Stand Up for Love

"Stand Up for Love"
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album #1's
Released September 27, 2005
Format
Recorded
  • Chartmaker Studios
  • The Record Plant
Genre
Length 4:46
Label Columbia
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Cater 2 U"
(2005)		 "Stand Up for Love"
(2005)

"Stand Up for Love" is a song by American recording group Destiny's Child from their first greatest hits album, #1's (2005). Columbia Records released it as the album's first single on September 27, 2005. The song was written by Amy Foster-Gillies and David Foster with the latter also serving as the producer along with Humberto Gatica. Musically, "Stand Up for Love" is a slow-tempo adult contemporary ballad inspired by poverty-stricken children and families. It was termed the 2005 World Children's Day Anthem and used in conjunction with McDonald's‍ '​ Ronald McDonald House Charities in order to raise awareness of that day.

Upon its release, "Stand Up for Love" received negative reviews from music critics who criticized its composition and inclusion on the compilation album. The song became Destiny's Child's first single to fail to chart in the United States or any other major music chart. A music video was directed by Matthew Rolston featuring the band members singing the song, both individually and together. "Stand Up for Love" was performed live by Destiny's Child in November 2005 at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show and on World Children's Day at Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles. Several South Korean groups and singers covered the song.

Background and release

"Stand Up for Love" was written by Canadian musician David Foster (pictured) along with his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies.

Canadian musician David Foster was inspired to write "Stand Up for Love" for poverty-stricken children and families which receive funds from charitable organization.[1] Destiny's Child group member Beyoncé acknowledged that they wanted to record the song for the people who help poor families.[1] She further talked about the song, saying, "The kids we've met have no idea how much they've given us. We wanted to record this song for them, in hopes that people would hear their voice through ours."[2] Michelle Williams further said the song was her "favorite" and went on to describe it as "one of the best songs that we've done collectively", emphasizing the vocal performance.[3]

The song has been touted as the 2005 World Children's Day Anthem in conjunction with Ronald McDonald House Charities.[4] It was used to raise awareness of that day; Destiny's Child were also global ambassadors for the 2005 program.[1] In August, 2007, the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards (SPCS) requested that New Zealand radio stations play "Stand Up for Love" to reflect on child abuse after the Nia Glassie abuse case received widespread media attention.[5] Similarly, organizations Sensible Sentencing Trust, Family First and For the Sake of Our Children Trust, asked radio stations to play the song during a three minute silence which was also requested by them.[6]

The song was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the US on September 27, 2005 and was released as a 7-inch single the same day.[7] It also impacted contemporary hit radio on October 3, 2005 in that country.[8] "Stand Up for Love" became the group's last single together before their disbandment, as the second single from the compilation, "Check on It" was a solo song by Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug.[9]

Recording and composition
"Stand Up for Love"
A 20-second sample from the chorus of "Stand Up for Love" during which the band members sing together.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Stand Up for Love" was composed and arranged by Canadian musician David Foster, who also served as its co-writer along with his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies and Beyoncé. Foster produced the song with Humberto Gatica, who also engineered and mixed it. "Stand Up for Love" was recorded at Chartmaker Studios and The Record Plant, and was mixed at the former. Vinnie Colaiuta and Paulinho Da Costa played drums and percussion respectively while Nathan East was responsible for the bass.[10]

"Stand Up for Love" is a ballad with a length of four minutes and forty-six seconds (4:46).[11][12] A writer of Billboard magazine found elements of adult contemporary music in its composition.[13] According to the sheet music published by Peer International Corporation on the website Musicnotes.com, "Stand Up for Love" is set in common time with a slow tempo of seventy beats per minute. It is written in the key of A♭ major, and Destiny's Child's vocals range from the low note of E♭3 to the high note of E5.[14] Michael D. Clark from the Houston Chronicle compared Beyoncé's vocals with Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston "in an effort to play the weepy heartstrings".[15] Matthew Jacobs, writing on behalf of The Huffington Post compared the song's sound to a movie ballad from the 1990s, taken from an empowering animated movie.[16]

