Still Standing (Monica album)
Encyclopedia
Still Standing is the sixth studio album
by American R&B
recording artist Monica. It was released on March 19, 2010 by J Records
, marking her third album on the label following the renewal of her contract in October 2007. Production for the album began in 2007 to 2010, featuring involvement by Missy Elliott
, Bryan-Michael Cox, Stargate
, and Jermaine Dupri
, and was chronicled by Monica's BET reality series of the same name
.
The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200
chart, selling 184,000 in its first week, and reached the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. Lead single "Everything to Me
" became her first chart-topper in over seven years. Second single "Love All Over Me
" was released in May 2010 and reached number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The album received mostly positive reviews, with critics perceiving its sound as "a return to the mid-'1990s heyday" of contemporary R&B. A commercial success, Still Standing was certified gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best R&B Album
, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards
in 2011.
was released. For the production of the album, the singer had re-teamed with most of her regular contributors and although the final tracklisting comprised an outweighing slower set of mid-tempo recording and ballads, J Records
settled on "Everytime tha Beat Drop
," a heavily snap
-influenced up-tempo record which had initially been recorded for a So So Def
mixtape, to lead the album — against the grain of the singer, who felt that the song did not speak to her core audience and was a poor representation of the album. Upon its release, The Makings of Me failed to reprise the multi-million sales success of previous albums, barley selling 325,000 copies in the United States, and while it produced four single releases, none of them managed to chart or sell noticeably, garnering Monica her least commercially successful project yet.
Still during the promotion of the album, the singer acknowledged that she had to follow a more honest approach on her next project: "[The success of The Makings of Me] just made me realize that people want authentic Monica," she stated. "They don't want me to keep up with all the different gimmicks and trends that are taking place." In late 2007, Monica started work on her follow-up album. Intending to create a record that lived up to the sound her previous hits, particularly those from the 1990s, she expressed that she wanted to appeal to her existing fans although her label was concerned with making the project sound up to date: "I am going back to where I started. The next album I would like people to get more songs like "Why I Love You So Much
," "Angel of Mine," or the things they really, really love from me [...]." Originally entitled Lessons Learned—a reference to the mistakes Monica felt she made with The Makings of Me — the singer decided to change the project after recording the album's title track in 2008 as she felt that Still Standing was more appropriate for the body of work that she and Bryan-Michael Cox pulled off.
, and Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. Producers and songwriters having collaborated with Monica on the album include longtime collaborators Jermaine Dupri
, Missy Elliott
, Bryan-Michael Cox, and his co-producer WyldCard
, as well as writers and producers that she had not worked with in the past, including Jim Jonsin
, Bei Maejor
, Andre Lindal, Los Da Mystro, singer Ne-Yo
, songwriter Ester Dean
, Norwegian production duo Stargte
and her elder cousin Polow da Don
. Over the course of several recording periods, Monica worked on "hundreds of songs" for the album, herself serving as its executive producer
and J Records
A&R president Larry Jackson as co-executive. Finally, only ten tracks were selected to be placed on the regular edition of Still Standing while three additional tracks were chosen to be released as free bonus track
s through different retailers. Others songs from established hitmakers such as Dallas Austin
, Babyface, Drumma Boy
, J Ferrari, Sean Garrett
, Jazze Pha
, and Soulshock & Karlin
did not make the cut. Monica's team also was in negoations with R. Kelly
to contribute to Still Standing. In an interview, Lil Jon
moreover stated that he was "about to do some work with Monica."
Although the debut episode of the reality television show Monica: The Single on Peachtree TV was filmed to promote the release of the album's leading single, J Records and the singer were not in agreement with "Still Standing" becoming the first single, and thus, Monica set up additional sessions with Missy Elliott
in August 2009 to find new singles. In parallel, she resumed recording with Polow da Don, Dallas Austin and Sean Garrett. Whilst at Zone 4 Studios Timbaland
had some creative input into the project, voicing his opinion about "Everything to Me
" being a good future single choice, but did not make any musical contribution to the project.
