Independent Women Part I

"Independent Women Part I"
Song

"Independent Women Part I" is an R&B song written by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles, Sam Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier, and Cory Rooney for Destiny Child's third studio album, Survivor (2001). It was produced by Knowles, Rooney, and Poke & Tone and first appeared on the soundtrack to the film Charlie's Angels. Released as both the soundtrack's and album's first single in fall 2000, the song held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eleven consecutive weeks from November 2000 to February 2001. Although, for the United Kingdom, it was released on the same day, with both Part I and Part II counting as the song release.

The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence. At the end, the women are greeted by the ever-mysterious "Charlie".

Song information

The song was the first release by Destiny's Child as a trio following the departure of Farrah Franklin. The song was restructured and re-recorded for the Survivor album - the new version given a "Part I" addition to its title. Knowles' original "Independent Women" was also included on Survivor, as "Part II". The Groovin' Jumpin' Girls of R&B covered this song on their tribute album "Tribute to Destiny's Child".

Chart performance

"Independent Women" debuted at #78 on the Hot 100 on September 23, 2000 and climbed to its peak position during its ninth week, where it spent eleven consecutive weeks on top of the Hot 100 single chart. It was in the 2000-2001 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for longest running song by a female group. In the US, the song also broke the record for the most radio spins in one week and the record for most audience impressions after reaching a staggering 140.4 million listeners. "Independent Women Part I" also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for three weeks, becoming Destiny's Child fourth #1 single on this chart. The single topped the Hot 100 Airplay chart for nine consecutive weeks and peaked at number three on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. While in its 11 week run at #1 the single (for 5 weeks) blocked Mya's #2 hit single "Case Of The Ex (Watcha Gonna Do)" from reaching the #1 spot

The song also became the group's first #1 single in the UK and sold over 421,000 copies. It was certified gold by the BPI and held the #1 spot on the United World Tracks Chart for two weeks. It also reached the #1 position in New Zealand for a week, peaked within the top placings in Canada, Australia and Switzerland, and charted within the top 10 in France and Japan.

"Independent Women Part I" was the group's third single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and their fourth chart-topper on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It remained on the top of the Hot 100 for eleven weeks and stayed on the chart for a total of twenty-eight weeks.

In the Philippines, the song managed to top the charts during the last weeks of 2000. By 2001, "Independent Women Part II" was released as a radio single.

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	9
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Finnish Singles Chart	5
French Singles Chart	9
German Singles Chart	3
Irish Singles Chart	1
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	1
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	6
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	1
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play	1
U.S. Hot Ringtones	1

Credits and personnel

• Lead vocals: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland
• Background vocals: Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland
• Vocal production - Beyoncé Knowles
• Recorded by Manelich Sotolongo at Lobo Studios, Deer Park, New York
• Additional recording by Troy Gonzalez, Ramon Morales at TK Studios, Hawaii
• Audio mixing - Rich Travali
• Mastered by Tom Coyne
• Former Vocals by Farrah Franklin

Official versions

• "Independent Women Part I" (Liquid 360 Dark Angel Mix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Skratch Attack Mix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (A Cappella)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Joe's Smooth 200 2Step Mix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Joe's Smooth Jazz Carnival Mix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's Independent Remix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Maurice's Radio Mix)

• "Independent Women Part I" (Pasadena Remix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone Club Remix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Victor Calderone Drum Dub Remix)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Instrumental)
• "Independent Women Part I" (Let It All Blow Remix)
• "Independent Women Part II" (Instrumental)