The Writing's on the Wall - Destiny's Child (CD 1999)

Main Idea:
Is your relationship stuck in a rut? Is your man not fulfilling your needs? Has he been slacking on his responsibilities? Is he getting on your nerves? Does he have a wandering eye? Is the fire in the relationship gone? Are you just getting out of a bad relationship and you wanna know what not to do in the next one? Or are you just getting into a relationship and you wanna know how to keep it healthy? Well, look no further than Destiny s Child and their new album Relationships 101 aka The Writing s On The Wall. From the girls that brought you their Platinum debut album and a smash hit with No, No, No, Pt. I , comes an album chock full of tales of relationships and love gone right, wrong, up, down and everywhere in the middle. For every lesson learned, there s a commandment for you to follow. Don t know how to handle a situation? They have got you covered! Need to know when to speak up and what to say? They have got your back! These 4, young (18 or so), lovely, talented ladies will school you on how to keep your man and when to let him go. So sit up straight, grab your pad & pen, press play and get ready to learn all you need to know about relationships:

1. Intro (The Writing s On The Wall) - The girls give you a teaser with this intro. This is a Godfather-spoof with all four of the girls coming together The girls decide to construct some relationship commandments so others can learn from the mistakes they ve made and from what they ve experienced. Backing production is cool but the idea is retarded. $.05

2. So Good - Commandment #1: Thou Shall Not Hate. Shek spere kicks this course off to a bouncy start (this course will not be boring so don t worry). Shek spere does a great job with the production as he uses a Spanish guitar, some DJ scratches and a synth machine to create an infectious, vigorous song. The ladies addressed this record to all the haters and fake friends in their life (we all have those, now don t we?) and basically told them that all their negativity didn t bring them down but pushed them harder to succeed. The song is very simple lyrically but very straightforward and gets the message across loud and clear. So what did we learn? In relationships or otherwise, don t be afraid to shut haters down and tell them like it is. A great song to start the album off with. $3.75

3. Bills, Bills, Bills - Commandment #2: Thou Shall Pay Bills. OK, now we move right into the relationship advice with the album s lead single, also produced by Shek spere, that was a #1 hit for the girls but also gained them a little flak from the men folk. The song was labeled a No Scrubs Part II and earned the ladies a temporary label of gold diggers since they were telling their men to pay their bills. But if people actually listened to the lyrics, then they would see that all Beyonce asked was that her man pay for the bills that he ran up. That s right, fellas. Assume responsibility. If you man enough to use her phone, you man enough to pay the bill. That s all the ladies ask for. As for the production, it s more laid-back and digitized with synth effects and whatnot playing throughout so you will be able to bob your head while you pay those bills. Lesson learned? Pay what you owe!! $3.75

4. Confessions feat. Missy Elliott - Commandment #3: Thou Shall Confess. Ah, one of the most important commandments to honor for both the ladies and the men. On this not-quite-ballad track, Missy drops in to help Beyonce confess to her man. Beyonce has done the ultimate wrong and cheated on her guy but she s woman enough to step to the plate and be honest about what she s done. Men and women alike can take note from this song that if you make a mistake, don t be afraid to admit it. It may hurt but it s the best thing for the relationship. The production is laid-back and dramatic with the thumping drums, electric guitar in the background and the sparse keyboards. This is also the 1st song where Beyonce hints at her vocal capabilities but definitely not the last. The lesson here is to just be a man/woman and confess. It s the best thing for a relationship. $3.75

5. Bug A Boo - Commandment #4: Thou Shall Not Bug. This was the 2nd single released, second #1 hit and my favorite song on the album. Shek spere s production is excellent. The song starts off with this funky sound that I still can t figure out to this day (sounds like trashcans being beat on) and then he incorporates telephone rings, synths, the works to create a beat that is still bumping and banging to this day. It could fit right at home on radio. And I also love the speed at which the vocals are sung since it really works with the beat. This is a song that everyone can relate to, friendship or otherwise. Ladies, not quite sure if you have a bug a boo on your hands? Does your man match the following description?:

It s not hot that when I m blocking your phone number
You call me over your best friend s house
And it s not hot that I can t even go out with my girlfriends
Without you tracking me down
You need to chill out with that mess
Cause you can t keep having me stressed
Cause every time my phone rings, it seems to be you
And I m praying that it is someone else

If your man fits this description, you are dealing with a crazed bug a boo! Don t know how to handle the situation? Follow the instructions on the hook; turn off your phone, e-mail, move, and if push comes to shove, get a restraining order! And if he asks for a reason why, play this song to him! Excellent jam and one to easily put on repeat. Lesson? Get rid of a bug a boo at all costs! $4.00