As part of her reality TV series, Monica revealed that she was planning to record all of her own backing vocals for the album. Several tracks from the album's recording sessions leaked early which sparked a response from Monica on the eighth episode of her reality TV show: "I think it's unfair when a song like "Let Me Know" leaks. The fans don't get to hear it properly as its not finished. It might not be a true representation of the album if it is not included on the final tracklisting." As a result of the leak, a small internal investigation was launched at J Records to find the source of the leak.
and was initially considered to be released as the album's first single, but J Records rejected to promote the song as Still Standing′s lead. Nevertheless, the track managed to debut within the top eighty on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart and was used as the theme song of Monica: Still Standing
the following year. Second track, Los Da Mystro-crafted "One In a Lifetime", was among a number of songs that leaked a year prior to the album's official release. Announced as the album's leading single at a time, the "lush, piano-laced" song deals with finding true love. Ne-Yo
-prenned third track "Stay or Go", one out of several tracks the songwriter and Monica worked on over a course of a week, deals with a "if you’re not going to treat me right, then here’s the option"–nature, according to Monica. "He wanted to do a record that spoke to who I am," she said, "and he reached back into my history on how I’ve delivered records in a sassy yet vocal way."
"Everything to Me
", the album's fourth track and official first single, reunited Monica with producer Missy Elliott
and saw the pair basically reprising the formula of previous successes such as "So Gone
" (2003) and "A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)" (2006). A musical ode to all things good in life, written by singer Jazmine Sullivan
, the retro ballad contains a prominent sample of the Deniece Williams
' 1981 recording "Silly." Released to rave reviews among critics, who noted it the album's "standout track — as solid as a brick house; great singing, great lyrics, great production, just a great all-around song," "Everything to Me" became the singer's most-successful release in years. Elliott also contributed "If You Were My Man", one of the few up tempo songs on Still Standing, which Monica described as the song, who was most out of her character. Originally entitled "Betcha", the track samples Evelyn "Champagne" King
's 1982 record "Betcha She Don't Love You", featuring heavy elements of 1980's music, and garnered a mixed response by critics, whose reviews of the song alternated between "blemish," "brainless," and "funky". "Mirror", the sixth track produced by Jim Jonsin
, was recorded late into the production of the album. A song about self-acceptance, Monica noted the composition one of her personal standouts on the album: "Its basically about being able to look at yourself in the mirror and be completely happy with the person that you are," she said. "Having no shame or feeling pain again, and I am at that place in my life."
Seventh track "Here I Am
" was penned by Ester Dean
and produced by Monica's elder cousin Polow da Don
, marking their first collaboration. Led by a "bluesy guitar riff," the song deals with unrequired love, and has been announced as an official single from the album at numerous occasions, only to be replaced at the last minute each time. In April 2010, Monica confirmed on Twitter
that she had re-recorded the song as a duet with Jamie Foxx
, although he was later replaced by fellow R&B singer Trey Songz
. "Superman", another production by Bryan Michael Cox, is an acoustic guitar
-dominated ballad with syncopated drum pattern, in which she idolizes her man as a hero, comparing him with the same-titled DC Comics superhero
. The track received a positive response among critcs, who called it one of the finest moments on Still Standing: "Monica shows her range [...] and gives it some muscle." The album's ninth song and second single, Cristyle
-penned "Love All Over Me
", is producer Jermaine Dupri
's only contribution to the record. Monica described the song as "about being strictly in love where everything feels right." Ending track "Believing In Me," an acoustic ode to moving beyond heartbreak, was contributed by Stargate
.
and Sony Music
on most major music markets until the end of April 2010. The album's marked Monica's third album released under her contract with J Records, following the renewal of her joint venture with the label in October 2007.
Prior to its release, Monica debuted her reality series Monica: Still Standing
on the BET
network on October 27, 2009. She appeared on BET's 106 & Park
on February 22, 2010 to promote the album, and made further appearances as a guest or co-host on the show on March 22, 2010 and March 23, 2010. On March 23, she also performed on CBS
's The Early Show
in promotion of the album. On April 19, she performed on The Wendy Williams Show
. At the 2010 BET Awards
, the singer performed "Everything to Me" alongside Deniece Williams
who sang on of her signature songs "Silly." Monica also served as a co-header with Trey Songz
on the 2010 Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour in the following summer.
