Bills, Bills, Bills

"Bills, Bills, Bills"
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album The Writing's on the Wall
B-side
  • "Bug a Boo" (snippet)
  • "So Good" (snippet)
  • "Now That She's Gone" (snippet)
ReleasedMay 31, 1999 (1999-05-31)
RecordedDecember 1998[1][2]
Studio
  • Digital Services (Houston, Texas)
  • DARP (Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreR&B
Length4:15
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
ProducerKevin "She'kspere" Briggs
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Get on the Bus"
(1998) 		"Bills, Bills, Bills"
(1999) 		"Bug a Boo"
(1999)
Music video
"Bills, Bills, Bills" on YouTube

"Bills, Bills, Bills" is a song by American girl group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, Kelly Rowland, Kandi Burruss, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs and produced by the latter. The song was released as the lead single from The Writing's on the Wall on May 31, 1999, by Columbia Records.

"Bills, Bills, Bills" became Destiny's Child's first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, it reached the top 10 in Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Critically acclaimed, the song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2000 – Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song.[3]

The accompanying music video for "Bills, Bills, Bills", directed by Darren Grant, was filmed in a beauty salon as a tribute to Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles. In 2021, the song resurged in popularity on streaming platforms, as well as TikTok, where it became the most popular "comeback" track in the United States and the United Kingdom that year.[4][5]

Background and composition

"Bills, Bills, Bills" is one of the five tracks that Destiny's Child worked with Kandi Burruss and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs on their sophomore album that would help create their signature sound.[6] Burruss stated that the idea for the song came to them when they were in a store and Briggs began beat-boxing the beat in his head.[7] Burruss also claimed that the lyrics, specifically the verses for the song, were inspired by personal dating experiences she had.[8] The group members expanded on writing lyrics for the song after the concept was presented to them.[8]

Musically, the song is a sassy, playful, and jittery R&B track with slinky instrumentation led by harpsichord-synthesizers.[9][10] The track is described to have a quirky melody and descriptive lyrics that draw attention to listeners because of the story the group members are singing.[11] Band member LeToya Luckett elaborated on the song: "It's about a relationship. The guy's treating the girl well in the beginning, but then later on down the line, he starts maxing out her credit cards buying her gifts with her own money. Being real trifling, taking total advantage of her. And [what] we're asking is for him to pay back the bill that he has run up and stop taking advantage of her and start taking responsibilities for his actions."[12]

Release

In the United States, "Bills, Bills, Bills" was serviced to urban and rhythmic contemporary radio stations on May 31, 1999, and June 1, 1999, respectively.[13][14][15] The single was then released physically in the United States on CD, maxi-CD, 12-inch vinyl, and cassette.[16] In the United Kingdom, the song was issued on July 12, 1999, as a cassette and two maxi-CDs.[17] Germany and France soon followed with maxi-CDs for the song being released on July 16, and July 26, respectively.[18][19] The track was later sent to US contemporary hit radio on July 20, 1999.[20]

Commercial performance

"Bills, Bills, Bills" achieved widespread commercial success, becoming Destiny's Child’s biggest single since "No, No, No" (1997).[21] In the United States, it debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one five weeks later, displacing Jennifer Lopez's debut single "If You Had My Love" from the top spot.[22] It was Destiny's Child's first song to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and later finished as the ninth-best-selling single of 1999 in the United States.[21][23] "Bills, Bills, Bills" also reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart for nine consecutive weeks and reached the top ten on multiple other Billboard component charts.[24] It was certified Gold on by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 14, 1999 and has since reached Platinum status for shipments of 1.0 million copies.[25]

Internationally, "Bills, Bills, Bills" reached the top thirty on most of the charts on which it appeared. The song attained number one on thenumber one on the Dance/Urban chart in Canada and the UK R&B Singles Charts, becoming the band's second chart topper on both charts.[26] In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on November 21, 2014,[27] before achieving Platinum status for shipments exceeding 600,000 units.[28] Additional weekly chart peaks included number eight in Belgium and the Netherlands,[29][30] and number nine in Canada.[31] The song also reached the top 20 in New Zealand (12),[32] Germany (19),[18] France (20),[33] and Scotland (20),[34] as well as the top 30 in Australia (26),[35] Switzerland (28),[36] and Sweden (30).[37]

