Destiny's Child :
Destiny Fulfilled

Release Date: 15 November 2004

Reviewed By: Melisa Tang

1. Lose My Breath

2. Soldier - feat, T.I., Lil Wayne

3. Cater 2 U

4. T-Shirt

5. Is She The Reason

6. Girl

7. Bad Habit

8. If

9. Free

10. Through With Love

11. Love

12. Game Over

Nelly - Sweat
Read Review

It’s been three years since this Texan trio released the multi-platinum album ‘Survivor’, spawning such hits as ‘Independent Women’, ‘Bootylicious’ and the powerful title track ‘Survivor’. Since the release of this album, the girls have all pursued solo careers, and pretty successful ones at that. Kelly had her fair share of hits with her debut solo album ‘Simply Deep’; Beyoncé stormed the charts with her booty shakin’ on the No.1 single ‘Crazy In Love’, from her critically acclaimed LP ‘Dangerously In Love’, whilst Michelle took the gospel route and found success with her two solo albums ‘Do You Know’ and ‘Heart To Yours’. Destiny’s Child fans across the world began to wonder if the talented trio would ever regroup, and it was only earlier this month that they were treated with a double whammy from the DC girls: a brand new album, coupled with the announcement of European tour dates in 2005.

This highly anticipated album, ‘Destiny Fulfilled’, begins with the UK No.2 smash ‘Lose My Breath’, an incredibly hot track that announced the girls’ arrival with a bang! The infectious beat is courtesy of Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins, the genius behind many of Destiny’s songs from ‘The Writing’s On The Wall’ album.

This is followed up by ‘Soldier’, which features rhymes from T.I. and Lil’ Wayne. This is less of an R&B/Pop song, and has a distinct Southern feel to it, with the girls describing the kind of man they like: ‘If your status ain’t hood/ I ain’t checkin’ for them/ Better be street if you looking at me.’ Slick rhymes from T.I. and Lil’ Wizzy gives the track that extra edge, making this another sure-fire hit for the DC girls.

‘Destiny Fulfilled’ has received mixed reviews in the press for the lack of upbeat tunes that the girls are so good at, and the tempo does seem to slow down from here, but it by no means turns into a mushy, “lovey-dovey” album, as Destiny’s Child sing about their romantic highs and lows. Tracks like ‘Love’ and ‘Cater 2 U’ show just how much the girls have grown and matured into young women, as they sing of their dedication and love for their partners: ‘Inspire me from the heart/ Can’t nothing tear us apart/ You’re all I want in a man/ I put my life in your hands.’ With Kelly engaged and B and Michelle in stable relationships, these young women sound so genuine and so much in love.

However, the path to love is never easy, and this is expressed on tracks like ‘Bad Habit’, ‘Free’ and the Mario Winans’ produced ‘Through With Love’, a more upbeat cut with a piano melody laid down behind the beat, with a gospel choir towards the end of the track.

UK fans are also thanked for their continuing support with the exclusive bonus track ‘Game Over’, yet another song which showcases the strength of the each girls’ vocals.

Destiny’s Child’s fourth album is much more mature than some would expect, but I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad thing, as many fans would have grown up with the girls, experiencing the same feelings and emotions of love and life.

With ‘Destiny Fulfilled’ rumoured to be the girls’ last group album, it certainly is a good one to bow out with. But for all the talent flowing through these goddesses’ veins, let’s hope that that’s all it is, a rumour.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Top 3 tracks:

2) Soldier
3) Cater 2 U
10) Through With Love

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z