Halo (Texas song)

"Halo" is a song recorded by Scottish alternative rock band Texas released on 7 April 1997 and the second single to be released from their fourth studio album, White on Blonde. The song was written by Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and guitarist Johnny McElhone and was produced by Texas and Mike Hedges. "Halo" debuted and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Charts. The music video, filmed in Hong Kong, features Spiteri and a Chinese woman acting as her "halo".

"Halo"
Single by Texas
from the album White on Blonde
B-side
  • "Asking for Favours"
  • "Coming Down"
Released7 April 1997
StudioAbbey Road Studios (London, England)
Length4:10
LabelMercury Records (MERCD 482 / MERDD 482)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Texas singles chronology
"Say What You Want"
(1997)		 "Halo"
(1997)		 "Black Eyed Boy"
(1997)
Alternative covers
UK Limited Edition Cover
Music video
"Halo" on YouTube

Release and promotion

"Halo" was released as the second single from the White on Blonde album on 7 April 1997. It debuted at number 10 in the United Kingdom on 19 April 1997. During the song's second week it fell to number 17, and during its third week it fell to number 21. In its fourth week the song dropped to number 36, and in its fifth week it fell out the UK top 40 at number 51. In total, the song spent eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart.[1] In the band's native Scotland, the single peaked at number three.[2] Outside the UK, it reached number 27 in Iceland and briefly charted in the Flanders region of Belgium.[3][4]

Critical reception

Dominic Pride from Music & Media wrote that the song is "just as infectious" as "Say What You Want", "with building strings and one of the strongest hooks currently going." He added, "Texas have a knack of making songs which fit radio perfectly, and this one makes Sharleen Spiteri's voice virtually jump out of the speakers. As big a hit as the last one."[5] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave it 7 out of 10, commenting, "Texas follow up 'Say What You Want' with another radio-friendly track from the album White On Blonde. Strings and brass combine with Deborah Harry-ish vocals to make the perfect breezy summer hit."[6]

Music video

The music video for "Halo" was filmed in Hong Kong[7] in 1997 and begins with a Chinese man running through a street. It features Spiteri wearing a red dress while singing the song in front of a brick wall. A Chinese woman wearing the same dress is also featured as her "halo". The video was inspired by the Wong Kar-wai film Chungking Express.

Track listings

CD1

  1. "Halo" - 4:10
  2. "Asking for Favours" – 3:49
  3. "Coming Down" – 3:50
  4. "Halo" (Orchestral Version) – 4:25

CD2

  1. "Halo" - 4:10
  2. "Halo" (Rae & Christian Mix) – 6:20
  3. "Halo" (Rae & Christian Dub) – 5:39
  4. "Halo" (808 Mix) – 5:25
  5. "Halo" (808 Dub) – 5:52

Personnel
  • Artwork By [Design] – Lee Swillingham, Stuart Spalding
  • Photography – Ellen Von Unwerth
  • Producer – Texas
  • Written-By – McElhone, Spiteri

Charts

References
  1. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  2. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.7. '97 – 9.7. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 July 1997. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Texas – Halo" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  5. Pride, Dominic (12 April 1997). "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 11. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. Hyland, Ian (6 April 1997). "Orbital Make a Heavenly Saints Sound". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
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