = {{External music video|{{YouTube|FA5jsa1lR9c|"2 Become 1"}}}}
}}
"'''2 Become 1'''" is a song by the British [[girl group]] the [[Spice Girls]]. Written by the group members, together with Matt Rowe and [[Biffco|Richard Stannard]] during the group's first professional songwriting session, it was produced by Rowe and Stannard for the group's debut album, ''[[Spice (album)|Spice]]'' (1996). "2 Become 1" is an [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]-influenced [[Pop music|pop]] [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] that features instrumentation from a [[guitar]], an [[electronic keyboard]] and [[string instrument]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cliff |first=Aimee |date=2019-05-19 |title=Spice Girls: Spice |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/spice-girls-spice/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |quote=Then, there’s the softer-edged R&B-influenced ballads like “Mama,” “2 Become 1,” and “Naked.”}}</ref> The lyrics focus on the bonding of two lovers, and also address the importance of [[safe sex]]. Its Big TV!-directed music video, which features the group performing against [[Time-lapse photography|time-lapse footage]] of [[Times Square]] in [[New York City]], was completely shot against a [[Chroma key|blue screen]] at a studio in London. The backdrop was later superimposed.

Released as the group's third single on 16 December 1996 by [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], 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 [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|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|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and receiving a [[Recording Industry Association of America certification|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. The song was named "Song of the Year" at the 1998 [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP]] London Music Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQoEAAAAMBAJ&q=ascap+london+awards++spice+girls&pg=PA43|title=ASCAP Awards Honor U.K. Acts |magazine=Billboard |date=7 November 1998 |access-date=18 February 2017 }}</ref>

In 2019, [[Emma Bunton]] covered the song, as a duet, with [[Robbie Williams]] on her fourth solo album, ''[[My Happy Place]]''. In December 2024, an orchestral version by Bunton with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra was released.<ref>https://music.apple.com/sg/album/2-become-1-single/1781420769</ref>

==Background==
In December 1994, the Spice Girls persuaded their former managers—father-and-son team [[Bob Herbert (manager)|Bob]] and [[Chris Herbert]]—to set up a showcase in front of industry writers, producers and [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] men at the Nomis Studios in [[Shepherd's Bush]], London.<ref>McGibbon, 1997. p. 93.</ref><ref>Sinclair, 2004. p. 33.</ref> Producer [[Richard Stannard (songwriter)|Richard Stannard]] was originally at the studio to meet pop star [[Jason Donovan]], but he ended up in the showcase after hearing [[Mel B|Melanie Brown]], as she went charging across the corridor. Stannard recalls:<ref name="background">Sinclair, 2004. pp. 40–41.</ref>

<blockquote>
More than anything, they just made me laugh. I couldn't believe I'd walked into this situation. You didn't care if they were in time with the dance steps or whether one was overweight or one wasn't as good as the others. It was something more. It just made you feel happy. Like great pop records.
</blockquote>

Stannard stayed after everyone had left the showcase to talk to the group. He then reported back to his songwriter partner Matt Rowe that he had found the pop group of their dreams. In January 1995, Chris Herbert booked the group's first professional songwriting session with the producers at the Strongroom in Curtain Road, East London.<ref name="background" /> Rowe remember feeling similarly to Stannard when he first met the group, "I love them. Immediately. [...] They were like no one I'd met before, really." The session was productive as the duo seemed to get along with the group; together they discussed the songwriting process and what they wanted to do with the record.<ref name="background" /> In her autobiography, Brown recalled that the duo instinctively understood their point of view and knew how to incorporate "the spirit of five loud girls into great [[pop music]]".<ref>Brown, 2002. p. 175.</ref>

==Writing and inspiration==
{{quote box|width=25%|quote=It's basically a love song, but it's got a message—make sure you put a condom on if you're going to have sex. We all think that's very important!|source=—Melanie Brown talking about the song's theme.<ref name="cripps">Cripps, Peachey, Spice Girls 1997. p. 86</ref>}}
"2 Become 1" was co-written by the Spice Girls along with partners Richard Stannard and Matthew Rowe. Stannard and Rowe also co-produced the track. After writing more [[uptempo]] [[Electronic dance music|dance]]-based songs, such as "[[Wannabe (song)|Wannabe]]", the group and the two producers decided to write a slow [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]]. But as the group were writing the song, they realised that it was a bit too slushy, so it was decided to address the importance of [[Birth control|contraception]] with the lyrics: "Be a little bit wiser, baby. Put it on, put it on".<ref name="cripps" />

The song was inspired by the "special relationship" that was developing between [[Geri Halliwell]] and Rowe.<ref name="gerirowe">Sinclair, 2004. pp. 42–43.</ref> Brown hinted at this development in her autobiography, commenting: "When [Rowe] and Geri started making eyes at each other I knew what was going on, even though they denied it. I knew them both too well for it to be a secret for me."<ref>Brown, 2002. p. 176.</ref> Stannard commented about the fondness between Halliwell and Rowe: "I don't want to get into the side of things. They were very close. They clicked. And I think the lyrics in '2 Become 1' came from that, especially the first verse, which they wrote together."<ref name="gerirowe" />