" was leaked onto internet
in the first week of January 2010 and officially sent to urban
and rhythmic
radio formats on February 9, 2010. Monica's highest peak since 2004 "So Gone
", the song eventually became her sixth number one hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart and remained seven weeks atop, making it her longest-running solo number-one to date. In addition, its peak made Monica the first artist to score chart-toppers in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. A moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100
, it also peaked at number forty-four on the regular pop chart. The song also charted at number eight-five on the Japan Hot 100
. The second single, "Love All Over Me
" was sent to radio in May 2010. It peaked at number fifty-eight on the US Billboard
chart and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Monica's twelfth top ten hit on that chart. In September 2010, "Here I Am
", featuring Trey Songz
, was confirmed as the album's third single. The track features vocals by fellow singer Trey Songz
. A remix of "Here I Am" was initially planned as the third single but was only released as a digital download
. The album version of the song had previously debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number eighty-three.
"Still Standing", featuring Ludacris
was released as a buzz single from the album in August 2008. Despite being only sent to radio, it peaked at number seventy-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. "One In a Lifetime" peaked on the Japan Hot 100
charts at sixty-six due to airplay and digital sales.
chart with first week sales of 184,000 copies, becoming her second highest U.S. chart-debut, surpassed by her 2003's number-one debuting After the Storm
. The album also entered at number one on Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
and at number two on the Digital Albums
chart. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number twenty-five on the UK R&B Chart
. The album was certified gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
, following shipments of 500,000 copies in the US. To date, the album has sold over 474,000 copies in the United States.
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
score of 71, based on six reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and commented that the album "benefits from quality control and a handful of particularly strong ballads". About.com
's Mark Edward Nero gave the album four out of five stars and called it "one of the stronger albums of Monica's career so far". Giving it a B+ rating, Entertainment Weekly
s Mikael Wood called the album "a low-key delight" and perceived its sound as reminiscent of 1990s-R&B, stating "the appealingly unflashy CD feels like a return to the mid-'90s heyday of acts such as Deborah Cox
and Total". USA Today
s Edna Gundersen gave the album three out of four stars and called it "a gimmick-free set of cool R&B tracks". Andrew Rennie of NOW
gave it a four out of five rating and wrote that it is "is rich with songs about self-validation, love lost and subsequent recovery, and doesn’t let up on that thematic gas pedal until the last tune".
However, The Boston Globe
s Ken Capobianco viewed its songs as "predictable" and wrote "Monica is a vivid singer with gorgeous tone, but she’s forced to breathe life into songs that don’t live up to her capabilities". Luke Winkie of Slant Magazine
gave it two out of five stars and described its music as "unembellished and bland", while calling the album "immediately forgettable, inhabiting the colorless world that has doomed the majority of mainstream R&B over the last decade". Despite writing that Monica "puts forth her richest vocal efforts", Boston Herald
writer Lauren Carter called the album's songs "uninspiring", describing it as "the middle ground" and "r & b blandness". Mariel Concepcion of Billboard
wrote that Still Standing lacks "Monica's spunk and sass", but ultimately commended her lyrical maturity and called the album "fluid lyrically and musically". The Washington Post
s Sarah Godfrey complimented its production and Monica's musical style, stating "The disc is a lean 10 tracks, and while the sound is more mature than her 1995 debut Miss Thang, as it should be, her mellow style of R&B remains comfortingly intact".
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best R&B Album
, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards
in 2011.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
recording artist Monica. It was released on March 19, 2010 by J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, marking her third album on the label following the renewal of her contract in October 2007. Production for the album began in 2007 to 2010, featuring involvement by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Bryan-Michael Cox, Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, and Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
, and was chronicled by Monica's BET reality series of the same name
Monica: Still Standing
Monica: Still Standing is an American reality series following R&B singer Monica. The series aired on BET October 27, 2009 after the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards.-Overview:...
.
The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, selling 184,000 in its first week, and reached the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. Lead single "Everything to Me
Everything to Me (Monica song)
"Everything to Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by fellow singer Jazmine Sullivan and co-produced by Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb for her sixth studio album Still Standing , incorporating a sample of the 1981 recording "Silly" as penned by Fritz Baskett, Clarence...
" became her first chart-topper in over seven years. Second single "Love All Over Me
Love All Over Me
"Love All Over Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. The Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox produced "Love All Over Me" rounds out Still Standing as another laid back, yet soulful track filled with admiration. The song was sent to rhythmic, urban, and urban ac airplay as the...
