Wikipedia

The First Night

This article is about the song. For other uses of "First Night", see First Night (disambiguation).

"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.

"The First Night"
Single by Monica
from the album The Boy Is Mine
B-side"'Cross the Room"
ReleasedJuly 28, 1998 (1998-07-28)
Length3:55
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jermaine Dupri
Monica singles chronology
"The Boy Is Mine"
(1998) 		"The First Night"
(1998) 		"Angel of Mine"
(1999)

Following the major commercial chart success of previous single "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with fellow R&B singer Brandy, "The First Night" song was released on July 28, 1998, as the album's second single by Arista Records. Upon its commercial release, it emerged as Monica's second consecutive chart topper, topping both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the component Hot R&B Singles chart, becoming her first Hot 100 number one (and third R&B number one) as a solo artist. A remix version with producer Dupri, and rapper Da Brat appeared as a bonus track on Monica's 1998 CD single, "Angel of Mine".

Background and development

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"The First Night" was written by Tamara Savage and record producer Jermaine Dupri, and production was handled by the latter.[1] In the mid-1990s, Savage, a USC alumna and musical performer, signed a development deal with EMI while she was still in college.[2] In 1997, her mentor, Big Jon Platt, then Senior Vice President of Creative at EMI Music Publishing, started setting up collaborations between her and EMI writers such as Soulshock & Karlin and Jermaine Dupri.[2] EMI flew Savage to Atlanta to co-write a song with Dupri for the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut soundtrack, which was expected to be recorded by singer Janet Jackson, but when Savage began working with Dupri, they decided to focus first on writing a song for Monica, which resulted in "The First Night".[2]

The song samples the dark, bassy piano chords intro section from American singer Diana Ross's "Love Hangover" (1976).[3] Due to its sampling, "Love Hangover" writers Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer are credited as co-writers.[3] Recording of "The First Night" took place at the Krosswire Studios in Atlanta,[3] and mixing was overseen by Phil Tan and Dupri at the Silent Sound Studios.[3] Dupri performs several ad-libs on "The First Night" but is not placed as a featured artist on the track.[3] Monica commented about the song in a 1998 interview with MTV News: "'The First Night' is not an experience of mine, but it's a record that Jermaine Dupri produced, and of whom I've known a long time...It is basically about a guy making an approach towards a woman on the first date."[4]

Critical reception

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In his review of the song, Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "sleek soul shuffler" and praised Monica for not rushing "to swap her youth for adult props". Overall, he thought the song was "smarter than your average pop hit" and called it a winner that would dominate radio playlists.[5] Tony Farsides from Music Week felt that the song "is quite downbeat but builds momentum of its own through Dupri's cameo raps and Monica's own impressive vocals."[6] In 2020 the song was ranked at number 108 on Cleveland.com's Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best list.[7] Writer Troy L. Smith said, "Listening to it now, Monica’s “The First Night” may not feel like a song that topped the charts for a total of five weeks. But back in 1998, its hip-hop soul vibe fit right in with the times."[7]

Chart performance

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"The First Night" became Monica's sixth top-10 entry and second consecutive number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top of the charts in the week of October 3, 1998.[8] It replaced "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith which had held the top spot from September 5 to September 26, and followed Monica's first chart topper "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), her duet with Brandy.[8] "The First Night" was replaced by Barenaked Ladies's "One Week" after two weeks at number one, only to reclaim the top of the chart for another three weeks in October 1998.[9] On Billboard's component charts, it spent six weeks at number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart and became Monica's first entry on the Dance Club Play chart, also reaching the top spot.[10]

Internationally, "The First Night" was less successful though it still ranks among Monica's highest and latest-charting singles to date. It reached top 10 of the singles charts in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Flemish region of Belgium, while entering the top 20 in New Zealand, and the top 30 in Australia, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scotland, as well as on a composite European Hot 100 Singles chart.[11] In the United Kingdom, the song became her second chart topper on the UK R&B Singles.[12] In Canada, it also peaked at number 15 on RPM's Urban Top 30 chart.[13]

With sales in excess of 1.0 million copies and a 20 week-stay in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, "The First Night" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard ranked it 18th on its Hot 100 year-end listing and 19th on its Hot R&B Singles year-end chart.[14][15] In 1999, it finished 26 on Billboard's Hot 100 decade-end chart.[16] In 2018, the magazine ranked it 361th on its 60th Anniversary all-time chart.[17]

Music video

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The music video for "The First Night" was filmed in the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles.[18]

Monica reteamed with "The Boy Is Mine" director Joseph Kahn to produce a music video for "The First Night."[18] Filming took place in the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles, California, a five-story office building that is best known for its extraordinary skylit atrium of access walkways, stairs and elevators, and their ornate ironwork.[18]

