Jump to content

Say My Name

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the song by Destiny's Child. For other uses, see Say My Name (disambiguation).

"Say My Name"
US CD single
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album The Writing's on the Wall
B-side"Bills, Bills, Bills"
ReleasedOctober 14, 1999 (1999-10-14)
StudioPacifique (North Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length
  • 4:31 (album version)
  • 4:00 (radio/video edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rodney Jerkins
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Thug Love"
(1999) 		"Say My Name"
(1999) 		"Jumpin', Jumpin'"
(2000)
Music video
"Say My Name" on YouTube

"Say My Name" is a song by American group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, and Rodney Jerkins, featuring production by the latter. "Say My Name" was released as the third single from The Writing's on the Wall on October 14, 1999, by Columbia Records. While the song features the group's original line-up consisting of Luckett and Roberson, the music video for the single marked the introduction of the group's second line-up with replacement members Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. In some territories, including the United States, single artwork for the song features the previous lineup, while releases in other territories such as the United Kingdom and France feature newer images of the second lineup.

"Say My Name" was the most successful of the four singles from The Writing's on the Wall, becoming Destiny's Child's second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Critically acclaimed, the song won two Grammy Awards at the 2001 ceremony for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song, while also being nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

The accompanying music video for "Say My Name" won the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. The song also won a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo and a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song. Billboard ranked the song at number seven on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time" and named it the best song of 2000.[2][3] In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 285 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time while Pitchfork ranked it at number eight on their 2022 list of "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s".[4][5]

Writing and production

[edit]

"Say My Name" was the group's first collaboration with producer-songwriter Rodney Jerkins, who was one out of several people hired to work with Destiny's Child on their second album. The demo for the track had a different approach and Jerkins said that it was inspired by 2-step garage music he heard while in a club in London.[6] When they wrote the song, however, the lead singer Beyoncé Knowles was initially displeased with the track they were working on. She commented that there was "too much stuff" on the track and it sounded like a "jungle".[7][8] During the photo shoot for the album, Beyoncé's father-manager Mathew Knowles went to the studio informing her that Jerkins reworked on the track she "hated". He told her to "just have to take a listen to it". When the new mix was played to the group, they liked it.[7]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Lyrically, "Say My Name" has a female protagonist telephoning her lover and suspecting him of cheating. She asks him to "say her name". The young man hesitates, and the narrator believes it is because he does not want the girl he is cheating with to know who she is. Jerkins supported the song's lyrics with a backing track that shifts back and forth in dynamics, steadily bringing different elements, including syncopated, 808 drum programming, synthesized strings and 1970s-style wah-wah guitar licks, in and out of the mix. Knowles sings lead on the verses and bridge and leads the melody of the chorus with Kelly Rowland adding the second part harmony. LeToya Luckett sings the high harmony on the pre-chorus and second chorus. LaTavia Roberson sings second part harmony with LeToya on the pre-chorus and sings the bottom harmony late in the second chorus.

Release

[edit]

"Say My Name" was first released in Japan as a maxi-CD on October 14, 1999, containing various mixes of "Bug a Boo" as B-sides.[9][10] The single was then released in Australia on January 31, 2000, via the same format but with a different track listing that includes the album version of "Bills, Bills, Bills".[11][12] In the United States, the song began getting radio airplay by select broadcast stations in November 1999.[13] It was later officially sent to urban contemporary radio on January 10, 2000,[14] and was issued physically on February 29, 2000, across four formats: CD, maxi-CD, 12-inch vinyl, and cassette.[15] These "Say My Name" singles have several remixes that were included alongside the original version, including remixes by Timbaland, Maurice Joshua, and Dreem Teem. The Timbaland remix features guest appearances from Static Major and Timbaland himself.[16][17][18] Elsewhere, various versions of the single were released in France in March and April 2000,[19][20] in the United Kingdom on March 27,[21] and in Germany on April 10.[22]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Say My Name" debuted at number 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100. After being released on physical formats, it reached the top of the chart in its 13th week, selling 134,000 copies during its first week of commercial availability. It took longer than any other of Destiny's Child's number-one singles to reach the top. The song spent a total of 32 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was one of the top ten best-selling CD singles of 2000 in the United States. It also reached the top of both the Radio Songs and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts for three weeks in 2000. "Say My Name" is the group's third best-selling single in the US after "No, No, No" and "Bills, Bills, Bills", and was also their third single to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In the United Kingdom, it was the group's biggest hit up to that point, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart and selling over 190,000 copies. The single enabled the group to break into the Asian market, when R&B music was just beginning to receive strong airplay. In the Philippines, it became the longest number-one single by an R&B girl group, topping the charts for seven weeks. In Australia, it was the second single ever by an R&B girl group to reach number one on the ARIA Singles Chart, after TLC's "No Scrubs", and helped propel The Writing's on the Wall to multi-platinum status.

