♫ Monica – Lesson Learned (Bonus Track)
Singer Monica is back with her sixth album “Still Standing” proving that her time off has made her a stronger, more introspective artist.
Although the music veteran’s voice is just as vocally strapping as her self-titled debut over ten years ago, Monica’s growth and apparent wisdom has translated into a much more powerful, heartfelt delivery. Assembling the likes of song-writers Bryan Michael Cox, Missy Elliott and Jazmine Sullivan “Still Standing” is just the quality R&B we’ve grown to expect from her.
Following the highs and lows of relationships the album stands out as concrete effort in that Monica is confident enough in her sound not to stray too far from her comfort zone. Led by the single “Everything to Me,” the Atlanta native tries her hand at sampling Deniece Williams’ famously high-pitched single “Silly.” Although she never reaches Williams’ elevated octaves Monica provides a new spin on an old school classic. Unlike the original, which finds a heartbroken and disheveled woman realizing her stupidity at the hands of an uninterested lover, “Everything to Me” illustrates the happiness in finding true love. Songs following the same pattern include “Love All Over Me,” and “Superman.”
The most obviously personal track on the album is “Still Standing” itself in which Monica depicts her climb to the top and how, despite breakable circumstances, she has maintained her balance. With a voice like hers, it would seem that singing ballads would be her strong point, but Monica’s ability to transfer the same conviction to her up-tempo tracks solidifies her place among some of R&B’s most talented. “Mirror Mirror,” and “If You Were My Man,” are decidedly more fast paced but just as appealing as the slow songs.
The album continuously straddles the lines between the good, bad and ugly of relationships but isn’t sappy where one may expect that it would be. She admits wrongdoing in “One In A Lifetime,” but then flips over and resiliently steps out of a bad relationship by way of “Stay or Go” and “Here I Am.” My only gripe is that there’s not enough material on the album. With a record that can play straight through it was surprising that only 10 tracks made the cut.
“Still Standing” is a sure bet because it’s Monica at her best thus far. Fans (like myself) that have grown up with her will be satisfied with the direction that her music has gone in, because she is still very comfortable in showcasing her maturity. New fans will also get a taste of what real R&B sounds like in a music age muddled with under-developed, over-sexed catchy tunes that hold no real substance. An artist secure in their gift doesn’t evolve with the times by throwing in random pairings and unoriginal tracks, just for the sake of having a hit single, and that’s just what Monica has done here. A move as that is as risky as it is admirable. As such, “Still Standing” may fall under the radar a bit but deserves its place in the spotlight.
Top Picks:
“Mirror Mirror”, “One in a Lifetime” & “Believing in Me”
This is one of the BEST R&B albums I’ve heard in a long long time! Monica is back and I’ll definitely be buying the album! This is what I call R&B, great job Monica and I wish you nothing but success!
I love Monica’s new and mature look. I always believed she was an old soul. I look forward to hearing more music from her.
Loving this album. Monica has grown as an artist. REAL R&B music, no bubble gum dumb dumb music. I wish there was more tracks. But it’s still a HOT album with the 10 songs that are on there. “Love All Over Me” “Stay Or Go” and “Here I Am” are my faves, and her voice sounds amazing, I been a fan of Monica’s since she 1st came out. I hope this album does well. We need more R&B like this.
Mad lmfao!!! wow babes u really had me rollin on that comment don’t flatter yourself because seriously ur nothing to get mad over anyways whatever just get off her’s and let her do her thing until you come out with an album or you “Think” you can do better by all means go for it just know the ish that people like you are saying about her can happen to you so yeah think on that “HONEY”
@ 100%Yawwwwnnnnn . Did you even comment on the song sweetie? You were so consumed with my thoughtS, you forgot to give praise . Shame on you ! EVL
Monica did her thing on this CD. She proved once again why she is the true heir to the Whitney Houston throne. She is a vocal BEAST!!!!! All the other young R&B females need to pick up this CD and do their homework. Her voice and vocals are not to be messed with. Definitely worth buying!
