Independent Women Part I
Encyclopedia
"Independent Women" is a song by American girl group
Destiny's Child
. The song first appeared as the soundtrack to the 2000 film adaption of Charlie's Angels
, and later included in the group's third studio album, Survivor (2001). It is also the first single with Michelle Williams
on vocals, while the first to be released with the third line-up after the exit of Farrah Franklin
, despite her vocals remaining on the track. Originally, part two of the song was the actual song and part one was known as the Pasadena remix, but it was chosen in favor of the original and was dubbed part one.
Released as the soundtrack's leading single
in fall 2000, the song held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100
chart for eleven consecutive weeks from November 2000 to February 2001. Later it was named the 18th most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. Although, for the United Kingdom, it was released on the same day, with both Part I and Part II counting as the song release. The song was included later on their third LP "Survivor".
. It was revealed that Knowles' father and then-manager, Mathew
, submitted the track to the "Charlie's Angels" soundtrack without permission.
" at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
It was also ranked at number 85 on the list of Britain's favorite 100 songs, published in May 2002.
The song was the 25th best selling of 2000 in the UK.
. Destiny's Child take part of a futuristic "Charlie's Angels" boot camp and sit in a classroom to watch footage of "Charlie's Angels". They learn from them and try out the challenges in several steps: Agility
(Dancing), Altitude
(Sky diving), Combat
(Martial arts
fighting) and Race (motorbike). At the end, the women are greeted by the ever-mysterious "Charlie". The band also performs in a huge disco set inbetween the scenes.
The musicvideo premiered on "MTV
- Making the Video" and is featured on the DualDisc edition of the album #1's
and on the DVD-release of Charlie's Angels
.
, during which Charlie's Angels just filled North American movie theaters. The feat gave the group their third number-one single in the country. The single hold to the top position in the following week, which was seen as buoyed by the strong box office performance of the film and the heavy rotation
it received. The song had a massive radio airplay, staying almost ten weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, significantly contributing to the performance of the single on the main chart. Subsequently, the single spent eleven consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 top position. During its tenth week at the top spot, the music press had expected that the single would fall off the top position because of strong competition at retail; however, it sustained due to the high sales of the single's maxi version, released in December 2000. It was in the 2000-2001 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for longest-running song by a female group. "Independent Women" also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for three weeks, becoming Destiny's Child fourth number one single on this chart.
In the United Kingdom, "Independent Women" debuted at number one, becoming the group's first number-one single in the country. The British Phonographic Industry
has certified the single gold for sales of over 400,000 physical singles. It also reached the number one position in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It is also Destiny's Child's most successful single to date.
UK CD Single Part 1 670593 2
UK CD Single Part 2
US CD Single 44K 79493
US Vinyl Single
Notes
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. The song first appeared as the soundtrack to the 2000 film adaption of Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
, and later included in the group's third studio album, Survivor (2001). It is also the first single with Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
on vocals, while the first to be released with the third line-up after the exit of Farrah Franklin
Farrah Franklin
Farrah Destiny Franklin is an American singer, actress, and model. She is an ex-member of Destiny's Child who replaced LaTavia Roberson; she left the group after 5 months.-Recording & movie career:...
, despite her vocals remaining on the track. Originally, part two of the song was the actual song and part one was known as the Pasadena remix, but it was chosen in favor of the original and was dubbed part one.
Released as the soundtrack's leading single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
in fall 2000, the song held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart for eleven consecutive weeks from November 2000 to February 2001. Later it was named the 18th most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. Although, for the United Kingdom, it was released on the same day, with both Part I and Part II counting as the song release. The song was included later on their third LP "Survivor".
Background
"Independent Women" was used as a soundtrack to the 2000 film adaption of Charlie's AngelsCharlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
. It was revealed that Knowles' father and then-manager, Mathew
Mathew Knowles
Mathew Knowles is an American music executive and manager. He is the father and former manager of R&B singer Beyoncé , Knowles also managed Kelly Rowland as well as girl group Destiny's Child . He was also the manager of Solange Knowles.-Manager and producer:Knowles is an alumnus of Fisk...
, submitted the track to the "Charlie's Angels" soundtrack without permission.
Reception
The song was nominated for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaGrammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
The Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media has been awarded since 1988 and is awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media...
" at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
It was also ranked at number 85 on the list of Britain's favorite 100 songs, published in May 2002.
The song was the 25th best selling of 2000 in the UK.
