Monica: Still Standing Strong

Article written by: Andre Sanchez
Posted on: December 3, 2009

R&B singer Monica has her own reality show on BET and I’ve been faithfully watching. Some of you might say it’s not as exciting as the usual reality shows you might watch like The Hills (cringe), Brooke Knows Best (cringe), or… well it doesn’t get much worse than those! ;)

Nevertheless, as we’re heading into the meat and potatoes of “Still Standing”, we have Monica recording for her newest album, also called “Still Standing”, and due next year…

Her touring…

and her health issues (high blood pressure)

On a recent appearance on BET’s “The Monique show”, Monique asks Monica, “why reality TV?”

Monica states,

“I think that for me, if you read the Bible it tells you that He brings you through things for a reason, but after you understand the reasoning for your presence your supposed to share that what you learned. I just felt it was an easy way for me to reach the masses because I won’t get a chance to talk to every person individually, but now I can talk to everybody at one time. For those who judge and criticize it, then it means they are not ready to hear what he is putting through me…“

And believe, God has put Monica through a lot of trials. One of the most tragic occurred in 2000. As Monica and then boyfriend Jarvis “Knot” Weems were together at the graveside of Weems’s brother Troy, who had died in an automobile accident at age 25 in 1998, Weems without warning put a gun to his head and shot himself to death.

No matter what goes on the rest of this season, the series as a whole gets nothing less than an “A” from me. Monica seems to be genuine in her intentions that don’t have anything to do with money, fame or notoriety. She appears to only want to share her struggle and how God has brought her through it; and of course share the gift of music, thankfully. Shows like this don’t get enough credit sometimes for daring to be different. Keep standing, Monica!

And if you need to be reminded, Monica did an amazing duet with Keyshia Cole earlier this year. Looking forward to Monica’s album  droppin’ next year!

What about you, reader? Are you checkin’ for Monica’s new material, or has the “diva-dom” of your Beyonce’s and Mariah Carey’s distracted you from the R&B talent of yesteryear and today? Speak on it!