Destiny’s Child: The End of the Beginning
The ‘90’s were a fun and prosperous period in our country’s history. Clinton was President, the economy was booming, and groundbreaking musical groups ruled the airways. Destiny’s Child burst onto the scene in the late 90’s, giving voice to a new generation of young women who were sexy, sassy and self-determined. Beyonce Knowles, Kelendria “Kelly” Rowland, LaTavia Luckett and LaToya Roberson were the original members of the multi-platinum, best-selling girl group of all time, Destiny’s Child.
1997’s hit single “No, No, No” which sold over a million copies worldwide, ushered in a new era of independent and sophisticated women who no longer waited around for a man to make his move, but knew what she wanted and how to make it happen. Destiny’s Child, the title of the groups first album also featured the single “With Me,” showcasing the lyrics “Do you ever wonder when he don’t come home who he goes to see, why in the middle of the night he leaves you alone, cause everything he wants is with me.” These lyrics helped to perpetuate even further the feeling that women had to step up and take what they wanted, or felt they deserved.
The chart-topping single “Bills, Bills, Bills” released just before the debut of Destiny’s Child’s sophomore album The Writing’s on the Wall in 1999, shook many members of the male gender to their core with the lyrics, “Can you pay my bills, can you pay my telephone bill, can you pay my automobile, if you did then maybe we could chill.” These lyrics and other singles from the album including “Bug-a-boo” and “Say My Name” further perpetuated the group’s reputation as strong and determined women. Soon after the release of The Writings On The Wall two of the groups members LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, left the group and where replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. Franklin left the group several months after joining, leaving Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to savor the chart topping success that was destined for Destiny’s Child.
Before the release of Destiny’s Child’s third album, Kelly stepped out of the group setting and recorded and released Destiny’s Child’s first solo track, “Angel” which appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Down to Earth. As chance would have it, former Destiny’s Child members. LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, announced the formation of their new girl group called Angel, which never made any real contribution to the art of music. The spring of 2001 brought about the release of Destiny’s Child’s third album Survivor hit the charts at number one. Several singles from the album, including “Survivor,” and “Bootylicious” also spent time on the charts. After the release of Destiny’s Child Christmas album, Eight Days of Christmas, and a remix album, aptly titled, This is the Remix, the first solo album by a group member was released. Michelle Williams gospel album, Heart to Yours, was followed by Kelly Rowland’s album entitled, Simply Deep.
Then came the release of Beyonce Knowles album, entitled Dangerously in Love. The release and success of Beyonce’s debut solo album confirmed what fans already knew, Beyonce’s star was destined to outshine the competition. Dangerously in Love earned Beyonce five grammy’s and her song writing earned her the honor of ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in 2001 making her the first African-American woman and only the second female ever to earn such an honor. Beyonce also made a foray into the world of acting, starring opposite Mike Myers in the Austin Powers sequel Goldmember, and she co-starred in The Fighting Temptations opposite Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.
2004 brought the group together again, as they released Destiny Fulfilled, the album that would bring the women of Destiny’s Child full circle, and close one of the most entertaining chapters in music history, when the group announced that this would be their last album together. Though one chapter has closed, fans anxiously await the next chapter in the solo music lives of Michelle, Kelly and Beyonce, Destiny’s Child.
