Much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ segments, readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past. So in a quest to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday we introduced a new retrospective segment – ‘TGJ Replay’.
Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase albums (and eras) from a library of pop music hits. From our collection to yours, TGJ presses play on Michelle Williams‘ 2002 debut solo effort ‘Heart To Yours’…
Shortly after their third album ‘Survivor’ spawned their most successful era to date (selling a whopping 15 million copies worldwide), Destiny’s Child members Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams announced a “temporary hiatus” to allow each member to pursue solo ventures.
While Bey and Kelly took to television, movies, and worked on mainstream offerings, Williams shocked fans with the announcement of a gospel project.
The news, initially met with mixed review by some of the genre’s traditionalists due to the group’s image, left others questioning if DC3’s “quiet” member could really sail and sell an entire album by her lonesome.
2002’s ‘Heart To Yours’ album swiftly silenced all such criticism. Led by the jazzy ‘Heard A Word’…
‘Heard A Word’
Michelle’s foray into gospel not only showed fans she was able to float an album alone, but gave her the much overdue platform to showcase her own unique vocals. From showcasing soaring soprano belts to near contralto lows, fans were hearing new sides of the ‘Heard A Word’ hitmaker.
Added with the enlistment of fellow hitmakers Carl Thomas, Shirley Caesar, and Mary Mary, ‘Heart’ was heralded as one of 2002’s most solid gospel offerings – merging Michelle’s love of traditional gospel with the genre’s more contemporary, R&B-driven sounds.
‘So Glad’ ft. Mary Mary
‘Steal Away (To Jesus) ft. Destiny’s Child & Shirley Caesar’ (live)
A critical and commercial success, the album topped Billboard’s gospel chart year-end tally and became 2002’s best selling gospel album. To date, the record stands as Michelle’s best solo seller as well, thrusting her into a solo spotlight in her own right.
Opening doors that led Williams to the Broadway stage to further show off her soaring chops, like those demonstrated in the album’s Men of Standard-assisted fan favorite ‘You Care For Me’…
‘You Care For Me (ft. Men of Standard)’
Fast forward ten years later and ‘Heart To Yours’ is still on constant play here at TGJ HQ. So, you can’t blame us for being excited by the news that Michelle the belle will be returning to the gospel music scene later this year with a new album via Light Records. The creation of such, along with her other ventures, is reportedly being recorded and readied for a new reality show also due in the coming months.
While we wait for news to break on what the ‘We Break the Dawn’ diva is cooking up, we’ll push play on ‘Heart’ with hopes the new joint will match or surpass its solidity.
‘Gospel Medley (ft. Destiny’s Child)’
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I’m so happy for her you go mimi 🙂
mimi?
A lil nickname i gave to michelle problem ?
A beautiful album sung by a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice…
And as much as I cannot stand her BeyTHEIFce’, that Destiny’s Child medley always givs me MULTIPLE LIVES!!!
🙂
But let’s not forget that BeyKINGce being the leader of a 40 million albums – selling female trio is the only reason why Michelle and Kelly have careers now.
I love her voice she’s a much better singer than beyonce….
No.
WHO??
your username kinda shades itself. so instead of responding, i’ll just say…
her name is michelle williams. you may have heard of her in Destiny’s Child after you saw cici slay performances at Motel 6’s lobby last night
Lol… you tried who is this b**** outside of beyonce? oh a f****** nobody… you have to bring up Destinys child lol Michelle cant stand on her own
and u can’t bring up ciara without talkin about a backbend or goodies…almost a decade old…
this post is about how michelle made her own way OUTSIDE OF DC3…before u tried to be funny and be rude…u shoulda read the part about her 4 albums, broadway stints, and reality show.
not hating on cici, she’s great. but this post is about celebrating michelle the SOLO artist
Michelle ALWAYS makes great albums.
Can’t wait for her 4th one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The children of Destiny’s Child are bad b****** all around. Love me some Michelle Williams.
Irrelevant!
She was apart of the 3rd best selling girl group in the world yet she has nothing to show for it.
Bey & Kelly>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Michelle
Yet Michelle is the better singer then them both b**** have several seats h**
This chipmunk sounding b**** is a better singer than both Beyonce & Kelly?
No h**, you’re the one that needs to sit after that dumb statement.
A real vocalist right here something beyonce is not
I loved this album sooo much, can’t wait until the next one!!!!!!
