Bootylicious

"Bootylicious" was written and produced by Beyoncé Knowles, Rob Fusari and Falonte Moore, and was recorded at SugarHill Recording Studios in Houston, and Sound on Sound Studios in New York City. There are conflicting stories about the song's origins. According to Knowles, she was inspired to write the song on a flight to either London{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/d/destiny01_2/index.jhtml#have |title=MTV Music - DESTIny's CHILD |website=MTV |access-date=April 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723115535/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/d/destiny01_2/index.jhtml#have |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }} or Japan as she was listening to the guitar riff of Stevie Nicks' song "Edge of Seventeen", which reminded her of a "voluptuous woman".{{cite video |people=Beyoncé Knowles |date=August 2, 2009 |title=I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas|medium=DVD |publisher=Sony Music |time=1:03:50 |id=[http://www.isan.org/portal/page?_pageid=168,40032&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&searchType=0&searchValue=0000-0002-37DF-0000-A-0000-0000-7&search.x=34&search.y=12 ISAN ISAN 0000-0002-37DF-0000-A0000-0000-7] }} According to Fusari, he wanted to build a track on a sample of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger". Unable to locate the song, he chose to sample "Edge of Seventeen" instead. He wanted to replay the guitar riff himself in the studio so as not to lose publishing royalties, but group manager Mathew Knowles (father of Beyoncé Knowles) would not let him do this.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959293/producer-rob-fusari-dishes-on-lady-gaga-beyonce|title=Producer Rob Fusari Dishes on Lady Gaga, Beyoncé|last=Marks|first=Craig|date=February 24, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 26, 2012}}

According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing at Musicnotes.com, "Bootylicious" is a pop song set in common time with a medium funk tempo of 104 beats per minute. It is written in the key of E minor (recorded in D{{sharp}} minor), and Destiny's Child's vocals span from G₃ to B₅.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0075647 |title=Destiny's Child – Bootylicious Sheet Music |date=July 20, 2009 |publisher=Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing |access-date=March 29, 2011}} Kelly Rowland sings the majority of the lead vocals on the track, with her leading both verses, Knowles leading choruses, and Michelle Williams leading the bridge.

A hip hop-styled remix (the Rockwilder remix) was produced by Rockwilder, Knowles, and Missy Elliott. This version was issued to urban markets, and had a hip-hop culture-based music video to accompany it, in which Beyoncé wears a belt that has the word "Bootylicious" misspelled as "Bootyliciuos", as pointed out by Carson Daly on an episode of Total Request Live.

A combination of the R&B vocals from this song and the grunge rock music of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"{{YouTube|hrpB4VOUuc8|"Nirvana Vs Destiny's Child"}} is one of the best-known examples of the "bastard pop" or "mashup" genre, where elements from seemingly incompatible songs are mixed together. A later mashup used the music of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" with the "Bootylicious" vocals.{{YouTube|XSZ2hyjEAoM|"Destiny's Child vs Stevie Wonder – Bootystition"}}

The music video for "Bootylicious", directed by Matthew Rolston and filmed from May 7–9, 2001, showed Destiny's Child performing dance steps from Michael Jackson's famous "Billie Jean" performance from the special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.{{cite web|title=MTV Making The Video: Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" (Part One) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqSGLqLFZsg |work=Making the Video | date=July 13, 2011 |via=YouTube| access-date=June 14, 2023}}{{cite web|title=MTV Making The Video: Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" (Part Three) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD5Fp7rIna0 |work=Making the Video | date=July 13, 2011 |via=YouTube| access-date=June 14, 2023}} During the video, moves from several other Michael Jackson videos can be seen such as parts of the choreography from "Thriller", "Beat It", "Bad", and "The Way You Make Me Feel". Dance moves that were used by Jackson during live performances of "They Don't Care About Us" can be seen as well.

As the group is dancing, the members appear in several different costumes. These scenes are interloped with the group dancing in front of a dance troupe made of all boys. The dance sequence ends with a diamond-shaped stage where the group appears wearing pink crop-tops, while the all-male dance troupe appears shirtless, wearing Michael Jackson's signature one glove and sagging pants that showed their underwear with "Destiny" at the back. Stevie Nicks is featured playing the sampled riff on a guitar.{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2001 |title=Stevie Nicks With Child |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/news/May2001/news19656.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620174155/http://www.dotmusic.com/news/May2001/news19656.asp |archive-date=June 20, 2003 |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=Dotmusic}} Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's sister, also makes a brief cameo in the video.

The video for "Bootylicious" began airing on BET, VH1, and MTV on the week ending May 27, 2001, with the video premiering on the latter channel's Making the Video series.{{Cite magazine |date=June 9, 2001 |title=Video Monitor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HBQEAAAAMBAJ |magazine=Billboard |page=85}} The version of the song featured in the music video is slightly different from the album version, removing the synth strings and DJ scratching and percussion fills in favour of a drier mix, with the bass guitar cut out part-way through the final choruses and a fade-out of the instrumental leaving only the vocals near the end. This version was never commercially released.

