UB Celebrates: 25th Anniversary of Destiny’s Child’s ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’

Today we celebrate one of the best cohesive R&B albums released in the 90s on it’s 25th Anniversary, Destiny’s Child‘s “The Writing’s on the Wall.”

Led by founding members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, Destiny’s Child burst onto the music scene in 1997 with the multi-platinum #1 single, “No, No No,” from their self-titled debut album. Michelle Williams joined the group in February 2000, after LaTavia and left at end of 1999.

Released on July 27th, 1999, “The Writing’s On The Wall” was certified 7x platinum by the RIAA as of February 26th, 2001.

“The Writing’s On The Wall” debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Nine months after its release, the album was #5 on the chart, having just experienced its best sales week ever.

In the first year of its release, “The Writing’s On The Wall” spent 47 out of 52 weeks in the Top 40 or better of the Billboard 200 Album chart.

It’s was all on display on DC‘s stunning sophomore album “The Writing’s On The Wall,” which in addition to their own writing and production input, featured contributions from some of the music industry’s most-noted movers and shakers.

“We’re not Boyz II Men, but this represents us progressing from girls to young women,” stated Beyoncé at the time, who along with her fellow group members — Kelly, LaTavia and LeToya — shared the average age of 18. “Although we’re still young,” she added, “we’ve seen quite a lot in the last year or so. We’ve traveled and matured personally so we wanted to reflect that in our music.”

“We called the album The Writing’s On The Wall because this album really spells out what will happen in a relationship if people treat each other a certain way.” – Beyoncé

“When we told Wyclef the album title he mentioned the Bible when the Ten Commandments were written on a wall for Moses. He suggested we try to tie that idea in with the album so that’s how we came up with Destiny’s Child’s commandments of relationships which precede each song. We wanted the whole album to be a concept and into that concept we wanted to work in great songs with a new sound,” Kelly stated.

The concept – that of relationships – takes on a different slant lyrically to many other albums that attempt to traverse the same terrain, veering away from just romance (although there is plenty of that) but also discussing the full gamut of personal relationships. “It’s about the realness of life, the gray areas,” emphasized LaTavia. “It’s a story that takes you on a journey.”

“We called the album The Writing’s On The Wall because this album really spells out what will happen in a relationship if people treat each other a certain way,” explained Beyoncé. “It really shows what’s really going on.”

Indeed, the album’s first single, “Bills, Bills, Bills,” was a riotously funky, tongue-in-cheek, poke-in-the ribs at boyfriends who start off as a knights-in-shining armor only to let the act drop exposing them for the scrubs they are. Destiny’s Child was aware that the song’s mature subject matter could well result in raised eyebrows considering their tender years.

“People might say, ‘y’all are all gold-diggers’ when they hear ‘Bills, Bills, Bills,’” said LeToya, “but it’s totally different. This song is about a relationship where the guy starts out really nice, caring and considerate but three or four months down the line he starts slacking, borrowing your car and when he gives it back to you, the tank is on empty. He’ll use your cell-phone and run it up, he’ll buy you gifts with your own money.”

“But we want to make one thing clear” interjected LaTavia. “It’s not a man-hating song. In fact, we know probably more women do it than men. We wrote about it because I myself have been through something similar and I have a lot of older friends who are going through the exact same thing.”

The single, along with other killer up-tempo joints such as “So Good” and “Bug A Boo,” was co-written and produced by hot newcomer at the time Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, best-known for masterminding TLC‘s “No Scrubs.” He was the first name called to the table and musically and thematically set the wheels in motion for “The Writing’s On The Wall.”

“Before we went in the studio we told the record company that we wanted to have a new producer with a brand new sound,” explained Kelly. “That was a blessing because it really sets us apart from everyone else.”

Working closely with She’kspere in their native Houston allowed the album to develop its often playful, informal feel.

It was a foundation that other high flying producers — such as Rodney Jerkins (the innovative “Say My Name”), Missy (the cheeky, “Confessing”), Daryl Simmons (lush, melancholy “Stay”), Chad Elliot (the smooth “If You Leave Her, featuring Next), and Tony Toni Toné’s Dwayne Wiggins (sultry “Temptation”) — were able to build upon admirably, helping craft together a collection of songs overflowing with both upbeat, youthful exuberance and endearing feminine sensitivity and vulnerability.

The album generated three Top 10 hits on the Billboard R&B; singles chart: “Jumpin Jumpin,” “Say My Name,” and “Bills, Bills, Bills,” which spent nine weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart (longer than any other record in the #1 position in 1999).

In the summer of 1999, “Bills, Bills, Bills” was the #1 song on R&B radio for four weeks in a row. Both “Bills Bills Bills” and “Say My Name” topped the Hot 100 and the R&B Singles charts.

“Jumpin Jumpin,” the fourth single from “The Writing’s On The Wall,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and Top 40 Mainstream Airplay charts as well as the SoundScan Dance Maxi-Single Sales chart.

The record achieved Top 10 or better status on the R&B Singles chart, the Top 40 Rhythm Airplay chart, the Hot 100 Singles chart, the Top 40 Mainstream Airplay chart and the Maxi-Single Sales chart.

“Bills, Bills, Bills” secured two Grammy nominations for Destiny’s Child: Best R&B; Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best R&B; Song. “Bills, Bills, Bills” was co-written, in part, by Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland and Kandi & Tiny of Xscape.

Destiny’s Child was awarded the coveted NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Duo or Group category for “The Writing’s On The Wall.”

In 2000, Destiny’s Child had three #1 records on the Billboard Hot 100: “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Say My Name,” and “Independent Women Part I.”

Despite the line-up changes, the public and behind the scenes drama, Destiny’s Child was able to rise above it all and lead their way into their biggest success with “The Writing’s on the Wall.” Today we celebrate an album, we all had on repeat!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane With “The Writing’s on the Wall” On The 25th Anniversary!