Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child sing about female empowerment and financial independence in their 2000 hit, “Independent Women Part 1,” from the movie Charlie’s Angels.
Sixth on Harper’s Bazaar‘s 2020 list of the 41 most powerful songs written by women, “Independent Women Part 1” pulls no punches in its messaging. The basic premise of the song is that the independent woman needs no man to gift her the finer things in life. She can buy these items on her own.
The first verse goes like this: “Question: Tell me what you think about me / I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings.”
In the catchy chorus, we hear another diamond reference: “The shoes on my feet / I’ve bought it / The clothes I’m wearing / I’ve bought it / The rock I’m rockin’ / ‘Cause I depend on me.”
According to songfacts.com, Beyoncé was inspired to write the song after having an argument with her boyfriend. She thought to herself, “I don’t need a man, I’m independent.” She marched into a studio and recorded vocals for the first version of the song, which was eventually released as “Independent Women Part 2.”
“Independent Woman Part 1” is a version of the song that was reworked by Samuel Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier and Cory Rooney for the 2000 film adaptation of the Charlie’s Angels TV series.
In the official video, the three members of Destiny’s Child — Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — find themselves in a futuristic bootcamp, where they take on the roles of the movie-version Angels, played by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu. Both the film and the song were huge successes. The movie went on to gross $264 million and the song charted in 23 countries, including a #1 position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #3 placement on the Canadian Singles Chart.
The song also earned a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Twelve years later, Beyoncé and her former bandmates (Destiny’s Child broke up in 2006) reconnected to perform “Independent Woman Part 1” during the halftime show of the 2013 Super Bowl.
Please check out the official video of “Independent Women Part I.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Independent Women Part 1”
Written by Samuel Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier, Cory Rooney and Beyoncé Knowles. Performed by Destiny’s Child.
Lucy Liu… with my girl, Drew… Cameron D. and Destiny
Charlie’s Angels, Come on
Uh uh uh
Question: Tell me what you think about me
I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings
Only ring your cell-y when I’m feelin’ lonely
When it’s all over please get up and leave
Question: Tell me how you feel about this
Try to control me boy you get dismissed
Pay my own fun, oh and I pay my own bills
Always 50/50 in relationships
The shoes on my feet
I’ve bought it
The clothes I’m wearing
I’ve bought it
The rock I’m rockin’
‘Cause I depend on me
If I wanted the watch you’re wearin’
I’ll buy it
The house I live in
I’ve bought it
The car I’m driving
I’ve bought it
I depend on me
(I depend on me)
All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin’ money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me
Girl I didn’t know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Girl I didn’t know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Tell me how you feel about this
Who would I want if I would wanna live
I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get
Ladies, it ain’t easy bein’ independent
Question: How’d you like this knowledge that I brought
Braggin’ on that cash that he gave you is to front
If you’re gonna brag make sure it’s your money you flaunt
Depend on noone else to give you what you want
The shoes on my feet
I’ve bought it
The clothes I’m wearing
I’ve bought it
The rock I’m rockin’
‘Cause I depend on me
If I wanted the watch you’re wearin’
I’ll buy it
The house I live in
I’ve bought it
The car I’m driving
I’ve bought it
I depend on me
(I depend on me)
All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin’ money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me
Girl I didn’t know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Girl I didn’t know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Destiny’s Child
Wassup?
You in the house?
Sure ’nuff
We’ll break these people off Angel style
Child of Destiny
Independent beauty
Noone else can scare me
Charlie’s Angels
Woah
All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin’ money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me
Girl I didn’t know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.