Music video
The music video was shot in Los Angeles from August 27 to September 1, 2000 and directed by Francis LawrenceFrancis Lawrence
Francis Lawrence is an American music video and film director.-Life and career:Lawrence was born in Vienna, Austria. His father is a physicist who taught at California State University, Northridge and his mother is V.P. Technology at a PR agency. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of three...
. Destiny's Child take part of a futuristic "Charlie's Angels" boot camp and sit in a classroom to watch footage of "Charlie's Angels". They learn from them and try out the challenges in several steps: Agility
Agility
* Agility is a physical trait of an animal or person, and a component of physical fitness. It is the ability to change the body's position and direction with speed and precision.Agility may also refer to:In Sport:...
(Dancing), Altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
(Sky diving), Combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
(Martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
fighting) and Race (motorbike). At the end, the women are greeted by the ever-mysterious "Charlie". The band also performs in a huge disco set inbetween the scenes.
The musicvideo premiered on "MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
- Making the Video" and is featured on the DualDisc edition of the album #1's
Number 1's (Destiny's Child album)
#1's is a compilation album released by R&B group Destiny's Child containing songs from their albums The Writing's on the Wall, Survivor, This Is The Remix, and Destiny Fulfilled...
and on the DVD-release of Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
.
Chart performance
"Independent Women" was a chart success in the United States. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, during which Charlie's Angels just filled North American movie theaters. The feat gave the group their third number-one single in the country. The single hold to the top position in the following week, which was seen as buoyed by the strong box office performance of the film and the heavy rotation
Heavy rotation
In broadcasting, rotation is the repeated airing of a limited playlist of songs on a radio station or satellite radio channel, or music videos on a TV network. They are usually in a different order each time, however they are not completely shuffled, so as to avoid playing the same song again too...
it received. The song had a massive radio airplay, staying almost ten weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, significantly contributing to the performance of the single on the main chart. Subsequently, the single spent eleven consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 top position. During its tenth week at the top spot, the music press had expected that the single would fall off the top position because of strong competition at retail; however, it sustained due to the high sales of the single's maxi version, released in December 2000. It was in the 2000-2001 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for longest-running song by a female group. "Independent Women" also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for three weeks, becoming Destiny's Child fourth number one single on this chart.
In the United Kingdom, "Independent Women" debuted at number one, becoming the group's first number-one single in the country. The British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
has certified the single gold for sales of over 400,000 physical singles. It also reached the number one position in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It is also Destiny's Child's most successful single to date.
Track listings
European CD Single COL 669822 2- "Independent Women" (Part 1) (Album Version) - 3:41
- "Independent Women" (Joe Smooth 200 Proof 2 Step Mix) - 4:17
- "Independent Women" (Maurice's Radio Mix)1 - 3:54
- "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Club Mix)1 - 9:36
UK CD Single Part 1 670593 2
- "Independent Women" (Part 1) (Album Version) - 3:41
- "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Club Mix)1 - 9:36
- "Independent Women" (Maurice's Radio Mix)1 - 3:54
UK CD Single Part 2
- "Independent Women" (Part 2)
- "Say My NameSay My Name"Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000 . The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their...
" (TimbalandTimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
Remix) - "So Good"
- includes Charlie's Angels movie poster
US CD Single 44K 79493
US Vinyl Single
- "Independent Women" (Part 1) (Album Version) - 3:41
- "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Drum Dub Mix)1 - 5:30
- "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Club Mix)1 - 9:36
- "Independent Women" (Maurice's Independent Man Remix)1 - 7:30
- "8 Days Of Christmas8 Days of Christmas8 Days of Christmas is a Christmas album by R&B girl group Destiny's Child, released by Columbia Records in October 2001 in the United States .-Background:...
" - 3:29
Notes
- 1 These remixes contain newly recorded vocals, arranged by Maurice JoshuaMaurice JoshuaMaurice Joshua, also known just as Maurice, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a record producer who is most known for his laid back and soulful House music style remixes.-Career:...
.
Credits and personnel
- Lead vocals: Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Kelly RowlandKelly RowlandKelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
(2 bridges) - Background vocals: Kelly Rowland, Michelle WilliamsMichelle Williams (singer)Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
- Vocal production: Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
- Recorded by: Manelich Sotolongo at Lobo Studios, Deer Park, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- Additional recording by: Troy Gonzalez, Ramon Morales at TK Studios, HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
- Audio mixing: Rich Travali
- Mastered by: Tom Coyne
Peak positions
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
End of decade charts
| End of year decade chart (2000 - 2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
| End of year chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
Sales and certifications
| Country | Certification | Sales | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Gold | 450,000 | January 19, 2001 |