Music video

[edit]
The video for "Say My Name" marked the band debut of Michelle Williams (pictured) and Farrah Franklin.

Conflict among members of the group arose in December 1999, following allegations that the group's manager and Knowles' father, Mathew Knowles, was withholding group profits from Luckett and Roberson. They then allegedly asked Knowles for more money; they were dismissed from the group in January 2000. That same month, Mathew Knowles recruited Franklin and Williams to replace both without the signed members' consent or knowledge. The video for "Say My Name" was then filmed with little time for the new members to learn the choreography. The video premiered on February 15, 2000, with Franklin and Williams alongside Knowles and Rowland, on MTV and BET simultaneously with the publication of a press release announcing the line-up change. Luckett and Robersons' vocals still appear on the song, despite their absence from the video. Franklin and Williams' vocals are not included on the track.

The video, directed by Joseph Kahn, shows the four members along with two females and one male dancer singing and dancing in color-coded sets resembling apartment living rooms. Rowland is in blue clothes to match her equally blue room. Knowles is in an orange room, while Franklin is in a red room and Williams in a white room. After the first verse and the chorus, the girls, along with furniture from their respective color-coded sets, switch rapidly between the other members' sets. Soon after the second verse, all girls gather in a garage-like room complete with cars and Destiny's Child in black PVC-pants and orange tops and all of the dancers, dressed in black, from the video.

Legacy

[edit]

In October 2011, NME placed it at number 58 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years"[23] and Pitchfork Media placed it at number 131 on its "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s".[24] On VH1's list of the 100 best songs of the 1990s, "Say My Name" was ranked at number 17.[25] In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 285 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[4] while Pitchfork, at number 8 on their 2022 list of "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s".[26]

Jody Rosen from The New Yorker credited Beyoncé's slippery rap-style syncopations in the song with creating a new sound that did not exist in the world before her. He further wrote, "If they sound 'normal' now, it's because Beyoncé, and her many followers, have retrained our ears."[27]

Track listings

[edit]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are taken from The Writing's on the Wall album booklet.[34]

Studio

Personnel

  • Rodney Jerkins – writing, all music, production
  • Fred Jerkins III – writing
  • LaShawn Daniels – writing, vocal production, recording
  • Beyoncé Knowles – writing
  • LeToya Luckett – writing
  • Kelly Rowland – writing
  • LaTavia Roberson – writing
  • Brad Gildem – recording
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[78] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[79] Gold 25,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[80]
Homecoming Live Version 		Gold 30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[81] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[82] Gold 66,666‡
Germany (BVMI)[83]
Timbaland remix featuring Static 		Gold 250,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[84] Gold 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[86] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[87] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Say My Name"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Japan October 14, 1999 Maxi CD SME
[9]
United States November 1999 Promotional recording Columbia
[13][88]
January 10, 2000 Urban contemporary radio
[14]
Australia January 31, 2000 Maxi CD Sony Music
[11]
United States February 29, 2000
Columbia
[15]
France March 13, 2000 Maxi CD Sony Music
[19]
United Kingdom March 27, 2000
  • Cassette
  • two maxi CDs
 Columbia
[21]
Germany April 10, 2000 Maxi CD Sony Music
[22]
France April 17, 2000 CD
[20]

Cover versions

[edit]

In 2021, English rapper ArrDee released his third solo single, "Flowers". The song heavily samples the track of the same name by Sweet Female Attitude and interpolates "Say My Name".[89] It peaked at number 5 on the UK's Official Singles Chart Top 100,[90] spending thirteen weeks in the Top 40, seventeen weeks in the Top 100, with seven of those weeks being in the chart's Top 10.[91]

[edit]

