The Song–stress

Words by C. Daniel

Photos by George Butler

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dear Monica (Arnold),

“I can feel your eyez on me – you’re watchin.”

Damn, it’s funny how you can always foreshadow in song. You’re so raw!

Miss. Thang -- Monica on the red carpet @ Bocado Restaurant --Atlanta, GA

Guess it really was just one of dem days in Atlanta. Last Friday afternoon around lunchtime, time sensitive messages, courtesy of both The Garner Circle and The Starfire Group, came to my inbox to hang out with you. Who am I to turn down some time with a Grammy-winning, million-selling singer? Guess I should’ve known, huh? It was as random as the psychedelic shit on the monitors at Luckie Food Lounge later that night. Thanks for the invite to the first night’s kickoff, “The Celebrity.” Happy birthday, Miss. Thang! Oct. 24 is your day indeed. The packed house on the main floor was bananas! Thanks for inviting me upstairs with your close family; friends and the cocktail table full of media to cut your cake and to have a drink or two.

Sweet Celebration -- The Cake

Cover Girl -- Monica on the holiday edition of Upscale

It wasn’t too over the top; not too hood at all. Your poster-sized photos under the slew of blue lights on three easels were tight. You looked great! As you walked in with Rocko, I remembered you being one of my biggest crushes as a teenager. I used to tell my friends all of the time that you’d one day say to them, “That’s my man, y’all!” I like your testimonial single, “Still Standing,” with your cousin Luda. It says a lot, too, when your crowd isn’t as star-studded as many events here. Bryan Michael-Cox dropping by is all I could remember. The flashing and rolling cameras around that dope image laden ice sculpture of you in your element as a 29 year-old triple threat was cool. Imagine that in 1995 when I first laid eyes on you – mother; vocalist and woman. Girl, you rocked the spiky coif and gray dress over the black leggings.

Lover's Rock -- Rocko and Monica

Hell, no! Brandy and the late Aaliyah was doing their thing, but I never once thought of you as a sideline ho when your records came on the radio or BET. I wonder if anyone used to question them, “Don’t U wish U were the girl like Monica?”

It was nice to see Upscale roll out the red carpet (minus a dozen roses) for their cover story: the true definition of “The Singer.” I read in the article that you only keep a small circle of people around nor did you have any intentions to do a television series in the first place. I can respect that about you. When you arrived at that new restaurant, Bocado, in the gray Bentley with them same damn cameras still rolling on-site and me getting push out the way, I knew you still held it down. The interviews were so few and far in between that I couldn’t really get one question in. Even as the press time got tighter and tighter, you held it together. Now when you sing for you I will, I know you mean it. I don’t take it personal at all. It was cool to keep it to myself and admire you from cross the room. Trust, the sequined skirt and black turtleneck did it for you, too!

I like the basis for your “reality show” Still Standing, considering that it’s airing immediately following the BET Hip Hop Awards this evening. It’s good to see that you’re just another girl: not an angel of mine. We can just see you make your sixth album and take care of your two sons. Yep, you’re gon’ be fine. The trailers featuring your morphing headshots were a good look. Jagged Edge’s Brian and Brandon Casey, B. Cox and V.I.C, again, are the few faces I knew.

Ain’t nobody really gonna deny that you will forever always be that girl. You’re so gone from being that teenage girl with the big voice I had at crush on at age 12. Maybe that’s just why I love you so much. Love you!

 Best,

 C.–