The music clip is featured on the DualDisc edition of the 2005 compilation album #1's and as an enhanced video on the UK and French editions of the single. The video for the Rockwilder remix featuring Missy Elliott is available on the "Urban Remixes" version of the UK CD single for "Emotion".{{cite AV media notes|title=Emotions (The Urban Remixes)|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=672111 5}}

The music video uses a slightly altered version of the song; the difference being the song's instrumental. A notable difference in the music video is that the song's instrumental fades out at the end of the song, resulting in the final chorus being sung, acapella. Whereas, on the album version, the song's instrumental is heard throughout the song and during the final chorus and ends just before Knowles sings her final line.

Destiny's Child opened the inaugural BET Awards (2001) with a performance of "Bootylicious".{{cite web|url=http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=217 |title=BET Networks PR Website – News Releases |publisher=Bet.mediaroom.com |date=June 22, 2001 |access-date=September 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001091824/http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=217 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }} They also performed it on both Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration concerts, complete with their rendition of his dance moves. Before the video's premiere, the group had dedicated the video to Michael Jackson. According to Kelly Rowland, Jackson liked the song so much that when he saw them for the first time, he started to sing it and they were very surprised. On February 3, 2013, Beyoncé performed the song along with Rowland and Williams during the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show. They also performed Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/02/beyonce_halftime_show_super_bo.html|title=Beyonce halftime show at Super Bowl 2013: Plenty to prove|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC.|date=February 3, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2013|first=Tris|last=McCall|author-link=Tris McCall}}

"Bootylicious" debuted at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 9, 2001. Nine weeks later, the song reached number one, becoming the group's fourth and final number-one single in the United States. It remained on the chart for 19 additional weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/300824/destinys-child/chart|title=Destiny's Child - Chart history - Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=December 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213114222/http://www.billboard.com/artist/300824/destinys-child/chart|url-status=dead}} As of {{YEAR}}, it remains the last song by a girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100. The song also peaked at number five on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and number two on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, behind Mariah Carey and Cameo's "Loverboy".

In the United Kingdom, "Bootylicious" debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind the Atomic Kitten's "Eternal Flame". It sold over 169,000 copies and propelled Survivor back to the top of the UK Albums Chart. Additionally, the song reached the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.

"Bootylicious" created moderate controversy due to pushing the boundaries of female sexuality. Destiny's Child was claiming "G-rated fun" and confidence in body image through the lyrics, yet the song's music video suggested much more with the group wearing heavy make-up, form-fitting clothes, performing sexually suggestive dancing, and the video featuring close-ups on several dancers' buttocks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpyu.org/Page_p.aspx?id=76738|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116200806/http://cpyu.org/Page_p.aspx?id=76738|url-status=dead|title=The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding – Destiny's Child: Pop Music Pied Pipers|archive-date=November 16, 2010}} The song popularized the portmanteau term "bootylicious", a combination of the words "booty" and "delicious", although the term had already been used by Snoop Dogg in the song "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')" (aka "Dre Day" from Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic) as a pejorative. "Bootylicious" is also mentioned by a character named Champ (Shaun Baker) in the 1993 "Homey, Don't Ya Know Me?" episode of A Different World. The term was also used previously in the 1999 video game Duke Nukem: Time to Kill as the name of a strip club.{{cite web |url=http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_articulo.php?pic=PC&id=cw4d961eba91806&idj=&idp=&tipo=art&c=1&pos=9 |title=Regreso al Pasado: Duke Nukem – Artículo en MERISTATION |publisher=Meristation.com |access-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929150337/http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_articulo.php?pic=PC&id=cw4d961eba91806&idj=&idp=&tipo=art&c=1&pos=9 |url-status=dead }}

The success of the song came after the rise in media visibility of voluptuous personalities such as Jennifer Lopez. There was a media perception that the appearance of these women corresponded to an appreciation of the supposedly neglected larger hips and thighs common in the figures of black and Latina women. The approving neologism "bootylicious" has entered the mainstream English language as part of the crossover of African-American popular culture, fashion, and sexual politics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA475536.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012145611/http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA475536.html|url-status=dead|title=Library Journal|archive-date=October 12, 2008|website=www.schoollibraryjournal.com}} In September 2011, VH1 ranked "Bootylicious" at number 19 on its list "The 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s".{{cite magazine|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/09/29/vh1-100-greatest-songs-of-2000s-list/|title=U2, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters fill out VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '00s'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|date=September 29, 2011|access-date=October 2, 2011}} Rowland has mentioned that "Bootylicious" is the most irritating Destiny's Child song to her since she has heard it too many times.{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/rowland%20cant%20stand%20bootylicious_1057096|title=ContactMusic.com 2008|website=contactmusic.com}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

US CD single{{cite web|url=http://www.destinyschild.com/media.html|title=Destiny's Child|website=Destinyschild.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709015156/http://www.destinyschild.com/media.html|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=February 20, 2011}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=38K 79629}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's V-Quest) – 6:06

US and Canadian maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=US & Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=44K 79622}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's V-Quest) – 6:06
3. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's D.J. dub) – 5:27
4. "Bootylicious" (Big Boyz remix) – 3:28
5. "Bootylicious" (Case remix) – 4:45

US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=US 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Columbia Records|id=44 79622}}

