"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Monica | ||||
from the album Miss Thang | ||||
Released | April 7, 1995 | |||
Length | 4:18 (album version) 4:20 (radio edit) | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Dallas Austin | |||
Monica singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" on YouTube |
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Dallas Austin, Derrick Simmons, and Recall Management for her debut album, Miss Thang (1995), while production was helmed by the former. The song contains a sample from "Back Seat (Of My Jeep)" (1993) by American rapper LL Cool J, which itself samples elements from the song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" (1973), written by Abrim Tilmon and recorded by R&B vocal group The Detroit Emeralds. Due to the inclusion of the samples, several other writers are credited as songwriters.
The song was released as Monica's debut single in early 1995 by Rowdy and Arista and its music video was directed by Rich Murray. A major success, the single sold 1.2 million copies domestically, going platinum in the United States, where it spent two weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, and peaked at number two for three non consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" also reached the top ten in Australia and New Zealand, where it was certified gold and platinum, respectively. The song, alongside follow-up single "Before You Walk Out of My Life," made Monica the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard R&B chart at the age of fourteen.
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a mid-tempo song lasting four minutes and eighteen seconds, while drawing influence from hip hop and R&B music genres. [1] Written by Dallas Austin, Recall Management, and Derrick Simmons, and produced by the former, the song samples from "Back Seat (Of My Jeep)" (1993) by American rapper LL Cool J, which itself samples elements from the song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" (1973) by R&B vocal group The Detroit Emeralds. [2] When asked about the development of the song, Austin elaborated: "When I did [it], I got her. I understood her attitude and I thought 'this is where we have to take her for the records' [...] I then took 'Don't Take It Personal' to play for Clive Davis, and he says, 'Well I don't know... it needs a bridge.' And I said, 'No, it doesn't (because of the style).' And he says, 'I don't understand why [the lyrics] say "Dem Days" instead of "Those Days"' (laughs). But I said 'That's not what we say in the environment. We say it's one of "dem days."'" [1]
Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "There's very little attitude on this highly warm and accessible track. Technically, this is not an overly impressive single, but that doesn't matter as most listeners aren't seeking virtuosity, especially this time of year. With the weather getting warmer, these are the songs fans want—and Monica has delivered with the first hit of the summer of ’95." [3] In his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic , James Masterton described it as "a very radio-friendly summer groove". [4] Taylor Parkes from Melody Maker felt it "is the kind of smooth, sunbaked swingbeat I could listen to all day." [5] Dele Fadele from NME wrote, "A catchy debut [...] who will not trouble Aretha Franklin in the wailing or heart-tugging stakes. It's kinda high-school swingbeat, with the hint of a woman, wise before her time. She just wants to be alone today, she tells an errant boyfriend, don't take it personally. However, this little slice-of-life then gets boosted with truck-shaking bass and a careful keyboard lick, whilst an echoey voice repeats "ghetto" throughout the track, and you have one of those summer songs that won't leave you alone, even if it gets a tad repetitive by the last minute." [6] Ralph Tee from Music Week 's RM Dance Update noted, "The label is a new urban soul offshoot for Arista in New York and Monica is a swing diva who debuts with an earthy two-stepper with 'live crowd' effects accompanying a phat bassline and all the appropriate snare and synth sounds. It's all written by Dallas Austin who warms things up nicely for the upcoming album Miss Thang . The track also contains a evident[ sic ] in the cut, which pumps along nicely." [7]
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" was released as the album's lead single in the United States in early 1995. It sold 1.2 million copies domestically and earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 16, 1995. [8] [9] The song spent two weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and peaked at number two for three non consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, kept away from the top spot by Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" and TLC's "Waterfalls (TLC song)." [10] It also reached the top of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Sales chart and the Rhythmic chart and peaked number two on the Dance Singles Sales chart. [11] [12] "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," alongside follow-up single "Before You Walk Out of My Life," would make the singer the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard R&B chart at the age of fourteen. [13]
Elsewhere, "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" reached the top ten of the singles charts in Australia and New Zealand, where it was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and platinum by Recorded Music NZ, [14] [15] and peaked at number five and number seven, respectively. [16] [17] It also entered the top 20 of the Dutch Single Top 100. [18] In the United Kingdom, "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" spent four weeks on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 32. [19] It fared better on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart, where it peaked at number six in the week of July 23, 1995. [20] The song also reached the top 20 on a composite European Dance Radio Chart. [21]
An accompanying music video for "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)", shot in black-and-white, was directed by Rich Murray. [23] It was the third video to be filmed after the first one, filmed on top of a Checkers drive-thru restaurant at the National Highway in College Park, [24] was disliked, [24] and a second video was deemed inappropriate after Monica, unaware of the consequences for her promotional material that had already been photographed, had her hair changed from black bob cut to blonde pixie cut just a short time after filming the then-unreleased visuals. [24] Murray's version was eventually filmed in New York City, where Daniel Hastings shot the artwork for parent album Miss Thang the same week. [24]
