Today we go back to the end of the last century to salute one of the greatest bands the music business has ever birthed.
This week’s From The Vault is Destiny’s Child‘s sassy ‘Bills, Bills, Bills.’
The first offering from the original line-up’s sophomore set ‘The Writings On The Wall,’ ‘Bills’ joined the list of male-bashing tracks which were all the rage in the late 90’s into early 00’s.
An attitude soaked song with a direct approach, the cut finds the girls lamenting about “good for nothing type of brothers.” Interestingly, the now-iconic quad stressed that they were unable to stay with their baes as said lovers couldn’t meet their financial needs. Needless to say this was released prior to ‘Independent Women’.
Penned by the ladies and produced by Kevin “Shek’spere” Briggs, it served as the first DC’s four Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits – dethroning Jennifer Lopez’ ‘If You Had My Love.’ Helping establish the R&B outfit internationally, ‘Bills’ became their breakthrough hit peaking at #6 in the UK, #7 in Canada and charting inside the Top 10 in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Many a DC fan will recall the countless stories shared about times spent at Beyonce’s mother’s hair salon while growing up. Hence, it’s fitting that the group drew on this theme for the tune’s accompanying video. Set at a beauty salon, perhaps as a homage to the matriarch of the Knowles clan, the Darren Grant visual amplified the “girl talk” angle.
**************
We’re certainly not alone in forming a prayer circle for a new Destiny’s Child project. Whether an album, a tour, or an edgy “new rules” kind of venture, we’d readily welcome newness from DC3 . Or “DC of any number” to be honest. Because while there are a growing number of great group’s populating the modern day scene, there are arguably no true “super groups.” A title Destiny’s Child continue to hold.
For now, we can only celebrate the past in hope that the future delivers amazing things.
DC, once again, we salute you.
![Did You Miss It? Erykah Badu Reflects on #Beyhive Attack After Claiming Beyonce Copied Her: "They Gon Tear Me Up [For Talking About This]"](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/beyhive-jay-z-beyonce-cowboy-carter-act-ii-thatgrapejuice-2024-erykah-badu-464x260.jpg "Did You Miss It? Erykah Badu Reflects on #Beyhive Attack After Claiming Beyonce Copied Her: \"They Gon Tear Me Up [For Talking About This]\".")
D.C. is legendary and this whole album is amazing! I remember going to tower records and getting the cassette tape to this lol! “Say my name” was initially my fav but now in 2017 I’d say “confessions” is. Start to finish amazing album!
This song always sounded like No Scrubs 2.0 to me. The writings on the wall is one of my favorite albums of all-time. The singles aren’t even the best song’s on the album.
The survivor album was too childish and pop for me, they redeemed them selfs with destiny fulfilled though.
Same writers and producer
‘Say My Name’ is still my fav from TWOTW, but the whole album was full of nothing but catchy bops! I know Bey sometimes want to pull out another song like ‘So Good’ just for all these haters that followed her whole career!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsQ-8_Wofyk
It’s really amazing if you look at it. Destiny’s Child was a foursome when they first came out. They separated became a threesome had even more success than the previous lineup then they decided to go solo. Kelly Michelle and Beyonce had number ones as solo artist in movies and music. Then they came back as a supergroup with their last album Destiny fulfilled slayed the charts slayed the awards slayed the routines then separated again had more solo success then performed together at the Super Bowl as a supergroup. We will never see another group like this male or female…TIS ALL ????
Kandi Burruss and Kevin Briggs were the main writers. Good song and video
Probably the only writers “sips tea” ??
Beyonce and the girls, they were truly iconic.You could just see she was primed to be a star.
@Killian
Destinys Child is more than just Beyonce and the girls! How dare u down play the members of this group that performed and worked their asses off only to be discredited bcuz they are not as successful solo as their lead vocalist of their group! Beyonce is definitely a super star but their is no denying that a big part of DC was the loyalty and commitment of Kelly as well!
Well @ispeakfacts I get your point,Kelly was/is as loyal a friend/bandmate/minion as it gets but let’s not even decieve ourselves that destiny child is not what it was because of predominatly the hard work ,daring ,creativity and sheer hardwork of Beyonce and the girls(Michelle,Kelly,letoya …) in whatever order.but kudos again to Kelly.
Itserved as the first DC’s four Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits – dethroning Jennifer Lopez’ ‘If You Had My Love.’
IYHML is so much better. Anyway, I don’t get the desperation for a Destiny’s Child reunion, they were cute but nothing iconic or memorable, people overrate everything involving Beyoncé.
Nothing iconic? Or Memorable? People still sing say my name to this day, 18 years after its release. Are you JOKING me! Independent woman, Survivor, Bootylicious, Say My Name, Bills, just too mention a few are truly ICONIC girl group songs. All these new girl groups that come along will absolutely use DC as an influence it’s impossible not too! Their influence and legacy is undeniable and they will stay around FOREVER! F****** hating b****!
