Independent Women Part I
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"Independent Women Part I" is a song recorded by American group
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...
for the soundtrack to the film adaptation of the 1970s television series '' Charlie's Angels''. It was written and produced by production duo Poke & Tone, consisting of Samuel Barnes and Jean-Claude Olivier, along with Cory Rooney, and group member
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most culturally significant figu ...
. The song was later included on the group's third studio album, '' Survivor'' (2001). "Independent Women" was Destiny's Child's first single to feature vocals from group member Michelle Williams and the only single to feature Farrah Franklin, who was no longer in the group when the single was released. Released as the soundtrack's lead single in August 2000, the song held the number-one spot on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for eleven consecutive weeks from November 2000 to February 2001. It was named the 18th most successful song of the 2000s, on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. The song was in the 2000–2001 edition of the '' Guinness Book of World Records'' for longest-running number-one song by a female group. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart becoming the 25th best-selling single of 2000 in the country. The song received generally positive reviews years after its release for its
feminism Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
and female empowerment messages. '' Billboard'' ranked the song at number 77 on their list "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time". The song was also nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media at the 2001 Grammy Awards.


Background

"Independent Women" was used as a lead single for both the '' Charlie's Angels'' soundtrack, and Destiny's Child's third album, '' Survivor''. It was revealed that
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most culturally significant figu ...
' father and then-manager, Mathew Knowles, submitted the track to the ''Charlie's Angels'' soundtrack without her knowledge.


Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, the song is written in F-sharp minor with a tempo of 96 beats per minute. In an interview with ''Billboard'', Beyoncé explained the meaning of the song and its inspiration:
"I remember being in
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when Destiny's Child put out 'Independent Women,' and women there were saying how proud they were to have their own jobs, their own independent thinking, their own goals. It made me feel so good, and I realized that one of my responsibilities was to inspire women in a deeper way."


Critical reception

''
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'' wrote that even if "the girls have got it a little wrong – measuring their independence by the glint of their jewellery", it "beats as confident as this smack you upside your head, and when the track has such immediate, club-bound freshness". Craig Seymour of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' wrote that "an anthem for female autonomy" is "preposterous" as a soundtrack to a film about "three babes managed by an ol’ codger", ultimately finding the song "a misguided mess". '' Billboard'' likened the song's release strategy to being influenced by Janet Jackson's " Doesn't Really Matter", saying the group "began planting the seeds for the upcoming release" in a similar vein. It was also ranked at number 85 on the list of Britain's favorite 100 songs, published in May 2002. In 2014 '' HuffPost'' ranked "Independent Women Part I" as the second best song of the group. '' Oprah Daily'' listed the song on "50 Songs to Inspire and Empower the Women in Your Life". ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...
'' listing the song on "The Best Feminist Anthems of All Time" wrote that "The girl group pays tribute to the woman who is self-sufficient, self-motivated, and self-made." ''Parade'' listed the song at 19th of the "40 Songs That Scream Female Empowerment", writing that "Destiny's Child created one of the best girl power anthems ever". The song was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Worst Song at the 2000 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.


Commercial performance

"Independent Women Part I" was a chart success in the United States, reaching number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The single held the top position in the following week, which was seen as buoyed by the strong box office performance of ''Charlie's Angels'' and the heavy rotation the song received. The song had massive radio airplay, spending nine weeks atop the Hot 100 Airplay chart, 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 maxi CD released in December 2000. The song was in the 2000–2001 edition of the '' Guinness Book of World Records'' for longest-running number-one song by a female group. "Independent Women Part I" also topped the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart for three weeks, becoming Destiny's Child fourth number-one single on the chart. In the United Kingdom, "Independent Women Part I" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart the week of December 2, 2000. The song spent one week at the top and stayed within the top 40 for 11 weeks before dropping out on February 17, 2001. The song was the 25th best-selling single of 2000 in the country, being certified platinum by the
British Phonographic Industry BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, trading as British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is the British recorded music industry's trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards; is home to the Mercury Prize; co-owns the Official Charts C ...
. As of 2019 the
Official Charts Company The Official UK Charts Company Limited (formerly Music Industry Chart Services Limited), trading as the Official Charts Company (OCC) or the Official Charts (formerly the Chart Information Network), is a British inter-professional organisation ...
listed the song as the 35th of the "top 100 girl band singles of the last 25 years". The song also reached the number-one position in New Zealand.


