Destiny's Child's 'farewell' is actually 'see you later'
By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — According to the members of Destiny's Child, reports of the best-selling girl group's demise have been greatly exaggerated — or at least misinterpreted.

They’re survivors: Kelly Rowland, left, Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams say they’re not separating for any negative reasons.
AP photo

True, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams released a statement last week acknowledging that they would be "retiring as Destiny's Child and moving forward to pursue personal goals and individual careers in music, theater, television and film."

That announcement came after Rowland told a concert audience in Barcelona that the group's current Destiny Fulfilled ... and Lovin' It tour would mark its last performances in Europe. The American leg of that trek, scheduled to kick off July 9 in St. Louis and wrap up Sept. 9 in Seattle (with a Vancouver date Sept. 10), also is being billed as a last-chance opportunity to see the trio as a live act.

But while chatting in a midtown recording studio after a rare week off, Knowles and her bandmates are less committal.

"We don't like the word 'farewell,' because we're still so young," says Knowles, 23, who began working with Rowland and Destiny's two other original members, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, 14 years ago. (Williams joined in 2000, after the departures of Luckett and Roberson.)

Knowles prefers to see Destiny's dissolution as "the end of a chapter in our lives." That chapter could have a sequel, too: Knowles says it's "possible" that the women could work together again in some capacity. "Maybe we could do a play together; we've talked about that. Who knows what's ahead? This isn't breaking up, what we're doing; it's growing up."

Destiny's decision to dissolve for now wasn't impetuous. "It's not a coincidence," Knowles says, "that our latest (CD) is called Destiny Fullfilled. We had been talking about this, that it was important that we ended while we were still hot and still selling records — not because we had some big, catty argument or because one person wanted to go solo."

In fact, all three members of the act have released solo albums. Knowles', predictably, was the biggest blockbuster. But Rowland also enjoyed commercial success, and Williams made a foray into theater when she starred in Broadway's Aida.

"But we always have more fun on the road when we're together," Knowles says. "We still have one dressing room and stay next door to each other in the hotel. We have the same makeup artist and hair stylist. That's why this has worked for so long.

"And there are little things about being in a group that you don't always think about. Like, if you have to perform at the Grammys and you're terrified, you have the other girls there. And if you forget a word or step, there are two other people you can look at."

"Or," Williams quips, "two other people the audience can look at!"






Rowland adds: "We made history as a female group. I can't think of another one that came out together, then branched out to do solo records, then came back together for another record. It's a blessing we've been able to do that, and our fans have remained loyal."

Says Knowles: "Destiny's Child's legacy is friendship. We want to be known for that, and for talent — we wrote and produced our songs, and we've done record-breaking things. But if I never sell another record, and Destiny's Child never sells another record, these will still be my girls. Nothing will ever take that away from us."

meltwithu said:

All I know is that I'm done with them. And Beyonce, too.

I picture it now....30 or so years from now Beyonce's career will be almost dead and their will be the "Return To Destiny" tour only it will include that girl who in the group for five mintues and one of the 2 original girls kicked out. It will totally bomb! Sound familar?

Seriously, though, I don't think they are going to say it's done forever because Destiny's Child, while not the biggest seller is always a good revune maker. They might reuinte in like 2 years!

Beyonce sucks. Aleast she learned on this album that she shouldn't be hogging the vocals all the time. In my opinion, Destiny's Child is a one hit wonder. Not a legendary group like the Jackson 5. I hope Kelly has a good career because she has a good voice and the best out of the group. She also has relesed some good songs on her debut album.

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Player hater!!!

I wonder what contractual obligations they have left? Does this mean they are free agents?

I love that clip.

info overkill
i thought i'd be freed from any news about them

I've never read a good review of any of their gigs. Each time they play the UK they get slaughtered, i don't think they're any good. Beyonce annoys the hell out of me. She was just awful with Prince at the Grammy's.

Their music itself is very disposable.

I hate Beyoncé , she's (acting like) a dumb skank ho
wiggling her ass in skanky clothes and trying to look sexy
and i hate their overcommercialized emotionless shite 'music'
[Edited 6/24/05 12:26pm]

Marrk said:

They got good reviews for their Earls Court shows. And "Bootylicious" is a cracking song.

Marrk said:

They've recieved some good reviews for their "Destiny Fulfilled & Lovin It Tour".

However, many critics did note that Beyoncé's solo set was indeed the show stopper.
[Edited 6/24/05 12:34pm]

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Say what you want about Destiny's Child but one hit wonder is absurd. They've had around 10 very substational hits (Top Ten Billboard, if not Top five).

I can't believe that anybody thinks Destiny's Child has done anything of significance. None of their music will stand the test of time, so they are justly called [b]ONE HIT WONDERS.

Scorpion said:

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Beyonce can just get 2 other "backup" singers.

Marrk said:

Whether she was annoying to you and to some other folk, don't make no difference, Prince wanted her up there with him and they tore the stage up together and it was rated the best performance of that night despite what chu talkin' about. He didn't ask for you and me to perform with him so get over the shit.

We can keep hatin'on Beyonce all we want. You think she's losing sleep. That girl is goin' about her business.

ndd02131 said:

I'm I speaking Greek? It doesn't matter that none of their songs will stand the test of time or not....they had well over 10 big hits so labeling them one hit wonders makes no sense what so ever. And if you're insisting that this label is because only one of their hits will stand the test of time, which one? How can you possibly think of them as one hit wonders, seriously?
[b][Edited 6/26/05 21:39pm]

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Honey if B sucks so much how come you have a screen name of one of the many songs she has written?If they were "one hit wonders" name not oen but many of their ultra famous songs that catapulted them to stardom while your sitting there criticizing over some BS you can't even get right but want to label someone