===Spanish version===
The group recorded a [[Peninsular Spanish|European]] Spanish version of the song, written by them, Rowe, Stannard, and N. Maño.<ref name="spanish">{{cite AV media notes|title=Spice|title-link=Spice (album)|last=Spice Girls|year=1997|page=6|type=CD booklet|publisher=[[Virgin Records]]|id=7243 8 44732 28|location=London}}</ref> The title was "2 Become 1" (Spanish Version), although the title is loosely translated in one line of the song, "Seremos Uno Los Dos". It was released as the eleventh track of their debut album, ''[[Spice (album)|Spice]]'', in Latin America and South Africa, in a special re-edition of the album in Spain, and as one of the tracks of the "2 Become 1" maxi-single in the US.<ref name="spanish" /><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=2 Become 1 - [[Spice Girls]]|date=1997|type=US CD2 Back cover|publisher=Virgin Records|id=V25G 38609}}</ref> A [[Spanglish]] edit that traded verses between the English and Spanish versions was created by DJ [[Michael Rizzo (musician)|Mike Rizzo]] and production director Bill Schultz for New York-based radio [[WKTU]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|date=6 September 1997|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=109|issue=36|page=121|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

==Composition==
{{Listen|pos=left|filename=2Become1Sample.ogg|title=2 Become 1|description=A 25-second sample from "2 Become 1" featuring Bunton singing the first verse. The sound of string arrangements is used as a background.||format=[[Ogg]]}}
"2 Become 1" is a [[pop ballad]] with [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] influences, written in the key of [[F-sharp major|F{{music|sharp}} major]]; it is set in the [[time signature]] of common time and moves at a slow tempo of 72 [[beats per minute]].<ref name="composition">Spice Girls, 2008. pp. 43–47.</ref> The song is constructed in a [[verse–chorus form]],<ref name="composition" /> and its instrumentation comes from a [[guitar]], an [[electronic keyboard]], and [[string instrument]]s.<ref name="album">{{cite AV media notes|title=Spice|title-link=Spice (album)|last=Spice Girls|year=1996|page=6|type=CD booklet|publisher=Virgin Records|id=CDV2812|location=London}}</ref> The song opens with an [[instrumental]] [[introduction (music)|introduction]], with a [[chord progression]] of E{{music|flat}}m add<sub>9</sub>–D{{music|flat}}/F–G{{music|flat}}–A{{music|flat}}m<sub>7</sub> sus<sub>4</sub>, that is also used during the first part of the [[Song structure (popular music)#Verse|verses]]. The last two lines of each verse changes the progression to C{{music|flat}}–B{{music|flat}}m<sub>7</sub>–A{{music|flat}}m<sub>7</sub>–D{{music|flat}}<sub>11</sub>, and changes again during each chorus to G{{music|flat}}–D{{music|flat}}–C{{music|flat}}–D{{music|flat}}.<ref name="composition" /> It closes with a string [[Conclusion (music)#Outro|outro]] that uses the chord progression F{{music|flat}}–G{{music|flat}}–B{{music|flat}}{{music|flat}}–C{{music|flat}},<ref name="composition" /> which is arranged by Scottish composer [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]].<ref>Sinclair, 2004. p. 88.</ref>

The lyrics focus on how the bonding of two lovers can become so strong that they practically become one entity, through the act of [[sexual intercourse]].<ref name="video">Spice Girls, 1997. pp. 38–39.</ref> Apart from the sexual connotations, there is an aspirational undercurrent to the lyrics, and like many of their subsequent songs, desire is explicitly linked to ambition: "Free your mind of doubt and danger/Be for real don't be a stranger/We can achieve it/We can achieve it".<ref name="gerirowe" />

Two different versions of the song, each with different lyrics, were recorded: in the album version, the two first verses are sung by [[Melanie C]] and [[Melanie Brown]], [[Emma Bunton]] sings the pre-choruses, the next second two verses are sung by Melanie C and [[Geri Halliwell]], and the first and third lines of the chorus are sung by Bunton and Halliwell together, the second and fourth lines are sung by Melanie C and [[Victoria Beckham]] together and the fifth line is sung by Brown. The second line of the second verse, "Any deal that we endeavour/Boys and girls feel good together",<ref name="album" /> was changed in the single version to: "Once again if we endeavour/Love will bring us back together".<ref name="single">{{cite AV media notes|title=2 Become 1 - [[Spice Girls]]|date=1996|type=UK CD1 Single liner|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSCDT 1607}}</ref> Halliwell sings on the album version, while Beckham sings on the single version, after Halliwell confessed that she had a hard time singing in that particular key. Bunton later stated that the lyric change was necessary after realising that the group had become LGBT icons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.com/amplify/emma-bunton-on-the-spice-girls-lyric-they-changed-to-be-more-inclusive-amplify-by-gay-times/|title=Emma Bunton on the Spice Girls lyric they changed to be more inclusive|work=[[Gay Times]]|first=Lewis|last=Corner|year=2019|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> Despite the original lyrics still being used in album pressings of ''Spice'', due to the album not being revised since 1997, the single version appeared on the 25th anniversary reissue of the album, in place of the album version. The single version also contains slightly different vocals from the rest of the group.

The single version appears in the music video and is available on the group's ''[[Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album, and on stage the girls always performed the single version before and after Halliwell's departure.

