Survivor

Destiny's Child | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005B5ZU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (562 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,872 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One listen to the eagerly anticipated third CD from the world's biggest girl group and it's clear there is one child with the most destiny. To paraphrase the hip-hop legends, "Who's house?" Beyoncé's house, and with the lead vocalist producing or cowriting all of the 14 tracks, it's hard to imagine what those other two chicks even do (other than act grateful to still have a gig). Seizing creative control is a bold move for Miss Knowles, and anytime an R&B act eschews the beat of the week, they have to be commended. But the problem is that Beyoncé, even with her ambition, has yet to suss out that the key to a pop-R&B smash is hook and melody. With the exception of the now-played-out title track (Can we all take a moratorium on this mighty goddess theme for a second, please?) and the equally you-go-girlish "Independent Woman Part 1," most of the tracks here lack a strong core. Beyoncé crams a litany of thoughts and motifs into her mini-anthems, with samples ranging from Stevie Nicks to Tarzan Boy, but though the cuts sizzle and sparkle and throw off much attitude, Survivor is way too frenetic. Even with some strong singing and songs (most notably the laid back "Fancy"), Survivor lacks real emotion. --Amy Linden

Product Description

DESTINYS CHILD Survivor (2001 US edition 15-track CD album from the foxy threesome of Beyonce Kelly and Michelle including the worldwide smash hits Bootylicious Independent Women and more sealed picture sleeve)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big guilty pleasure of mine, July 21, 2001

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Survivor (Audio CD)

Okay, I'm not too fond of Destiny's Child, especially having heard "Say My Name" one million times on the radio but that was a couple of years ago. The songs I've heard off "Survivor" proved to be irresistable and addictive. "Bootylicious" is what convinced me to acquire the group's 3rd album. The killer Stevie Nicks sample did me in. The lyrics are corny, if not ridiculous but overall the song is fun especially during the summer right now. "Survivor" and "Independent Women Part 1" are two other excellent summer tunes. I particularly loved "Nasty Girl". The lyrics are a real hoot and I love that bit from the group took from Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy". As far as the slower songs goes, I loved "Emotion" and "Brown Eyes" but "The Story of Beauty" was a real stinker as were the last two tracks of the cd. I do think DC's strengths lies in their more upbeat songs which really showcases the group's individual voices. Overall I love "Survivor" despite my earlier resistence to their music.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not "Writing's On the Wall", but..., May 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Survivor (Audio CD)

Upon buying and playing DC's last album over and over AND OVER, of course I was anticipating their latest album, "Survivor." I don't buy many albums, in fact the last album I purchased was around 8 months ago, but I like DC and so of course I knew I would buy the group's next album when it came out. It should be already said that, simply, "Survivor" is no "Writing's on the Wall." That's a good thing and a bad thing. The album really has no stand out, catchy "everyone sing cause you know you know the words" unless you want to count Independent Women and Survivor which, still,can't be compared to "Bills, Bills, Bills" or "Say My Name." But I still can't put this album down, because they are still quite catchy songs. This is the type of album that you have to listen to about 3 times before you go "hey, this isn't bad" on some of these songs--at least that was my experience. But I'll give a quick rundown of some of the songs on this album:

"Independent Women (part 1)" and "Survivor": You've heard these songs a zillion times and have your own opinions on them, so I don't need to say more. "Bootylicious": I still think the title is rather "Huh? What?"-ish, but the song is a good dance song even if it isn't my favorite dance song on the album. "Nasty Girl": Love this song--the beat is tight and I find the words playing over and over in my head throughout the day. It's very catchy and a very good dissin' song. "Fancy": Very nice beat also, especially the latter part of the chorus. I'm sure everyone can totally relate to the words. "Apple Pie A La Mode": A song with a very sexy, seductive tone. Cute, but not my absolute favorite. But I can tolerate it, still. "Sweet Daddy": THE BOMB!! This is my favorite song on the whole album. I've played this one song more than any other on the album. The beat is awesome--you can't help but to move. "Independent Women (part 2)": I might find the little cartoon-ish music that goes with this song rather irritating on another song, but for some reason it seems to work here. Maybe because I love the message of the song. "Happy Face": Okay, this song gets kinda corny for me, but it's still a cute "happy, wake up and shine" song "Emotion": Very pretty song and I absolutely LOVE near the end of the song when Michelle comes in to sing her one or two lines. I wish she could've gotten the chance to sing the whole song because her voice is so beautiful on this song. In fact I fast forward to the end of the song and start at the point immediately before she sings. Sweet slow song, but... "Desperately in Love" is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE slow song on the album. It has so much emotion and power, even if Beyonce's voice once again overpowers the song and everyone else. It's a beautiful song. "Brown Eyes" is another pretty slow song. It's probably my second favorite slow song. "The Story of Beauty" is nice, but I don't listen to it much when I play the album because of the sad topic it discusses. So true, but still so sad. Overall, although Beyonce once again is in the leads, at least you do get to hear the other two girls occasionally and they come through nicely. The album is still good and a good follow-up even if it doesn't surpass or exactly meet the quality of their last album. I don't feel as if I wasted my money.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, August 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Survivor (Audio CD)

It is a mystery to me how Destiny's Child have gotten so far on so little creativity and ingenuity. Survivor, DC, million-plus selling third cd is the musical equivalent of musical tofu (except it's not good for you). The cd and Beyonce do have strengths, although they are limited. First of all, Beyonce has a gift for writing simple catchy melodies for her choruses. And on occasion, there is even a rump-shaking bass line for you to dance to--Bootylicious. However, DC's weaknesses far outweigh their strengths. Case in point, the music on this cd is boring pop-inspired drivel that would sound at home on a Britney Spears cd, not an alleged R 'n' B cd. Secondly, Beyonce has an okay two octave range voice that never soars anywhere; and her verses lack little or no melody because she rap-sings them in the formulae used in "No, No, No" (DC first cd). Thirdly, the double choruses are redundant and make me hit the fast forward button faster than it takes to the Concorde to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The vocal arrangements are so busy and blantantly feature Beyonce's limited vocabulary of vocal runs so much so that Kelly and Michelle's voices can barely be heard above the din. And the music sounds like it was cut and pasted together by person who just got Protools and wanted to try out all the weird sounds and see how they could be turned into songs.
Where are the bass lines for heaven's sake?
And Beyonce really is far too inexperienced to produce cds without the help of skilled collaborators. DC seems to lack the ability to find talented collaborators to help write decent songs. I urge them to do so immediately!
Another problem is the weak lyrics which are either spiteful ("Nasty Girl" and "Fancy.") to banal ("Brown Eyes") and limited subject matter. Beyonce seems only to have a few themes in her bag of tricks: trifling men, finding true love, being an independent woman who drives a jaguar, and wears diamonds. Clearly, she lacks the life experience to write about anything else.
I really have problem with her song "Survivor." What exactly has this pampered young woman survived? Surviving is being homeless and getting off the streets; recovering from drug or alcohol addiction; or surviving soul-destroying poverty in crime-infested neighbourhoods. That's surviving!
In closing, "Surivivor is a mediocre cd you would expect a "pop group" to release. Because make no mistake about it Destiny's Child are a "pop group." If you want excellent rhythm and blues, you're better off listening to D'Angelo, Aretha Franklin's greatest hits, James Brown's greatest hits. And leave this piece of pop tofu at the store where you found it.
It's not worth a listen! And not worth the time!