" was released in May 2010 and reached number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The album received mostly positive reviews, with critics perceiving its sound as "a return to the mid-'1990s heyday" of contemporary R&B. A commercial success, Still Standing was certified gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best R&B Album
Grammy Award for Best R&B Album
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works on albums in the R&B music genre...
, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
in 2011.
Background
In 2006, Monica's fifth studio album The Makings of MeThe Makings of Me
The Makings of Me is the fifth studio album by American singer Monica, released by J Records on October 3, 2006 in the United States and October 10, 2006 in Canada...
was released. For the production of the album, the singer had re-teamed with most of her regular contributors and although the final tracklisting comprised an outweighing slower set of mid-tempo recording and ballads, J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
settled on "Everytime tha Beat Drop
Everytime tha Beat Drop
"Everytime tha Beat Drop" is a song by American R&B singer Monica, composed by Johnta Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Robert Hill, Charles Hammond, Deangelo Hunt, James Phillips, and Dem Franchize Boyz for Monica's fifth studio album, The Makings of Me...
," a heavily snap
Snap music
Snap music is a dance-centric subgenre of hip hop music, that originated in the South in the late-1990s, in Bankhead, West Atlanta, the United States. Early snap artists include D4L, Dem Franchize Boys, and K-Rab....
-influenced up-tempo record which had initially been recorded for a So So Def
So So Def Recordings
So So Def Recordings is a record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B and bass music.-Beginnings:...
mixtape, to lead the album — against the grain of the singer, who felt that the song did not speak to her core audience and was a poor representation of the album. Upon its release, The Makings of Me failed to reprise the multi-million sales success of previous albums, barley selling 325,000 copies in the United States, and while it produced four single releases, none of them managed to chart or sell noticeably, garnering Monica her least commercially successful project yet.
Still during the promotion of the album, the singer acknowledged that she had to follow a more honest approach on her next project: "[The success of The Makings of Me] just made me realize that people want authentic Monica," she stated. "They don't want me to keep up with all the different gimmicks and trends that are taking place." In late 2007, Monica started work on her follow-up album. Intending to create a record that lived up to the sound her previous hits, particularly those from the 1990s, she expressed that she wanted to appeal to her existing fans although her label was concerned with making the project sound up to date: "I am going back to where I started. The next album I would like people to get more songs like "Why I Love You So Much
Why I Love You So Much
"Why I Love You So Much" is a song by American R&B singer Monica, composed by Darryl Simmons for Monica's debut studio album, Miss Thang . The ballad was released as the album's fourth and final single on a double A-side with "Ain't Nobody" during the second quarter of 1995 . The double-A-side...
," "Angel of Mine," or the things they really, really love from me [...]." Originally entitled Lessons Learned—a reference to the mistakes Monica felt she made with The Makings of Me — the singer decided to change the project after recording the album's title track in 2008 as she felt that Still Standing was more appropriate for the body of work that she and Bryan-Michael Cox pulled off.
Recording
Recording for the album took place during 2007 to 2010 at several recording studios, including Carrington House, Doppler Studios, and Zone 4 Studios in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Producers and songwriters having collaborated with Monica on the album include longtime collaborators Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
, Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Bryan-Michael Cox, and his co-producer WyldCard
WyldCard
Kendrick J. Dean, also known as WyldCard, is an American Grammy Nominated musical composer, and record producer. He has co-written and co-produced singles including: Chris Brown's "Say Goodbye"; Danity Kane's "Ride For You"; Bobby Valentino's "How Bout It"; Toni Braxton's "Trippin'"; Mary J...
, as well as writers and producers that she had not worked with in the past, including Jim Jonsin
Jim Jonsin
James Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy award winning record producer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur...
, Bei Maejor
Bei Maejor
Brandon Green, better known by his stage name Bei Maejor, is a Grammy nominated American recording artist, songwriter and record producer.- Life and career :...
