Producer: Jovonn Alexander ∙ Kevin She’kspere Briggs ∙ Donnie “D-Major” Boynton ∙ Chad “Dr. Ceuss” Elliott ∙ Missy Elliott ∙ Ken “K-Fam” Fambro ∙ Anthony Hardy ∙ Donald Holmes ∙ Oshea Hunter ∙ Rodney Jerkins ∙ Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Platinum Status ∙ Daryl Simmons ∙ Chris Stokes ∙ Terry T ∙ Gerard Thomas ∙ D’wayne Wiggins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By 1998, the Texas based group Destiny’s Child signed to Columbia Records in 1996, and stepped onto the scene with their debut recording Killing Time (which was featured on the Men in Black soundtrack,) and their debut hit single No, No, No Pt. 2 and the rest was history. The band was originally a quartet consisting of Beyoncé Knowles, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland & LeToya Luckett. The band’s eponymous debut album was released in 1998, to mixed reviews.
Not satisfied with the debut album’s Neo-soul influenced sound, for the group’s next studio album they desired to take more creative control and the results paid off with 1999’s The Writing’s on the Wall. An album with elements of R&B, pop, hip hop and soul, The Writing’s on the Wall is a concept album with each song being a representation of Destiny’s Child’s commandments of relationships (structured like the Ten Commandments).
The themes of feminism, infatuation, dependency, infidelity, separation and religion makes the album a timeless affair with the original lineup of Destiny’s Child. Considered to be the group’s breakthrough album, The Writing’s on the Wall peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 133,000 copies sold. It has since gone octuple platinum by the RIAA.
Unfortunately, the album was kind of overshadowed by the messsssss that occurred when the group’s internal conflicts playing out the promotional cycle of the album (we’ll discuss later on)…but has definitely been considered to be one of the group’s strongest albums & introduced the band to a wider audience that their debut did not. Nevertheless, it is one of the best-selling girl group albums of all time…ICONIC!
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Destiny’s Child’s “The Writings on the Wall.”
Intro (The Writin’s on the Wall)
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson
The intro to the album is inspired by the Godfather influenced scene in the 1996 film, Set It Off.
LeToya Barzini, I wanna thank you For helping me organize this meeting here today And Kelly Stracci, I also want to thank you And all the other Dons of the four families Beyoncé Corleone from the South West And LaTavia Clemenza from the Four-Four Our objective of this meeting today is to discuss Destiny’s Child’s “Commandments of Relationships” You know, it’s so unfortunate, so unnecessary For us to end up with broken hearts Yes, Godfather, times have changed Relationships aren’t like the old days, you know? See, what we need is a man of his word All this, uh, cheating, uh, backstabbing, uh, hating No more, no more But, Godfather, how do we avoid all these mishaps?
[Outro: Beyoncé] It’s obvious, the writing’s on the wall
So Good
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Kandi Burruss ∙ Kevin Briggs
Thou shalt not hate.
-Beyoncé
So Good has the singers expressing to the doubters that they’re better off without those kind of people in their lives. The flaunting of the success to a lover who cannot come back is the sweetest thing to do to a hateful and jealous person. It’s an album cut that is so flawless!
Bills, Bills, Bills
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ Kandi Burruss ∙ Kevin Briggs
Thou shalt pay bills.
-Kelly
Released as the lead single from the album, Bills, Bills, Bills was lyrically about a boyfriend being confronted about his lack of accountability over him practically being a moocher. I love this song so MUCH! Bills, Bills, Bills became Destiny’s Child’s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 9 consecutive weeks.
The song was also one of the best-selling singles of 1999, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Bills, Bills, Bills was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2000 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song.
***Bills, Bills, Bills was covered by Glee Cast featuring Darren Criss
Confessions (featuring Missy Elliott)
Written by Donald Holmes ∙ Gerard Thomas ∙ Melissa Elliott
Thou shalt confess,
-Kelly
Confessions is a conversation with the singer to her boyfriend about infidelity that transpired and is keen on being honest and transparent about it. An album cut! The song features guest vocals from Missy Elliott, who produced and co-wrote the record.
Bug a Boo
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Kevin Briggs
Thou shalt not bug.
-LaTavia
Released as the second single from the album, Bug a Boo is lyrically referring to an overly attached and clingy boy who is so annoying that you’re willing to give up ANY AND EVERYTHING FOR THIS MAN TO KICK ROCKS. A song for sure! Bug a Boo peaked at 15 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts respectively.
***Bug a Boo uses interpolations of:
Child’s Anthem by Toto
Temptation
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Dwayne Wiggins ∙ Carl Wheeler ∙ Anthony Ray
Thou shalt not give into temptation.
-Beyoncé
Temptation is discussing how someone captures your attention and you want to go out on a limb and risk it all…but you’re in a relationship. One of my favorite album cuts lead by Beyoncé!
***Temptation contains resung elements from:
Whatever You Want by Tony! Toni! Toné!
