All Eyez on Me (song)

Infobox Single
Name = All Eyez on Me
Artist = Monica


from Album = All Eyez on Me
Format = Digital download, 12" single, CD maxi single
Released = September 11, 2002 (CD)
Recorded = 2001; Patchwerk Studios
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre = R&B, dance-pop
Length = 4:00 (album version)
3:58 (radio edit)
Label = J
Writer = Monica Arnold, LaShawn Daniels, James Ingram, Quincy Jones
Producer = Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
Last single = "Just Another Girl"
(2001)
This single = "All Eyez on Me"
(2002)
Next single = "Too Hood"
(2002)

"All Eyez on Me" is a dance-pop song written by American R&B singer Monica, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels for her original third studio album, "All Eyez on Me" (2002). It was produced by Jerkins, incorporating excerpts of Michael Jackson's 1983 hit "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," penned by Quincy Jones and James Ingram.

Picked as the album's leading single and Monica's first release on the newly-founded J Records label, "All Eyez on Me" was released in June 2002 to U.S. radios.cite web|author=Nekesa Mumbi Moody|date=2003-06-27|title="Monica triumphs over tragedy "After the Storm"|work=Enquirer|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/06/27/tem_0627monica.html|accessdate=2007-06-01] Its impact on the charts, however, was moderate in comparison with previous releases as it reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand but completely failed to enter the higher half of the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart. The lukewarm response to the track and its follow-up "Too Hood" eventually resulted into the reconstruction of the same-titled album, which received a Japan-wide release only and was subsequently retooled into a new version, branded "After the Storm" (2003).

Writing and recording

"The world has had plenty of tragedy to deal with recently so I wanted to do something that had a 'feel good' flavor to it [...] So when you go out and have a good time, if you get dressed up in the right thing, all eyes will be on you — it doesn't matter if it's Monica or whoever else."

—Monica Arnold, "MTV News"cite web|author=Entertainment Editors|date=2002-06-22|title=Superstar Monica Selects Self-Titled Album|work=Business Wire|publisher=Find Articles|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_June_27/ai_87859988?tag=content;col1monica.jhtml|accessdate=2008-08-10]

"All Eyez on Me" was one of the first songs Monica, Rodney Jerkins, and his Darkchild crew worked on in the Patchwerk recording studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one out of nine songs the singer wrote or co-wrote for the album. Monica has described the track as a "party record" and "a feel-good song for the summer," stylistically comparing it with Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", which the song partially samples.cite web|author=Shaheem Reid|date=2002-05-08|title=Monica Brings New Perspective to Third Album|work=MTV News|publisher=VH1.com|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1453841/05072002/monica.jhtml|accessdate=2007-11-01] "The same way that 'P.Y.T.' was, I was hoping 'All Eyez on Me' would be - more relaxing and you could have a good time. It's not based on anything emotional or anything sad." Jackson hand-delivered the original masters of the song for the production.

The song's title also is a nod to Tupac Shakur, whose same titled song from 1996 was "somewhat of an inspiration", Monica explained. "I always liked the idea of 'all eyes on me,' even from his perspective. Because sometimes that's what our life becomes. I thought that would grab the attention of a lot of people."cite web|author=Corey Moss|date=2002-07-03|title=Monica's Next Album Showcases Her Newfound Potty Mouth|work=MTV News|publisher=VH1.com|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1455920/07022002/monica.jhtml|accessdate=2007-11-01] In an interview with "Vibe Magazine" she replied, that song is "not one of those vain, stuck-up songs, like, 'Everybody's lookin' at me'," and that all what she was trying to portray on the song was "I like to have a good time. If we go somewhere, 'All eyes on me, let's have a good time together.' That was the idea of the song."

Music video

The music video for "All Eyez on Me" was directed by Chris Robinson and primarily filmed in Hollywood, California between July 14, and 15, 2002. "The theme of the video is me just getting up, going about a normal day," Monica said. "I got a chance to just go shopping and stuff like that, but this scene is more of me dancing and having a good time, like the song says, in the club. So that's basically the whole theme of it. Just to have a good time."cite web | title="Monica's "All Eyez on Me" Video Shoot"| work=WireImages.com | url=http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls=11916 | accessdate=2007-11-01]

The video features guest appearances by rappers Missy Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Trina, and Mia X, and Monica's younger brother Montez Arnold. "All Eyez on Me" was partially choreographed by Devyne Stephens.

The "All Eyez on Me" video premiered worldwide the summer of 2002 at the end on BET's Access Granted. The video got strong play on MTV and BET.

Chart performance

First released stateside, "All Eyez on Me" debuted at number-one on the U.S. "Billboard" Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart in the week of June 29, 2002. [Cite web|title=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (2002-06-29)|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Jun-29-2002&f=Bubbling_Under_R&B/Hip-Hop_Singles&model.chartId=3045979|work=Billboard|accessdate=2008-07-29] A week later the song entered Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks as the the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week, debuting at number 67. [Cite web|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (2002-07-06)|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Jul-06-2002&f=Hot_R&B/Hip-Hop_Songs&model.chartId=3046034|work=Billboard|accessdate=2008-08-10] However, it took until mid-August 2002 the single was released to mainstream audiences, and it could enter the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart as another "Hot Shot Debut" at number 70. [Cite web|title=The Billboard Hot 100 (2002-08-10)|work=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Aug-10-2002&f=The_Billboard_Hot_100&model.chartId=3046427|accessdate=2008-08-10] It eventually peaked at number 69 a week later, thus making it Monica's lowest-charting leading single to date as well as her least-successful, video-accompanied single release since 1999's "Street Symphony."Cite web|title=Chart Search Results|work=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=Eyez&per=Monica&df=P&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=|accessdate=2008-08-10] Although the track suffered from low sales, "All Eyez on Me" was slightly more successful on "Billboard"'s component charts: It reached number 19 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and the top 40 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, and Top 40 Mainstream charts.

Outside the United States, "All Eyez on Me" charted at number 29 in New Zealand and number 39 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart as well as inside the lower halves of the national top 100 charts in Germany and Switzerland. The track would eventually become Monica's latest-charting single in years as no further single has been released or charted there ever since.

Formats and tracklistings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "All Eyez on Me."
*CD single
# "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:58
# "All Eyez on Me" (Blacksmith Club Radio Mix) - 4:22
# "All Eyez on Me" (MaUVe Vocal Mix) - 7:33
# "All Eyez on Me" (MaUVe Dub Mix) - 7:14
*12" single
# "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:58
# "All Eyez on Me" (Instrumental) - 3:58
# "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Mix) - 3:58
# "All Eyez on Me" (Acappella) - 3:58

Credits and personnel

*Lead vocals: Monica Arnold
*Audio mixing: Manny Marroquin
*Guitar: Tommy Martin
*All music by Rodney Jerkins
*Producer: Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
*Additional production: LaShawn Daniels
*Recorded by Fabian Marascuillo at Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, Georgia

Charts

References

External links

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Monica