In 1991, at the age of eleven, Monica was discovered by music producer Dallas Austin at the Center Stage auditorium in Atlanta performing Whitney Houston 1986's Greatest Love of All. Amazed by her voice, Dallas offered her a record deal with his Arista Records-distributed label Rowdy Records and consulted rapper Queen Latifah to work as Monica's first manager. Shortly afterwards Dallas and then staff producers Tim & Bob entered the studio with Monica to start writing and producing her debut Miss Thang which was eventually released in July 1995 and scored number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number seven on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies and produced three top ten singles, including debut single Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) and Before You Walk out of My Life both of which made Monica the youngest artist ever to have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Miss Thang subsequently won Monica a Billboard Music Award and garnered her an American Music Award nomination in the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist category.
After a label change to Clive Davis's Arista Records, Monica mainstream success was boosted, when Diane Warren-written For You I Will, from the Space Jam soundtrack, became her next top ten pop hit. The following year she was asked to team up with singer Brandy and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins to record The Boy Is Mine, the first single from both of their second albums. Released in May 1998, surrounding highly publicized rumors about a real-life catfight between both singers, the duet became both the biggest hit of the summer and the biggest hit of 1998 in general in America, spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It earned the pair a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and garnered multi-platinum sales (to date, it remains as one of the top twenty most successful American singles in history based on Billboard chart success).
Jermaine Dupri, David Foster and Austin consulted on the album The Boy Is Mine, which was released later that year and eventually became Monica’s biggest-selling album, becoming certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies. It yielded another two U.S. number-one hits with The First Night and Angel of Mine, a cover of Eternal's 1997 single, as well as a remake of Richard Marx' Right Here Waiting. Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed it as "closer to soul's source... hearking back past hip-hop songbirds like Mary J. Blige and adult-contemporary sirens like Toni Braxton," while Allmusic called the album an "irresistible sounding [and] immaculately crafted musical backdrop [...] as good as mainstream urban R&B gets in 1998."
In 2000, Monica contributed chorus vocals for I've Got to Have It, a collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and rapper Nas. Released as the Big Momma's House theme song, the song saw minor success in the United States only. The following year, she released the Ric Wake production track Just Another Girl, recorded for the Down to Earth soundtrack, as a single.
A year later, Arnold channeled much of her heavily media-discussed experiences into the production of her third studio album, All Eyez on Me, her first release on mentor Clive Davis newly-founded J Records label. "I just wanted to give the people back something that had personal passion, instead of just, 'Oh, let's dance to this record'," she said about the issues worked into the tracks. The first single All Eyez on Me a Rodney Jerkins-produced R&B-dance track, saw minor to moderate success on the international charts but failed to enter the higher half of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. A follow-up song, Too Hood, also got a lukewarm response and as a result, the album's tentative release was pushed back several times. "I don't think people wanted to hear a big fun record from me, after knowing all the things that I had personally experienced," Monica second-guessed her new material which saw both early and heavy bootlegging via internet at that time.
After the Japan-wide release of All Eyez on Me Monica was asked to substantially reconstruct the record with a host of new producers, and as a result the singer re-entered recording studios to start work with songwriters Kanye West, Jazze Pha, Andre "mrDEYO" Deyo, Bam & Ryan and Dupri-replacing executive producer Missy Elliott. Finally released in June 2003, After the Storm debuted at number one on Billboard`s Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and on top of the official Billboard 200, with sales of 186,000 copies emerging as Monica's first and only number-one album to date. It eventually received a gold certification, and has sold over one million copies domestically. Media reception of the CD was generally enthusiastic, with the Allmusic saying the album "has all the assuredness and smart developments that should keep Monica's younger longtime followers behind her — all the while holding the ability to appeal to a wider spectrum of R&B and hip-hop fans." The album's lead single, Elliott-penned So Gone, was one of Monica's biggest commercial successes in years, becoming her first top ten single since 1999's Angel of Mine. In addition, it reached the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks and Hot Dance Club Play charts. Subsequently, After the Storm spawned another three singles, with final single U Should've Known Better reaching number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2005, Monica appeared on the Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack. The track was one of Monica's last production by Dallas Austin.
