Michelle Williams has said that Destiny’s Child were inspired by the success of the Spice Girls.
The singer told London Lite that her group appreciated the achievements of Ginger, Sporty, Scary, Baby and Posh in leading the way for other girlbands.
Williams said: “The Spice Girls were such great role models for Destiny’s Child. We loved that they were a strong, female group that became a megastar brand.”
She added that ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham’s husband David “is so handsome and has a great sense of style”.
Last month, Williams’s former bandmate Kelly Rowland denied reports that the singers would reunite with Beyoncé to reform Destiny’s Child.
Michelle Williams: I saw Chicago a couple of times on Broadway, back when Usher was playing Billy Flynn. When it came time for me to do it, I backed away from seeing the show again because I wanted to bring as much of me as possible to the role. I love Roxie’s feistiness, her wittiness. She’s always on her toes. She never lets anybody one-up her.
The show takes a great amount of discipline. In theatre, you have to know your lines and choreography – there are no little ways out like in a concert. You can’t just hold your microphone out to the audience and say, “Hey, sing along.” I have more control of the stage when I’m performing my own music, but theatre is all about putting down egos: I’m doing someone else’s choreography, I’m singing someone else’s material. We did dabble with Bob Fosse’s choreography in our routines for Destiny’s Child. It’s very cool, sensual movement – not raunchy, but it is sexy. When I’m married, I’ll definitely be putting those moves on my husband.
On my opening night, I thought the ensemble were way too calm. There wasn’t a lot of nervous energy. But they said, “We’ve got your back – off you go.” Roxie is on stage quite a bit, so the stamina has been a challenge. But you have no time to be tired; nobody buys tickets to come and see you be tired. No matter how I’m feeling when I arrive at the theatre, I become happy in the show. There’s something about hitting the stage and feeling the energy from the cast and the audience – it has a healing effect.
The gallery finally has a new look. I hope you guys like it and tell me what you think.
Great holidays…
Which was your best holiday?
My greatest ever holiday was in Dubai with Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, the other members of Destiny’s Child, in the spring of 2005. We were touring over there and we had a couple of days off to explore the area and I absolutely loved it. We got taken to the sand dunes in dune buggies, we had a beautiful barbecue, belly danced and got Henna tattoos all up our arms. It was heaven. But, if I was going on a city break, the first place I’d book every time would be New York. I love the vibe and energy there. And the shopping, too.
And the best hotel you’ve stayed in?
I’ve travelled all over the world with Destiny’s Child, so I’ve stayed at some of the most luxurious hotels on the planet and I’ve got a few favourites. In London I love the Mandarin Oriental because of the fantastic spa there. They stock Jo Malone body products which are my absolute favourite. I also love the Sanderson which again has a beautiful spa, and also the Metropolitan, which is super cool, has great room service and stocks Kiehl’s products. As you can tell, there’s a theme here; if the spa is luxurious, I’m happy. In America I really like the Regent Beverly Wilshire, in Los Angeles, and I love the Crescent in Dallas. I also adore the Hyatt in my home town of Chicago and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, which has got a fabulous spa.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
It’s important to be around people that you love but I also love to visit places by myself. I recently flew to Miami on a whim and I loved it. My life is 100 miles an hour when I’m performing, so it’s nice to just disappear occasionally and be anonymous. I’m definitely the sort of person who likes to relax on holiday rather than see the culture. I should get out and see more but I love to just lie on the beach or unwind in the spa, or take some time to sleep in the hotel room.
What do you always take with you?
I always take my laptop and my iPod. It’s got thousands of songs on it so I just put it on shuffle and listen to whatever plays. I’m not a great reader but the one book I will always pack is my Bible.
What’s your best piece of travel advice?
I’ve travelled so often for so many years I tend to travel on autopilot now. I’m probably on the move for 11 months a year so I really don’t even think about it anymore.
Where do you want to go next?
Egypt and South Africa are next on my list. I haven’t been to either but I just met some new friends from Egypt and they’re like, “Michelle, you gotta come,” so I’m heading out there after my run in Chicago ends.
Which was your worst holiday?
I’m a pretty positive sort of person so I can’t really look back on any trip I’ve taken and say with my hand on my heart that I’ve had a bad holiday. There have been a few times when the sun didn’t shine as much as I’d hoped but there have been no total disasters. I’ve been very lucky so far but maybe I’ve just jinxed myself.
And your worst experience on holiday?
I’ve been blessed to have travelled with some great people, visit some incredible places and be protected on all my journeys, so I have yet to experience anything negative. For me, the purpose of taking a vacation is to get away from all the bad stuff in the real world.