Music video

Destiny's Child reunited with director Darren Grant to film the music video for "Bills, Bills, Bills," which featured a futuristic, high-end salon inspired by their early experiences at Headliners, a Houston salon where they had spent time in their youth, and by Tina Knowles, the group's stylist.[38] The video depicts Beyoncé arguing with her boyfriend, intercut with scenes of the members styling clients and performing choreography with salon chairs in light pink outfits. Other sequences show the group in black-and-white zebra-patterned ensembles with men portrayed as "broke" or "good-for-nothing" in the background, followed by a final scene in shiny blue outfits against a wall of glass block windows.[38]

Farrah Franklin, who later was invited to join Destiny's Child, replacing LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, appeared as an extra in the visuals.[39] Despite label objections to some wardrobe choices, Tina Knowles maintained creative control over most of the styling in "Bills, Bills, Bills."[38] The video made its premiere on music video stations such as BET, MTV, and The Box on the week ending June 13, 1999.[40]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the US CD single liner notes and The Writing's on the Wall album booklet.[41][51]

Studios

Personnel

  • Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs – writing (as Kevin Briggs), all instruments, midi and sound, production, vocal production, recording
  • Kandi Burruss – writing (as Kandi)
  • Beyoncé Knowles – writing, vocal production
  • LeToya Luckett – writing
  • Kelly Rowland – writing
  • Michael Calderon – recording
  • Vernon Mungo – recording
  • Claudine Pontier – recording assistance
  • Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing
  • Steve Baughman – mixing assistance

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Bills, Bills, Bills"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[77] Gold 25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum 1,000,000^

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

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Bills, Bills, Bills"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States May 31, 1999 Urban contemporary radio Columbia
[13]
June 1, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [14][15]
June 15, 1999
[16]
United Kingdom July 12, 1999
  • Cassette
  • two maxi CDs
 [17]
Germany July 16, 1999 Maxi CD Sony Music
[18]
United States July 20, 1999 Contemporary hit radio Columbia [20][79]
France July 26, 1999 Maxi CD Sony Music
[19]
October 19, 1999 CD
[80]

Cover versions

Sporty Thievz, the same group that wrote "No Pigeons" as an answer song to TLC's "No Scrubs", wrote a response to "Bills, Bills, Bills" entitled "No Billz (Why, Why, Why)." Sporty Thievz were also featured on "I Can't Go For That", a re-recorded remix of "Bills, Bills, Bills" with new lyrics, produced by the Trackmasters, along with a rapper called Jazz.

In 2015, New York-based rock band They Might Be Giants recorded a cover version for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series,[81] later released on their album Phone Power.