==Release==
"2 Become 1" was released in the United Kingdom on 16 December 1996, in three single versions.<ref name="cds">Sinclair, 2004. p. 297.</ref> The first one, a [[Maxi single#CD maxi singles|maxi single]] that included the single version of the track, an orchestral take, the [[Junior Vasquez]] remix of "Wannabe", and "One of These Girls", a song written by the group with Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins—the songwriters and production duo known as [[Absolute (production team)|Absolute]]. The second version was the special Christmas pack, a standard [[CD single]] in a cardboard case that included a signed postcard with a Christmas message from the group. This version contained the single version, the [[Dave Way]] remix, and their own version of [[Leroy Anderson]]'s "[[Sleigh Ride]]". The third version was a two-track [[cassette single]], featuring the single version and the orchestral take of the song. The same track listing was also used for the release of the European CD single.<ref>Golden, 1997. p. 172.</ref> In the United States, the single was serviced to [[contemporary hit radio]] on 1 July 1997.<ref name="uschr">{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1203|page=34|date=27 June 1997}}</ref> Four weeks later, on 29 July, two CD singles were issued in the US.<ref name="uscdrel">{{cite web|url=https://tmuchspces.tripod.com/NewDiscography/groupmaterial/spice.html|title=Spice Releases|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
The song was generally well received by music critics. Brian Grosz from Albumism described it as "a smooth [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] jam".<ref>{{cite web|first= Brian |last= Grosz |title= The Spice Girls' Debut Album 'Spice' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= 1 November 2016 |access-date= 17 November 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-spice-girls-debut-album-spice}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] called it a "perfect [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]] confection".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Spice : Review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r245691|pure_url=yes}}|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=24 July 2010}}</ref> In a review of the group's 2007 compilation album, ''[[Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)|Greatest Hits]]'', Talia Kraines of [[BBC Music]] called it "shimmering", adding that "only a cold heart could fail to love their first festive #1".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kraines|first=Talia|title=Spice Girls Greatest Hits Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jn9x|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=12 November 2007|access-date=24 July 2010}}</ref> [[Larry Flick]] of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine said that "they are surprisingly adept at weaving warm and romantic imagery over a sweet melody", adding that "[Everyone] will delight in the track's arrangement of soft harmonies and delicate acoustic guitar riffs".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Flick|first=Larry|date=5 July 1997|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles: Pop: 2 Become 1|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=109|issue=27|page=80|issn=0006-2510|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> [[Greg Kot]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' said that their first album "is a compendium of slick secondhand urban pop encompassing [...] [[G-funk]] synths on '[[Say You'll Be There]]' [...] and [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]'s guitar and strings balladry on '2 Become 1'".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|title=Fluffed up Spice Girls' Feminist Stance Overwhelmed by Studio Gloss|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/11208459.html?dids=11208459:11208459&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+09%2C+1997&author=Greg+Kot%2C+Tribune+Rock+Critic.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=FLUFFED+UP++SPICE+GIRLS%27+FEMINIST+STANCE+OVERWHELMED+BY+STUDIO+GLOSS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104202644/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/11208459.html?dids=11208459:11208459&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+09,+1997&author=Greg+Kot,+Tribune+Rock+Critic.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=FLUFFED+UP++SPICE+GIRLS'+FEMINIST+STANCE+OVERWHELMED+BY+STUDIO+GLOSS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2013|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=9 March 1997|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> [[Digital Spy]]'s Nick Levine noted that the group's slower songs were "probably their strongest suit", and thought that the song "manages to combine every element of the perfect Christmas ballad–a touch of elegance, a hint of romance, a soupcon of sexiness and a generous sprinkling of sparkle–and still finds time for a coy safe sex message".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Levine |first=Nick |title=Spice Girls Greatest Hits Review |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a79868/spice-girls-greatest-hits.html |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=12 November 2007 |access-date=24 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611012139/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a79868/spice-girls-greatest-hits.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 }}</ref> Whitney Pastorek of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that it is "too slow, and the lyrics appear to have been written by a safe-sex-loving unicorn", adding that "it's almost impossible to identify the individual Spice Girls by their voices here, so airbrushed are the proceedings".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Pastorek|first=Whitney|title=Chart Flashback|url=https://ew.com/music/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=12 October 2006|access-date=24 July 2010|archive-date=19 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019041104/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1533782,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A reviewer from ''[[Music Week]]'' rated the song five out of five, adding, "No turkey this as Spice Girls virtually guarantee a third chart topper and look a strong bet for the Christmas number one with a seasonally lush ballad. Anticipate much smooching 'neath the mistletoe."<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-11-30.pdf |title= Reviews: Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 30 November 1996 |page= 20 |access-date= 6 October 2021}}</ref> ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine's [[Christopher John Farley]] called it a "slumberous ballad [...] [that] seem[s] designed to amuse, titillate, ingratiate".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Farley|first=Christopher John|author-link=Christopher John Farley|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985864-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011132749/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985864-2,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2011|title=Music: New Girls on the Block|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=3 February 1997|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> In a review of the group's debut album ''Spice'', Dev Sherlock of [[Yahoo! Music Radio]] called it a "glossy ballad that would do [[Mariah Carey]] proud".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherlock |first=Dev |title=Album Review: Spice |url=http://uk.music.yahoo.com/read/review/12062573 |work=[[Yahoo! Music Radio]] |date=4 February 1997 |access-date=24 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718134159/http://uk.music.yahoo.com/read/review/12062573 |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref> 
[[File:Victoriaandemmaonpoleslv.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Victoria Beckham]] and [[Emma Bunton]] in [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], on 11 December 2007, performing "2 Become 1".]]