And the biggest packing mistake you’ve made?
I had my luggage stolen travelling between Chicago and Detroit once. They took everything; my cases with all my clothes and my laptop. The bags turned up in the end but the laptop was gone. It wasn’t too much of a problem though – I live in Chicago so I didn’t have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.
Which is the worst hotel you’ve stayed in?
Before Destiny’s Child, I was a backing singer for another artist and we checked into this really drab-looking hotel in Connecticut after the gig. I had a bad feeling about it the moment we stepped through the door and when I got into the bathroom there was poop on the toilet. That was the nastiest thing I’d ever seen in my whole life so I went straight down and complained to the manager and he moved me to a better room. I didn’t go back.
What do you avoid on holidays?
I’m not a big fan of crowds as my day job is so busy. Holidays are all about relaxation for me. I want to go away to a fabulous destination with a nice spa to get pampered, and sit by the pool all day and night. I don’t like to be around a lot of people when I’m on vacation but I’ll sign autographs if I’m asked, although fortunately, unlike Beyoncé, I don’t get chased around by the paparazzi all the time. I get left alone, thank God.
What do you hate about holidays?
I hate the fact vacations have to end. In my ideal world I’d be on a vacation that lasts forever.
Kelly Rowland has dismissed reports she and her former bandmates Beyonce and Michelle Williams are working on one final Destiny’s Child album, urging eager fans to “simmer down.”
The “Independent Women” hitmakers parted ways in 2005 to embark on solo careers.
Rumors recently surfaced claiming the trio was heading back into the recording studio to make a fifth studio disc reportedly because they were said to be contractually obliged to Sony Music subsidiary Columbia Records to deliver another project.
But Rowland insists there is no such album or contract clause, and there has been no talk of a reunion just yet.
She tells the NYPost.com’s PopWrap blog, “There is no Destiny’s Child album in the works. None of us have talked about an album or anything. And until we do, no one else should worry about it. Simmer down now!”
All three members have achieved success in their own right since the band’s split. Rowland is juggling her singing career with presenting duties for reality TV’s “The Fashion Show”; Williams is currently starring in the West End stage production of Chicago in London, and Beyonce has been wowing audiences with her global I Am … tour, as well as starring in movies like recent thriller “Obsessed.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=43720#ixzz0McNtQbTk
MICHELLE Williams celebrated her 29th birthday in proper bling style but sadly best pal Beyonce missed out.
The former Destiny’s Child diva, 28, splashed the cash with pal Jay Z, 39, and an entourage of 40 hangers-on at swanky club Ayoush in Mayfair.
They spent over £10,000 on Dom Perignon champagne, a giant birthday cake and enlisted the DJ to play only remixes of their own songs.
The multi-talented Michelle Williams will be one of the celebrity judges this season for Gospel Dream, the popular American Idol®- style talent show on the Gospel Music Channel.
Williams may be best known as a former member of the Grammy-award winning Destiny’s Child with Beyonce’ Knowles and Kelly Rowland. Since then she has made a name for herself in the Gospel genre winning awards as a solo artist with the success of her first CD ‘Heart To Yours,’ the best selling Gospel album of 2002. She also is preparing for her debut in London in a run as Roxie Hart in a West End run of Chicago.
Williams joins Stellar Award winner J. Moss, and one of the music industry’s most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek. The show is co-hosted by Mike Kasem and Kimberly Locke, the first American Idol alumna to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with a non-Idol single.
Thirty-seven contestants have been selected from thousands of people, 16-40 years old, from all genres of gospel/Christian musical styles, who auditioned. From that group 10 finalists will be chosen to vie for the grand prize, which includes record and music video exposure.
The fourth season of Gospel Dream can be seen Wednesday nights this summer at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times.
Former DESTINY’S CHILD star MICHELLE WILLIAMS knew she wasn’t cut out for a career in criminal justice – when she had to sleep with the lights on after seeing a dead body.
The singer was pursuing a degree in criminal justice at Illinois State University in the 1990s, and was required to watch autopsies as part of her course.
However, just days before she was set to have the grisly lesson, Williams joined the Independent Women hitmakers and went on the road.
But a morbid curiosity prompted the star to visit an undertaker pal at a funeral home – and Williams was left petrified by what she saw.
She says, “A couple of days before I left to play my first Destiny’s Child show, I was supposed to go see an autopsy. It had to be rescheduled but I never got to see it.
“A few years ago, a friend of mine who works in a funeral home let me in to see how they prepare a body for burial. I had to go home and sleep with the lights on, but it was just curiosity. I wanted to see it for all for myself.”