The song was also performed a cappella by the fictional Dalton Academy Warblers group on the American musical television series Glee in the eleventh episode of the second season, entitled The Sue Sylvester Shuffle.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Flashing lights & 3 other titles, Beautiful & 15 other titles, Poems by me, continuation – song, music – Copyright Info". Faqs.org. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  2. ^ "Destiny's Child The Writing's On The Wall LP revisited by co-writer Kandi Burruss - Return To The Classics - SoulCulture". SoulCulture. April 3, 2011.
  3. ^ "1999 Grammy Awards". Grammy Awards. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Year on TikTok 2021 Music Report". Newsroom | TikTok. August 16, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Tion Wayne and Russ Millions' Body named TikTok UK song of 2021". BBC News. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  6. ^ St. Asaph, Katherine. "Destiny's Child: The Writing's on the Wall". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 17, 2022. Originally brought in for just one track, Burruss and Briggs not only ended up with five tracks but crafted its most recognizable sound...
  7. ^ "Destiny's Child The Writing's On The Wall LP revisited by co-writer Kandi Burruss | Return To The Classics | SoulCulture". SoulCulture. Soul Culture. April 3, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2022. She'kspere and I were in Texas. I think we were in the store or something. He started beat boxing the beat in his head; he was like, 'It'd be dope if we played off of bills. Can you pay my bills? Pay my automobiles?'
  8. ^ a b Biakolo, Kovie (July 8, 2021). "Kandi Burruss Shares the Funny Story Behind Writing Destiny Child's 'Bills, Bills, Bills'". Glamour. Retrieved June 17, 2022. When I got with the girls at the studio, we were singing them the idea. I had the melody of how I felt like the verse should go, and we came together for the lyrics. ... I use a lot of my past relationships as inspiration. The relationship I had been in prior to [writing the song], I took inspiration from it...though I didn't tell them that.
  9. ^ "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999: Critics' Picks". Billboard. April 8, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2022. Briggs and Burruss specialized in telling off deadbeat men through playful R&B songs in 1999 ... 'Bills' was the sassy, harpsichord-synth-led first single
  10. ^ "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 200-151 – Page 5". Pitchfork. August 30, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2022. 'Bills Bills Bills' wasn't the first great piece of jittery post-Timbaland R&B, but it was the first to offer a performance that mirrored the hyper-finesse of the style's insectile stop-start surfaces.
  11. ^ Taylor, Chuck, ed. (June 5, 1999). "Reviews & Previews: Singles: R&B". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 23. p. 20.
  12. ^ "Destiny's Child Sums Up Its "Bills"". MTV News. August 6, 1999. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  13. ^ a b "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1301. May 28, 1999. p. 75.
  14. ^ a b "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1301. May 28, 1999. p. 91.
  15. ^ a b "Crossover Nation: New Releases" (PDF). Hits. May 21, 1999. p. 67. Retrieved November 25, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ a b "Destiny's Child Expands Creative Role". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 25. June 19, 1999. p. 20. ...'Bills, Bills, Bills' ([...] commercial single available Tuesday [15])...
  17. ^ a b "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 10, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Bills bills bills – Destiny's Child – CD maxi single" (in French). France: Fnac. July 26, 1999. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1308. July 16, 1999. p. 50.
  21. ^ a b c "Destinys Child Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  22. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. June 19, 1999. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 22, 2000. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "Destinys Child Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "American single certifications – Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". Recording Industry Association of America.
  26. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 24/7/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart on 24/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ a b "British single certifications – Destiny's Child – Bills Bills Bills". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 27, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Bills Bills Bills Destiny's Child in the "Search:" field.
  29. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  30. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Destiny's Child Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  34. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 24/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  35. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  36. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. ^ a b "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". Singles Top 100.
  38. ^ a b c Knowles, Tina (April 22, 2025). Martiarch. United States: John Murray Press. ISBN 9780349703602. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  39. ^ "Destiny's Child's Long Road to Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' for Nothing)". MTV. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  40. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 26. June 26, 1999. p. 90. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  41. ^ a b Bills, Bills, Bills (US CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. 38K 79175.
  42. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (US cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1999. 38T 79175.
  43. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. 44K 79176.
  44. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 1999. 44 79176.
  45. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. 667754 2.
  46. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (UK CD1 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. 667690 2.
  47. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (UK CD2 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. 667690 2.
  48. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (UK cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1999. 667690 4.
  49. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (European CD1 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. COL 667287 1.
  50. ^ Bills, Bills, Bills (European CD2 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1999. COL 667287 2.
  51. ^ The Writing's on the Wall (US CD album booklet). Columbia Records. 1999. CK 69870.
  52. ^ "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  53. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 8433". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  54. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 8442". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  55. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 1999" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  56. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 31. July 31, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  57. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (9.9–16.9. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 10, 1999. p. 12. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  58. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bills, Bills, Bills". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  59. ^ "Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  60. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  61. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  62. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  63. ^ "Destinys Child Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  64. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2014" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  65. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2014" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  66. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  67. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  68. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  69. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  70. ^ Zywietz, Tobias (November 2000). "The Top 200 Singles of 1999" (PDF). Chartwatch. Ilminster, Somerset. pp. 41–42. Retrieved August 2, 2025 – via Zobbel.
  71. ^ "Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  72. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  73. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-57.
  74. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  75. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-61.
  76. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 53. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  77. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  78. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Destiny's Child – Bills, Bills, Bills". Radioscope. Retrieved December 17, 2024. Type Bills, Bills, Bills in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  79. ^ "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover". Gavin Report. No. 2264. July 19, 1999. p. 11.
  80. ^ "Bills bills bills – Destiny's Child – CD single" (in French). France: Fnac. October 19, 1999. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  81. ^ "Bills, Bills, Bills- They Might Be Giants". June 22, 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2015 – via YouTube.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.