In the video, Monica is seen dancing in a tight, white top and long khaki pants with a crowd of dancers. Throughout the video, there are cuts of her standing up in a white dress and sitting down on a long couch, holding golden opera glasses. Other cuts show groups of men and women as well as Monica and her love interest sitting on a couch. The instrumental break features breakdancing then cuts back to the dance with the crowd. The video ends with Monica rejecting her lover's kiss.[18]

In 2017, Complex magazine included the video on its The Best R&B Videos of the '90s listing and wrote: "Monica isn't going to have sex with you right away, and her method of letting you will be elaborate. Hence, this video...The dance moves were cute, the concept was simple, and it all came together perfectly in front of the camera."[18]

Track listings

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US and European CD single, US cassette single[19][20][21]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night"3:55
2."'Cross the Room"3:51
US maxi-CD and 12-inch single[22][23]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night" (album version)3:55
2."The First Night" (instrumental)3:55
3."The First Night" (video version)3:55
4."'Cross the Room" (album version)3:51
UK CD single[24]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night"3:55
2."Before You Walk Out of My Life"4:53
3."Like This and Like That"4:41
UK 12-inch single[25]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night" (radio version)3:55
2."The First Night" (Jermaine Dupri remix featuring R.O.C.)4:09
3."The First Night" (Booker T. vocal remix)6:18
4."The First Night" (Booker T. dub mix)5:32
UK cassette single[26]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night" (radio version)3:55
2."The First Night" (Booker T. vocal remix)6:18
Australian CD single[27]
No.TitleLength
1."The First Night" (album version)3:55
2."The First Night" (remix featuring Jermaine Dupri)4:08
3."The First Night" (instrumental)3:52
4."The First Night" (video version)3:54

Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Boy Is Mine.[3]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "The First Night"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[55] Platinum 1,500,000[54]

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "The First Night"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 14, 1998 Rhythmic contemporary radio Arista [56]
July 28, 1998
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [57]
August 4, 1998 Contemporary hit radio [58]
United Kingdom October 5, 1998
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Boy Is Mine (Media notes). Monica. Arista Records. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c Vendargon, Alain. "Tamara Savage Co-Writes Top Hits For Monica, Whitney Houston And Shanice". Songwriteruniverse.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f The Boy Is Mine (US CD album liner notes). Monica. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-19011-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "Monica On The Different Voices Behind "First Night"". mtv.com. June 8, 1998. Retrieved May 20, 2020.[dead link]
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (July 18, 1998). "Reviews & Previews:POP". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 29. p. 21. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Hot Vinyls" (PDF). Music Week. August 15, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Troy L. (21 October 2020). "Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b Bromson, Fred (October 3, 1998). "Monica Doubles". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Sandiford-Waller, Theda (October 24, 1998). "Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Monica Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 43. October 24, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7071." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  15. ^ a b "The Year in Music 1998: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-51.
  16. ^ a b Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally 1990s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the 1990s & Hot 100 Singles of the 1990s". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  17. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e "The Best R&B Videos of the '90s". complex.com. November 9, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  19. ^ The First Night (US CD single liner notes). Monica. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13522-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ The First Night (European CD single liner notes). Monica. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 60459 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ The First Night (US cassette single sleeve). Monica. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13522-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ The First Night (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Monica. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13523-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ The First Night (US 12-inch single sleeve). Monica. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13523-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ The First Night (UK CD single liner notes). Monica. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 61933 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ The First Night (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Monica. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 61933 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ The First Night (UK cassette single sleeve). Monica. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 61933 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ The First Night (Australian CD single liner notes). Monica. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 60458 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ "Monica – The First Night". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  29. ^ "Monica – The First Night" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  30. ^ "Monica – The First Night" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  31. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  32. ^ "Monica Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "Monica – The First Night" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  34. ^ "Monica – The First Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  35. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.10–8.10. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). October 2, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  36. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The First Night". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  37. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  38. ^ "Monica – The First Night" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  39. ^ "Monica – The First Night". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  41. ^ "Monica: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  42. ^ "Monica Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  43. ^ "Monica Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  44. ^ "Monica Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  45. ^ "Monica Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  46. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  47. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1998" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  48. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  49. ^ "The Urban Top 40 of 1998" (PDF). Music Week. January 9, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  50. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  51. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 46. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  52. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-58.
  53. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 53.
  54. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 30, 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  55. ^ "American single certifications – Monica – The First Night". Recording Industry Association of America.
  56. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1256. July 10, 1998. p. 45.
  57. ^ Sandiford-Waller, Theda (July 25, 1998). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 30. p. 89. ...retails Tuesday (21). The following Tuesday, look for Monica's 'The First Night' (Arista).
  58. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1259. July 31, 1998. p. 37.
  59. ^ "Autumn Release Schedule". Music Week. October 3, 1998. p. 7. The album is preceded on October 5 by a third single from the album, the Diana Ross-sampling First Night...
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