First of all there will be no pictures or videos from the taping of the show. Freddy O was present, but won’t be able to release or post the pictures until after the show premieres, but just know that Monica was fly as hell throughout her taping. I will try and describe the outfits she had on while performing each song below. B. Cox, Kendrick Dean, Mia X and Yung Joc were all in the building.

The taping was set to begin at 1:30pm, but we actually didn’t get to go inside the venue until about 3:30 and the performances didn’t start until close to 4pm. While we awaited Monica, one of the production crew members warmed us up and asked everyone what their favorite songs were. Some of the songs mentioned were “Raw”, “A Dozen Roses”, “Let’s Straighten It Out” f/ Usher, “Angel Of Mine”, “Inside”, “Before You Walk Out Of My Life” and “Hell No” by me. As we all mentioned songs, the crew member then started making us sing several songs. So he asked us do we remember “The Boy Is Mine” and everyone was looking puzzled like they only remembered the chorus, so of course all eyes were me as he passed me the microphone and I did both Brandy and Monica… he simply handed me the mic and I went into hypeman mode and they all were singing with me and then I had them hit the chorus while I ad libbed. Mia X and B. Cox were laughing so hard at me.

Monica came down and spoke with us in this long form fitting tight black dress. FLAWLESS! Reminded me of Toni Braxton and TBIM Monica 2009! She performed her first song which was “Love All Over Me”. Monica BELTED! Like she really showed out on this song. She gave us the first verse, bridge and ending. She did this song twice. Sounded flawless.

Now after EACH song she went to wardrobe to change because how this will be set up is at the end of each episode, she will be seen performing a song from the album. So while she was changing, the crew member continued to ask us questions and speak with us and I was correcting people throughout. He was always looking to me for confirmation and called me “The Monica Encyclopedia”. Everyone was like “Damn. Who is this fool.”

B. Cox spoke to us about some of the leaks and other things and basically “So Bad” will not be on the album. They asked us what we thought of “Let Me Know” and it seems that only two of us there admitted to hearing it. The one guy gave his opinion and then I gave mines. I told them that we have not heard the mastered product, but we all definitely agree that the vocals are there. (B. Cox nodded in agreeement) and then I told them that the general concensus of the song is that there is TOO MUCH MISSY yelling on the record. (B. Cox and Mia X. laughed at me once again).

Monica returned in a black jacket/dress with knee high boots. She came to sing “Taxi”. Now even though many of us online have heard this track, so many people in the audience HAD NOT and by the middle of the song were clapping along and singing along. Talk about catchy, huh? Many people enjoyed it, the thing is though they agreed that “Love All Over Me” is a better song and possibly needs to be the second single if “Taxi” was chosen as the lead.

We then discussed who would be good to duet with Monica and the crowd dismissed my suggestion of Mario and didn’t hear me mention Faith Evans. No one was feeling the suggestions of Beyonce, Kelly, Michelle, Trey Songz or Usher. They did however think that Ne-Yo and Maxwell would be good fits.

After another wardrobe change (skinny jeans and fitted white tee) and some dance breaking to “Everytime The Beat Drop”, Monica came out to perform “Believing In Me”. Now this song is about a person who gave so much of themselves to a relationship that they sort of lost themselves and they must find the strength to believe in self again so that they can move on and become what they were before the relationship, yet stronger. Monica sang this song so flawlessly, but she sang it in a lower register than normal. Actually gave me Whitney Houston (in her prime) vibes. It is a classic. I wouldn’t call it a single, but definitely a strong album track if chosen.

Monica did “Still Standing” next and actually had to do it twice because the white shirt she had changed into for this song was washing her out on film. So she had to go put on a black vest to go with it. She did the song different both times as far as ad libs and energy, but the second time was DEFINITELY the keeper!

At this point the second wave of audience members came in and it was time for me to get back on the road because I had to get back to Alabama. But there were several other Monica fans there and the remainder of the setlist included: “Everything To Me”, “Angel Of Mine”, “Why I Love You So Much” and “Let Me Know”. I am hearing that “Everything To Me” is that heat and she killed it and had to do “Let Me Know” about three times because one time the sound wasn’t right, the second time she forgot the words…so third time was the charm. I did however hear her while I was outside doing “Let Me Know” during soundcheck and she sounded good. I got excited.

From what I was told “Everything To Me” and “Let Me Know” are the contenders for the single.. HOWEVER… at the very beginning of our discussions….NO SINGLE WAS ANNOUNCED. As in they still haven’t confirmed or stood by their choice yet, but will be out by end of the month. AND there will only be 10 tracks on the album according to B. Cox….you read right! Only ten damn tracks on the album yet again!

Setlist:

Love All Over Me
Taxi
Believing In Me
Still Standing
Everything To Me
Angel Of Mine
Why I Love You So Much
Let Me Know

I peeped out her new tattoos.. and the one that is on her thumb now is a red rose with the word LOVE written under it. She added some writing under her zodiac sign that is on her wrist as well as some color. The one behind her ear seemed to be her initials and two hearts.

SOURCE: MonicaSoul