Customer Reviews

Survivor

5 star:		(234)
4 star:		(128)
3 star:		(90)
2 star:		(56)
1 star:		(54)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Kelly,Beyonce,and Michelle aka DC3, survived all the hype, ..., and other nonsense, and came out on top again to be the hottest girl group in the country. It was all a joke, "With so many members quitting DC, it's like the show 'Survivor'". But then they came back, rough and ready, with lyrics like, .."you thought I'd be stressed without you, but I'm chillin'...thought I wouldn't sell without you..sold my millions.." "Independent Woman" celebrates womanhood and no-nonsense from any man. "Bootylicious" is feeling and looking good. "Nasty Girl" is a song about a slut. "Emotions" a BeeGees cover, is a personal favorite. "Dangerously In Love" evokes intense passion.
This whole album is banging, and you'd be insane not to get this.
- ONE -

This was a great cd. It was their first after 2 lineup changes. It opens with the anthem "Independent Woman Pt. 1", then goes into the unrelenting "Survivor." The sexy "Bootylicious" and the virtuous (albeit hyprocritically)"Nasty Girl." These are 4 of the best cuts on the album. By track #6, it gets a little less stellar, but by #10, "Emotion" (the best collective vocal performance on the cd) brings the heat. As a nod to their spirituality, the do a gospel medley ending with a lackluster rendition of Richard Smallwood's "Total Praise." I enjoyed this cd, but if you want the definitive Destiny's Child, pick up the writing's on the wall. Also check out their solo albums, because they're worth a listen, especially Beyonce's.

This album is okay. There are only 3 really good songs: "Independent Woman Pt.1"(Pt.2 is just awful), "Survivor", and "Bootylicious". The rest is poorly written and full of really bad production. It just doesn't sound good. If you want a DC album get "The Writings On The Wall" that is good from start to finish. This is 3 singles and filler. Don't waste your time.

This CD is great. My top 10 favorite songs from this album is:

10. Independent Women 2
9. Independent Women 1
8. Happy Face
7. Dangerously In Love
6. Nasty Girl
5. The Story of Beauty
4. Bootylicious
3. Survivor
2. Brown eyes
1. Fancy

With #1 being the best. The songs that I simply hated in this CD were Apple Pie La Mode, Sexy Daddy, Gospel Medley, and Outro. I really disliked Apple Pie La Mode and Sexy Daddy because it was really boring. No one can dance to that music.. It really sucked. Gospel Medley was a very weird song to me. I love god and everything but this song simply sucked. Outro was straight up horrible. How can anyone like this song? I mean.. What's the point of this song? Overall, this album is really cool, I just loved it.

This is the third album of DC overall, and their first as a trio. I adore this album. Beyonce, Kelly, and Michelle take every track and make it theirs. Every song has the terrific 3-part harmionies and catchy choruses. Songs 10, 11, and 12 are ballads, and track 14 is a gospel medley, but the other 11 songs are very dancable and upbeat. Favorites include the title track, "Nasty Girl", "Bootylicious", and "Happy Face". The only songs I didn't really like were the "Independent Woman" ones. Haven't we heard enough of "IW Part I" on the radio?? And "IW Part II" sounded like: "Well, we made this song a part one. Hurry, let's make a part two so we can FINALLY close the door on this song!!". Another track I didn't really like was track 15 (The "Outro"). One member of the group addresses the other two, calling them "true friends" and "angels". Save it for the liner notes next time, ladies!! On the whole, this sounds better than DC's first 2 albums. They deserve high praise for this great effort.

this is the third effort from r&b superstars, destiny's child. there are many stand-out tracks on this cd, and it's apparent why they are so huge right now. if u order this cd from a foreign country, u will get four extra tracks: perfect man, dance with me, survivor remix, and my heart still beats. but it might be costly. the stand out tracks are:

-INDEPENDENT WOMEN PART 1: this song is what kept the ladies on the top after the release of "say my name." good beat, catchy chorus, clear lyrics.

-SURVIVOR: one of the hottest r&b songs of this year 2k1. extremley catchy chorus and clever lyrics to go along with a great video.

-BOOTYLICIOUS: this song sums up destiny's child whole vibe. has the same guitar riff from stevie nick's "edge of seventeen." a tyte chorus that goes ...." and a verse containing "....." smooth and sexy r&b fun.

-APPLE PIE A LA MODE: starts out with a surprisingly cool hip hop beat that's sounds like sumthin from methodman. in case yur wondering, this song is about.... great chorus too.

-SEXY DADDY: the song could be summed up in this excerpt "...."

-INDEPENDENT WOMEN PART 2: ten times bettter than part one! great beat and great hip hop elements added to this. the chorus is ten times catchier and better than the original. the song changes moods alot too, gives it some good variety.

-HAPPY FACE: really motivational song ... reminds me of tlc's "unpretty"

-EMOTION: a beautiful ballad and cover of the bee gee's disco hit. indescribably beautiful chorus and verses. this track really shines and focuses on destiny's child's vocal abilities. in my opinion, the best track on this cd.

-THE STORY OF BEAUTY: this song has a great message.....

u can listen to how everyone says that destiny's child isn't talented, or u can pick this up and decide for yurself. i am not the type to just go along and let the majority form MY opinion, so i picked up this album for myself.

I wanted to like this album. I really did, especially since they're from my hometown, but I just couldn't. If I could give it zero stars, I would. First of all, Destiny's Child has gone from being a group with potential ( liked their first album, and the second wasn't all bad)to being one of the worst excuses for a girl group ever. They aren't even really a group anymore. Destiny's Child has just become a showcase for Beyonce Knowles. I wouldn't have a problem with this if she could actually sing, but all the talent belongs to Kelly. It's really a shame that she's not in the center. I would mention Michelle, but they barely let her open her mouth long enough to sing a note. Secondly, the songs are all trite, cliched, or just plain stupid. I mean, really, "Bootylicious"? Give me a break. And Nasty Girls? Oh. My. God. Please, don't try to write your own songs anymore. Thirdly, what makes them think that they can redo Emotions?...Please, Beyonce, remember that your name is NOT Mariah. Leave all of the multi-octave ballads to her. Destiny's Child has definitely jumped the shark with this album, but I don't hate Destiny's Child or Beyonce Knowles. I just don't like this album.