Top 10 Kelly Rowland Songs

Photo: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Kelendria Trene Rowland whose stage name is Kelly Rowland born on 11th February 1981 is an American songwriter, singer, television personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the 90s as the member of Destiny’s Child and became one of the best-selling young girl groups of all time.

Kelly Rowland released her first album Simply Deep during the group’s three-year hiatus. This album had a great commercial success topping the UK Albums Chart. It sold more than 3.7 million copies. After Destiny’s Child was disbanded, she released MS. Kelly- her second studio album in 2007. Her success did not stop there and in 2009 she hosted “The Fashion Show” the first season. Kelly Rowland has had an incredible music career and has sold more than 40 million records as a solo artist. Below are her top 10 best songs.

# 10 – Without Me

This track is performed by Fantasia- a former American Idol champion featuring Kelly Rowland. The track is her second single from her album “Side Effects Of You.” The track is a superstar trio including Missy Elliott. According to Fantasia the inspiration for this hit was a late-night argument that started over the phone.

After the conversation was done, Fantasia went back to the studio and urged her producer Harmony Samuels to give her something “hood”. All three artists, namely Rowland, Elliott, and Fantasia appear in the accompanying video. The music video shows Fantasia showing an executive seated at an expensive table together with other men who are enjoying this lucrative lifestyle. In the other scene Rowland, Missy, and Fantasia are performing the lyrics while dancing in neon-lit nightclubs. The track peaked at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 26 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

# 9 – Ice

If you are looking for a perfect cool down “Ice” is the ideal song. After their successful collaboration on “Motivation”, Rowland and Lil Wayne decided to do it again. The track was released on 24th August 2012 as the lead single from her fourth studio album Talk a Good Game. in 2013. The song was her third collaboration with Lil Wayne after “Soldier” in 2004 and “Motivation” in 2011.

The song is a mid tempo R&B that features a thunderous beat, light synth riffs and finger snaps. In the lyrics, Kelly Rowland instructs her boyfriend on how to use ice cubes on Kelly’s naked body. The song received numerous positive reviews from music critics who boldly praised her charming vocals. The song was described as rekindling the incredible magic of “Motivation.” The two artists show a blend in their music chemistry as they exchange lyrics throughout the track and surely the song is a real gem.

The track enjoyed moderate commercial success peaking at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 25 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number 25 on the South Korea Gaon International Chart.

# 8 – Work

“Work” is typically a high tempo, high energy track from her second studio album Ms. Kelly released in 2007. The song was composed by Kelly Rowland along with Jason “Poo Bear” and Scott Storch and the production was helmed by Boyd and Storch.

According to Rowland, the single hit is was all about sex and she actually shied away from talking or rather explaining the lyrics, but later garnered the courage to explain it to her fans. The vocal style for this hit is similar or rather matches the work of Destiny’s child.

In her lyrics, she talks about a woman who affirms her guy and says that actions speak louder than words. She goes on to explain that she is not the kind of woman who is easy to get. From music critics’ perspective, the track has a pulsating beat, fast and stuttered style, and suggestive lyrics in which Kelly Rowland sings. The hit peaked at number four on the UK singles chart and topped the UK R&B Chart

# 7 – Dilemma

This hit was produced when Destiny’s Child was at the peak of its success. Nelly approached Kelly Rowland and asked her to give the female vocals for his track “Dilemma.” The track was released on 30th July 2002 as the 3rd single from Nelly’s album Nellyville in 2002 and then as the lead single from Kelly’s debut solo studio album Simply Deep.

The chemistry between these two was outstanding and they turned into a great pop hit. The lyrics of this hit describes the dilemma between two partners who both want to start a new relationship despite both being in a present or rather existing relationship. The track was a great commercial success topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for ten non consecutive weeks. Additionally, this hit peaked number one in the UK, Australia, and many other countries in Europe.

# 6 – Commander

After their hit “When Love Takes Over” became an international hit, Rowland went back to the studio and composed this song “Commander” featuring David Guetta. This track was a powerful commercial club hit that undoubtedly resulted in Rowland coming closer to grasping the legacy and success held by her fellow Destiny’s Child partner with merit.

