The Story Behind Beyonce-Led Destiny Child’s Hit Song “Survivor”
I Am A Survivor
According to Billboard, in the 90’s, TLC was one of the most popular and best-selling girl group in America. Their hits “Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs" reverberated throughout forgotten corners of the universe, including Baricho, where I was born and bred. Man, remember Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes!!
While TLC were on the upward climb, selling out venues and stadia, in Houston, Texas another girl group was warming up. This group was called Girl’s Tyme and would be seen performing in talent shows and events of that nature in Houston.
You probably have never heard of that group, but it had some heavy hitters: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and LaTavia Roberson.
You all know Beyoncé-beautiful, with large eyes and a stunning smile. She has previously been described by Vogue as “wholesome and sexy at the same time.”
You also know Kelly Rowland, and if you don’t, ask Silas Nyanchwani.
Beyoncé’s mother Tina was not impressed with the name “Girl’s Tyme” and like any mom would do, she sought God’s guidance on a suitable name for the girl band. It wasn’t strange when Tina pulled the word “destiny” out of the bible for her daughter’s girl group. Her husband Mathew-Beyoncé ‘s father, added the word “child.”
And that is how Girl’s Tyme became Destiny’s Child, comprising members Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett.
In the years that followed, Destiny’s Child became known for line-up change more than for hit songs. In 1997, their lead single “No No No” from their self-titled debut album in 1997 became a success, but the group was still struggling…
In 2000, a popular reality TV show called “Survivor" was born in America. The show is a competition reality series in which a group of contestants are stranded on a deserted island and compete in challenges to win a grand prize. The contestants must work together and strategize to outwit and outlast each other, all while surviving the elements and living on limited resources.
Pundits and skeptics started comparing Destiny's Child to the show “Survivor” because of the group’s internal competition and struggles. It was a question of “who will be the last to survive.”
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After 3 members left the group, according to the LA Times, some people even joked that Luckett, Roberson, and Franklin had been “voted off the island,” just like an episode of Survivor.
Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland were not happy with the comparisons and negative chatter. Michelle Williams had then joined the group.
Who was going to survive?
Instead of feeding the sceptics, Destiny’s Child wrote the song "Survivor" in response to rumors of the group's break-up and industry pressure to produce a hit single. The lyrics of the song highlight the group's strength and determination in the face of adversity. The song's message of resilience and perseverance resonated with audiences, just as the TV show "Survivor" did.
Nelson Mandela said that criticism prevents a person from becoming a demi-god; for Destiny’s Child, criticism fueled their songwriting; they also drew inspiration from the hit competition series to create the group’s most popular track to date.
The song Survivor went on to win the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 2002 Grammy Awards.
Today, Survivor is still Destiny’s Child’s second highest-debuting single and currently holds a spot on Billboard’s list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up
I'm not gon' stop, I'm gon' work harder
I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it
I will survive, keep on survivin'
In Kirinyaga, the local version of survival is denoted as “no kûgeria mani…”