Relationships aren't like the old days
You know?
The Writing's on the Wall is the second album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on July 14, 1999. This album is the last to feature the group’s original lineup comprised of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. Luckett and Roberson were dismissed and replaced following issues with the group’s management before the album’s promotional cycle could be completed.
This album sees Destiny's Child taking on a new sound, veering away from the slower and more traditional sound of their self-titled debut. The group also took a greater part in the production of their music. Eleven tracks have a credit with at least one member of the group. With the help of producers Missy Elliott, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Kandi Burruss, and Kevin "Shek'speare" Briggs, the group was able to create a more bouncier and more upbeat sound with influences of pop and hip-hop while remaining true to their R&B roots.
The album's main theme is relationship troubles. The group introduces the audience to their Commandments of Relationships: a series of rules that serve as the central motif of the album.The first fourteen tracks feature a group member listing off a commandment that corresponds to the following song.
The Writing's on the Wall produced four singles: "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Bug a Boo," "Say My Name," and "Jumpin' Jumpin'." They scored their first number-one single with "Bills, Bills, Bills" in July 1999. "Say My Name" became their second number-one in March of 2000, sitting atop the chart for three weeks. The latter song scored them their first two Grammy Awards at the 2001 ceremony. As of 2023, the album is the best-selling of the group's discography with 8 million copies sold.
Tracks & Commandments:
- "Intro (The Writing's On The Wall)"
- "So Good"Thou shall not hate — Beyoncé
- "Bills, Bills, Bills"Thou shall pay bills — Kelly
- "Confessions" (featuring Missy Elliott)Thou shall confess — Kelly
- "Bug a Boo"Thou shall not bug — LaTavia
- "Temptation"Thou shall not give in to temptation — Beyoncé
- "Now That She's Gone"Thou shall not think you got it like that — LaTavia
- "Where'd You Go"Thou shall not leave me wondering — LaTavia
- "Hey Ladies"Thou shall know when he's got to go — LaTavia
- "If You Leave" (featuring Next)Thou shall move on to the next — Kelly
- "Jumpin' Jumpin'"Thou shall get yo' party on — LeToya
- "Say My Name"Thou shall say my name — Kelly
- "She Can't Love You"Thou shall know she can't love you — Beyoncé
- "Stay"If thou can wait, then thou shall stay — LeToya
- "Sweet Sixteen"Thou shall cherish life — LeToya
- "Outro (Amazing Grace...Dedicated to Andretta Tillman)"This is for you Ms. Ann, who is now with our Heavenly Father. The one who made the real commandments. — Destiny's Child and Kelly
Singles
- "Bills, Bills, Bills
" - "Bug a Boo"note
- "Say My Name"
- "Jumpin' Jumpin'"note
It’s obvious. The tropes are on the wall…
- Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: The protagonist confesses to her on-off boyfriend about all of her romantic dealings with other guys while they were on a break in "Confessions."
- Album Title Drop: Beyoncé does one of these on the album’s intro track.
- Amazing Freaking Grace: Track 16.
- The Cameo: Kobe Bryant makes one of these in the "Bug a Boo" music video as the girls go through a men's locker room. Wyclef Jean, one of the producers and featured artists from their debut album, also makes a cameo as the bandleader in the same video.
- Central Theme: Relationship woes.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: In the "Say My Name" video. Beyoncé appears in orange, Kelly in blue, Michelle in white, and Farrah in red.
- The Commandments: The "Commandments of Relationships" serve as the central motif of the album.
- Convenient Replacement Character: Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin served as this for LeToya and LaTavia, who were removed from the group by management before the album era was even finished. They make their debut in the "Say My Name" music video.
- Luckily, Michelle's addition to the group did not prohibit LeToya and LaTavia from receiving their Grammy Awards even if they didn't accept them as part of the group.
- A Day in the Limelight:
- LaTavia is the one who opens up "Sweet Sixteen." She also gets a prominent part on “Where’d You Go,” where her opening lines are looped all throughout.
- "Can't Help Myself" from the Houston-exclusive release version of the album features all four members singing a lead verse. This song is notable for being the only song from the original lineup where this has happened.
- This notably features LeToya’s only lead verse from her time in the group.
- Irony: The group singing "Sweet Sixteen" while hardly being much older themselves.
- Let's Duet: The group is joined by all-male group Next on "If You Leave Her."
- Let's Wait a While: In "Stay," the protagonist explains that she and her boyfriend have yet to have sex. She is now considering giving up her virginity in an effort to save their relationship.
- Lust Object: The guy (who isn't her boyfriend) in "Temptation."
- The Mafia: Track 1 channels this. Kelly, LeToya, and LaTavia speak to each other in exaggerated Italian accents.
- Melismatic Vocals: Courtesy of Beyoncé. Most notable at the climaxes of "Now That She's Gone," "Where'd You Go," and "Say My Name," and all throughout "Amazing Grace."
- New Sound Album: The group pivots away from the more traditional R&B stylings of their debut album and takes on a more upbeat and contemporary R&B/Pop sound.
- Old Flame Fizzle: "Now That She's Gone."Now that she's gone
You want to come back
Is that a fact?
Think you got it like that?
You made me wait too long
I'm gone - Rejection Affection: The protagonist is the unfortunate recipient of this in "Bug a Boo." In the video for the song, the girls can be seen trying to get away from a persistent group of guys.
- Second Love: The protagonist's ex in "She Can't Love You" has a new girlfriend, much to the protagonist's chagrin.
- Shout-Out: The album's intro track sees the group make reference to The Godfather. Each member plays as a Don of the four families: Godfather Beyoncé Corleone, Kelly Stracci, LeToya Barzini, and LaTavia Clemenza.
- In an interview about the album, Beyoncé explains that the idea for the skit came from the movie Set It Off.
- In an interview about the album
-
Signature Song: "Say My Name." Though it is not their biggest hit on the charts, it is one of the most well-known Destiny's Child songs. Beyoncé often makes sure to add it to her setlist when she performs any Destiny's Child songs, most notably at her iconic 2018 Coachella performance. - Teen Pregnancy: "Sweet Sixteen."She didn't stop to think if was serious
Until she had his baby
Sweet sixteen - Their First Time: The protagonist in "Stay" is ready to give her virginity to her boyfriend in order to save their relationship.
- A Wild Rapper Appears!: Kobe Bryant drops a rap verse on one of the remixes for "Say My Name."
- Timbaland on "Get on the Bus."
- Downplayed with Missy's feature on "Confessions." She was credited as a featured artist on the song but she does not do anything more than speak over the track. However, she did help write and produce the song.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: At the time of the album's release, Kelly and LeToya were only 18, while Beyoncé and LaTavia were 17. Despite their young ages, they sing some pretty mature material and offer some sound advice that can resonate with people of all ages.
- You Never Did That for Me: "Now That She's Gone."Shopping sprees for her
On me you never spent a dime
