"My Destiny" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter
Lionel Richie. It was released on July 28, 1992 as the second
single from his first compilation album, Back to Front (1992), by
Motown Records. It was written by Richie and produced by himself and Stewart Levine. The song achieved some success, and it even topped the Dutch
Single Top 100 and peaked at number two in the
Dutch Top 40. It also appeared on Richie's best of albums Truly: The Love Songs and The Definitive Collection.
Critical reception
Bryan Buss from
AllMusic described the song as "classic, smooth Richie".[1]J.D. Considine noted its "low-key vocals and understated, fatback groove".[2]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Lively
pop/R&B instrumentation, a la
Simply Red, triggers his most relaxed and spirited vocal in years. Familiarity of chorus will assist in winning friends at
urban,
top 40, and
AC levels. Far more satisfying than the previous "
Do It To Me"."[3] Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report commented, "A love song with a brilliant beat, this fresh Richie track from his retrospective album, Back to Front, is sure to be a crowdpleaser."[4]
Music video
In the accompanying
music video for "My Destiny", directed by
Mary Lambert, Richie sings in front of four dancing supermodels with his shirt unbuttoned.