The fact that all people are actually doing is dedicating the comments on Michelles post to shade Beyoncé shows they aint really got much respect for Michelle as an individual artist.
true no one respects this tramp
SHES A BORING OLD NIGGER_ SHE DOESN’T HAVE S*** ON ASHLEE QUEEN SIMPSON
yaaaaaas!!! F*** HER!!
Irrelevant Anorexic T***** looking b****
Beyonce & Keyshia >>>>>>>> Mitchell
not this Keyshia Cole fan coming for Michelle Williams. Girl Keyshia Cole is not even know in the dollar store on the corner in the hood.
Didnt even know she had a album let alone 3 or 4….
Her music clearly made no impact…. dont even no why im here shes beyond irrelevant..
Urgh Kelly Rowland and this t***** will forever be complete non-factors. I’m not even gonna listen to this dated and whiny b****. And why on earth would anyone when you can just cop Beyucki’s album???
ill take a beyonce album over this b**** any day
kills me how yall complain abt her being irrelevant YET you are here seizing every opportunity to talk abt her
IRRELEVANT NO ONE KNOWS YOU OUTSIDE OF BEYONCE
YOU AND KELLY WILL ALWAYS BE BEYONCE SHADOW…
Ok…this album had the best music of all 3 albums released by DC. The problems were Michelle’s nasal voice. Conflicting image seen on Survivor (see S*** Daddy) and Mathew Knowles’ shady handling of the project giving her ONE video! Only Dilemma saved Kelly’s project, although it was a great album.
Do You Know received even.worse treatment. Michelle isn’t very convincing in any genre. She looks confused with DC and uncomfortable with Gospel.
She needs 3 things: A backbone. She has an opinion but cant address the wayward, lack of example of Kelly and Beyoncé. A clear artistic direction. She isn’t really lead material, but she is a hood writer, a great singer (not a nice voice), witha good ear for music. Unexpected proves this. A name changr. Her namr is Tenitra. Mathew suggested it because T was too soulful…we all know he wanted a plain name to not detract from Beyoncé.
As much as I love Kelly, I can only look fwd to B’s projects as Rowland has bevome Pornland
Mental illness is a serious issue and I see lots of it here, when grown ups can actually take time off from their lives to go online and hate on someone they don’t know/who doesn’t know them. She has never done anything to anyone but you people just do all you can to bring her down.
I happen to be her fan and I may not be a Beyonce or Kelly fan but I would be very stupid to start insulting them on the basis of “I’m not a fan”.
Yes everyone has different tastes in music, if you don’t like her music that’s perfectly fine and you may even say you don’t like it but to resort to insults is very juvenile.
As much as the Tro with Destiny Child was good. The medley with Shirley Caesar was excellent performance
it brought me to tears. It may me think of my
who pass way last year.
Am so glade @ you embarking on soreading the Gospel of Christ even through your singing may God take you to great places as you lfit his name. We are so proud of you for this. With lots of love.
Michelle looks gorgeous here omg!!!!!!!! I think she needs to pick up weight again and I love love love this album stunning
I love Michelle.
This album is amazing!
Great album. “Heart to Yours” is my favorite track.
Ciara and Keyshia Cole fans don’t say s**t!
Michelle has a #1 Gospel album in her first solo work, Ciara and Keysha didn’t do this. They didn’t have a #1 R&B album or anything like Michelle…
I’m not trying to compare. I used to love Ciara and Keysha but Ciara always do the same kind of music, she never bring something new, something fresh, I got tired of her songs that seems to be the same. Keyshia is the same thing but beyond that her stupid declaration about Michelle on SuperBowl made me feel disgusted by her.
I love all my girls of Destiny’s Child. Together or in solo. (:
Michelle is doing a great job on Broadway and I’m excited by her 4th solo album.
GREAT POST! An iconic contemporary gospel album of the 2000s!
Well deserved criticall acclaim.
HEART TO YOURS is a BEAUTIFUL song. The lyrics, the harmonies >>>>>>>>>>>>
Everything, So Glad, You Care for Me and Rock With Me are other clear STAND OUTS along with the Shirley Caesar duet.
This album really showcased Michelle’s belting ability. She was soaring into the heavens on You Care For Me and was going ALL THE WAY IN on Rock With Me.
Oh one more thing, that second album cover you posted was actually made by myself a few years ago LOL. Thanks for posting.
#TeamTenitra #TeamMichelle #UnexpectedMichelle