As a matter of fact i did but obviously angel didn’t accept the comment simply because i cussed out the other hater who wanted to down monica it must of been too much for her for the peoples eyes so i’ll just keep it on the edited side so let me say it again (I LOVE THE NEW MONICA ALBUM) There you have it!!!!
Love it!!,cant stop listening to it!!
I Love this album. My faves are “Love All Over Me”, “Here I Am” and “Stay Or Go”. I’ve always been a fan of Monica. She’s grown vocally. Her voice sounds amazing. This is REAL R&B no bubble gum dumb dumb tracks on this album. I hope this album does well and artists start to make REAL R&B music again. Because it’s well needed right now.
#TEAMMONICA
ALBUM STANDOUTS & FAVORITES
“HERE I AM”
“STAY OR GO”
“BLACKBERRY”
“LOVE ALL OVER ME”
“MIRROR”
Her voice is beautiful. her keke wyatt are definately must have for true R&B fans. Im loving “Here I am” gonna pick up the actual cd friday… u know we gotta wait for our paycheck lol…
@ 60 where you get your cd from cuz mine only got 10 on it??
@71
ITUNES HAS FULL ALBUM PLUS BONUS TRACK, “BLACKBERRY”
AMAZON HAS FULL ALBUM PLUS BONUS TRACK, “LESSONS LEARNED” &&
MONICA.COM HAS FULL ALBUM PLUS BONUS TRACK,”ALL I KNOW”
SO ITS REALLY A 13 TRACK ALBUM PPL. GO BUY ! WORD UP
@IKNOW You need to start your own blog site lol but for real you had alot to say and some very intresting points.
Love Monica but this album is a little disappointing. Only 10 songs and they are boring. The Boy Is Mine is still her best album to date. I wish her well though. She seems like a very nice person
don’t like monica’s music anymore, so i wont be buying the cd. but i do wish her all the best and much success with this cd.
If u not gone be buying who cares! everyone is not gonna like monica cool… but you got to take your time to comment you not gonna buy um ok
@75 you are so dated. THE BOY IS MINE ALBUM, REALLY ??? NOOOOO.
Loving the album…great job girl!
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING ALBUM!!!! I’m on Twitter and her CD is selling out in many places.
Sadly, My boyfriend and I broke up a month ago. yeah.. i’m young ,beautiful,lonely and still hurting.i need someone to love ….My friends told me about A_g_e_m_i_n_g_l_e @ c.//o.//m and i got curious about it.. they met their boyfriends there.,It is said that it’s the best place to meet a older boyfriend or a younger girlfriend. .So i got a username AnnaBaby there in order to find a new boyfriend. is it wrong?
I’ll listen to it on youtube.
The album is good but I don’t think it’s better than “The Makings of Me” or “After the Storm” and Im mad Infinity didn’t make the album.
The album is a nice try, the quality and voice is there, the material still doesnt move me like her past albums did, just a couple of songs spark something in me.
WOW MONICA REALLY SHOWED HER @SS ON THIS CD! ITS DEFINITELY A MUST HAVE!
I loooooooooooooooove this album! True R&B!
MONICAS ALBUM GOES SOOOOO FUCKIN HARDD!!
TJ
Monica’s CD is selling out in so many places, LARRY JACKSON has tweeted that if you find her CD out of stock at a retail store, tell him VIA Twitter, and he will get more CD’s to the store ASAP. (Larry Jackson, VP of A&R for J Records)
He noted on his twitter that her album is SELLING LIKE CRAZY!!!! THIS IS A GOOD LOOK FOR MONICA.. A GREAT ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET YOUR COPIES!!!!