6. Temptation - Commandment #5: Thou Shall Not Give Into Temptation. I m sure that most people that have been in a relationship will be able to relate to this track. You re out by yourself and you see someone that catches your eye and you have to fight temptation with all your might to not do what you re considering doing. Check out how Beyonce handles the situation:

Now I m thinking to myself, should I even take a chance ?
Should I do what s on my mind, should I stay down with my man
This boy has got me feenin and I m wanting him so bad
Should I chill a night with him and risk everything I have?
Saying, sexy boy, you so fly, I wish I could give you a try
But my man s at home waiting for me by the phone
Sorry, can t get my groove on

So you have to fight those urges as hard as possible so as not to taint the wonderful thing you have at home. Dwayne Wiggins production is excellent and very soulful with the live guitars and drums working well with Beyonce s voice (which is the only voice on here). Still an excellent song. The lesson is to fight temptation. $4.00

7. Now That She s Gone - Commandment #6: Thou Shall Not Think You Got It Like That. This is for the ones that have been in a relationship where the old clich you don t know what you got till it s gone applies. You know, your man left you for another girl and when she doesn t want him anymore, he comes running back to you. Are you tempted to let him back in and run the risk of heartbreak again? Ladies, you must be smarter than that. Thankfully, the ladies of DC3 have been in the same situation. Take a look at how they handle it:

You re taking me for granted but you only get one chance
Then you left me hurting and it won t happen again
So she finally left you, it ain t no surprise
That you missed your water cause your well went dry
Now that she s gone, you wanna come back
Just matter of fact, I got it like that
You made me wait too long, I m gone!

So don t be afraid to say no! You have to show him that you re a strong, independent female and that he can t walk all over you and you ll come running back. It may hurt but it s for the best. The production on here is smooth R&B with the nice use of the guitars and drum pad. Even Kelly gets a chance to sing lead on here showing that Beyonce is not the only one with vocal skills. The song also has great harmonies. Lesson? Don t let anyone take you for granted! $3.75

8. Where d You Go? - Commandment #7: Thou Shall Not Leave Me Wondering. This was the track produced by Chris Stokes and Platinum Status pre-B2K. The production is mid-tempo but not very catchy and utilizes nothing more than some synths and drum pads so it s not one of the record s best productions. Does your man have the habit of disappearing for days at a time without warning? Are you slowly going crazy? Tell him so! The ladies aren t afraid to break down and tell their men they need him and you shouldn t be either. Maybe if you do that and do show you need him, it may give him more incentive to stay. The lyrics are good and the vocals are good but there s nothing that makes this track stand out. $2.50

9. Hey Ladies - Commandment #8: Thou Shall Now When He s Got To Go. Now it s time for us to get some feedback from the ladies. Shek spere returns and helps back the girls up as they ask the ladies a very important question about relationships:

Hey ladies, why is it that men can go do what s wrong?
Why is it that we just decide to keep holding on?
Why is it that we never seem to just have the strength to leave?
But he s got to go, he s got to go!

That s a very good question. Why do you stay in unhealthy relationships? And no, sex, is not a valid reason. Think about it. Time for a bit of self-examination. And you can do so to Shek spere s mellowed thumping production with the heavy-plucked Spanish guitar along with the beatbox drums and synth. Great track that should have been a single. $3.90

10. If You Leave feat. Next - Commandment #9: Thou Shall Move On To The Next. Another nice ballad from the girls that tells the ladies it s OK to move on from a bad relationship. Are you fed up with your man and you re so tempted to just leave? The ladies have felt that way too. As did the fellas from Next and they decided to run away if the other did so. Sometimes, you have to realize that a relationship is beyond fixing and you gotta do you. The production on here is nice, smooth and relaxing and the harmonies as well as the lyrics are great. Next make a nice cameo as well and are a good male-harmony counterpart. A nice ballad is what we have. The lesson is to not be afraid to move on. $2.99

11. Jumpin , Jumpin - Commandment #10: Thou Shall Get Your Party On. Even if you are in a relationship, sometimes you just gotta go out by yourself and have fun and this song was designed to help you do just that. Produced by Chad Elliot, this was the record s 4th single and 4th #1 hit. The production is bouncy but not too upbeat so it manages to maintain a bit of smoothness with the strings and beeping synths and the lyrics aren t club-trite which is a nice departure. The girls basically advise all the men and women out there to leave their significant others at home for a night on the town. Even though, I m not in a relationship, I still wanna take the girls advice and go out and have a blast. So when things seem a bit too cramped or boring, throw your dress clothes on, grab your keys and tell your man/woman to not wait up, lesson #10. Great party track. $3.75