In February 2020, the first trailer for the horror film Candyman (2021) was released with a slowed-down version of the song.[92]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Patterson, Sylvia (April 24, 2001). "NME Album Reviews – Destiny's Child : Survivor". NME. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2000: Staff Picks". Billboard. March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Murray, Robin (October 16, 2020). "Destiny's Child's 'Say My Name' Originally Had A UKG Beat". Clash. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Anthony, James (August 18, 2006). "Of course you can lose yourself". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  8. ^ St. Asaph, Katherine. "Destiny's Child: The Writing's on the Wall". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 18, 2022. At least one early mix of 'Say My Name' was tossed out by the group for being too crowded and fussy, a sentiment most reviewers at the time echoed.
  9. ^ a b "セイ・マイ・ネーム | デスティニーズ・チャイルド" [Say My Name | Destiny's Child] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Destiny's Child (1999). Say My Name (Japanese CD single liner notes). SME Records. SRCS 2118.
  11. ^ a b c "Destiny's Child – Say My Name". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. ^ a b Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 668549 2.
  13. ^ a b Taylor, Chuck (January 15, 2000). Reviews & Previews: Singles. Billboard. p. 24. Before its current release to radio, many programmers across the country found this gem... and began banging it before Christmas.
  14. ^ a b "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. January 7, 2000. p. 57.
  15. ^ a b Pietroluongo, Silvio (March 11, 2000). "Hot 100 Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 11. p. 84. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (US CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 38K 79342.
  17. ^ a b Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 44K 79346.
  18. ^ a b Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (US cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 38T 79342.
  19. ^ a b "Say my name – Destiny's Child – CD maxi single" (in French). France: Fnac. March 13, 2000. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Say my name – Destiny's Child – CD single" (in French). France: Fnac. April 17, 2000. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "New Releases – For Week Starting March 27, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 25, 2000. p. 35. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  23. ^ "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | NME". NME. October 6, 2011.
  24. ^ "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 200-101". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009.
  25. ^ Ali, Rahsheeda (May 23, 2013). "The 100 Greatest Songs Of the '90s". VH1. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  26. ^ "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  27. ^ Rosen, Jody (February 20, 2013). "Beyonce: Life Is But a Dream, reviewed". The New Yorker. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  28. ^ Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (US 12-inch single sleeve). Columbia Records. 44 79346.
  29. ^ Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (UK CD1 liner notes). Columbia Records. 669188 2.
  30. ^ "Destiny's Child CD Singles, Destiny's Child CDs, Buy Rare Destiny's Child CDs". Mattscdsingles.com. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  31. ^ Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (UK CD2 liner notes). Columbia Records. 669188 5.
  32. ^ Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (European CD1 liner notes). Columbia Records. COL 668851 1.
  33. ^ Destiny's Child (2000). Say My Name (European CD2 liner notes). Columbia Records. COL 668851 2.
  34. ^ Destiny's Child (1999). The Writing's on the Wall (US CD album booklet). Columbia Records. CK 69870.
  35. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  36. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  37. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7281." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7276." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  40. ^ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. April 15, 2000. p. 7. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  41. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in French). Les classement single.
  42. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (27.3– 4.5 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 28, 2000. p. 14. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  43. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Say My Name". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  45. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  46. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name". Top 40 Singles.
  47. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name". VG-lista.
  48. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 22/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. May 27, 2000. p. 27. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  49. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  50. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name". Singles Top 100.
  51. ^ "Destiny's Child – Say My Name". Swiss Singles Chart.
  52. ^ "Destiny's Child: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  53. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  54. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  56. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  57. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  58. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  59. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  60. ^ "2016년 11주차 Digital Chart - 국외". Gaon Chart. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  61. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  63. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  64. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. December 23, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  65. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2000" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  66. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 1000". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  67. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  68. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  69. ^ "End of Year Charts 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  70. ^ "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 20, 2001. p. 25.
  71. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2000" (PDF). Music Week. January 13, 2001. p. 20. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  72. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  73. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-54.
  74. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  75. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-60.
  76. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 56. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  77. ^ "Top 100 singles of the noughties". Adelaide Now. January 7, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  78. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  79. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  80. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Beyoncé feat. Kelly Rowland & Michelle Williams – Lose My Breath" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  81. ^ "Danish single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  82. ^ "French single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  83. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Destiny's Child fest. Static; 'Say My Name')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  84. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  85. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  86. ^ "British single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name". British Phonographic Industry.
  87. ^ "American single certifications – Destiny's Child – Say My Name". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  88. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. Algora Publishing. p. 576. ISBN 978-0-87586-227-9.
  89. ^ Complex https://www.complex.com/music/arrdee-flowers-say-my-name
  90. ^ Wilson, Jamal (November 10, 2021). "ARRDEE TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES OF 'FLOWERS (SAY MY NAME)' IN NEW VIDEO". GRM Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  91. ^ "ArrDee - Flowers (Say My Name)". Official Charts. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  92. ^ "'Candyman' Trailer Reawakens Urban Legend: Watch". Vibe. February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

Further reading

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Say_My_Name&oldid=1258532923"