===Chart performance===
"2 Become 1" was originally going to be released in the UK on 9 December 1996, but the release date was delayed to let [[Dunblane massacre#Musical Tributes|Dunblane]]'s "[[Knockin' on Heaven's Door#Dunblane tribute|Knockin' on Heaven's Door]]"—a tribute to the children killed at the [[Dunblane massacre|Dunblane Primary School]] in Scotland—stay at the top of the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>McGibbon, 1997. p. 121.</ref> The single was released the next week, debuting at the top,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Hard%20To%20Make%20A%20Stand|title=The Official Charts Company – Spice Girls – 2 Become 1|publisher=[[The Official UK Charts Company]]|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> becoming the group's third chart-topper and their first [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number-one single]] in the UK.<ref name="uk" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/christmas2002/story/0,,864869,00.html|title=Thirty years of Christmas No 1s|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 December 2002|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> It sold 209,000 copies in the first three days of release and 462,000 in the first week,<ref>{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Wright (television presenter)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61284854.html|title=Jingle Belles; Spice Girls hit No 1 for Xmas|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=20 December 1996|access-date=22 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809092815/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61284854.html|archive-date=9 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/classic-christmas-number-1s-spice-girls-2-become-1__17230/ |title= Classic Christmas Number Ones|publisher=[[Official Charts]]|date=1 December 2016|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> becoming the fifth best-selling single of the year.<ref name="Official Charts">{{cite web|title=Flashback to 1996: Spice Girls hit Number 1 with Say You'll Be There |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-to-1996-spice-girls-hit-number-1-with-say-youll-be-there__16652/|publisher=Official Charts |access-date=4 December 2020 }}</ref> "2 Become 1" sold 1.14 million copies in total,<ref name="1.14 million">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-20-biggest-selling-love-ballads-of-all-time__13786/|title=The UK's Official Top 20 biggest selling love ballads of all time|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=11 February 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="UK sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/classic-christmas-number-1s-spice-girls-2-become-1__17230/|title=Christmas Number 1 Flashback: Spice Girls|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=1 December 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> giving the Spice Girls their second and final million-selling single in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.co.uk/awardmill.html|title=Million-Selling Singles|publisher=Everyhit.com|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> Despite being released during the final two weeks of 1996, "2 Become 1" was the 5th best seller of the year and that year's fastest selling single of the year.

In Ireland, "2 Become 1" was the group's second number-one single, and their first to debut at the top of the [[Irish Singles Chart]].<ref name="ireland" /> It stayed at the top position for six weeks,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=8 February 1997|title=Hits of the World: Ireland (IFPI Ireland/Chart-Track) 01/23/97|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=109|issue=6|page=41|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> and became their first Christmas number-one single in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/christmas/christmas4.htm|title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know: Christmas No.1s|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> "2 Become 1" peaked at No. 3 on the [[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]],<ref name="eurohot" /> and performed similarly across the rest of Europe, topping the singles chart in Spain,<ref name="spain" /> peaking inside the top ten in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland,<ref name="eurohot" /><ref name="aut" /><ref name="denmark" /><ref name="dt40">"[https://books.google.com/books?id=4Q4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Hits+of+the+World+spice+girls&pg=PA55 Hits of the World: Continued]". ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. 25 January 1997. Retrieved on 15 April 2015.</ref> and inside the top fifteen in Belgium and Germany.<ref name="belfla" /><ref name="ger" /> It was also commercially successful in Australia and New Zealand, peaking inside the top three on both countries.<ref name="aus" /><ref name="nzc" />

In July 1997, "2 Become 1" debuted on the Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' 100 Hit Tracks chart at No. 87,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3259&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 65, No. 18,&nbsp;July&nbsp;07 1997|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|date=7 July 1997|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017213152/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3259&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> peaked at No. 3 on its fifth week,<ref name="canrpm" /> and ended at No. 25 on the year-end chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3416&volume=66&issue=15&issue_dt=December%2015%201997&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 66, No. 15,&nbsp;December&nbsp;15, 1997|work=RPM|date=15 December 1997|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005173439/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3416&volume=66&issue=15&issue_dt=December%2015%201997&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=5 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the Adult Contemporary chart, it peaked at No. 4,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3363&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5nldjne8h87ct0th16hnfakj67|title=Adult Contemporary – Volume 66, No. 8,&nbsp;October&nbsp;27, 1997|work=RPM|date=27 October 1997|access-date=23 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017213339/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3363&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5nldjne8h87ct0th16hnfakj67|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ended at No. 27 on the year-end chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7905&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5nldjne8h87ct0th16hnfakj67|title=Adult Contemporary – Volume 66, No. 15,&nbsp;December&nbsp;15, 1997|work=RPM|date=15 December 1997|access-date=23 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017213410/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7905&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5nldjne8h87ct0th16hnfakj67|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the United States, the song debuted on 16 August 1997 at No. 6,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-08-16/hot-100|title=Hot 100: Week of August&nbsp;16, 1997 – 2 Become 1|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=16 August 1997|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> reaching a peak of No. 4 in its fourth week,<ref name="usa" /> becoming the group's third consecutive top five in the country.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=spice girls|chart=all}}|title=Spice Girls – Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The song has sold 700,000 copies in the US as of December 1997.<ref name=Billboard1997 /> It peaked at four on the [[Pop Airplay|Top 40/Mainstream]] chart and had [[Crossover (music)|crossover]] success, peaking at four on the [[Rhythmic Top 40]] and at number eight on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart.<ref name="usps"/><ref name="usr"/><ref name="usac"/>

==Music video==
===Background===
<!-- Commented out: [[File:Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 (music video).png|right|thumbnail|180px|The [[Spice Girls]] featured in [[New York City]], with fast moving cars and multi-coloured lights around them.{{deletable image-caption|Thursday, 14 October 2021|PROD}}]] -->
The music video for "2 Become 1" was directed on 5–6 November 1996 by Big TV!, in a two-day shoot located at a studio in [[Old Compton Street]], London. Cinematographer Stephen Keith-Roach, who worked in other music videos such as [[Jamiroquai|Jamiroquai's]] "[[Virtual Insanity]]" and [[U2|U2's]] "[[Discothèque (song)|Discothèque]]", was in charge of the photography.<ref name="video" /> The shoot involved the group dressed in winter coats, wandering around the studio against a [[Chroma key|green screen]], interspersed with [[close-up]] [[camera angle]]s, so that the backdrop could be superimposed later.<ref>Brown, 2002. p. 240.</ref><ref>Halliwell, 1999. p. 249.</ref> To achieve the effect of the wind rippling through their hair, the group was required to [[lip sync]]h the song in [[High-speed camera|double time]] while wind machines were blowing on them.<ref name="cripps" />

===Synopsis===
The music video features the group wandering around [[Times Square]] in [[New York City]], with [[Time-lapse photography|fast moving cars appearing around multi-coloured lights]]. They appear in various places around the city, either alone, with one other member, or as a quintet. The video is intercut with scenes of lovers experiencing moments of togetherness and closes with a deer wandering the streets. Such a scene, according to the group's first official book ''Girl Power!'', gave them a running gag all throughout the shoot—"Whenever anyone made a mistake it was, 'Oh, deer'."<ref name="video" /> Sometimes, the closing scene would not be shown on television, due to the song fading out to an instrumental, which lasts for 40 seconds.

