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Home • Entertainment

17 Years After Destiny’s Child’s ‘Cater 2 U’ Was Released, Some Women Are Rethinking The Song’s Lyrics

While some people are calling for the song to be canceled, diehard fans say the meaning can be what you make it.
17 Years After Destiny’s Child’s ‘Cater 2 U’ Was Released, Some Women Are Rethinking The Song’s Lyrics
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By Charli Penn · Updated June 15, 2021
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Ladies, are you still running your man’s bathwater, untying his shoestrings and brushing his hair when he comes from work? Asking for a friend—well, three friends actually.

You see, today marks 17 years since Destiny’s Child released their hit single ‘Cater 2 U,’ a song in which the group proudly sang about a woman’s total devotion to her man and making sure all of his needs were met at home. While the track was well received back then—peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning two Grammy nominations—a closer, more mature look at the popular song’s lyrics has led to the Internet having second thoughts about whether or not women should have sung along after all. When it was released, just like every Destiny’s Child single before it, ‘Cater 2 U’ quickly became the song of the summer, with women everywhere singing along with Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams as they pledged their undying love for their men through song. But would the love they’re describing in the song be considered pampering your man? Or is the song really about submitting to a man and putting his needs before your own? That’s what the Internet has been debating all day long.

After questioning whether problematic lyrics like “my life would be purposeless without you” were ever necessary or healthy messages for women to share, some Twitter users called for everyone to “cancel” the song forever, referring to it as a “slave song.” But the reactions from fans were mixed and they haven’t been so quick to say goodbye to the romantic DC classic.

Some Twitter users felt that the issue isn’t about whether or not you should be catering to the one you love, but rather, how deserving the person you choose to spoil is of such levels of devotion.

Ladies, we are not canceling “Cater 2 U” , we’re canceling catering to the wrong one 😉

— IG: MoMackStyles 🌻🖤👌🏾 (@iRoyalThighness) June 14, 2021

While others point out that, to them, the song represents a woman showing her man how proud she is of how hard he’s worked for their family and what it means to celebrate him for that.

Cater 2 U starts with “Baby I see you working hard. Wanna let you know I’m proud” why wouldn’t you cater to YOUR hardworking man from time to time?!??

— ♡♥Jans♡♥ (@GoldenJans) June 13, 2021

Other users appear more concerned about how women are treating themselves, not their partners—prompting a deeper discussion about self-love.

Not y’all trying to cancel Destiny’s Child’s “Cater 2 U” because the men you give the time of day to ain’t worth a damn. 🥴 Cater y’all self-esteem, beloveds. pic.twitter.com/taXs0MYB6R

— Isha Thorpe (@IshaThorpe) June 13, 2021

One user posed the question: If the song were about a man spoiling a woman, would the Internet still want to let it go? Good question.

Ummm… Why is #Cater2U problematic? The song literally says “cause baby this is YOUR DAY”

Part of me believes we wouldn’t feel the same about the lyrics if men sang it for women.

Normalize men being catered to as well.
Happy spouse!
Happy house!
❤️

— Kershey (@iamkershey) June 9, 2021

Former Destiny’s Child band member Michelle Williams even responded to the backlash, poking fun at the conversation and saying in a video response, “Oh, honey. You didn’t discern who you were catering to, when you gave your little pearls to swine. Don’t be mad at Destiny’s Child.”

Not y’all trynna cancel ‘Cater 2 U’ 😩 pic.twitter.com/Qcf5lnvASJ

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) June 14, 2021

Welp, there you have it, although, it should be said that the most diehard DC fans just weren’t here for the debate at all.

https://twitter.com/alanna_prince/status/1404508563825889283

Looking back on the lyrics now, do you feel differently about them? Tell us how you feel on Twitter.

TOPICS:  destiny’s child