Everything That Matters
I’ve been meaning to blog about Monica’s reality show for some time now.
I watch it week after week more so out of loyalty than for entertainment value. As my friend, La, put it, it’s like watching grass grow (and she’s a fan, too). Not all the time, though, especially not when she’s in the studio.
But that’s neither here or there. I don’t want to spend too much time talking about what went wrong (or didn’t) with the show. Or how her album may or may not do. I think one big confusion about a previous entry (and that may be my own fault) was that I placed the emphasis solely on sales.
No, not even. What I meant was if an artist with nominal talent at best (re: their asses can’t sing) is given a big budget to go work with all of the top producers and still can’t manage to get a big hit and churn a profit (numerous times) then why do they still have a record deal?
That money could be better spent elsewhere – namely on someone who can actually sing. Likewise, the time invested in cultivating these people whose singing voices can best be described with the word “ribbit” could serve greater use over helping someone else. Yeah, like Monica.
Granted, the blame cannot fall completely on the label, but when I hear a song like “Everything to Me” all I can do is get a little Lawry’s that I don’t hear songs like this on the radio anymore.
I’m not one for writing big odes to nostalgia, but dammit, why can’t half these clowns on the radio actually sing anymore? Why can’t they make me feel anything remotely real like they used to?
I know the song is a familiar sample, and for some that means Mo’ loses a few points, but hey, just listen to her. Doesn’t she make you feel something?
I refuse to sound like a simp on my own site, but the song makes me think about someone. Doesn’t matter who, it’s just the point – I can immediately get a feeling about the song and make it relatable. It brings out every good feeling I’ve ever had. I can always relate whatever emotion I’m feeling to a given song (or 12) and Monica’s voice on this song brings out the best of them (say aww and I’ll curse you smooth out).
I love music so much, but one reason why I popped, locked, and dropped the idea of being a music writer many many years ago was that you can see the change in contemporary music and how it was starting to become as pleasing to the ears as a can of dog food is to a human stomach.
Let me stop now before I pull out my cane and start talking about the “good ole days.”
I’ll simply say it’s nice to hear an R&B song from a mainstream artist that isn’t marred with some unrelated 16 bars from a given momentarily hot rapper.
Better yet, it’s better to hear an actual R&B song period. I’ve long grown tired of the trend of the genre-hopping pseudo R&B singer. I get it: You like trying new things. Go back to trying what works.
If you’ve yet to hear the song in full, check it out below:
She could stand to add another minute, but I still adore.
Please say you do, too.
Lisa
January 19, 2010 at 1:27 am
As a human being with ears that work, I 2nd that emotion!
Zena
January 19, 2010 at 1:57 am
I adore as well!!! She’s definitely one of those artists I root for, but they just can’t seem to climb that wall. (You know like LeToya Luckett)… I wish Mo luck with this endeavor & I’ll definitely support her ‘everytime the beat drops’.
Kim
January 19, 2010 at 2:21 am
For myself i love the show in the beginning it was slow but as the season progressed the show was great. I was proud that i was watching a drama FREE show with my all time favorite artist. I do feel that this time around Monica has the grind she needs fyi preforming while sick against doctors orders, being more hands on with her work and standing ground with decisons etc.. Overall the show was good to me. Yes monica is sanging this time around bringing good r&b back to the music, Kiddos to my Favorite Artist.
ANONYMOUS
January 19, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Agreed with Kim. It was boring in the beginning but defnitely got better and was actually entertaining in the middle-end. Love the song.
Misty Knight
January 19, 2010 at 1:33 pm
That Gif is absoulutely magnificent.
Her show is bout as compelling as waiting in the Dr’s office
I too usually refrain from rambling about the “good ole days”, but I agree. Since not even sex is selling these days, when are they gonna go out on a limb, and try to promote a singer with actuall singing ability, and an established fanbase, that is obviously loyal enough to sit through her sedative of a show?
I ask this question and then look at Ke$ha on top of the Billboard charts……….
Third EYE
January 19, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I really want to root for her, but I really do not like her material at all. Her voice is incredible and has gotten so much better with age. Her production and writing not so much. “Everything to me” is a great vocal perfomance, but the song is ehhh at best. I really wish she’d hook up with great producers like Mark Ronson or Salaam Remi and really make a great r&b album. With the right A&R she could really deliver.
Mainstream r&b does suck, but there’s been some great r&b released this year by unsigned and lesser known artitsts. Going to the radio for great music in any genre is a fail.
Mishon
January 19, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Third eye- i have to agree. she has such a beautiful voice, but she just picks the wrong songs. as much as i love monica, just cant see her cd being all that great.
Babygirlja
January 19, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I completely agree with your post Michael, her show is depressing because you can see that her record label really doesn’t give a damn about her and I don’t believe that’s Rocko is the father of her kids but that’s for a different day.
That song just takes me to a place of love and happiness when I hear it and a song hasn’t done that for me since the 90′s. However, as much as I love this song and Monica I don’t really seeing her having much commercial success with this album, between her record label not giving a damn and her choice of songs I don’t see Mo going even gold with this album. J records at this point is just looking for an out and they know that if her album flops they can finally give Mo her walking papers.
sickwitit
January 19, 2010 at 8:42 pm
i like her, but she’s gonna flop. I hate to say it but everybody isnt cut out for this business. One reason why these nothing ass entertainers get support from their label is because they are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. I dont think monica is all that driven anymore.
sidenote: i was just listening to the waiting to exhale soundtrack, where the hell is babyface? he wrote half the shit to come out the 90′s…