, Andre Lindal, Los Da Mystro, singer Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, songwriter Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
, Norwegian production duo Stargte
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
and her elder cousin Polow da Don
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
. Over the course of several recording periods, Monica worked on "hundreds of songs" for the album, herself serving as its executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
A&R president Larry Jackson as co-executive. Finally, only ten tracks were selected to be placed on the regular edition of Still Standing while three additional tracks were chosen to be released as free bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
s through different retailers. Others songs from established hitmakers such as Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
, Babyface, Drumma Boy
Drumma Boy
Christopher James Gholson, better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is a multi-platinum award winning record producer and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee.-Early life:...
, J Ferrari, Sean Garrett
Sean Garrett
Garrett Hamler, better known by his stage name Sean Garrett is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has produced fifteen number one singles in only seven years of producing music. That number puts him in fifth place on the Billboard list of producers with the most number...
, Jazze Pha
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander , also known as Jazze Pha , is an American singer, and songwriter.raised in Memphis, TN; son of James Alexander ....
, and Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
did not make the cut. Monica's team also was in negoations with R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
to contribute to Still Standing. In an interview, Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
moreover stated that he was "about to do some work with Monica."
Although the debut episode of the reality television show Monica: The Single on Peachtree TV was filmed to promote the release of the album's leading single, J Records and the singer were not in agreement with "Still Standing" becoming the first single, and thus, Monica set up additional sessions with Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
in August 2009 to find new singles. In parallel, she resumed recording with Polow da Don, Dallas Austin and Sean Garrett. Whilst at Zone 4 Studios Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
had some creative input into the project, voicing his opinion about "Everything to Me
Everything to Me (Monica song)
"Everything to Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by fellow singer Jazmine Sullivan and co-produced by Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb for her sixth studio album Still Standing , incorporating a sample of the 1981 recording "Silly" as penned by Fritz Baskett, Clarence...
" being a good future single choice, but did not make any musical contribution to the project.
As part of her reality TV series, Monica revealed that she was planning to record all of her own backing vocals for the album. Several tracks from the album's recording sessions leaked early which sparked a response from Monica on the eighth episode of her reality TV show: "I think it's unfair when a song like "Let Me Know" leaks. The fans don't get to hear it properly as its not finished. It might not be a true representation of the album if it is not included on the final tracklisting." As a result of the leak, a small internal investigation was launched at J Records to find the source of the leak.
Content
The production of opening track "Still Standing", one of the first songs written for the album, was tracked by the reality television show format Monica: The Single on Peachtree TV in 2008. A well-received anthem about empowerment, starting with "an icy club-busting backbeat and a gothic, low-octave choir," it features guest vocals by Monica's cousin LudacrisLudacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
and was initially considered to be released as the album's first single, but J Records rejected to promote the song as Still Standing′s lead. Nevertheless, the track managed to debut within the top eighty on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and was used as the theme song of Monica: Still Standing
Monica: Still Standing
Monica: Still Standing is an American reality series following R&B singer Monica. The series aired on BET October 27, 2009 after the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards.-Overview:...
the following year. Second track, Los Da Mystro-crafted "One In a Lifetime", was among a number of songs that leaked a year prior to the album's official release. Announced as the album's leading single at a time, the "lush, piano-laced" song deals with finding true love. Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
-prenned third track "Stay or Go", one out of several tracks the songwriter and Monica worked on over a course of a week, deals with a "if you’re not going to treat me right, then here’s the option"–nature, according to Monica. "He wanted to do a record that spoke to who I am," she said, "and he reached back into my history on how I’ve delivered records in a sassy yet vocal way."
"Everything to Me
Everything to Me (Monica song)
"Everything to Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by fellow singer Jazmine Sullivan and co-produced by Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb for her sixth studio album Still Standing , incorporating a sample of the 1981 recording "Silly" as penned by Fritz Baskett, Clarence...
", the album's fourth track and official first single, reunited Monica with producer Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and saw the pair basically reprising the formula of previous successes such as "So Gone
So Gone
"So Gone" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by rapper-producer Missy Elliott, Kenneth Cunningham, and Jamahl Rye and co-produced by Elliott and duo Spike & Jamahl for Monica's fourth studio album After the Storm , incorporating a sample of the 1976 recording "You Are Number...
