Monica, The First Night | Throwback Thursday 💎

This Throwback Thursday, we travel back to 1998 with Monica and her captivating ‘first’ song, “The First Night.”

Throwback Thursday (TBT) looks back at songs that have truly captivated or stuck with me for whatever reason.  In some cases, there’s a compelling story or memorable happening behind the fangirling.  For the sixth Throwback Thursday, dated May 7, 2020, we look to Monica and here soulful, 1998 gem, “The First Night.” No, “The First Night” isn’t the most famous song from its parent album, The Boy Is Mine. Betcha can figure out what song was more famous, HINT* HINT*.

Jermaine Dupri brilliantly samples the Diana Ross classic “Love Hangover” on “The First Night,” the first song on The Boy is Mine. “I knew it was wrong for feeling this way / Especially the thought of getting in on the first date / Couldn’t let go, it stayed on my mind / At the end of the night, I had to decide / I was thinking.”  Hmm, essentially on “The First Night,” Monica was totally feeling her date, and even though she knows she shouldn’t entertain the idea, she at least considers making love… “the first night” of course.  The chorus is the best part:

“I should make a move, but I won’t
I know you’re probably thinking something is wrong
Knowing if I do that it won’t be right
I don’t get down on the first night.”

The bridge is pretty sweet as well:

“(If) If you want me
You got to know me
And if you want my love
You gotta win my love
Hey baby
That’s the way it’s got to be, yeah
Get to know me, get to know me
So we can do this.”

Fittingly, this 90s gem also earned a spot on the playlist, 11 Captivating Songs About Firsts.  More pertinent to Weekly Gems, it’s just an awesome, throwback cut.

Monica • The Boy is Mine • Arista • 1998

Monica, “The First Night” | Throwback Thursday 💎 [Photo Credits: Arista, Brent Faulkner, kalhh, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Prettysleepy]