In the same book, [[Victoria Beckham]] wrote about the shoot: "I think '2 Become 1' is my favourite video. [...] It was really different to the other videos–shot entirely in the studio, with high technology and loads of effects. It was really weird having to sing passionately into the camera, I was feeling a right mug in front of all those people singing 'wanna make love to ya baby'."<ref name="video" />

==Live performances==
[[File:Spice Girls in Toronto.jpg|right|thumb|245px|The Spice Girls performing "2 Become 1" at the [[Air Canada Centre]] in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada, during [[the Return of the Spice Girls]] tour.]]
The song was performed many times on television, including the ''[[Bravo (magazine)|Bravo Supershow]]'', ''[[GMTV]]'', ''[[Live & Kicking]]'', ''[[Noel's House Party]]'', and ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Wright (television presenter)|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61052929|title=We're Spice Boys!; Fab Five make celebrity Wannabes stars of their TV show|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=10 November 1997|access-date=24 February 2010|archive-date=10 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110224749/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>De Ribera Berenguer, 1997. p. 40.</ref> In October 1997, the group performed "2 Become 1" as the eighth song of their first live concert at the [[Abdi İpekçi Arena]] in [[Istanbul]], Turkey. The performance was broadcast on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] in a pay-per-view event titled ''Spice Girls in Concert Wild!'',<ref>{{Cite news|title=Spice Girls Go Pay-Per-View|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434499/19971203/spice_girls.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904063940/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434499/19971203/spice_girls.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2012|date=3 December 1997|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref> and was later included in the VHS and DVD release ''[[Girl Power! Live in Istanbul]]''.<ref>{{cite video|people=Spice Girls|title=[[Girl Power! Live in Istanbul]]|medium=VHS|publisher=Virgin Records|year=1998}}</ref> The group was scheduled to perform the song on the semi-final of the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 5)|fifth season]] of the British television show ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', on 16 December, but it was postponed to the finale, 22 December, as Emma sprained her ankle badly and was not able to perform.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/12_december/13/strictly.shtml|title=Spice Girls step up for Strictly Come Dancing|work=BBC|date=13 December 2007}}</ref>

The Spice Girls have performed the song on their four tours, the [[Spiceworld Tour]], the [[Christmas in Spiceworld Tour]], the [[Return of the Spice Girls|Return of the Spice Girls Tour]] and the [[Spice World - 2019 Tour]]. After Halliwell's departure in 1998, Bunton sang the first and third lines of the chorus alone during the Spiceworld Tour, but in the Christmas in Spiceworld Tour Beckham replaced Halliwell during the first and third lines of the chorus along with Bunton, while Brown replaced Beckham during the second and fourth lines of the chorus along with Melanie C.
<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60571207.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104094917/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60571207.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|title=See the Spice Girls Live in Scotland!; Ticket Contest|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]]|date=19 March 1998|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Brad L.|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0870839C05368&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Spice Girls Show Mixes Glitz and Fun|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|date=4 August 1998|access-date=1 March 2010|archive-date=23 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223030052/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0870839C05368&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Horan|first=Tom|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4719222/The-Spice-Girls-wrap-up-Christmas.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115000248/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4719222/The-Spice-Girls-wrap-up-Christmas.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2011|title=The Spice Girls wrap up Christmas|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=6 December 1999|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172484169.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104094926/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172484169.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|title=Set List; The Return of the Spice Girls|work=[[Daily Mirror#Sunday Mirror|Sunday Mirror]]|date=16 December 2007|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref> The performance at the Spiceworld Tour's final concert can be found on the video: ''[[Spice Girls Live at Wembley Stadium]]'', filmed in London, on 20 September 1998.<ref>{{cite video|people=Spice Girls|title=[[Spice Girls Live at Wembley Stadium]]|medium=VHS|publisher=Virgin Records|year=1998}}</ref> For the Return of the Spice Girls Tour, the group performed it during the second segment of the show. After the "[[Too Much (Spice Girls song)|Too Much]]" performance, each of the girls emerged from a cocoon of oversized swan wings and danced around a set of barber's poles while singing the song.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sinclair|first=David|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article2992341.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530132518/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article2992341.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2010|title=Spice Girls review: 'they remain consummate entertainers'|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=4 December 2007|access-date=23 July 2010}}</ref> For the Girls return without Beckham for [[Spice World - 2019 Tour]], Halliwell sang a mixture of her and Beckham's original lines – "Any deal that we endeavour/Love will bring us back together...". This was the first time Halliwell had sung a solo live on the track since the ''Spice'' debut album.{{fact|date=September 2024}}
{{Clear}}