" (2003) and "A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)" (2006). A musical ode to all things good in life, written by singer Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
, the retro ballad contains a prominent sample of the Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
' 1981 recording "Silly." Released to rave reviews among critics, who noted it the album's "standout track — as solid as a brick house; great singing, great lyrics, great production, just a great all-around song," "Everything to Me" became the singer's most-successful release in years. Elliott also contributed "If You Were My Man", one of the few up tempo songs on Still Standing, which Monica described as the song, who was most out of her character. Originally entitled "Betcha", the track samples Evelyn "Champagne" King
Evelyn King (singer)
Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame", "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love."-Biography:...
's 1982 record "Betcha She Don't Love You", featuring heavy elements of 1980's music, and garnered a mixed response by critics, whose reviews of the song alternated between "blemish," "brainless," and "funky". "Mirror", the sixth track produced by Jim Jonsin
Jim Jonsin
James Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy award winning record producer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur...
, was recorded late into the production of the album. A song about self-acceptance, Monica noted the composition one of her personal standouts on the album: "Its basically about being able to look at yourself in the mirror and be completely happy with the person that you are," she said. "Having no shame or feeling pain again, and I am at that place in my life."
Seventh track "Here I Am
Here I Am (Monica song)
"Here I Am" is a song by American singer Monica, from her sixth studio album, Still Standing . The song was initially unveilled as one of two lead singles to precede the album's release however due to undisclosed legal issues, the release was delayed...
" was penned by Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
and produced by Monica's elder cousin Polow da Don
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
, marking their first collaboration. Led by a "bluesy guitar riff," the song deals with unrequired love, and has been announced as an official single from the album at numerous occasions, only to be replaced at the last minute each time. In April 2010, Monica confirmed on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that she had re-recorded the song as a duet with Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, although he was later replaced by fellow R&B singer Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
. "Superman", another production by Bryan Michael Cox, is an acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
-dominated ballad with syncopated drum pattern, in which she idolizes her man as a hero, comparing him with the same-titled DC Comics superhero
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. The track received a positive response among critcs, who called it one of the finest moments on Still Standing: "Monica shows her range [...] and gives it some muscle." The album's ninth song and second single, Cristyle
Cristyle
Crystal Nicole Johnson, better known by her stage name Cristyle or sometimes credited as Cri$tyle is an American Grammy Award winning songwriter signed with So So Def/EMI Music.-Career:...
-penned "Love All Over Me
Love All Over Me
"Love All Over Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. The Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox produced "Love All Over Me" rounds out Still Standing as another laid back, yet soulful track filled with admiration. The song was sent to rhythmic, urban, and urban ac airplay as the...
", is producer Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
's only contribution to the record. Monica described the song as "about being strictly in love where everything feels right." Ending track "Believing In Me," an acoustic ode to moving beyond heartbreak, was contributed by Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
.
Release and promotion
After numerous delays Still Standing was eventually released on March 23, 2010 in the United States. First released in the Netherlands on March 19, it received a limited release through RCA RecordsRCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
on most major music markets until the end of April 2010. The album's marked Monica's third album released under her contract with J Records, following the renewal of her joint venture with the label in October 2007.
Prior to its release, Monica debuted her reality series Monica: Still Standing
Monica: Still Standing
Monica: Still Standing is an American reality series following R&B singer Monica. The series aired on BET October 27, 2009 after the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards.-Overview:...
on the BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
network on October 27, 2009. She appeared on BET's 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
on February 22, 2010 to promote the album, and made further appearances as a guest or co-host on the show on March 22, 2010 and March 23, 2010. On March 23, she also performed on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
in promotion of the album. On April 19, she performed on The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
. At the 2010 BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
, the singer performed "Everything to Me" alongside Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
who sang on of her signature songs "Silly." Monica also served as a co-header with Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
on the 2010 Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour in the following summer.
Singles
Confirmed as the first single from the album, "Everything to MeEverything to Me (Monica song)
"Everything to Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by fellow singer Jazmine Sullivan and co-produced by Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb for her sixth studio album Still Standing , incorporating a sample of the 1981 recording "Silly" as penned by Fritz Baskett, Clarence...
" was leaked onto internet
Leakage
Leakage may refer to:*Leakage *Memory leak, in computer science*Leakage *Leakage *Leakage *Leakage...
in the first week of January 2010 and officially sent to urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
and rhythmic
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
radio formats on February 9, 2010. Monica's highest peak since 2004 "So Gone
So Gone
"So Gone" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by rapper-producer Missy Elliott, Kenneth Cunningham, and Jamahl Rye and co-produced by Elliott and duo Spike & Jamahl for Monica's fourth studio album After the Storm , incorporating a sample of the 1976 recording "You Are Number...