MONICA “STILL STANDING” IS AN INCREDIBLE ALBUM!! I AM SO PROUD OF ALL THE WORK SHE PUT IN TO THIS NEW PROJECT BECAUSE MONICA TOOK HER FANS THROUGH HER JOURNEY; ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKE AND MIRRORS. MONICA IS VERY GENUINE AND HONEST. THE LYRICAL CONTENT ON STILL STANDING IS TREMENDOUS AND SHE TAKES YOU THROUGH EVERY EMOTION. I LOVE AND TRULY APPRECIATE MONICA FOR HER GOD GIVEN TALENT(YA’LL KNOW MY GIRL CAN SING) AND HER CONFIDENCE.
XOXOXOXO
Monica, why only ten tracks? I was rooting for her while watching her BET to show when she was making the album but I must say I am dissapointed in so few tracks on the CD. And record companies and artist wonder why we don’t want to drop our hard earned $12.99. That’s not even a $1 for every track *shakes head*
I have to agree with SHAYSHAY, it is a 13 track album, if you purchase the album from any of the sites she listed, before you make the final purchase it will allow you purchase the bonus track separately if you just don’t want to buy another album. I purchased more than 1 and I do have all the bonus tracks. This made for an even better album and hearing some fresh material. I also found with the bonus tracks, I changed the order of the album and it sounds like a “true” Monica album if you enjoyed “Miss Thang” and “The Boy is Mine”. Here is how my new track listing goes (from iTunes perspective/playlist):
1). Once In A Lifetime
2). If You Were My Man (Betcha)
3). All I Know
4). Here I Am
5). Superman
6). Love All Over Me
7). Lesson Learned
8). Believing In Me
9). Everything to Me
10). Blackberry
11). Mirror
12). Stay or Go
13). Still Standing
J-Records take note, you all should have included all these songs in the first place. Please go purchase the bonus tracks and it will make you love the album even that much more and make you more angry at the J-Records for not giving us these tracks in the first place. IKNOW you were right on the money with your assessment, appreciate it. My favorite tracks are: “All I Know”, “Here I Am”, “Superman”, “Love All Over Me”, “Lesson Learned”, “Believing In Me”, “Blackberry” and “Mirror”, sounds like classic Monica and everyone gotta like “Blackberry”, gotta have just a little drama in there, lol and I’m sure we have all done it.
Love all over me ( even my skin is changing) I need some love like that lol
Here I am
mirrors
The whole cd is a banger go get you want be mad…
Love her new album. But I’m gonna purchase it when they rerelease it as a deluxe. That’s when they’ll put Taxi, Infinity and all those bonus songs on it. I love Here I Am. She needs to release that or Mirrors next. Great album tho. If they don’t but I believe they will, I’m still gonna purchase it eventually. I have all Monica’s other albums including the last one. I think she will have a big year.
Monica’s CD is selling out in so many places, LARRY JACKSON has tweeted that if you find her CD out of stock at a retail store, tell him VIA Twitter, and he will get more CD’s to the store ASAP. (Larry Jackson, VP of A&R for J Records)
He noted on his twitter that her album is SELLING LIKE CRAZY!!!! THIS IS A GOOD LOOK FOR MONICA.. A GREAT ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET YOUR COPIES!!!!
I love Monica’s music, her voice is always so soulful and a delivery is great! She makes you dig into your past, present or future w/ this album this album I think of all three (past, present, and future) relationships! Thanks, Monica
OMG Im Still Standing this album is amazing. I have been a Monica fan since Miss Thang. My favorite song is Here I am and Super Man but I can relate to all the things that she is talking about because thru it all Im still here.This will ot be leaving my cd player anytime soon. Congrats and I wish you and your family all the success and happiness to come
i’ll you tube it maybe.
I am so feeling this album! “Love All Over Me” is truly sick!!! People need to definitely get into Monica this go around fa sho!
I was SO hurt when I saw “Taxi” wasn’t on the album or even a bonus track, I played that to death on my iPhone. But “One In A Lifetime” is my joint. Could’ve done without “If You Were My Man,” Missy didnt give me what I wanted for sampling like she did with Keyshia’s “Let It Go.” The album ain’t no “After the Storm,” but I can ride with it.
I like Monica, a couple of the songs are cool but I do not agree w/ this even being close to one of the greatest CDs….just my opinion.
This is straight R&B at it’s best. Her voice was KILLING on ALL the tracks.
I also like how there are pop-overtones in songs like Mirror & Believing In Me, without completely straying away from the GENRE she represents!!!
Still Standing: Not my fav beat wise but the message is STRONG & Luda killed it..
One In A Lifetime: Love the hook more than anything else but hot delivery but Monica
Stay or Go: Very easy on the ear album track
Everything To Me: Powerful old skool, REAL SOUL music, Power & Presence
If You Were My Man: Club friendly, great vibes, flavour and makes my head nod constantly
Mirror: Edgy, Strong, Silky, Crossover appeal. Deep lyrics
Here I Am: Raw R&B beat with smooth and powerful delivery from Monica. Interesting lyrics I must say (ohhh she putting it out dere)
Superman: I LOVE Monica’s flow on this track, i’m instantly drawn in, I also LOVE how she comes into the 2nd verse geeez. GIRL GOT Skillz.
Love All Over Me: JD, B. Cox & Cristyle CREATED a BEAST and Monica’s VOCALS OMG (Whaaaaattttttttttttt) BIG TUNE!!!!!!!!!
Believeing In Me: POWERFUL SONG, very strong lyrical content DON’T SLEEP ON THIS SONG. Monica really tapped into the right emotions on this one.
Bonuses I Have So Far:
Blackberry: Catchy head banger cool bonus track. Mo gave that TLC/T-Boz Swagger when starting the track and then she gets right back on the Monica Miss Thang attitude.
All I Know: Hot R&B song with B.Cox working it out on this beat. Mo letting us know all she be is her so Judges shouldn’t assume who she is nor tell her how she should be.
Lesson Learned: Mo expressing how a man did her wrong and put her 2nd behind his streetlife, making her feel unwanted. She picking her head-up, leaving and learning her lesson.
INFINITY: THIS SONG WASN’T COMPLETED IN THE STUDIO WHICH IS WHY IT’s NOT ON THE ALBUM (Monica revealed this via a web cast she did on Monica.com)
TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS ALBUM IS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTT!!!
Not a dissapointment in any way…..
wow that song touched my heart ima actually it not burn it
MY BIG SISTA MONICA IS THE BEST 4 LYFE AND SHE KNOW THAT SHE IS AND NOBODY CAN COME BETWEEN HER IT DON’T MATTER WAT NO HATTERS SAY …………….OR WHEN SOME PLAYER HATERS WALK UP TO YOU SAY NO TRESSPASSING OK THIS IS YOUR LIL SIS BRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS ALBUM AND I’M GLAD THAT SHE IS BACK AND HAVEN’T LOST HER TOUCH ONE BIT. GO GIRL!
I love the album from start to finish, but I do wish it had more tracks
It’s a good solid project. But, it’s not a classic album like After the Storm IMO.
Definitely much better than that last album.
Monica has always been an excellent singer and a strong woman. She has grown alot vocally and spiritually while being so graceful and humble. The album Still Standing is the best of her work and i believe she has more to come. Keep up the excellent work Monica!!!!
I watch your show that you had on BET and I love all the songs on the album. But I didn’t get to the stores in time to get your new CD, they were all sold out in every store that I went too. So I order it from your website, and I can’t wait for it to get here, so I can play it in my car. You keep making the CD and I will be buying them. May God Be With You Allways.
I am and have always been a Monica fan but the one song that I was looking foward to hearing on her new cd is “Infinity”. Im glad I bought the cd off the corner and kept my money in my pocket cause the one song I was checking for didnt make the cd.
wooooooow!!!! Monica is the realist when it comes to vocals, she has soul range and harmony. Its so good to hear real music, Music that makes you think and get over hard situations in relationships. Ive been listening to Monica since her first album came out I think she was 14years old. Im a fan for life!!!!!! Monica can blow some of these big female artists out a stadium ….but Im not gonna say any names…. Monica is the 1 for life.