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Destiny's Child
“Soldier [ft. T.I. & Lil Wayne]”

[2005]
Destiny's Child were once the most thrilling thing on pop radio; singles like "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Jumpin' Jumpin'" sounded like transmissions from a perfect pop future, a place where lazer-burst synths and berserk hi-hats made more sense than guitars. The rest of the world has caught up with them. "Soldier" would have been a perfectly acceptable album track on The Writing's on the Wall, but it's pretty unremarkable on the dazzling sci-fi playground that pop radio has become. "Soldier" might not carry with it the shock of the new, but it's still a nice little single. The beat is convincing imitation-Dre: ticking staccato synths, organ stabs, and big, off-kilter drums. Beyonce rips her part, of course, strutting confidently through a ridiculous verse about boys from the BK. Kelly sounds almost as good, bringing some soul fire without overwhelming the robotic track. Michelle manages to avoid fucking up her part too badly. The women of Destiny's Child don't sound the slightest bit convincing singing about how they need thug boyfriends, but they wind their voices around a gorgeous hook exactly as well as they always have. T.I. and Lil Wayne stop by, not saying anything but sounding cool and tough and unflappable doing it. It's pretty good, but don't expect it to set your world on fire.
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