Destiny’s Child has only put out four albums – not counting its Christmas album and its remix album – but the group feels like it’s already time to throw in the hat and retire. So as a parting gift of sorts (or a cash cow right in time for the holiday season), the three ladies of Destiny are offering up an assortment of hits, favorites and some unreleased tracks on #1’s.
The original Destiny’s Child came out in the late ’90s, and after a shake-up with group members, the band has amassed an impressive rack of hits. They’ve gone through themes of love, dedication, independence and being thick in the right places. With Destiny’s Child, the strength is in its energy and melodies. From the fist-pumping anthem “Survivor,” to the foot-stomping “Lose My Breath,” and the kiss-off song “Say My Name,” Destiny’s Child has been holding down the R&B scene as a new-age Supremes – killing us with hit after hit. But the problem is these songs are still too fresh in our minds to be really worth reminiscing about.
The three new tracks bring some much-needed new life to the set – well, at least two of them do. “Check On It” and “Feel The Same Way I Do” are both worth downloading off iTunes. “Check On It” is a solo Beyonce cut with Swizz Beatz production in which she flirts with and invites men to get their hands on her “jelly,” and “Feel The Same Way I Do” features the trio crooning about the confusions of love, set to a heart-thumping mid-tempo beat. These are two solid tracks that would’ve been right at home on the trio’s last set, Destiny Fulfilled. But the lead single for #1’s, “Stand Up For Love,” is so bland and boring that the song is almost coma-inducing. The girls tried to use the song and its “We Are The World” feel to their advantage after the nation watched in horror as Americans struggled for their lives during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, but this song is stiff and a farce.
#1’s is a fine set for anyone who is absolutely unfamiliar with Destiny’s Child and would like a summary of its career, but for Destiny’s Child fans, it’s a trip down memory lane much too soon. Besides, we all know the reason Destiny’s Child is retiring as a group is that Beyonce is ready to fly solo without feeling guilty for leaving behind her two “sistas.” And that’s fine; Beyonce is the new Diana Ross – although with a much better voice and without the drugs and alcohol abuse – and many always saw Destiny’s Child as nothing more than a vehicle for her stardom. But this practice of putting out a greatest hits package after only four albums is premature and does a disservice to the legacy of the group. Put out a greatest hits album after people actually have time to miss you.
Unless you’re one of those fans who has to have every album to complete the collection, download “Check On It” and “Feel The Same Way I Do” and go on about your business.
– By Ricky Ribeiro