==Cover versions==
"2 Become 1" has been covered both in albums and live performances:
*In 1998, [[The Countdown Singers]] recorded a [[sound-alike]] version of the song for their album ''Today's Love Songs''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Today's Love Songs : Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r367182|pure_url=yes}}|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> 
*[[Lester Bowie]]'s Brass Fantasy did an [[instrumental]] [[jazz]] cover for the 1999 album ''[[The Odyssey of Funk & Popular Music]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ginell|first=Richard S|title=The Odyssey of Funk & Popular Music : Review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r387659|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> *American guitarist [[Paul Gilbert]] covered the song for his fourth album, ''[[Alligator Farm (album)|Alligator Farm]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Robert|title=Alligator Farm : Review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r500108|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> 
*Wildside recorded a [[Dance music|dance]] remake for the 1997 album ''Mega Hits Dance Party, Vol. 1'', which was later included on the 2005 album ''Let's Hear It for the 90's, Vol. 1''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Mega Hits Dance Party, Vol. 1 : Review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r317695|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Let's Hear It for the 90's, Vol. 1 : Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r737754|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> 
*Filipino [[bossa nova]] singer [[Sitti Navarro]] recorded a cover of the song for her second album, ''[[My Bossa Nova]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=My Bossa Nova : Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1420039|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> 
*During her solo career, [[Emma Bunton]] has performed live covers of the song on television programmes such as ''[[CD:UK]]'' and ''[[Popworld]]'',<ref>{{Cite news|title=Death knell sounds for SM:TV Live|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/387140961.html?dids=387140961:387140961&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+21%2C+2003&author=&pub=Evening+Times&desc=Death+knell+sounds+for+SM%3ATV+Live&pqatl=google|work=[[Evening Times]]|date=21 August 2003|access-date=1 May 2010|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103090052/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/387140961.html?dids=387140961:387140961&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+21,+2003&author=&pub=Evening+Times&desc=Death+knell+sounds+for+SM:TV+Live&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Clark|first=Paul|title=Busted save the day; Pop|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-110893186|work=[[Evening Standard|The Evening Standard]]|date=3 December 2003|access-date=1 May 2010}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and it was also included as part of her set list for the ''Pepsi Silver Clef Concert''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pepsi Silver Clef Concert : Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1741004|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> She performed the song as a duet twice with her former bandmate [[Melanie C]] on 9 November 2013 as part of the Oxford Street Lights Switch on and on 11 January 2014 for Sporty's Forty at 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire. 
*[[Olly Alexander]] of the band [[Years & Years]] performed the song with special guest Melanie C at a charity event at London's [[Union Chapel, Islington|Union Chapel]].{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} 
*In December 2016, Melanie C performed the song with former bandmate [[Victoria Beckham]] at the latter's New Year's Eve party concert.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Weatherby|first=Taylor|title=Watch Victoria Beckham Join Mel C to Sing '2 Become 1' for a Mini Spice Girls Reunion|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7640780/victoria-beckham-mel-c-2-become-1-spice-girls-reunion-video|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=3 January 2017|access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref> She also performed the song on her own for a live session on [[BBC Radio 2]] in January 2017.
*In 2019, Bunton covered the song, as a duet, with [[Robbie Williams]] on her fourth solo album, ''[[My Happy Place]]''. In October 2021, [[Chris Martin]] of [[Coldplay]] performed a duet of the song with Melanie C at the [[Hollywood Bowl]] for the [[Audacy]] 8th Annual "We Can Survive" concert.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Manongdo |first1=Jennifer |title=Melanie C, Coldplay's Chris Martin Perform Spice Girls' '2 Become 1' At Benefit Concert |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/melanie-c-coldplays-chris-martin-perform-spice-girls-2-become-1-benefit-concert-3323690 |website=International Business Times |access-date=25 October 2021 |date=25 October 2021}}</ref> 
*On 20 December 2024, Emma Bunton released an solo, orchestral version of "2 Become 1"; the single was created with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/spice-girls-emma-bunton-shares-enchanting-new-take-on-2-become-1-3824405|title= Spice Girls’ Emma Bunton shares enchanting new take on ‘2 Become 1’|website=NME|last=Singh|first=Surej|date=23 December 2024|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/emma-bunton-solo-performance-spice-girls-2-become-1-1235215321/|title=WATCH EMMA BUNTON’S SOLO RENDITION OF SPICE GIRLS’ ‘2 BECOME 1’|website=Rolling Stone|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=22 December 2024|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref> Bunton performed the single on the Christmas special of BBC's ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', which aired on 25 December 2024.

==Formats and track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''UK CD1; Australian, Brazilian, European, and South African CD'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05
# "One of These Girls" – 3:33
# "[[Wannabe (song)|Wannabe]]" {{small|([[Junior Vasquez]] Remix Edit)}} – 5:57

* '''UK CD2'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|([[Dave Way]] Remix)}} – 4:01
# "[[Sleigh Ride#Other notable recordings|Sleigh Ride]]" – 3:18

* '''European and French 2-track CD'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05

* '''Japanese CD'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05
# "One of These Girls" – 3:33
# "Sleigh Ride" – 3:18

* '''US CD1'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "One of These Girls" – 3:33
{{col-2}}
* '''US CD2'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(Dave Way Remix)}} – 4:01
# "One of These Girls" – 3:33
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(Spanish version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05

* '''Spanish 12-inch vinyl single'''
:A1. "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
:A2. "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05
:B1. "Wannabe" {{small|(Junior Vasquez remix edit)}} – 5:57
:B2. "One of These Girls" – 3:33

* '''UK 12-inch vinyl single'''
:A1. "2 Become 1" {{small|(Dave Way Remix)}} – 4:01
:B1. "Wannabe" {{small|(Junior Vasquez remix edit)}} – 5:57
:B2. "Wannabe" {{small|(Junior Vasquez Gomix dub)}} – 6:36

* '''Digital EP'''
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(single version)}} – 4:05
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(orchestral version)}} – 4:05
# "One of These Girls" – 3:33
# "Wannabe" {{small|(Junior Vasquez remix edit)}} – 5:57
# "2 Become 1" {{small|(Dave Way Remix)}} – 4:01
# "Sleigh Ride" – 3:18
{{col-end}}