Returning from yet another musical hiatus, Arnold's fourth studio album The Makings of Me was released in October 2006. Titled after Curtis Mayfield's 1970 recording The Makings of You, the album saw her particularly reuniting with producers Elliott, Dupri, and Bryan Michael Cox, all of whom had previously contributed to After the Storm (2003). The Makings of Me received a positive reception from most professional music critics, with Allmusic calling it a "concise and mostly sweet set of songs," and Entertainment Weekly declaring it "a solid addition" to Monica's discography. While it debuted at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and at number eight on the official Billboard 200, it received a domestic sales total of 328,000 copies, it widely failed to revive the success of its predecessors and became the singer's lowest-selling effort to date. Singles such as snap-influenced Everytime Tha Beat Drop featuring Atlanta hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz and Elliott-produced A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) failed to reach the top forty of the regular pop charts.
In 2009, Arnold lent her voice to the ballad Trust a duet with Keyshia Cole, that peaked in the top five on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The recording of Arnold's sixth studio album Still Standing was chronicled by her BET reality series of the same name. Featuring production by Stargate, Ne-Yo, and Polow da Don, it was released in March 2010 and garnered a generally positive response by critics, who perceived its sound as "a return to the mid-'1990s heyday" of contemporary R&B, The album debuted atop on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 184,000 copies, becoming the singer's second highest-charting debut since 2003's After the Storm. The leading single Everything to Me scored Monica her biggest chart success since 2003's So Gone, reaching the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks charts for seven weeks. The album was certified gold by the RIAA with domestic shipments of 500,000 copies within a single month. With it success, the album and Everything to Me was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. In August 2010, Arnold joined Trey Songz on his Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour, her first North American concert tour in ten years.
The New Life (Intro) Songfacts reports that New Life was Monica's debut release with RCA, following the disbandment of her former label, J Records in October 2011. The album was dropped on April 10, 2012 in the US. She explained the meaning of its title on Twitter: "A good word goes a long way. Life is hard enough. Me and my followers believe in God, love, strength, family, unity and growth [...] Don't be afraid of new things, new people, new opportunities or new love. It just may give you a New Life."
Superman
Monica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're my supa' hero, ooh you rock my world
If you show me how I can be your super girl
Give ya supa' supa' love, 'cause ya supa' supa' hot
Give you more than lil' bit, give you everything I got
Do you think of me, like I think of you
Hopin' that what I feel, is what you feelin' too and
There is no height, (that I won't climb)
there is not light, (that I won't shine)
There is no time, (that I won't find),
and I'm so glad I found my time tonight.
Tell you that there is no other place that I'd rather be
There is no other face that id rather see.
The way that you do me (is something like a movie)
Waken up to you is just like waken up to Superman
It's a bird; it's a plane and (Superman)
I can be you Lois Lane(Superman)
There ain't nothing you can do, (I just wanna be with you)
And I hope you feel it too, (you're my Superman)
It's the beating in my heart
It's the shaking in my soul (every time I touch you baby)
I go, it's the power of ya love (it's the passion in ya kiss)
And I'm always lookin' forward
There ain't no sea (that I won't swim)
There is no void (that I can't fill)
And there's no time (that I won't find), and I'm so glad I found this time tonight
There is no other place that I'd rather be
There is no other face that I'd rather see.
The way that you do me (is something like a movie)
Waken up to you is just like waken up to Superman
It's a bird; it's a plane and (Superman)
I can be your Lois Lane(Superman)
There ain't nothing you can do, (I just wanna be with you)
And I hope you feel it too, (you're my Superman)
Let me touch the sky (sky)
Please don't hit the brakes (brakes)
Fly me to the moon (I wanna see heaven's gates)
I wanna feel what it's like (to be with Superman) I'll stay by your side
And if you take my hand than there is no dreams (that we can't see)
There's nothing (that we can't be) and
There no time (that I won't find), and I'm so glad I found that time tonight
Tell you that there is no other place that I'd rather be
There is no other face that I'd rather see.
The way that you do me (is something like a movie)
Waken up to you is just like waken up to Superman
It's a bird; it's a plane and (Superman)
I can be your Lois Lane(Superman)
There ain't nothing you can do, (I just wanna be with you)
And I hope you feel it too, (you're my Superman)
You're my (my my my my)
Superman
You're my (my my my my)
Superman
You're so wonderful
The lyrics of Monica's song "Superman" are about the intense love and admiration the singer has for her partner, who she refers to as her superman. She describes him as her hero and how she is willing to do anything for him, including being his super girl, to show him how much she loves him. She hopes that he feels the same level of love and passion for her too.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this love and admiration, as she compares her partner to Superman and herself to Lois Lane. She talks about how waking up to him is like waking up to Superman and how there is nothing that he cannot do.