Reception

James Blake writing for BBC Online, described "Stand Up for Love" as a "sugary ballad".[11] Pitchfork Media's writer Jess Harvell opined, "Opener 'Stand Up for Love' is subtitled the '2005 World Children's Day Anthem', which should tell you all you really need to know, i.e. Diane Warren should be banned under the Geneva Conventions."[17] Fiona Mckinlay criticized the fact that the song was used as an opener for #1's and felt it wasn't "really causing any kind of reaction before they get started properly with Independent Woman Pt.1".[12] Houston Chronicle‍ '​s Michael D. Clark described the track as "overwrought and overproduced; at best, it's a future prom theme".[15] Matthew Jacobs of The Huffington Post felt it was "great" the song was used for World's Children day but described it as a "total snoozefest".[16] A writer for Billboard magazine commented that the song lacked the potential to become a chart-topper. He went on to describe it as a "schmaltzy AC ballad aiming to display the individual talents" of Destiny's Child's members, adding that it was "ironic" as the group's other songs on the disc focused mainly on production. He finished his review by saying that "Stand Up for Love" was a "disappointing nonstarter".[13]

Jim Kiest from the San Antonio Express-News wrote "hopefully 'Stand Up for Love' won't be [a number-one single]".[18] Aidin Vaziri, who positively reviewed the compilation, concluded his essay by writing, "And the less said about the very new stuff, including the single 'Stand Up for Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem),' the sweeter the memories."[19] Similarly, Hattie Collins of Yahoo! Music felt that "Stand Up for Love" was "stuffed full of lazy lyricisms and sloppily sentimentality" further describing it as "utterly vomitous".[20] She felt that the song was one of the material that "let this otherwise cracking compilation down".[20] Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani panned the song as "awful and saccharine" and felt that it "show[s] that the women of Destiny's Child are squarely focused on their (solo) futures".[21] In contrast, in 2013, Lindsey Weber from Vulture put "Stand Up for Love" at number 16 on her list of the top 25 songs by Destiny's Child.[9] The single failed to chart in the US, becoming the group's only single to do so.[16][9]

Promotion

The music video for "Stand Up for Love" was directed by Matthew Rolston and filmed in September 2005 following Destiny's Child final concert in Vancouver as part of their tour Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It; MTV News described it as a performance video.[4] It features the group members, wearing black dresses, singing their respective solo verses individually and later together during the song's chorus in front of a screen which displays videos of children and different scenery. During the end, the group is seen wearing white clothes and performing the song in a white setting; several shots are filmed using a black-and-white technique.[22] It was released to MTV's official website on October 25, 2005.[23] The clip was also included on Destiny's Child video album Destiny's Child Video Anthology (2013).[24] At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, the fifth annual show of the ceremony, "Stand Up for Love" received a nomination in the category for Best R&B Video but lost to Ai‍‍ '​‍s "Story".[25] The same year, the visual was nominated in the category for Outstanding Music Video at the 37th NAACP Image Awards, but lost to Alicia Keys‍ '​ "Unbreakable" (2005).[26]

Destiny's Child performed "Stand Up for Love" for the first time on November 15, 2005 along with "Survivor" on the show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. It marked their last televised performance together as a group before their disbandment.[27][28] "Stand Up for Love" was sung by the band again that day at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Los Angeles for World Children's Day.[2]

Cover versions

On June 3, 2011, the South Korean band Rania, performed "Stand Up for Love" at MBC's radio programme Shimshimtapa.[29] In April 2013, singer Aram, a member of the South Korean group Global Icon, uploaded a cover of "Stand Up for Love". A writer from Allkpop described it as "beautiful" and praised her for "hit[ting] every note with perfect control".[30] At the 2014 Miss Thailand World, contestant Maeya performed "Stand Up for Love" in June 2014. Bangkok Post‍‍ '​‍s writer Pim Ungphakorn described it as a "beautiful rendition".[31]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of the album #1's.[10]

Track listings

CD-maxi[32]
  1. "Stand Up for Love" (radio edit) – 4:26
  2. "Stand Up for Love" – 4:46
  3. "Stand Up for Love" (instrumental) – 4:45
  4. "Call Out Hook" – 0:12
7-inch vinyl[33]
  1. "Stand Up for Love" – 4:46
  2. "Stand Up for Love" (instrumental) – 4:45

