The album version of the song was recorded in 1999. It was written by Melanie C, Rick Nowels and Billy Steinberg. The song was chosen to be released as the fourth single of the album Northern Star, just after the big success of the number one single Never Be The Same Again. According to Melanie C after some discussions with Virgin Records executives, they decided to get some remixes done just to see what they sounded like.[5] She stated that she was "blown away" as soon as she heard the Hex Hector remix, so along with the Virgin executives they decided that it should be released as a single. She said that "it just made sense - the whole Ibiza thing, it was a summer release, it was obvious that the Hex Hector mix was going to be a hit".
Critical reception
Since the song's release, it has been critically acclaimed as one of the best solo Spice Girl singles. Billboard listed it as the number-one entry in the article "Girl Group Solo Songs: The 10 Best (Non-Beyonce) Singles of the Modern Era".[6]Daily Record commented, "Dance orientated, this track looks set to spice up the charts. It's a bit of a change from girl power to power pop."[7] The Digital Fix deemed the song "fantastic".[8]Q magazine said, "Today we are enjoying Ibiza Mel. Video, haircut and moves shamelessly lifted straight from Madonna's Ray of Light. Constant repetition of the titles over some bogstandard techno-fun, and suddenly her Top Shop Motorhead t-shirt is nowhere to be seen. As attempts to dominate the lucrative Ibiza market go, it's innocuous enough, if tinged with fear over what her next move will be".[9] The War Against Silence wrote "the dense, sparkling "I Turn to You" reminds me alternately of recent Roxette and Seven the Hard Way-era Pat Benatar."[10]
Chart performance
With "I Turn to You", Melanie C achieved her tenth number-one UK single as a songwriter and it made her the first woman to top the UK charts as part of a quintet, quartet, duo and as a solo artist. With "Holler", the Spice Girls' final UK number one, Melanie C became the first female songwriter to write at least 11 UK number-one singles. Melanie C held this record alone until Madonna achieved her eleventh number one with "Hung Up" in 2005, then lost it when Madonna achieved her twelfth number one with "Sorry" in 2006.
Music video
The music video for the song was filmed on the island of Ibiza in June 2000, and features shots of her dancing in Es Paradis nightclub. Melanie C has crimped blonde hair extensions in this video and there are constantly changing scenes of her dancing (in Esparadis) to sitting on a cliff to lying in blue water, possibly the sea or a swimming pool. The video ends with her and groups of people walking up the top of the cliff at sunset. The video was directed by Cameron Casey.[11]
Live performances
"I Turn to You" has been performed in all of Melanie C's concert tours, and is typically used as the encore song.[12][13]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
"I Turn to You" is the 2004 debut single of Norwegian glam metal band Wig Wam, released as the first single from their debut album, 667.. The Neighbour of the Beast. The CD single features only "Crazy Things". The track was later featured on Hard to Be a Rock 'n' Roller, a renamed reissue of 667.. The Neighbour of the Beast.
^I Turn to You (Taiwanese CD1 liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records, EMI Records. 2000. 8970080.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (South African CD single liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. CDVIS (WS) 174.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (UK CD2 liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. VSCDX1772, 7243 8 97008 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (Taiwanese CD2 liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records, EMI Records. 2000. 8970082.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. VSTX1772, 7243 8 97014 6 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (UK 2×12-inch single vinyl discs). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. VST 1772, 7243 8 97008 6 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (UK cassette single sleeve). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. VSC1772, 7243 8 97008 4 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (European CD single liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. VSCDE1772, 7243 8 97021 2 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. V25H-38773, 7243 8 38773 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Melanie C. Virgin Records America. 2001. Y-38773, 7243 8 38773 1 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Turn to You (Australian CD single liner notes). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 2000. 7243 8 97050 0 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Northern Star (UK CD album booklet). Melanie C. Virgin Records. 1999. CDV2893, 7243 8 48469 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)