The lyrics also talk about the power and intensity of their love, with references to the beating of her heart, the shaking of her soul, and the passion in their kisses. The singer expresses her desire to touch the sky with her partner and explore endless possibilities together.
Overall, the song is a powerful ode to love and the intensity of romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You're my supa' hero, ooh you rock my world
You're my superhero who amazes and impresses me
If you show me how I can be your super girl
If you teach me how to be your sidekick, I will be
Give ya supa' supa' love, 'cause ya supa' supa' hot
I will give you an enormous amount of love because you're incredibly attractive
Give you more than lil' bit, give you everything I got
I will give you everything of myself, not just a little bit
Do you think of me, like I think of you
I wonder if you think of me the way I think of you
Hopin' that what I feel, is what you feelin' too and
I hope you share the same feelings as me
I wanna go through a few things that describe just what's in my heart
I want to express what's in my heart through some different experiences
There is no height, (that I won't climb)
I will do anything and everything to be with you
there is not light, (that I won't shine)
I will do anything to make you happy
There is no time, (that I won't find)
I will always make time for you
and I'm so glad I found my time tonight.
I'm happy that I'm spending time with you right now
Tell you that there is no other place that I'd rather be
There's nowhere else I want to be besides with you
There is no other face that id rather see.
I love seeing your face more than anyone else's
The way that you do me (is something like a movie)
Being with you feels like a scene from a movie
Waken up to you is just like waken up to Superman
Seeing you in the morning feels like waking up to Superman
It's a bird; it's a plane and (Superman)
You're like Superman flying through the sky
I can be you Lois Lane(Superman)
I can be your partner like Lois Lane is to Superman
There ain't nothing you can do, (I just wanna be with you)
There's nothing you can do to make me not want to be with you
And I hope you feel it too, (you're my Superman)
I hope you feel the same way since you're my Superman
It's the beating in my heart
My heart beats faster when I'm with you
It's the shaking in my soul (every time I touch you baby)
You give me emotional and physical sensations every time we're together
I go, it's the power of ya love (it's the passion in ya kiss)
It's the intensity of our love, especially in your kisses
And I'm always lookin' forward
I'm always excited for our future
There ain't no sea (that I won't swim)
I would do anything and go anywhere for you
There is no void (that I can't fill)
I will do my best to fill any voids you have
and there's no time (that I won't find), and I'm so glad I found this time tonight
I'm happy that I spent time with you tonight despite everything else going on
Let me touch the sky (sky)
I want to feel the height of love with you
Please don't hit the brakes (brakes)
Let's not slow down what we have
Fly me to the moon (I wanna see heaven's gates)
Take me on a journey to a place with endless love and happiness
I wanna feel what it's like (to be with Superman) I'll stay by your side
I want to experience what it's like to be with you and I'll stay with you
And if you take my hand than there is no dreams (that we can't see)
If we're together, we can achieve anything
There's nothing (that we can't be)
We can accomplish anything together
and there no time (that I won't find), and I'm so glad I found that time tonight
I'm glad I found the time to be with you tonight even though time can be hard to find
You're my (my my my my)
You are my everything
Superman
My superhero who can do anything
You're so wonderful
You're amazing and fantastic
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNTA AUSTIN, KEVIN HICKS, BRYAN COX, KENDRICK DEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NeNe B
I LOVE THIS SONG!! I have finally got my superman. He is so amazing and I love me some him. It feels soo good to once have tears of love and joy in a relationship instead of tears of pain and abuse.
Carla Gonzales
Blessings to you both 🙏 💛
CC
Happy for you guys 🥰
Zori Gaddafi
I will meet my Superman
Mercedes Calvin
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Kenesha Williamson
Amen!!!🙏🏽❤️😘
Kelsey Edmond
it's 2015 and I still love this song. I sing this to my boyfriend all the time just because I love him so much. no one can take my baby place. he's my superman.
Newflame13 Fiya
Describing my man...
Mickyala Hagan
Gnite uhh gftsfdvnf nhh
Ron Doe Williams
My Ex Dedicated This Song To Me & She Use To Sing This Song To Me When Things Wasn't going well for me and every time she sung it to me It would lift me up & just get me back on my game