Release and radio history

Country Date Format Label
United States[8] September 27, 2005 Rhythmic contemporary airplay Columbia Records
United States[7][34] 7-inch single
United Kingdom[35]
United States[8] October 3, 2005 Mainstream airplay
Canada[36] March 17, 2006 digital download

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Destiny's Child Releases New Anthem for World Children's Day at McD's" (Press release). McDonald's Corporation. 2005-09-27. Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "For The Record: Quick News On Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Ciara, Paula Abdul, Coldplay, Mr. T & More". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. 2005-11-16. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  3. ↑ Buss, Bryan (2006-02-13). "Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child". Out (Here Media). Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Moss, Corey (2005-09-21). "Destiny's Child Look Back With #1's Before Going Their Separate Ways". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  5. ↑ "SPCS Joins Call for 'Stand' Against Child Abuse" (Press release). Society for the Promotion of Community Standards. 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  6. ↑ "'Three minute silence' against child abuse". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Destiny's Child Rounds Up Hits, New Songs". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). 2005-09-22. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Available for Airplay". FMQB. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Weber, Lindsey (2013-02-01). "Super Bowl 2013: The Top 25 Destiny’s Child Songs". Vulture. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 #1's (CD liner). Destiny's Child. Columbia Records. 2005. p. 3.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Blake, James. "Music - Review of Destiny's Child - #1's". BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mckinlay, Fiona (2005-10-24). "Destiny’s Child – #1s - Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 T., C. (2005-11-26). "Singles: Destiny's Child - Stand Up for Love". Billboard 117 (48) (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  14. ↑ "Destiny's Child - Stand Up for Love Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Peer International Corporation. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 D. Clark, Michael (2005-10-26). "Review: Destiny's Child's hits album just doesn't add up to #1's". Houston Chronicle (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Jacobs, Matthew (2014-07-21). "The Definitive Ranking Of Destiny's Child Singles". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  17. ↑ Harvell, Jess (2005-10-26). "Album review: Destiny's Child: #1's". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  18. ↑ Kiest, Jim (2005-12-07). "Annual hits can make great stocking stuffers". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  19. ↑ "CD Reviews - Destiny's Child". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Corporation). 2005-10-23. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Collins, Hattie (2005-11-01). "Destiny's Child – #1's". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! UK & Ireland. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  21. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (2005-11-02). "Destiny's Child: #1's". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  22. ↑ Destiny's Child (2005). Stand Up For Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem) (VIDEO). Sony BMG/Columbia Records. Event occurs at 4:28. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  23. ↑ "Destiny's Child › Music Videos › Stand Up For Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem)". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  24. ↑ Destiny's Child Video Anthology (VIDEO ALBUM). Destiny's Child. Music World Entertainment, Columbia Records, Legacy Recordings. 2013.
  25. ↑ "MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2006 - Best R&B Video" (in Japanese). MTV Japan. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  26. ↑ "37th Annual NAACP Image Awards Noms Announced". Emmy.com. 2005-01-12. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  27. ↑ Justin, Neal (2006-11-12). "'Jimmy Kimmel Live' has become a family affair". PopMatters. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  28. ↑ "The end ... for now". Chicago Tribune (Tribune Company). 2005-11-17. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  29. ↑ "Block B & Rania couple up for MBC's "Shimshimtapa"". Allkpop. 6Theory Media. 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  30. ↑ "GI's Aram beautifully covers Destiny Child's "Stand Up For Love"". Allkpop. 6Theory Media. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  31. ↑ Ungphakorn, Pim (2014-06-27). "Redefining beauty". Bangkok Post (Post Publishing Public Co. Ltd). Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  32. ↑ Stand Up for Love (CD-maxi liner notes). Destiny's Child. Columbia Records. 2005.
  33. ↑ Stand Up for Love (7-inch vinyl). Destiny's Child. Columbia Records. 2005.
  34. ↑ Stand Up for Love [7"] at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  35. ↑ "Stand Up for Love [Vinyl] [Maxi]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  36. ↑ "Stand Up for Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem) [Radio Edit] - Single by Destiny's Child". Canada: iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2014-07-31.

External links