5 Questions with...Monica

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

GRAMMY-winning R&B artist Monica recently visited The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., for an installment of 5 Questions With…. The singer discussed the importance of music education, mentoring, her favorite GRAMMY moment, social networking, and the importance of being an Academy member.

This segment gave a glimmer of insight into the world of Monica.  Grammy asked Monica five questions in regards to social media, The Recording Academy and music education.  The first question Grammy asked, “How has social media influenced your career?”  Monica stated she never really got into Facebook and MySpace, but with Twitter she felt connected to her fans.  Twitter enabled her to produce market research by polling her demographic.  When she first came out in the 1990s, market research was based on what people were buying and data collected.  Twitter allows her to go straight to the source. 

Unfamiliar with The Recording Academy, this question intrigued me: “Why is it important to be a member of The Recording Academy?”  Monica stated there is no room for artists to complain about issues and look for change if you’re not a member of the Academy.  Being a member not only provides a way for members to give back to the community, but it also provides members with a voice, a say in what form of action(s) The Recording Academy may take in any task(s) or project(s). 

The final question related to a continuous struggle music educators and the community go “head to head” with on a daily basis.  “Why is it important to have music education in schools?” I agree with Monica, that music allows for an outlet of expression that may not be readily available in English or Algebra.  If music is taken away, where does that leave our youth?  In what ways can they explore their creative nature without having all creative outlets available to explore?

I’ve been a fan of Monica’s for most of my life and I can’t seem to recall ever getting the chance to know the artist behind the music.  Her music seemed to correlate right along with what I was going through, whether it was young love or girl power to aid in an encouragement boost.  I appreciate Grammy365, for establishing this series of “5 minutes with…” because it allows the fans to get a glimpse of what these artists are exposed to and their perspectives on the industry.

Grammy365 http://www.grammy365.com/

Grammys http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/member-benefits

5 Minutes with…Monica http://www.grammy.com/news/5-questions-with…-monica

If this was your last chance...

It figures this post would be about you, but so be it.  We spent four years of our lives together.  You literally knew me better than I knew myself in many aspects of my life.  You could articulate what I was thinking, feeling, before I verbalized it.  I used to think that you and I were it for each other.  Home.  The One.

Somewhere down the line I became unworthy of your love, support, friendship...Music and other women were more important than "home."  When everything was on the line and it was your last chance to save us, you chose to let me walk away and moved on to a shiny new toy.

You weren't happy and yet you stayed longer than you really should have for either one of us.  How many times did you walk away and come back?  How many times did I let you?  The sad part is, you left me long before I physically walked away from "us."

It's been five months and I don't regret it, but I'd like to know how long it is going to take to purge you out of my system? You loved me according to your standards, not mine.  I'm ready to move on and allow someone who is deserving of my time to love me and take care of my heart.  I don't know if our relationship was my lesson, your lesson, or just a bump in the road of our lives.

Ironically, the first time I heard Last Chance was in the car with you...You sang it to me, and I really thought you meant every single word that Ginuwine sang, but it was just another ploy to keep me in line.  I came across it tonight and cried.  I haven't cried about you in about month, and when I try not to think about you, your face creeps back up in my thoughts.

You had your last chance and you purposely sabotaged us...
I deserve better.  I want better.  I don't wish you ill will, but I have no desire to see, hear from or about you again.  The only way to deal with this heartbreak is to go through it, and because you were my first intense love, I'm forever changed.  I don't hate you for it, but I still wonder why I had to go through you to get to my next step...

-Rejected Daughter

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006

"Happy 21st Birthday dear!  My intention for this journal is to allow you to begin and continue your 'metamorphosis' in life-transition's through triumphs and tribulations, a written record that will one day touch millions of hearts- I love you!" --D. J.

Plus Size in the Music Industry

Plus-sized Glee star reveals her struggle in Hollywood

Glee diva Amber Riley has epic curves to match her epic singing voice — but you won't see her pulling a Jennifer Hudson any time soon.









http://entertainment.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=806747&showcomments=true



Music was an industry that was built on talent.  Somewhere down the line, the industry has moved away from talent and moved towards image.  I'm not a Glee fanatic or a "Gleek" as they call themselves, but I have caught the show a few times. I can see why people enjoy the show with its equal amount of entertainment and addiction value.  Audiences are glued to their TV to see what happens next.  The first episode I watched included a performance of Kanye West's song "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx.  When Ms. Riley, portraying the part of Jamie Foxx, opened her mouth, I was awed and found myself grooving to the TV.  Amber Riley has an amazing voice, but what struck me was that she did not fit the "cookie cutter" mode society has deemed what a celebrity should look like.  She was talented and she was a real representation of a natural woman.

Being a singer and plus-size woman myself, I struggle with this issue constantly.  I'm never going to be a "Halle Berry," nor would I want to be.  However, I fear that I may not be the "right kind of plus size" that will be up to the Music Industry's standards.  I have no desire to be an Opera Singer or a Gospel Star, where there is an immense population of plus size artist.  I have such a passion for music, it's almost overwhelming.  Everyday I strive to incorporate music into my life and aim for that "one step" in the right direction.  It simmers at the back of my mind that no one will ever say yes to me because my personal brand is not marketable...

I'm no Amber Riley, Jill Scott, or Kelly Price, but I know I have talent; I know I would not have been blessed with this burning desire to sing and perform, if music was not supposed to be a realized dream in my life.  The question becomes how do I get to where they are without killing myself to "fit in?"