Get on the Bus (song)

"Get on the Bus"
Single by Destiny's Child featuring Timbaland
from the album Why Do Fools Fall in Love
B-side
  • "Illusions"
  • "Birthday"
ReleasedSeptember 21, 1998 (1998-09-21)
RecordedJune 1998
StudioManhattan Center (New York City)[1]
GenreR&B[2]
Length4:44
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Missy Elliott
  • Timbaland
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"With Me"
(1998) 		"Get on the Bus"
(1998) 		"Bills, Bills, Bills"
(1999)
Timbaland singles chronology
"Are You That Somebody?"
(1998) 		"Get on the Bus"
(1998) 		"Here We Come"
(1998)
Music video
"Get on the Bus" on YouTube

"Get on the Bus" is a song by the American girl group Destiny's Child featuring American producer Timbaland from the original motion picture soundtrack of Gregory Nava's romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). It was written and produced by Timbaland and Missy Elliott. As with other Timbaland's 1990s productions, the song features some unorthodox elements, including bird sounds. It was released as the second single from Why Do Fools Fall in Love on September 21, 1998 by Columbia Records and Elektra Records.

"Get on the Bus" was a moderate commercial success throughout Europe, reaching the top 20 in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it received minor airplay on urban contemporary radio, peaking at number 63 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Earle Sebastian. The song was later included on the international editions of Destiny's Child's second album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and included in the set list of their 2001–2002 world tour.

Background

In 1997, rapper Missy Elliott was handpicked by Elektra Records chairman and CEO Sylvia Rhone to executive produce a soundtrack of original songs for director Gregory Nava's romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), inspired by the life of singer Frankie Lymon, starring Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, and Larenz Tate.[2] Breaking away from the historic doo wop-inspired rock & roll of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, Elliott collaborated with her longtime production partner Timbaland to write and produce a collection of contemporary R&B tracks to be recorded by various artists for inclusion on the soundtrack.[2]

Among the songs the pair wrote for the album was "Get on the Bus,"[2] which depicts a young woman resolute in ending her relationship with her boyfriend, irrespective of his feelings on the matter.[3] Elliott selected Destiny's Child to record the track, with their vocals laid down at Manhattan Center Studios.[1] In September 1998, group member Kelly Rowland elaborated on the song in an interview with the MTV Radio Network: "Your boyfriend's been getting on your nerves and just fussing and the first verse is saying, "I don't want to fuss with you, so I'm gonna sit down on the couch and basically ignore you." Then she says that "it doesn't matter what it takes, but get outta my face, catch a cab, get on a bus, get outta here"."[3]

Commercial performance

Released exclusively in Europe, "Get on the Bus" was issued as the second single from the Why Do Fools Fall in Love soundtrack,[2] following Melanie B's "I Want You Back." The song became a moderate commercial success, reaching number 15 in the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom.[4][5] It also peaked at number on the UK R&B Singles Chart and number nine on the UK Dance Singles Chart.[6][7] In the United States, although it was not officially released as a single, the song received limited airplay on urban contemporary radio, which helped it reach number 63 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[8]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Get on the Bus" was directed by Earle Sebastian.[9] It focuses on Destiny's Child, performing in a silver-white room and inside and around a Lincoln Navigator SUV. The members are dressed in white clothes. Timbaland appears during his rap verses, while the choreography was crafted by Fatima Robinson.[10] Frequent Robinson collaborator Aaliyah also contributed to the production in an unspecified role.[10]

Track listings

UK CD single[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get on the Bus" (featuring Timbaland) (Radio Version)
4:08
2."Get on the Bus" (Radio Edit without rap)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
  • Elliott
  • Timbaland
3:23
3."Illusions" (Destiny Club Mix)
Maurice Joshua8:05
UK cassette
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get on the Bus" (featuring Timbaland) (Radio Version)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
  • Elliott
  • Timbaland
4:08
2."Illusions" (Destiny Club Mix)
  • Hayes
  • Swain
  • Jolley
  • Ingram
  • John
Joshua8:05
European maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get on the Bus" (featuring Timbaland) (Radio Version)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
  • Elliott
  • Timbaland
4:08
2."Get on the Bus" (Radio Edit without rap)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
  • Elliott
  • Timbaland
3:23
3."Birthday"
Wiggins5:13

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Writing's on the Wall.[1]

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Get on the Bus"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 21, 1998 Urban contemporary radio
[18]
October 6, 1998 Rhythmic contemporary radio
[19]
Germany December 14, 1998 Maxi CD East West
[20]
United Kingdom January 11, 1999
Elektra
[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Writing's on the Wall (liner notes). Destiny's Child. Columbia Records. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Brown, Preezy (August 28, 2018). "20 years later, how the 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' soundtrack cast Missy Elliott as a hitmaker and mogul in the making". Revolt. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Destiny's Child "Gets On The Bus" For New Single". MTV News. September 25, 1998. Archived from the original on May 23, 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Destiny's Child Featuring Timbaland Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  6. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 31/1/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Official Dance Singles Chart on 31/1/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Destiny's Child Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Destiny's Child Feat. Timbaland: Get on the Bus". IMDb. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  10. ^ a b Knowles, Tina (April 22, 2025). Martiarch. United States: John Murray Press. ISBN 9780349703602. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  11. ^ "Destiny's Child – Get On The Bus (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 7 December 1998. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 5. January 30, 1999. p. 25. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Destiny's Child feat. Timbaland – Get On The Bus" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 31/1/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  16. ^ "Urban Top 50" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 13, 1998. p. 83. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "ADDvance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 18, 1998. p. 53. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic – New Releases: Adds October 6" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 2, 1998. p. 49. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ "Get on the Bus/ – Destiny'S Child" (in German). Germany: Amazon Music. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  21. ^ "Singles – Releases For 11 Jan–17 Jan, 1999: 96" (PDF). Music Week. London. January 9, 1999. p. 17. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via World Radio History.
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