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" was sent to video stations like BET and local stations on February 21, 1995. [25] It received nominations for Best R&B/Urban Clip and Best New R&B/Urban Artist Clip at the 1995 Billboard Music Video Awards. [22]
All track written by Dallas Austin, Derrick Simmons, and Recall Management, with production helmed by the former. [2]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (mainstream radio version) | 4:05 |
2. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (radio edit) | 4:20 |
3. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (album version) | 4:17 |
4. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (instrumental) | 3:58 |
5. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (acappella) | 4:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (radio edit) | 4:20 |
2. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (album version) | 4:17 |
3. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (instrumental) | 3:58 |
4. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (acappella) | 4:40 |
Credits lifted from the album's liner notes. [2]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [14] | Gold | 35,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [15] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United States (RIAA) [36] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | April 7, 1995 | Urban contemporary radio | [25] | |
April 25, 1995 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [37] | ||
May 30, 1995 | Contemporary hit radio | [38] | ||
United Kingdom | July 17, 1995 | [39] | ||
Japan | July 21, 1995 | CD single | Rowdy | [40] |
Monica Denise Arnold is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, she began performing as a child and joined a traveling gospel choir by the age of ten. Monica signed with record producer Dallas Austin through his label Rowdy Records in 1993, and gained prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Miss Thang (1995). Her follow-up albums were met with continued success; her second, The Boy Is Mine (1998) remains her best-selling album and spawned three Billboard Hot 100-number one singles: "The Boy Is Mine", "The First Night" and "Angel of Mine".
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Raised in Atlanta as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, he began his career in music production at the age of nine. He discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross in 1991. Dupri wrote and produced their 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He established his own record label, So So Def Recordings in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.
"The Boy Is Mine" is a duet by American singers Brandy and Monica. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Japhe Tejeda, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Brandy, while production was helmed by Jerkins and Dallas Austin. It was released as the lead single from both singers' second albums from 1998, Never Say Never by Brandy and the album of the same name by Monica. Inspired by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's 1982 duet "The Girl Is Mine", the lyrics of the mid-tempo R&B track revolve around two women fighting over a man.
"Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" is a song by American rapper Dr. Dre, featuring fellow American rapper Snoop Dogg, on Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic (1992). As the album's first single it reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 20, 1993, behind "Informer" by Snow, outperforming The Chronic's other singles, "Fuck wit Dre Day ", which peaked at number 8, and "Let Me Ride", which peaked at number 34. The single also reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and was a number 31 hit in the UK. Its music video was directed by Dr. Dre himself.
"The First Night" is a song by American singer Monica for her second studio album, The Boy Is Mine (1998). It was written by Tamara Savage and Jermaine Dupri, featuring production and additional vocals from the latter. Built around a sample of Diana Ross's 1976 recording "Love Hangover", penned by Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer, who share co-writing credits, the song is about the protagonist's battle with sexual temptations on the night of her first date, despite her conflicting emotions and strong sexual desires.
Miss Thang is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the album was conceived under the guidance of Rowdy head Dallas Austin who would emerge as a tutor and father figure to Monica and serve as Miss Thang's sole executive producer. Austin recruited protégés from his DARP production camp such as Tim & Bob, Arnold Hennings, and Colin Wolfe as well as Daryl Simmons, and Soulshock & Karlin to work on the album. It incorporates a wide range of contemporary genres such as soul, pop, hip hop and blues.
"Freak like Me" is a song by American R&B singer Adina Howard, released on January 25, 1995 by East West and Lola Waxx, as the debut single from her first album, Do You Wanna Ride? (1995). The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, as well as number two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for four weeks, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of one million copies. Its music video was directed by Hype Williams. In 2023, Billboard ranked "Freak like Me" among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time". The song has been covered by several artists, most notably by British girl group Sugababes, who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart with their version in 2002.
"For You I Will" is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, and recorded for the soundtrack of the live-action/animated sports comedy film Space Jam (1996), directed by Joe Pytka and starring basketball player Michael Jordan. One out of several songs from the album to be released as a single, it was issued in February 25, 1997 by Atlantic Records and Rowdy Records. A downtempo pop and R&B ballad, the song's lyrics involve the singer pledging love and devotion and promising to help an unnamed "you" overcome any difficulty, regardless of the magnitude.