:A1. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's V-Quest) – 6:06

:A2. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's D.J. dub) – 5:27

:B1. "Bootylicious" (Big Boyz remix) – 3:28

:B2. "Bootylicious" (Big Boyz remix instrumental) – 3:24

:B3. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27

:B4. "Bootylicious" (album instrumental) – 3:27

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=671738 2}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (Ed Case refix) – 4:45
3. "Cards Never Lie" – 2:42
4. "Bootylicious" (video)

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Columbia Records|id=671738 4}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (M and J's Jelly remix) – 3:40

{{col-2}}

UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Columbia Records|id=671738 6}}

:A1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27

:A2. "Bootylicious" (Rockwilder remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13

:B1. "Bootylicious" (Ed Case refix) – 4:45

European CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=European CD1 liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=COL 671393 1}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (Ed Case refix) – 4:45

European CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=European CD2 liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=COL 671393 2}}

1. "Bootylicious" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Bootylicious" (Ed Case refix) – 4:45
3. "Bootylicious" (M&J's Jelly remix) – 3:40
4. "Bootylicious" (video version)

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=671359 2}}

1. "Bootylicious" – 3:27
2. "Survivor" (Jameson full vocal remix) – 6:19
3. "Survivor" (Digital Black-N-Groove) – 4:00
4. "Survivor" (CB200 Club Anthem mix) – 6:20
5. "Independent Women Part I" (live at the Brit Awards 2001)

Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Bootylicious|others=Destiny's Child|year=2001|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Sony Records Int'l|id=SRCS 2484}}

1. "Bootylicious" (raido edit) – 3:01
2. "Bootylicious" (Rockwilder remix) – 3:53
3. "Bootylicious" (Richard Vission's V-Quest) – 6:07
4. "Bootylicious" (M&J's Jelly remix) – 3:40
5. "Bootylicious" (Big Boyz remix) – 3:30

{{col-end}}

Credits are lifted from the liner notes of #1's.{{cite AV media notes |title=#1's |others=Destiny's Child |year=2005 |page=7 |type=CD liner |publisher=Sony BMG Music Entertainment}}

• Beyoncé Knowles – vocals, writer, producer
• Kelly Rowland – Lead vocals
• Michelle Williams – vocals, mixing
• Rob Fusari – writer, producer
• Falonte Moore – writer, producer
• Stevie Nicks – writer
• Dan Workman – engineering
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Flip Osman – mixing assistance

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Bootylicious"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Destiny's Child|title=Bootylicious|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2022|refname=nzcert|source=radioscope|access-date=December 17, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Destiny's Child|title=Bootylicious|relyear=2001|certyear=2021|id=9169-1734-1|access-date=November 6, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Destiny's Child|title=Bootylicious|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2020|access-date=July 12, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

English rock band Keane performed a medley consisting of "Bootylicious" and Christina Aguilera and Redman's "Dirrty" on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge. An audio recording is available on the 2007 compilation Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 2. The cast of the Fox television show Glee performed a cover version in the 2009 first season episode "Hairography". The Green Bay Packers covered the song in the 2015 film Pitch Perfect 2.

"Bootylicious" was used in a commercial for the video game Candy Crush Jelly Saga in 2016.{{Cite web |last=RetroPete |title=Candy Crush releases Jelly with a commercial full of roller skating & spandex |url=http://www.8-bitcentral.com/blog/2016/candyCrushSkaterGirl.html |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=8-Bit Central}}

It appeared in "Grand Finale", the 2019 season 11 finale of drag queen reality competition RuPaul's Drag Race, where contestants Brooke Lynn Hytes and Silky Nutmeg Ganache had to lipsync to it in order to advance to the final round.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/rupaul-s-drag-race-closes-a-mixed-season-with-a-solid-1835142145|title=RuPaul's Drag Race closes a mixed season with a solid, satisfying finale|publisher=The A.V. Club|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=June 4, 2020|last=Kulzick|first=Kate}} American singer Normani used the song in her performance on the reality competition show Lip Sync Battle, which aired on February 1, 2018. Her set was reminiscent of the song's music video, and at some point, one of the back-up dancers "trips" in front of Normani, a callback to Michelle William's infamous fall during a performance of "Soldier" by the group on 106 & Park in 2004.

The song appeared in Disney and Pixar's 2022 animated film Turning Red.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/destiny-child-bootylicious-pixar-turning-red-1235200053/|title = Why Destiny Child's 'Bootylicious' Was the Perfect Song for Pixar's 'Turning Red'|date = March 9, 2022}}

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2001
• List of UK R&B Singles Chart number ones of 2001

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}
• {{discogs master|41014|type=single|song=Bootylicious}}

{{Destiny's Child singles}}

{{Missy Elliott singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 neologisms

Category:2001 singles

Category:2001 songs

Category:American funk songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Destiny's Child songs

Category:Missy Elliott songs

Category:Music videos directed by Matthew Rolston

Category:Song recordings produced by Beyoncé

Category:Songs written by Beyoncé

Category:Songs written by Kelly Rowland

Category:Songs written by Rob Fusari

Category:Songs written by Stevie Nicks