The track is featured in her third studio album “Here I Am,” and serves as the project’s worldwide lead single and also, her debut release with Universal Motown. “Commander” was the pair’s second collaboration after “When Love Takes Over” in 2009.

The track has a theme about woman empowerment including lyrics with intended grammatical errors. The hit has synthesized dance beats that match R&B with house music and electronica. Rico Love gives backing vocals as well as vocal production. This song was a major hit that topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs only a month after it was published. Later, it peaked within the top ten in the UK and top twenty in New Zealand and Ireland.

# 5 – Kisses Down Low

This song is definitely a killer. You can never get enough of it. The track is Kelly Rowland’s most iconic and sings at her most undoubtedly erotic. The song was released as her first single from her 4th studio album Talk a Good Game. This track elevated Kelly’s growing legacy for sultry, sexy songs after “Ice” and “Motivation.”

The track is complimented for its love and bedroom-themed lyrics. The track had an incredible commercial success earning a gold certification on sales and rose inside the top 30 R&B Singles chart. The music’s video concept reveals Kelly dressed like a pin-up girl using a floral swing and with a beautiful curly blonde wig-wearing hot pants. In another scene, she is dressed in a retro bikini and a red wig.

# 4 – Like This

This hit began as a song by producer Polow da Don. It was Sean Garret who worked on it to develop the track and later it became the first single from Rowland’s second studio album MS. Kelly released in 2007.

This is an R&B track whose lyrics talk about a woman growing and overcoming a past relationship. According to Kelly Rowland, the song perfectly represented her “sassy” attitude. The track became the beat in clubs and finally topped the dance chart in the United States. The style of this song’s recording is influenced by both go-go music and dirty south rap. The song peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and is regarded as one of Rowland’s biggest pop songs as a solo artist. It also peaked at position 4 on the UK pop singles chart.

# 3 – When Love Takes Over

When David Guetta released this track, he was looking for a breakthrough international hit, so his target was outside France. But this was possible after he collaborated with Kelly Rowland. However, Kelly Rowland’s label was not impressed with her moving out of her R&B background, but surprisingly, the hit became the trend in the US.

The song was a breakthrough for David Guetta and Kelly Rowland and brought Kelly the biggest international pop success in her career and even expanded the base of her followers or rather fans. According to Kelly Rowland, this track inspired her to pursue a dance-oriented sound for the “Here I Am” album.

The hit received universal acclaim with music critics noting that Rowland’s emotionally charged and powerful vocals made the song memorable. The hit earned David Guetta two Grammy Awards nominations for Best Non-Classical Remixed Recording and Best Dance Recording. The song peaked at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the US Dance Club Songs.

# 2 – Dirty Laundry

At number two is this amazing hit “Dirty Laundry.” The song was recorded for Kelly Rowland’s fourth studio album “Talk a Good Game,” released on 15th May 2013.

In the lyrics, Kelly talks about her envy of Beyonce as well as the domestic violence that she suffered during her last relationship. The track was praised by music critics for the sparse piano melody and Kelly’s openness about the jealousy of Knowles as well as the inspiring message of her leaving an abusive relationship. According to Kelly Rowland, she needed almost a dozen takes to make it through the hit’s vocals without breaking down in tears. The hit peaked at number 47 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

# 1 – Motivation

This song tops our list and not by luck but due to its amazing vocals. It is a song by Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne for her third studio album “Here I Am” released in 2011.

The lyrics for this track are centered around Kelly asking her boyfriend to use his hands on her entire body. The hit is accompanied by a “synth-saturated beat.” According to music critics, this hit is a sultry and seductive short film that is praised for matching the song and the sound perfectly. The song garnered amazing commercial success topping the R&B chart for seven weeks and even being certified double platinum for its sales. It peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Conclusion

Kelly Rowland is a legendary artist whose music has inspired many. Her live performances draw large crowds and she is branded as a fan favorite. The above songs by Kelly Rowland are a great inspiration and like sedative drugs that make you feel relaxed. Surely, you will be left asking for more of her songs.