Christine (song)

"Christine" is a song recorded by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song was written by Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux andSteven Severin and it was released as the second single from the band's third album Kaleidoscope.

"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 synthesizers. 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 Christine 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.

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 the Banshees never managed to perform it on the programme.

The song was covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers at their V2001 Festival's concert[1]  and by Simple Minds in 2009 on the deluxe edition of theirGraffiti Soul album.