The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart on August 14, 1999, with first-week sales of 132,000 units, and later peaked at number five on May 6, 2000. It earned Destiny's Child six Grammy nominations for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (twice), Best R&B Song (twice), Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. The Writing's on the Wall was certified 8× Platinum by the RIAA on November 6, 2001, and has sold over 6 million copies in the United States alone. Billboard magazine ranked The Writing's on the Wall at number 39 on the magazine's Top 200 Albums of the Decade.
Intro
Destiny's Child Lyrics
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For having me organize this meeting here today
And Kelly Steracki, I also want to thank you
And all the other dons of the four families
Beyonce Corleone from the South West
Ah, Latavia Menser from the four-four
Our objective of this meeting today is to discuss
Destiny's Child's commandments of relationships
You know, it's so unfortunate, so unnecessary
For us to end up with broken hearts
Yes, godfather, times have changed
Relationships aren't like the old days, you know?
See what we need is a man of his word
All this, uh, cheating, uh, backstabbing, hating, no more, no more
But godfather, how do we avoid all these mishaps?
It's obvious, the writing's on the wall
Thou shall not hate
The opening lines of "Intro" by Destiny's Child set the stage for a unique and creative approach to launching their album "The Writing's on the Wall." The song is a clever and artful introduction to the remaining tracks on the album. It features a spoken word dialogue between the band members fictional mafia characters, as they gather together to discuss their views on relationships. As each member speaks, they reveal their stage names within the band--LeToya Barzini, Beyonce Corleone, Latavia Menser, and Kelly Steracki--who, in true mafia fashion, are considered "dons of the four families." The song is written as a nod to "The Godfather" and its leadership structure.
The lyrics show a shift in perspective by the group--from the entertainment world to that of their imagined characters, they become the gatekeepers of relationships, discussing the "Destiny's Child's commandments of relationships" as they view them. There is a call to action within the dialogue, imploring the listeners to be honest and faithful in relationships because the old way of deceit just leads to broken hearts. The group wants to set a new standard for relationships, one based on honesty and loyalty.
With this song, Destiny's Child established a new way of presenting an album. It wasn't just songs put together, but a fluid piece of music that told a story. The group's ambition and creativity shone through, and the album went on to become a commercial and artistic success.
Line by Line Meaning
LeToya Barzini, I wanna thank you
The singer wants to express gratitude to LeToya Barzini
For having me organize this meeting here today
The singer appreciates being given the opportunity to organize the meeting
And Kelly Steracki I also want to thank you
The singer thanks Kelly Steracki for some reason
And all the other dons of the four families
The artist expresses gratitude to all the other leaders present
Beyonce Corleone from the South West
The artist introduces Beyonce Corleone from the South West
Ah Latavia Menser from the four-four
The singer introduces Latavia Menser from the four-four
Our objective of this meeting today is to discuss
The main purpose of the meeting is to talk about something
Destiny's Child's commandments of relationships
The topic of discussion is Destiny's Child's rules for relationships
You know it's so unfortunate, so unnecessary
It is unfortunate and unnecessary that something happens
For us to end up with broken hearts
The artist is referring to the emotional pain felt after a failed relationship
Yes godfather times have changed
The singer acknowledges that things have changed over time
Relationships aren't like the old days you know?
The artist implies that relationships in the past were different and better in some way
See what we need is a man of his word
The singer believes that honesty and integrity are important qualities in a partner
All this, uh cheating, uh backstabbing, hating no more, no more
The singer wants to put an end to cheating, backstabbing, and hatred in relationships
But godfather, how do we avoid all these mishaps?
The singer is asking for advice on how to prevent these negative experiences
It's obvious, the writing's on the wall, thou shalt not hate
The artist believes that the solution is to not hate, as it is clearly indicated
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kelendria Rowland, Beyonce Knowles, Latavia Roberson, Letoya Luckett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind