Ballads, Bells, and Street Symphonies (The Boy Is Mine - Monica)

Member Name: CaffienatedYak

Product:	The Boy Is Mine - Monica
Date:	09/07/03 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great ballads, Upbeat tracks stay strong, Excellent vocal work

Disadvantages: Gone Be Fine... isn't fine., Sample-happy

I hadn't heard of Monica until one day, while flipping through the channels, I saw her sitting on a fluffy bed in a blue room, reading a book the size of a computer desk, plotting evil schemes against Brandy (whom I also hadn't heard of until I saw the video), whom sat in a nearby pink room plotting mayhem against Monica.

This was the video for their 1998 hit, The Boy Is Mine. I loved Brandy's throaty vocals, but Monica's silky voice was also very impressive. Then came the following singles- The First Night, Angel of Mine, and Street Symphony.

Damn it, I had to own this CD, because, in the words of many, this CD owned.

I won't go into my long history with it. Let's just jump right into the track-by-track of ballad heaven, shall we?

And yes, I still can hardly identify a damn instrument.

1. Street Symphony- The first track, and already we're starting off with a favorite of mine. Opening up with a a string-orchestra playing rapidly before diminishing into a soft, piano-and-bells solo (well, okay, Monica does some light singing over it) it kicks back up into the orchestra and another string section backing them up over a stuttering beat that gives the track a dark, melancholy feel (later on, a clarinet comes in to back up the music as well).

Monica kicks off the album with an excellent song as she begs her man to stop living on the streets and doing the wrong things (I'm guessing selling drugs, stealing... or possibly gang involvement, as she says "don't make me read about it, babe" and "I love the cars and everything, the diamond rings, but I love you much more.") Unfortunately, he grows to like his life of crime, and she can do nothing but leave him, as she says "if I can't get you out of the streets, then you don't need to be with me."

11/10

2. The Boy Is Mine- The song that introduced me to two great singers, and one of t

he best-known off the album. Harp and strings provide the background music as Brandy and Monica open up the song with a cute little conversation as they both declare a certain man to be theirs, each saying he declared his love for them.

The drums kick in for the remainder of the song, providing a perfect background for the strings and harp-plucking (with a tiny bit of barely-audible piano coming in at times.) The video to this song is pretty amusing as Brandy and Monica scheme evil against each other in an effort to win over Mr. Man... who in fact wants them both.

Watch for the girls' syrupy smiles as they slam the door in his startled face.

10/10

3. Ring Da Bell- As the title suggests, there's bells in this song. Yes, bells. Hell's bells, I don't know. Soft piano in the background (with somewhat-audible strings and wind chimes) and a slow, stuttering beat back up Monica's voice as she dismisses a man who cheated on her and ended up getting the other woman pregnant.

"I've been a fool, sittin' round too long. I think it's 'bout time that I ring the bell and carry on." Less risky than getting the urge to beat the crap out of him, I suppose. This song kind of sounds like something that might be played in a small restaurant at midday (I think another reviewer said something similar of this track) but since I usually like those songs... it's a good thing.

9/10

4. The First Night- This used to be my favorite... until Street Symphony. Go figure. Featuring piano over a stuttering drum machine, with Monica's own vocals making up part of the background music ("da-da-ah-ah-ah") and some weird whatchamabobber I can't name, Monica warns someone not too move too fast on the first date.

"I should make a move but I won't. I know you're probably thinking something is wrong, but if I do that it won't be right. I wanna get do
wn, b
ut not the first night!" Then just give him a little kiss or something. Christ, Monica.

9/10

5. Misty Blue- I used to hate this track. Loathe it. But I realized soon how pretty it is. Piano, strings, soft bass and drums, and barely-audible acoustic guitar back up this cover. (I've never heard the original song, but I'll say she did a pretty good job on it regardless.)

8/10

6. Angel Of Mine- The second-biggest hit from this album. Acoustic guitar, strings, soft cymbal taps (soon giving way to steady drumbeats) and wind chimes make up a simple, beautiful ballad amid Monica's soft, nostalgic vocals as she recalls how her lover "came into my life, sent from above... when I lost all hope, boy you showed me love."

If I had to pick a favorite ballad off this album... this wouldn't be it, but only because Right Here Waiting knocked it clean off the spot. An excellent love song... and you can just see the prom-goers swaying in time to this.

10/10

7. Gone Be Fine- But I'm not after listening to this. It's an okay song- strong bass line, and somewhat-simple strings backing up a simple beat, and don't ask me what else is playing here. I have no fricking clue. I think the problem here is Outkast's cameo- it just irritates me. I like Outkast okay... but they don't work well on this song. Their rap near the end sounds contrived.

Monica's vocal performance, however, can't be faulted. She cuts through this song like a hot knife through butter as she tells an ex that "sometimes I love you... then I come back, but I hate you. Only takes me a day to realize I'm in love with you." Okay, maybe he's not an ex. Make up your damn mind, lady.

7/10

8. Inside- I guess it's a given that if Diane Warren wrote it, I'll love it. (From Loving You by Mandy Moore as the exception.) Strings, piano, finger snaps, and a
strong bass li
ne (as well as some electric guitar later) make up another great ballad from Monica.

The drums come in a bit stronger during the chorus, in which she sounds slightly stronger than she does in the verse- where she sounds a bit vulnerable and hurt as she talks about how seeing her ex with a new woman is killing her inside... but she doesn't want to show it.

I think she should just go "I AM ICE QUEEN OF ICE, DAMN IT." Or not.

10/10

9. Take Him Back- Featuring the melody from Sting's "Shape of My Heart" on piano (or is that acoustic guitar? It's hard to distinguish on this song) over a rapid series of cymbal-taps and soft bell rings, with strings making up the background, Monica laments about her ex wanting to be back with her... but she wonders "should I take him back after what he did? Hurt me in ways that I can't begin to replace how I feel, so I'll just go away."

Another former favorite... before Street Symphony took over. Plus, one of two songs I know that use the "Shape of My Heart" melody (the other being "Release Me" by Blaque) and use it well.

10/10

10. Right Here Waiting- Heavy strings start off my all-time favorite ballad from the album, with soft drumbeats (as always) backing up synths, piano, acoustic guitar, and a hint of wind chimes... overall giving the whole song a snowy, windy winter's night feeling (If that makes any sense).

R&B group 112 lend their voices to this Richard Marx cover as well, and their voices blend perfectly with Monica's for a stunning effect. And you know what? ... I wanna cry. ;_; Well, maybe not.

11/10

11. Cross The Room- Breaking up the serious tone of the last series of songs is a fun, upbeat party song with a heavy-hitting beat, prominent bass line that'll have you wiggling your rear around (yeah, like you're surprised that I do it. AV
ERT YOUR EYES YOUNG
'UNS) and strings backing up the song.

Monica's spotted a guy at a party, and she wants to meet him on the dance floor. Debelah Morgan used a similar formula before and it ended with her not being able to decide if she wanted to do the blanket bop or the tango. Hurry and decide, Monica!

9/10

12. I Keep It To Myself- Soft xylophone-synth beeps (as I've affectionately termed them, since I have no real idea what the hell they are) start off the last pair of ballads on the album, with just-there bass strums, cymbal-taps, strings, and acoustic guitar.

The slow, slow drumbeat kicks in as Monica sings about how she's falling in love with someone, and she keeps it to herself since she's too afraid to tell him. (I'm vaguely reminded of Mandy Moore's song "Crush" here. I love this song, and I love "Crush," so hoorah.)

9/10

13. For You I Will- Everyone should know this song, Space Jam or no Space Jam. Seems Diane Warren did it again, with strings, what sounds vaguely like an electric organ, soft drumbeats, and synth beeps filling up this album-closing ballad.

Guitars kick in later on in the song as Monica assures the listener "I will cross the ocean for you, I will go and bring you the moon... I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need." The final chorus is shifted up a bit, ending The Boy Is Mine on a positive, excellent note.

10/10

I can't say Miss Thang impressed me much. It was a pretty good debut... but it was missing something. I can't place what. But whatever it was lacking, The Boy Is Mine has and then some.

Great ballads, great upbeat songs, a wonderful voice that seems to be getting stronger as she ages (she was only 19, if I remember correctly, when this album was released) and other elements make up a strong sophomore album.

Monica may have the boy, but you should hav
e The Boy Is Mine.

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