Michelle wrote:
Wellllllllllllllll tonight’s the big night!!! I make my West End stage debut in the musical CHICAGO as the leading lady Roxie Hart.
I am wayyyyyyyy to geeked!! I thank God for these opportunities. I want you guys to know that all things are possible!!! I’ve always wanted to do theatre here in London and my dream has come true!!! Now look…..it ain’t as easy as it sounds becuz you gotta put in the work!!! When God blesses, you still have work to do…u can’t sit back and get comfortable!!
I’ll keep u guys posted!!!!
Lots of love,
Michelle
Michelle Williams achieved instant success when she became part of Destiny’s Child in 2000.
She replaced LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett to join Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland in the girl group, which disbanded four years ago.
As well as being part of an act that sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, she has recorded two successful gospel albums.
But her return to pop last year, with an album called Unexpected, failed to set the charts alight, only reaching number 42 in the US.
After appearing in musicals Aida and The Color Purple in the US, she is heading to London’s West End for a six-week stint as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
Are you nervous about your West End debut?
For my third show, for it to be here on the West End, I cannot complain.
It’s such a legendary musical with legendary choreography so I’m a little nervous about that. But not in a bad way. I just wanna do my best. I hope people like it.
Tell us about the character of Roxie Hart in Chicago
I love Roxie Hart. She reminds me of me. You know, she’s very witty, very smart, people aren’t expecting her to come up with things the way she does. I just like the sassiness of the role.
When you joined Destiny’s Child they were already a success. Was it hard trying to fit in with an established team?
They were going to pursue their career as a duo, actually, so they had already been doing shows as a duo that seemed to work but they wanted to try it again as a group.
So it was like, I had to come in with my game face on, ready to work with them, and then at the same time, I just kinda knew my place.
What was it like to be that successful all over the world?
It was shocking. I remember the very first time we came to London, people had already made these signs, ‘we love you Michelle’.
The fans appreciate and really love Destiny’s Child. In America, they do too. But over here, we would do concerts and people would pass out. I only saw Michael Jackson do that.
What are the downsides?
I was Twittering about that a month ago.
I’m over here alone, missing my friends and family, and they don’t know why celebrities moan because they have the money and whatever.
I’m still a human. I don’t care about money in the bank when my Mom is thousands and thousands of miles away.
Of course, when the cheque comes, I get a little happier. But it is lonely, I’m here by myself. Meeting new people, a new assistant, going through all this, I don’t have to be in an entourage, it’s literally just me.
Do you get bored with people asking if Destiny’s Child are going to reform?
I’m happy to see that five years after we released our last album, people are still talking about us.
To me, I can’t be mad at that. I’m excited about that, you know? Maybe one day we will get back together. We’d be crazy not to. Even if it’s just to do a tour. I think that’d be crazy, if we didn’t do it.
The singles We Break the Dawn and The Greatest from your last album, Unexpected, sounded like hits…
The whole album was a hit.
Were you disappointed it didn’t do well in the charts?
Very disappointed because I don’t go in the studio for my health.
I felt like I was ready to go, it seemed like it was doing well at first. So I understand you cannot depend on your label and your management for 100% backing.
I know there were things that I had to do, or could have done, that maybe I didn’t do as well – maybe I didn’t have a good enough internet presence. Sometimes artists have to market themselves now.
I’m still disappointed, but I was like, ‘if God can give me an ounce of what you give others then I would be okay’. I don’t ask for much. I gave out good music – that’s enough.
Are you envious of the level of success that Beyonce has achieved?
I wouldn’t say I’m envious but I know that I can have number one songs.
We all can. Myself, Kelly [Rowland] – she’s got a number one song now with David Guetta [When Love Takes Over]. It’s possible.
Destiny’s Child, we’re all solo. There’s no reason why A, B and C can’t have their own levels of success in lanes A, B and C. I might get in trouble for saying that but, oh well.
And what I hate people to do is, they don’t think because I’m not visible over here with the number ones, they think I’m not doing anything or they think I’m not as successful.
But I’m in the freaking West End! I’m the first African-American woman to play his role in the West End!
But it’s okay. The other day I was walking around London, nobody made a fuss – I like that. I wanna be respected for what I do but I don’t wanna be bombarded and can’t go anywhere.
So that’s what I have over Beyonce. I can go anywhere I want.
Michelle Williams is appearing in Chicago, at London’s Cambridge Theatre, from 13 July to 22 August. She talked to BBC News entertainment reporter Liam Allen.