Music video

The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and shot in Los Angeles from August 27 to September 1, 2000. 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:
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(dancing),
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(
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),
combat Combat (French language, French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent Conflict (process), conflict between multiple combatants with the intent to harm the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed (Hand-to-hand combat, not usin ...
(
martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
fighting) and speed ( motorbike). At the end, the women are greeted by the ever-mysterious Charlie Townsend (voiced by John Forsythe). The band also performs in a huge disco set in between the scenes. For post-production, special effects were done by digital effects group Pixel Envy. The music video premiered on MTV's '' Making the Video'' series on September 18, 2000. The video is featured on the DualDisc edition of the 2005 album '' #1's'' and as a bonus feature on the DVD release of ''Charlie's Angels''.


Track listings

US and Canadian maxi-CD single # "Independent Women" (Part I—album version) – 3:41 # "Independent Women" ( Victor Calderone drum dub mix) – 5:30 # "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone club mix) – 9:36 # "Independent Women" ( Maurice's Independent Man remix) – 7:30 # " 8 Days of Christmas" – 3:29 US 12-inch single :A1. "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's Independent Man remix) – 7:30 :A2. "Independent Women Part I" (album version) – 3:41 :A3. "Independent Women Part I" (instrumental) – 3:41 :B1. "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone club mix) – 9:36 :B2. "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone drum dub mix) – 5:30 UK CD1 # "Independent Women Part I" (album version) – 3:41 # "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone radio mix) – 4:24 # "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:54 UK CD2 # "Independent Women Part II" – 3:45 # " Say My Name" (
Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer and rapper. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, he is widely acclaimed for his distinctive production work and "stuttering" rhythm ...
remix) – 5:01 # "So Good" – 3:14 UK cassette single # "Independent Women Part I" (album version) – 3:41 # "Independent Women Part II" – 3:45 European CD1 # "Independent Women Part I" (album version) – 3:41 # "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone radio mix) – 4:24 European CD2 # "Independent Women Part I" (album version) – 3:41 # "Independent Women Part I" ( Joe Smooth 200 Proof 2 Step mix) – 4:17 # "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:54 # "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone club mix) – 9:36 Australian and New Zealand CD single # "Independent Women Part I" (album version) # "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone radio mix) # "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's radio mix) # "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone club mix)


Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of '' Survivor''. * Samuel Barnes – writing, production * Tom Coyne – mastering * Troy Gonzalez – recording * Cory Rooney – writing, production *
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most culturally significant figu ...
– co-production, vocals, writing * Jean-Claude Olivier – writing, production * Kelly Rowland – vocals * Manelich Sotolongo – recording * Rich Travali – mixing * Michelle Williams – vocals * Farrah Franklin – vocals


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Decade-end charts


All-time charts


Certifications


Release history


See also

* List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number ones of 2000 * List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number ones of 2001 * List of number-one R&B singles of 2000 (U.S.) * List of ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play number ones of 2000 * List of number-one singles from the 2000s (New Zealand) * List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 2000s * List of UK R&B Singles Chart number ones of 2000


Notes


References


External links

* {{Authority control 2000 singles 2000 songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Charlie's Angels (franchise) Columbia Records singles Destiny's Child songs European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Music videos directed by Francis Lawrence Number-one singles in New Zealand Song recordings produced by Beyoncé Song recordings produced by Trackmasters Songs with feminist themes Songs written by Beyoncé Songs written by Cory Rooney Songs written by Jean-Claude Olivier Songs written by Samuel Barnes (songwriter) Songs written for films UK singles chart number-one singles