", the song eventually became her sixth number one hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and remained seven weeks atop, making it her longest-running solo number-one to date. In addition, its peak made Monica the first artist to score chart-toppers in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. A moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, it also peaked at number forty-four on the regular pop chart. The song also charted at number eight-five on the Japan Hot 100
Japan Hot 100
The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com ....
. The second single, "Love All Over Me
Love All Over Me
"Love All Over Me" is a song by American recording artist Monica. The Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox produced "Love All Over Me" rounds out Still Standing as another laid back, yet soulful track filled with admiration. The song was sent to rhythmic, urban, and urban ac airplay as the...
" was sent to radio in May 2010. It peaked at number fifty-eight on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Monica's twelfth top ten hit on that chart. In September 2010, "Here I Am
Here I Am (Monica song)
"Here I Am" is a song by American singer Monica, from her sixth studio album, Still Standing . The song was initially unveilled as one of two lead singles to precede the album's release however due to undisclosed legal issues, the release was delayed...
", featuring Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
, was confirmed as the album's third single. The track features vocals by fellow singer Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
. A remix of "Here I Am" was initially planned as the third single but was only released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
. The album version of the song had previously debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number eighty-three.
"Still Standing", featuring Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
was released as a buzz single from the album in August 2008. Despite being only sent to radio, it peaked at number seventy-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. "One In a Lifetime" peaked on the Japan Hot 100
Japan Hot 100
The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com ....
charts at sixty-six due to airplay and digital sales.
Commercial performance
Still Standing debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart with first week sales of 184,000 copies, becoming her second highest U.S. chart-debut, surpassed by her 2003's number-one debuting After the Storm
After the Storm
After the Storm is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer Monica, released June 17, 2003, on J Records. Conceived from her abandoned project All Eyez on Me , it was recorded during 2001 to 2003 at Doppler Studios, Patchwerk Studios, and SouthSide Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, Soulpower...
. The album also entered at number one on Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
and at number two on the Digital Albums
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
chart. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number twenty-five on the UK R&B Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
. The album was certified gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, following shipments of 500,000 copies in the US. To date, the album has sold over 474,000 copies in the United States.
Critical response
Still Standing received positive reviews from most music critics. At MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 71, based on six reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and commented that the album "benefits from quality control and a handful of particularly strong ballads". About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
's Mark Edward Nero gave the album four out of five stars and called it "one of the stronger albums of Monica's career so far". Giving it a B+ rating, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
s Mikael Wood called the album "a low-key delight" and perceived its sound as reminiscent of 1990s-R&B, stating "the appealingly unflashy CD feels like a return to the mid-'90s heyday of acts such as Deborah Cox
Deborah Cox
Deborah Cox is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart , a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on...
and Total". USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
s Edna Gundersen gave the album three out of four stars and called it "a gimmick-free set of cool R&B tracks". Andrew Rennie of NOW
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
gave it a four out of five rating and wrote that it is "is rich with songs about self-validation, love lost and subsequent recovery, and doesn’t let up on that thematic gas pedal until the last tune".
However, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
s Ken Capobianco viewed its songs as "predictable" and wrote "Monica is a vivid singer with gorgeous tone, but she’s forced to breathe life into songs that don’t live up to her capabilities". Luke Winkie of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
gave it two out of five stars and described its music as "unembellished and bland", while calling the album "immediately forgettable, inhabiting the colorless world that has doomed the majority of mainstream R&B over the last decade". Despite writing that Monica "puts forth her richest vocal efforts", Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
writer Lauren Carter called the album's songs "uninspiring", describing it as "the middle ground" and "r & b blandness". Mariel Concepcion of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
wrote that Still Standing lacks "Monica's spunk and sass", but ultimately commended her lyrical maturity and called the album "fluid lyrically and musically". The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Sarah Godfrey complimented its production and Monica's musical style, stating "The disc is a lean 10 tracks, and while the sound is more mature than her 1995 debut Miss Thang, as it should be, her mellow style of R&B remains comfortingly intact".