Posse On Broadway by Sir Mix-A-Lot
Now That She’s Gone
Written by Ken Fambro ∙ Donnie Boynton ∙ Tara Geter ∙ Latrelle Simmons ∙ Aleese Simmons
Thou shalt not think you got it like that.
-LaTavia
Now That She’s Gone is a song that expresses how I feel when someone tries to double back after leaving me for another. You can’t come back here!!!!! You don’t got it like that sir. That’s the best way to describe the lyricism behind this underrated masterpiece.
Where’d You Go
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ Latvia Roberson ∙ Marques Houston ∙ Kelton Kessee ∙ Tony Scott ∙ Chris Stokes
Thou shalt not leave me wonderin’.
-LeToya
Where’d You Go has the ladies wondering if their men are losing interest in them and is pleading for them to stay.
Hey Ladies
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Kandi Burruss ∙ Kevin Briggs
Thou shalt know when he’s got to go.
-LaTavia
Hey Ladies has the singers realizing that it is time to leave these losers and cheaters in the DUST!
If You Leave (featuring Next)
Written by Robert Huggar ∙ Tyvette Turman ∙ Chad Elliott ∙ Oshea Hunter
Thou shalt move on to the next.
-Kelly
If You Leave is one of my favorite Destiny’s Child records and rightfully so! From a lyrical perspective, the song touches on a couple who is sneaking around debating over the decision of leaving their respective significant others and beginning a new life together as one. The R&B boy band Next collaborated with the ladies on this one, and it is a slow jam masterpiece!
Jumpin’, Jumpin’
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Rufus Moore ∙ Chad Elliott
Thou shalt get your party on .
-LeToya
Jumpin’ Jumpin’ was released as the fourth and final single from the album, and is a dance BOP! From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks to leaving your man and/or woman at home when you are going out to the club with your people. The rich men are at the club and their pockets are ready to be spent honey! It was the last single from the band to feature vocals from LaTavia & LeToya, and the music video featured the band’s replacement members Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams.
Jumpin’ Jumpin’ peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.
Say My Name
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Rodney Jerkins ∙ Fred Jerkins III ∙ LaShawn Daniels
Thou shalt say my name.
-Beyoncé
Released as the third single, Say My Name is lyrically about the ladies calling and suspecting their man of being unfaithful, and the signs are physically and emotionally showing. She is demanding that he say her name, but is under the assumption that he doesn’t want the girl he is cheating with to know who she is. A mess, chile. I JUST WANT TO SAY THART DC4 HARMONIES WERE TOP TIER DAMN IT! Produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, the song is the highlight of the album for various reasons, like the introduction of replacement members Farrah & Michelle in the music video for the song. We know the story of what went down so I won’t go into full detail, but baby!
Nevertheless, the song became the band’s second number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and was also number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Say My Name was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA, and won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song. It also was nominated for Record and Song of the Year.
***Say My Name was sampled for:
Playing Games by Summer Walker
Girls Love Beyoncé by Drake
What’s My Name (with Queen Naija & Coi Leray) by Fivio Foreign.
She Can’t Love You
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ LeToya Luckett ∙ LaTavia Roberson ∙ Kandi Burruss ∙ Kevin Briggs
Thou shalt know she can’t love you.
-Beyoncé
She Can’t Love You has the protagonist reminding her former beau that she (his new girlfriend ) can never compare to the likes of her on any day! A song with strong Latin influences.
Stay
Written by Daryl Simmons
If thou can wait, then thou shalt stay.
-LeToya
Stay is about asking your lover what do I have to do to still have you in my life. It also speaks about being in love real deep with a guy who wants to break up with you because they are not having sex. Like whew.
Sweet Sixteen
Written by Beyoncé Knowles ∙ Kelly Rowland ∙ Dwayne Wiggins ∙ Jody Watley
Thou shalt cherish life.
-LeToya
Sweet Sixteen is a retooled cover of the legendary Jody Watley’s 16, and the ladies pay tribute to her with this remarkable tale of a teenage girl who has her whole life ahead of her. The band is telling her don’t be so eager to grow up! Enjoy life and live in the moment because you can’t get these young years back.
Outro (Amazing Grace…Dedicated to Andretta Tillman)
Written by John Newton
This is for you, Ms. Ann Who’s now with our Heavenly Father who made the real commandments.
An acapella of the traditional gospel record, this outro of Amazing Grace was dedicated to the late Andretta Tillman, who was the group’s original manager before passing away in 1997.
Andretta Tillman, the original manager of Destiny’s Child. 1958-1997
The Writing’s on the Wall set the tone and sound for mainstream music at the time of its release, and should be considered one of the best R&B albums of all time. A true masterpiece! I love and adore DC3, but DC4 was magical. Those harmonies were sickening! And the creative control they had on their albums as teenagers is something so important to remember in their legacies.
The message of feminism was all over this album and influenced future artists years since its release. Compared to their debut album, The Writing’s on the Wall is everything and then some. -MW.
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