Stevie Nicks’ 1982 Hit Song Was Sampled by the Biggest Girl Group of All Time

Destiny’s Child dropped “Bootylicious” in 2001, and it was, quite frankly, a cultural reset. The single from their third studio album, Survivor, was instantly iconic, largely in part to the group’s empowering attitude. But what made “Bootylicious” so phenomenal is that it was built upon one of rock’s most treasured hits. Destiny’s Child sampled the hypnotic hook from Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” transforming whimsical rock into an R&B anthem for the dancefloor. This legendary sample defined unapologetically creative women across generations and genres, yielding a result that was both beautiful and bold.

The Edge Of “Bootylicious”

“Bootylicious” is a 2000s classic and certainly has a distinctive edge. The coolness of Destiny’s Child was forged within their R&B identities, so the opening guitar hook of “Bootylicious” feels somewhat out of place, instantly piquing interest and demanding attention. The warped guitar is the most critical component of both “Bootylicious” and its original place in Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen.” The instantly recognizable hook seamlessly marries the cool girl vibe across rock and R&B, and across generations.

There are differing stories as to how “Bootylicious” came to be, and how it came to include Stevie Nick’s “Edge of Seventeen.” “Bootylicious” was written and produced by Beyoncé, Rob Fusari, and Falonte Moore. Fusari has also worked with Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, and Will Smith, so he’s pretty well-versed in knowing how to make a tune get comfortable in the charts.

Beyoncé has shared in I Am… Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas, she was inspired to write “Bootylicious” as she was listening to Nick’s “Edge of Seventeen” on a flight. The fullness and depth of Nick’s anthem reminded her of a “voluptuous woman,” and so she was set on embodying the feeling through using the irresistibly intoxicating hook of “Edge of Seventeen” in her own music. However, Fusari says that after being able to source samples of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” he decided to opt for a similar choice of “Edge of Seventeen.” It’s unclear which one is true, or how the truth is dispersed between the two anecdotes, but either way, it’s a genesis of 2000s pop.

The Mutual Admiration Between Stevie Nicks and Destiny’s Child

The collaboration between “Bootylicious” and “Edge of Seventeen” wasn’t restricted only to the studio. The crossover led to a symbolic exchange of mutual admiration between the two incredible acts. In sampling Stevie Nicks, Destiny’s Child completely honored her and gave tribute to the visionary she is. This music admiration doesn’t just go one way, either. Nicks very coolly makes a cameo in the “Bootylicious” music video, visually solidifying the unity between her and her contemporaries, despite belonging to different genres. Remembering her time on set for the video of “Bootylicious,” Nicks said that the girls from Destiny’s Child “[were] just like me, they put on — whatever it is that makes them — them. Whether it’s your boots or jacket or whatever, they became Destiny’s Child, and I saw it. It was really a marvel to see.” This shows the beauty that a willingness for music to be reimagined can lead to. Nicks was truly open to this collaboration, and she had fun with it, encouraging a whole generation of young women to do the same. Stevie was ready for this jelly.

“Edge of Seventeen” was actually written from a place of sorrow and pain. Nicks wrote it at a time when she had lost her uncle and John Lennon had just been murdered. She wanted to capture how spirits move on to a place of peace, hence “the white-winged dove.” For Destiny’s Child, “Bootylicious” is a portal to pleasure and taking pride in being at the forefront of your own life, a reclamation for women who have been encouraged to feel small.

While these are two, quite clearly, contrasting lyrical messages, there is a strong sense of empowerment in the two classics that has a focal undertone of agency and freedom of autonomy. Nicks did it through raw sentimentality, and Destiny’s Child did it through cheeky challenge, but they are both authentically powerful. The recycled guitar hook was undeniably hypnotic in its original form, entrancing listeners into a state of spirituality, and it now works as a solid foundation on which to strut.

The timeless relationship between “Bootylicious” and “Edge of Seventeen” is a great example of how empowering music comes in many forms. It can be sad and sexy, and even be both at the same time. Fearless self-expression and mutual respect from both Nicks and Destiny’s Child bridge whimsical rock and the dancefloor, and both are on the Friday night playlist.