==Credits and personnel==
{{div col}}
* Spice Girls – lyrics, vocals
* Matt Rowe – lyrics, [[Record producer|producer]], keyboards and [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* [[Richard Stannard (songwriter)|Richard Stannard]] – lyrics, producer, keyboards and programming
* Andy Bradfield – additional production and [[audio mixing (recorded music)|audio mixing]]
* Adrian Bushby – [[Audio engineer|recording engineer]]
* Patrick McGovern – [[Production assistant|assistant]]
* Pete Davis, Paul Waller and Statik – additional programming
* Greg Lester – guitar
* [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]] – [[String section|string arrangement]]
* Isobel Griffiths – [[Orchestra|orchestral contractor]]
* Perry Montague-Masson – orchestral leader
* [[Spike Stent|Mark "Spike" Stent]] – audio mixing
* [[Dave Way]] – remixing
{{div col end}}
* Published by Windswept Pacific Music Ltd. and PolyGram Music Publishing Ltd.<ref name="single" />

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Weekly chart performance for "2 Become 1"
!Chart (1996–1997)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="aus"}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|9|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="aut"}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|11|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="belfla"}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|5|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
|Czech Republic ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI CR]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-03-22.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=22 March 1997|access-date=13 February 2019}}</ref> 
|align="center"|7
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=3288|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="canrpm"}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|4|chartid=3363|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="canac"}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadadance|18|chartid=3297|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="candu"}}
|-
|Denmark ([[Tracklisten]])<ref name="denmark">{{cite magazine|date=1 February 1997|title=Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 01/16/97|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Company|Nielsen Business Media]]|volume=109|issue=5|page=49|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|Europe ([[European Hot 100]])<ref name="eurohot">{{cite magazine|date=18 January 1997|title=Hits of the World|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=109|issue=3|pages=46–47|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
{{single chart|Finland|9|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|France|4|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|13|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|songid=3365|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="ger"}}
|-
|Hungary ([[Mahasz]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-02-22.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=22 February 1997|access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref> 
|align="center"|9
|-
|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2950315#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.01.1997 – 29.01.1997)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=24 January 1997|access-date=5 February 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|13
|-
|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])<ref name="ireland">{{cite magazine|date=11 January 1997|title=Hits of the World: Ireland (IFPI Ireland/Chart-Track) 12/26/96|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=109|issue=2|page=67|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Italy ([[Federation of the Italian Music Industry|FIMI]])<ref name="eurohot" />
|align="center"|9
|-
|Italy Airplay (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-02-22.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=14|issue=8|page=23|date=22 February 1997}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Lithuania ([[M-1 (Lithuanian radio station)|M-1]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m-1.fm/top40/?topid=1391|title=M-1 TOP 40|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124904/http://m-1.fm/top40/?topid=1391|date=23 February 1997|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|8
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|3|year=1997|week=3|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=27 June 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020|refname="nzc"}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|3|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=19961222}}
|-
|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref name="spain">{{cite magazine|date=26 April 1997|title=Hits of the World: Spain (TVE/AFYVE) 04/05/97|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=108|issue=41|page=59|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|7|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|10|artist=Spice Girls|song=2 Become 1|access-date=29 May 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=19961222|refname="uk"}}
|-
|UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-12-14.pdf |title= The ''RM'' on a Pop Tip Club Chart |magazine= [[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental insert) |date= 14 December 1996 |page= 6 |access-date= 6 October 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=23 April 2019|refname="usa"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|8|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=23 April 2019|refname="usac"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|27|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=23 April 2019}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|24|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=31 July 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|4|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=23 April 2019|refname="usps"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|4|artist=Spice Girls|access-date=23 April 2019|refname="usr"}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 1996 year-end chart performance for "2 Become 1"
! Chart (1996)
! Position
|-
| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-to-1996-spice-girls-hit-number-1-with-say-youll-be-there__16652/|title=Chart Flashback – 1996|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>
|align="center"| 10
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 1997 year-end chart performance for "2 Become 1"
! Chart (1997)
! Position
|-
| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1997/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=2 May 2011}}</ref>
|align="center"| 32
|-
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1996|title=Jaaroverzichten 1996|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|access-date=11 April 2011|language=nl}}</ref>
|align="center"| 72
|-
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1996|title=Rapports annuels 1996|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|access-date=11 April 2011|language=fr}}</ref>
|align="center"| 65
|-
| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3416&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3416.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3416|title=RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|via=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"| 25
|-
| Canada Adult Contemporary (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7905&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7905.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7905|title=RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|via=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"| 27
|-
| Europe (European Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-12-27.pdf|title=1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|access-date=20 December 2019|magazine=Music & Media}}</ref> 
|align="center"| 19
|-
| France (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/page-259376.xml?year=1997 |title=Classement Singles – année 1997 |publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] |access-date=2 May 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729032907/http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/page-259376.xml?year=1997 |archive-date=29 July 2012 }}</ref>
|align="center"| 41
|-
| Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1997 |title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997  |publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]] |language=de |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>