12. Say My Name - Commandment #11: Thou Shall Say My Name. The album s 3rd single, 3rd #1 hit, and the 2nd biggest single of DC3 s career, earning them a Grammy. Rodney Jerkins steps in and produces this cut and does a nice job with the strings, bass guitar, drum loop and synth effects. Still sounds somewhat fresh today. OK, ladies, this is one of the most important lessons on the album. This song can be taken two ways. Either, one, your man is with his homies and he s scared to say his name or say I love you or he s got another woman in the room and he s scared to reveal your identity. You have to make him say your name to prove his faithfulness. It s the only way. The girls sound nice as they deliver their request and the harmonies are some of the tightest on the record. A great single and great record. Lesson learned is to make your man prove his faithfulness. $4.00

13. She Can t Love You - Commandment #12: Thou Shall Know She Can t Love You. This is the perfect song for a woman scorned. If your man left you for another girl and you know she s not half the woman you are, let it be known. Let your man know the big mistake he made. Beyonce wasn t afraid to. Eventually, your man may see the light. But make sure when you do it, you carry a lot of confidence and sass like Ms. Knowles:

I saw your new girlfriend the other day
And I expected for her to be so much more than she was
I checked out her style, the way she smiled, the way she moved
The things she said, The way she looked at me like I got your man
When we were together, you told me what you didn t like
And you went out and got exactly the type
You said that your new girl is nothing compared to me
Everything that she does wrong, I always do right

I get strong En Vogue vibes when I listen to this song and that may be due to the soulful, Spanish flavor of the track with the guitars and Beyonce s husky vocals. The song carries the right amount of confidence without being cocky and is one of the album s better tracks. This lesson is make it known that you are a one of a kind woman. $3.85

14. Stay - Commandment #13: If Thou Can Wait, Then Thou Shall Stay. The album s big, powerhouse ballad of sorts. Daryl Simmons wrote and produced it and it s a pretty good song. The production is nothing special but simple enough for the song and the lyrics are better than average. Beyonce basically questions her man s motives for staying with her and then she asks him that if she were to sleep with him, would he stay. Everyone, don t let anyone pressure you into doing anything you don t want to do but make sure you stay true to your promises and do what you can to make the relationship work. Lesson; do what you think is best to make the relationship stay together. $3.30

15. Sweet Sixteen - Final Commandment: Thou Shall Cherish Life. A nice, heartfelt ballad with a good message and a great way to end the album. And, to top it all off, we actually get to hear one of the other two girls sing the first verse (LaTavia). Dwayne co-wrote and produced this one as well and did an excellent job. The production is light and soulful with the horns, drums, and acoustic guitar. The girls vocals and harmonies are also tight on this record. This is a great message for all the young ladies coming up; cherish your own life no matter what and always remember that no matter what you go through, you ll soon enough see the other side. Great track. $4.00

16. Outro (Amazing Grace) - The girls decide to sing us off with an acapella rendition of this gospel classic that shows the ladies do have extreme vocal talent and untouchable harmonies. This is the perfect song to end the record since it leaves us with pleasant memories of the record. $2.50

Final Thought:
So ladies (and gentlemen), what have we learned after listening to the course of this record? Hopefully, you picked up some great tips for keeping your relationship healthy and happy. Destiny s Child helped us to learn from some of the mistakes they ve made in relationships, what to do in certain situations and how to handle various obstacles all while entertaining us with some excellent production, lyrics, and singing that easily makes you want to hope this CD somehow never ends. So as much information as this class gives us, it never gets boring and you never really lose interest. Now some may question the validity of the girls advice seeing as they have gone through quite a bit of relationship troubles and dealt with their more than fair share of drama. In a nutshell, during the middle of the promotion of the record, LaTavia and LeToya were dropped off and two new members (Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin) were picked up to replace the girls and lip-synch over their vocals in the videos for Say My Name and Jumpin, Jumpin. Then, 6 months later, the girls do a shakeup again by dropping off Farrah and opting to stay a trio instead only to record their most commercial record yet, the somewhat disappointing Survivor of 2001 that still sold a gazillion records and won awards and then take a break for solo stardom. And even if Destiny s Child aren t the prime example of how to make a relationship work, they have shown that they can make the best out of a bad situation and that they are able to admit their mistakes and allow the world to learn from them. And even if you don t agree, you can agree that this record showed maturity from the girls and is one of the best R&B records of the late 90 s-00s. And that the record is chock full of great R&B jams that even the most anti-R&B fan would love. Now insert some pun about the writing being on the wall about how great this record is, how the group was better as a quartet, how grown up they are, etc.

Great Music to Play While: thinking how cool it would be if the ex-members of Destiny s Child formed a group of their own and gave it a catchy name like Stepchild or something.

Album Price: $13.99
Album Worth: $54.29
Final Verdict: You Know You Should Have This Record So What Are You Waiting For?