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best R&B Album
Grammy Award for Best R&B Album
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works on albums in the R&B music genre...
, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
in 2011.
Track listing
Sample credits- "Everything to Me" contains a sample of Deniece WilliamsDeniece WilliamsJune Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
's "Silly" (1981). - "If You Were My Man" contains a sample of Evelyn "Champagne" KingEvelyn King (singer)Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame", "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love."-Biography:...
's "Betcha She Don't Love You" (1982).
Personnel
Credits for Still Standing adapted from Allmusic.- Adonis ShropshireAdonis ShropshireAdonis Shropshire or Adonis for short, is an award-winning American songwriter and record producer.He has written and or produced singles including: Mariah Carey's "I Stay In Love", Usher Raymond's "My Boo", P...
- vocal producer, background vocals - Derek Blanks - photography
- Monica - executive producer, producer, vocals, background vocals
- Anita Marisa Boribbon - art direction, design
- Candice Childress - production coordination
- Bryan-Michael Cox - bass, drums, executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, instrumentation, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, piano, producer, programming - D-Boi - drums, programming
- Carlos "Los Da Mystro" McKinneyCarlos McKinneyCarlos "Los Da Mystro" McKinney is a Grammy-nominated American record producer and jazz pianist.-Biography:McKinney was born into an eminent Detroit jazz family; he is a nephew to pianist Harold McKinney, bassist Ray McKinney, trombonist Bernard McKinney , and drummers Earl McKinney and Walter...
- conductorConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, instrumentation - Melinda Dancil - management, producer
- Danny D.- management
- Kevin "KD" Davis - mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Jermaine DupriJermaine DupriJermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
- engineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, producer - Tony Duran - photography
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - engineer, producer
- Mikkel S. Eriksen - instrumentation
- Paul J. Falcone - engineer, mixing
- Ira Folson - engineer
- Andrew Frampton - keyboards, producer
- Moses Gallart - assistant
- Mark Gary - assistant
- Jazmine SullivanJazmine SullivanJazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
- background vocals - Chris Gehringer - mastering
- Erwin Gorostiza - creative director
- Mark Gray - assistant
- Tor Erik Hermansen - instrumentation
- Kevin Hicks - additional production, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, programming
- Aaron Holton - engineer
- John Horesco IV - engineer
- Josh Houghkirk - mixing assistant
- Larry Jackson - producer
- Jim Jonsin - arranger, keyboards, producer, programming
- Damien Lewis - assistant, engineer
- Andre Lindal - composer, instrumentation, producer
- Bei Maejor - producer, background vocals
- Rob Marks - mixing
- Mylah Morales - make up
- Ne-YoNe-YoShaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
- producer - Taurian "TJ" Osbourne - keyboards
- Carlos Oyanedel - engineer
- Dave Pensado - mixing
- Polow da DonPolow Da DonPolow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
- producer - Geno Regist - engineer
- Adrian "Drop" Santalla - engineer
- StargateStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
- producer - Jay Stevenson - engineer
- Noah Tafua - assistant
- Phil Tan - mixing
- Sam Thomas - engineer, mixing
- Wouri Vice - stylist
- Andrew Wuepper - assistant
- WyldCardWyldCardKendrick J. Dean, also known as WyldCard, is an American Grammy Nominated musical composer, and record producer. He has co-written and co-produced singles including: Chris Brown's "Say Goodbye"; Danity Kane's "Ride For You"; Bobby Valentino's "How Bout It"; Toni Braxton's "Trippin'"; Mary J...
- additional production, keyboards, organ, strings, vocal producer
Chart
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
191 |
| UK R&B Albums Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
25 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
2 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
48 |
Certifications
| Country | Date | Certification Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | April 21, 2010 | Gold RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... (RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... ) |
Chart procession and succession
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | March 19, 2010 | Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
88697403982 |
| United Kingdom | March 22, 2010 | RCA Records RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
88697403982 |
| United States | March 23, 2010 | J J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:... |
886974039822 |
| Canada | RCA Records | ||
| Japan | April 7, 2010 | Sony Music Japan Sony Music Entertainment Japan is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry.... |
SICP2506 |
| Germany | April 9, 2010 | Sony Music | 88697403982 |
External links
- Monica: Still Standing Official Site
- Still Standing at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...