|align="center"| 72
|-
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-1998.pdf|title=Single Top 100 Van 1998|language=nl|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref>
|align="center"| 42
|-
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1997&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten 1996|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|access-date=11 April 2011|language=nl}}</ref>
|align="center"| 85
|-
| New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1997-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1997|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"| 37
|-
| Romania ([[Romanian Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html|title=Romanian Top 100 Singles Airplay – Top of the Year 1997|publisher=[[Romanian Top 100]]|language=ro|access-date=4 May 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122082314/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html|archive-date=22 January 2005}}</ref>
|align="center"| 28
|-
| Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1997&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1997|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|language=sv|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"| 96
|-
| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1997|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=17 January 1998}}</ref>
|align="center"| 35
|-
| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="bbend">{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=109|issue=52|page=32|date=27 December 1997|issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1997|title=Top 100 Hits for 1997|access-date=7 May 2015}}</ref>
|align="center"| 35
|-
| US Rhythmic Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles|magazine=[[Airplay Monitor]]|volume=5|issue=52|page=42|date=26 December 1997}}</ref>
|align="center"| 24
|-
| US Top 40/Mainstream (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=5|issue=52|page=38|date=26 December 1997}}</ref>
|align="center"| 24
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "2 Become 1"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|award=Platinum|certyear=1997|access-date=28 September 2011}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|refname=ultratop|access-date=5 January 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Spice Girls|title=Two become One|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=28 September 2011}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=2 Become 1|artist=Spice Girls|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|type=single|award=Gold|id=1997-05-02|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname=nzcer}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|nosales=true|access-date=28 September 2011}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Spice Girls|title=2 Become 1|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1997|certyear=2018|salesamount=1,140,000|salesref=<ref name="uksales">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/spice-girls-top-10-biggest-singles-on-the-official-chart__24651/|title=Spice Girls' Top 10 biggest singles on the Official Chart|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=24 May 2019|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref>|refname="bpi"|access-date=24 May 2019|id=85-1952-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Spice Girls|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|award=Gold|salesamount=700,000|salesref=<ref name="Billboard1997">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76|first=Don |last=Jeffrey|title=Best-selling Records of 1997|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=31 January 1998|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "2 Become 1"
|-
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label(s)
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"| France
| rowspan="3"| 16 December 1996
| rowspan="2"| [[Maxi single|Maxi CD]]
| rowspan="2"| [[EMI]]
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fnac.com/a689041/Spice-Girls-Two-become-vol-1-CD-maxi-single|title=Two become / vol.1 &ndash; Spice Girls &ndash; CD maxi single|publisher=[[Fnac]]|location=France|language=fr|date=16 December 1996|accessdate=18 October 2022}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| Germany
| {{center|<ref name="ger"/>}}
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
| {{hlist|[[Cassette single|Cassette]]|two maxi CDs}}
| [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| align="center"| <ref name="cds"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-12-14.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=43|date=14 December 1996|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Japan
| 21 December 1996
| Maxi CD
| [[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]]
| align="center"| <ref name="Japan CD">[https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%91%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BA/dp/B000026WV5 Amazon.co.jp: トゥー・ビカム・ワン: Music<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| France
| 7 February 1997
| [[CD single|CD]]
| rowspan="2"| EMI
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fnac.com/a690145/Spice-Girls-Two-become-vol-1-CD-single|title=Two become / vol.1 &ndash; Spice Girls &ndash; CD single|publisher=[[Fnac]]|location=France|language=fr|date=7 February 1997|accessdate=18 October 2022}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| Australia
| 6 April 1997
| Maxi CD
| {{center|<ref name="aus"/>}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| United States
| 1 July 1997
| [[Contemporary hit radio]]
| rowspan="3"| Virgin
| align="center"| <ref name="uschr"/>
|-
| 29 July 1997
| CD
| align="center"| <ref name="uscdrel"/>
|-
| 12 August 1997
| Maxi CD
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000006JSQ|title=Spice Girls &ndash; 2 Become 1 [US CD2]|publisher=[[Amazon Music]]|location=United States|accessdate=18 October 2022}}</ref>}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Brown|first=Melanie|author-link=Melanie Brown|title=Catch a Fire: The Autobiography|year=2002|publisher=[[Hodder Headline|Headline Book Publishing]]|isbn=0-7553-1063-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Cripps|first=Rebecca|author2=Peachey, Mal|author3=Spice Girls|title=Real Life: Real Spice The Official Story|year=1997|publisher=Zone/Chameleon Books|isbn=0-233-99299-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/realliferealspic00spic}}
* {{cite book|last=De Ribera Berenguer|first=Juan|title=Colección: Ídolos del Pop-Spice Girls|year=1997|language=es|publisher=Editorial La Máscara|isbn=84-7974-236-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Golden|first=Anna Louise|title=The Spice Girls|year=1997|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|isbn=0-345-41965-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/spicegirls00gold_0}}
* {{cite book|last=Halliwell|first=Geraldine|author-link=Geri Halliwell|title=If Only|year=1999|publisher=[[Dell Publishing|Delacorte Press]]|isbn=0-385-33475-3}}
* {{cite book|last =McGibbon|first=Rob|title=Spice Power: The Inside Story|year=1997|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] Ltd|isbn=0-7522-1142-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Sinclair|first=David|title=Wannabe: How the Spice Girls Reinvented Pop Fame|year=2004|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=0-7119-8643-6}}
* {{cite book|author=Spice Girls|author-link=Spice Girls|title=Girl Power!|year=1997|publisher=Zone/Chameleon Books|isbn=0-233-99165-4}}
* {{cite book|author=Spice Girls|title=Spice Girls Greatest Hits (Piano/Vocal/Guitar) Artist Songbook|year=2008|publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]]|isbn=978-1-4234-3688-1}}
{{Refend}}

{{Spice Girls singles}}
{{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1990s|song}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1995 songs]]
[[Category:1996 singles]]
[[Category:1997 singles]]
[[Category:1990s ballads]]
[[Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Big T.V.]]
[[Category:Music videos shot in London]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Richard Stannard (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Emma Bunton]]
[[Category:Songs written by Geri Halliwell]]
[[Category:Songs written by Matt Rowe (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mel B]]
[[Category:Songs written by Melanie C]]
[[Category:Songs written by Richard Stannard (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Victoria Beckham]]
[[Category:Spice Girls songs]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]