"Everytime tha Beat Drop" is a song by American recording artist Monica from her fifth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). It was written by Johnta Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Robert Hill, Charles Hammond, Deangelo Hunt, James Phillips, and rap group Dem Franchize Boyz, while production was hemled by Dupri, with additional credits by LRoc. Musically, the downbeat uptempo track was greatly influenced by crunk and snap music, incorporating beats of rapper Nelly's 2005 song "Grillz" and containing a vocal sample of Dem Franchize Boyz' "Lean wit It, Rock wit It" (2006).
"Why I Love You So Much" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written and produced by Daryl Simmons and recorded for her debut studio album, Miss Thang (1995). A downtempo love song about a partner hitting all the right notes, the tender R&B ballad has Moncia singing over a warm bass and soaring keyboard chords. "Why I Love You So Much" was released as the album's fourth and final single on a double A-side with "Ain't Nobody" during the second quarter of 1996.
"Before You Walk Out of My Life" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by Andrea Martin, Carsten Schack, and Kenneth Karlin, with production helmed by Schack and Karlin under their production moniker Soulshock & Karlin. Initially helmed for fellow R&B singer Toni Braxton's Secrets (1996) album, it was left unused and later re-recorded by Monica for her debut album Miss Thang (1995). Built around drum machine-backed rhythms and a saxophone-laced beat, the mid-tempo R&B ballad was released as the album's second single on August 3, 1995, with "Like This and Like That" serving as its other half on a double A-side stateside. It is considered to be one of her signature songs.
"Shoulder Lean" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Young Dro, released to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 2, 2006, as his debut single and the lead single from his first album Best Thang Smokin'. The song features Dro's fellow American rapper and Grand Hustle label chief T.I. on the hook. The production was handled by Grand Hustle in-house producer Cordale "Lil' C" Quinn. The song was a hit in the United States, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. This was Young Dro's only hit single as a lead artist, and T.I.'s fourth Top 10 single.
American R&B singer Monica has released 8 studio albums, one extended play, and 48 singles. Since the beginning of her career in 1995, she has sold 5.3 million albums in the United States, In 1999, Billboard included her among the top twenty of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s, and in 2010, the magazine ranked her 24th on its list of the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years. With a career lasting over 20 years, Monica became the first artist to top the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
"Like This and Like That" is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Dallas Austin, Colin Wolfe, and Malik Edwards, and produced by the former two. It was released as the second single along with "Before You Walk Out of My Life" from Monica's debut studio album, Miss Thang (1995). The song is built around a sample of "Spoonin' Rap" (1979) by Spoonie G, written by Gabriel Jackson. Mr. Malik from former rap duo Illegal performs several ad-libs and sings part of the bridge, earning him a place as a featured artist on the track.
"Ain't Nobody" is an R&B/hip hop soul mid-tempo song produced by Dallas Austin for American R&B singer Monica. It was featured on the Nutty Professor official soundtrack, and also was released as Miss Thang's fourth and final single on a double A-side with "Why I Love You So Much" on May 20, 1996. The double-A-side single became Monica's fourth top ten hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (Consecutive), reaching number 9 and number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
"Back Seat (of My Jeep)" is a song by American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor LL Cool J, released as a single on June 1, 1993, for Def Jam Recordings, taken from his fifth album, 14 Shots to the Dome (1993). It was produced and written by LL Cool J and QD III. The song samples a drum loop from The Detroit Emeralds 1973 song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart".
Still Standing is the sixth studio album by American R&B singer Monica. It was released on March 19, 2010, by J Records. Recording for the album began in 2007, in which the singer intended to take a more traditional approach to the genre and take away any "gimmicks". As executive producer of the album, Monica enlisted a variety of producers including involvement by Missy Elliott, Bryan-Michael Cox, Stargate, The Runners and Jermaine Dupri. Production on Still Standing was chronicled by Monica's BET reality series of the same name which aired between October 2009 and January 2010.
"Don't Take It Personal" is a 1989 single by Jermaine Jackson. The single was Jackson's second and final number one on the U.S. R&B chart. "Don't Take It Personal" peaked at number sixty-four on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
"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 (2010), incorporating a sample of the 1981 recording "Silly" as penned by Fritz Baskett, Clarence McDonald, and June Deniece Williams and performed by Deniece Williams.
The Boy Is Mine is the second studio album by American R&B singer Monica. It was released by Arista Records on July 14, 1998, in the United States. The album deviated from the formula of her debut Miss Thang (1995) as she had more creative control over the material she recorded; a step that she considered a "natural progression". On the record, Monica worked with a variety of producers and writers from different genres such as gospel, R&B, and hip hop, including frequent collaborators Dallas Austin, Colin Wolfe, and Daryl Simmons. Additional producers included David Foster, Diane Warren, Jermaine Dupri, and Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild crew, some of which would become household names on subsequent albums.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)