Wow, amazing songs, so influential, what a great legacy they have ?
We Are iconic also I’m one of the most awarded artist according to fuse
Nirvana were NOTHING until Kurt passed away
Destiny Child in itself is iconic.
Tell him, Lewis! Destiny’s Child is the blueprint for every female group after them! Their sound, feel and swag is all over groups like 5th Harmony and Little Mix…And this is where being black is needed boo boo lol…did you see Chasing Destiny? SO many girls were crying saying Destiny’s Child was an inspiration to them because they saw themselves in the group…their style, look, sound and the way they carried themselves! You loved Kurt as a kid (I assume), and little black girls adored Destiny’s Child…so many great artists were fans of Destiny’s Child, young and older! Now, you tried it with Miss Anita the other day and you failed there too lol…black don’t crack is proven ONCE AGAIN, cause all the members of Destiny’s Child are STILL SNATCHED to the gods! NSYNC didn’t hold up too well except Lance! SOOO, you and me ARE THRU *Beyonce voice* lol
I lived for your comment esp the last sentence. ??
I loooooove JLO! We both give credit to this woman’s slayage (while in her damn 40’s) all the time! That said, ‘If You Had My Love’ is one of her most basic songs in her discography! There’s so many song Jenny’s released that deserve to be #1 before that one (‘Waiting For Tonight’, ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing’, ‘Jenny From the Block’, ‘On the Floor’, ‘Get Right’, ‘I’m Glad’ and even ‘Booty’), but Bills (3x) stomps all over that Jenny-Lo track!
“If you had my love” was her debut, then came “waiting for tonight”
I wasn’t saying that song came first! I was saying that all the songs I’ve mentioned above (that weren’t actual #1’s for Jenny), were more deserving of reaching #1 before IYHML was!
This will always be DC’s best incarnation. The songs were great compositions, harmonies were more interesting, outfits were on point and the looked like they gelled. Michelle has always looked like a deer in the headlights and lacks the attitude, dance ability and natural beauty of LeToya.
Oh well, at least we have this, their best video.
But Michelle will slay Letoya in a vocal battle, with ease.
That would mean something if Michelle had the microphone for more than 5 seconds. Who even knew she could really sing until she was “permitted” to do some ad-libs on the DC Fulfilled Tour?
Like I said, for what the group needed it was LeToya and also LaTavia.
Omg this brings back so much memories. I am proudly one of the founding members of the hive. I’ve been in love with dc4/3 and Beyoncé since I was 13. I’m 30 now.
PS can we take a moment to acknowledge how dope this video concept and those outfits are. I remember vividly the comparisons between no scrubs and bills. Same concept, samel lyrics, similar styling and outfits. Not sure who came it first tho.
Also anyone peeped Farrah with her stink a**?
Yaaas, so nostalgic and dope…Farrah who? *Coughs and clears throat like Beyonce* lol
All Destiny’s Child groups besides Farrah are the bomb!!
I used to sing this one to James dahhling!
? I love seeing your comments, you’re hilarious.
I really think Beyonce should retire. Nothing is interesting about her music anymore. I admire her back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKTpRXZ9MJw
Wow
@S****** DC has two million selling album in UK. And two albums selling 500k++ in Japan As well As an album that basically destroy Jlo’s entire discography in UK. Jlo wished she had this career.
Where’d You Go is my favourite
I’ve been getting life off of these classic DC albums lately! One day their awesome story will be told again to inspire so many! All their dreams came true, all their determination and hard work made them household names (remember when these girls went everywhere to promote this group and even did an impromptu serenade at the MTV awards) and their legendary status is so well deserved! They went out successful! Their DESTINY was FULFILLED! It’s great living through and witnessing the pay off of something so great – from the very beginning …
❤❤❤❤❤
Love this DC4 for EVER!!!
Glad Michelle made it also but that album was R&B class!!!
The intro into the the thou shall nots for each track YES YES YES YES YES (in my Daniel Bryan voice).
Was listening to Hey Ladies and Temptation just the other day.
DC4/DC3 were iconic they will forever be on of the greatest groups to ever do it. All of them are still snatched & young to this very day (except Farrah) I want another album as 4. The writings on the wall album was iconic my favorite songs where “confessions” “say my name” “temptation” & “If You Leave” Ft Next ? I love them so much they really pushed boundaries as far as style , vocals, & performances as a girl group.
Its crazy cause those are literally my exact fave songs on the album along with Bug a boo!! Ahh man, I remember being in 4th/ 5th grade during this era and DC STAYED on the radio and TRL, TOTP, and 106.. This album made them superstars.
The memories!!! TWOTW is one of the most legendary r&b albums of all time. I feel like TLC passed the torch to DC in ’99 and they took the torch and ran MILES!! This was the beginning of their iconic peak. The next era was when they became a global POP supergroup but this was their breakout era most def!