You Nonetheless Remeber The Boy Is Mine By Brandy And Monica, However Did You Know It Connects To Horror?

A couple of days in the past, whereas driving, I heard “The Boy Is Mine” on the radio, the Brandy and Monica single that I bear in mind as one of many greatest hits of the late 90s. Since I’m all the time searching for a real purpose for songs which can be introduced out of the attic (though this hit is often performed), I performed some new analysis. I questioned if it may very well be associated to the truth that “I Know What You Did Final Summer time” is at the moment being launched worldwide, a movie that I affiliate with that hit in a number of methods. It’s well-known that the editors of the radio stations construct their playlist in response to what’s taking place within the horror world, proper?

Even when the precise purpose might be completely different – the truth that 27 years after that hit, Brandy and Monica just lately introduced their reunion for a tour referred to as, in fact, “The Boy Is Mine Tour” – I couldn’t assist myself. So how the hell are Brandy, Monica, and Mekhi Phifer linked to “I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time”? And can I ever cease making an attempt to hyperlink each tune or music to the horror world? You’re welcome to learn, put the tune on loop, and determine for your self. So, it’s true that it’s not a scary tune like a number of the others we evaluation right here, but it surely does join to our favourite style.

Earlier than we focus on horror motion pictures, it’s important to introduce the tune we’re exploring. “The Boy Is Mine” is a single by singers Brandy Norwood (higher often known as Brandy) and Monica (or Monica Denise Arnold by her full identify).

When Was The Boy Is Mine Launched?

“The Boy Is Mine” was launched on Might 5, 1998, and, fairly unusually, it appeared as a single for each singers. For Brandi, it was the primary and lead single from her second album, “By no means Say By no means,” which was launched a month later and debuted at quantity two on the US Billboard charts. For Monica, it was additionally the primary single from her second album, merely referred to as “The Boy Is Mine”.

The one turned an enormous hit. It instantly reached primary on the Billboard charts. It stayed there for a minimum of 13 weeks, a unprecedented achievement (the all-time primary, by the way in which, is at the moment held by “Previous City Highway” by American Rapper Lil Nas X, which has stayed there for a complete of 19 weeks). It was the best-selling tune in the US in 1998, with roughly 2.6 million copies offered.

The tune’s most excellent achievement, most likely, is its win on the Grammy Award for “Finest R&B Vocal Efficiency by a Duo or Group”, one among three classes for which he was nominated (he was nominated however didn’t win File of the 12 months or R&B Music of the 12 months). He received three awards on the Billboard Music Awards, which in 2008 additionally ranked him at a really respectable 54th on the checklist of the “100 Biggest Songs of All Time.” On the checklist of the 100 R&B and Hip-Hop Songs of All Time, the tune is at quantity 18.

The Inspirations: From Jerry Springer To Michael Jackson

The “Boy Is Mine” lyrics, together with its accompanying music video (which we’ll focus on later), depicts a rivalry between two ladies over the identical man. Brandi wrote and composed the tune, together with LeShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, and Japhe Tejeda and was additionally amongst its producers. She stated that she obtained the concept for the tune whereas watching an episode of the weird “The Jerry Springer Present,” which handled love triangles. We don’t know who the tune “The Boy Is Mine” is about, and it could be a basic idea.

Initially, “The Boy Is Mine” was alleged to be a solo tune by Brandi. However she and the opposite producers listened to the recording and realized that one thing was lacking: a further feminine presence, which might hook up with the rivalry depicted within the tune. This concept was additionally born out of a considerably feminist response to Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s 1982 duet, “The Lady Is Mine,” which was about two males competing for a girl. It’s stated, by the way in which, that Michael Jackson accomplished writing the tune whereas he and McCartney have been watching cartoons, a proven fact that takes on new that means when you think about Jackson’s horrible deeds, revealed a number of a long time later.

Brandi determined that the younger singer Monica, who was reportedly a rival on the time, can be appropriate for the position. Her document firm approached Monica, and the undertaking was lastly taking place. Then got here the video.

The Boy Is Mine Video Clip

It’s laborious to say that the video for “The Boy Is Mine” is exceptional, however there’s nonetheless one thing that connects it to our web site. The video was directed by South Korean-American video and movie director Joseph Kahn, who has grow to be one of the vital distinguished names within the business. He’s labored with the who’s who of the music world, for instance, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Girl Gaga, Future’s Youngster, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Snoop Dogg – and the checklist goes on.

Technically, the video clip featured some fascinating parts, such because the digital camera tilt at a 90-degree angle. Its plot begins when Brandi watches an episode of “The Jerry Springer Present”, which corresponds with the background for writing the tune. Monica, whom we are going to later be taught lives within the condo subsequent door, modifications the channel to a romantic film, and the 2 struggle over the TV. They begin singing and speaking to their good friend, after which we see “The Boy” – performed by Mekhi Phifer, who was a comparatively unknown actor on the time. We perceive that Brandi and Monica are neighbors who begin arguing and combating over the man.

The man calls every of them, the opposite hears, and so they get upset as a result of they notice that he’s most likely making an attempt to take pleasure in each worlds. The 2 get upset, throw away the presents and souvenirs of the man, who comes and knocks on door quantity 6, which is Brandi’s door. He smiles when the door opens, however his look modifications when he realizes that Monica can be subsequent to Brandi. He’s as embarrassed as a dishonest couple at a Coldplay live performance, and the ladies slam the door in his face.

The Clip That Predicted The Slasher

Quick ahead just a few months to November 1998. “I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time,” the sequel to the hit launched the 12 months earlier than, is hitting the screens. Its high quality is sort of problematic, and viewers and critics felt. It’s laborious to say it was an enormous success, primarily as a result of its funds was considerably greater than the primary movie (about $65 million, in comparison with solely about $18 million), and the distinction in income between the 2 movies is slight. It launched the 2 survivors from the primary movie, Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.), the killer, and some new characters.

“I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time” takes place a 12 months after the occasions of the earlier movie. Julie strikes to Boston and tries to start out a brand new faculty life, most likely after singing out loud Augustana’s Hit “Boston” launched just a few years later (“I believe I’m going to Boston, I believe I’ll begin a brand new life, I believe I’ll begin it over… No One Is aware of My Identify”).

“I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time” takes place a 12 months after the occasions of the earlier movie. Julie strikes to Boston and tries to start out a brand new life in faculty. Sooner or later, her greatest good friend Karla (performed by Brandi) wins a phone-in sport present, which demonstrates that understanding capital cities will help you keep away from scams. She wins a flight to the Bahamas and invitations Julie to return. Julie tries to persuade Ray to hitch, however he refuses, at the very least at first, so she units off for the coveted vacation spot with Karla, her boyfriend Tyrell (Phifer), and one other good friend, Will Benson. In different phrases, just a few months after Brandi fights over Mekhi Phifer within the plot of that music video, this time they’re starring in a horror film as a pair. That relationship received’t final lengthy as a result of one among them will probably be murdered, however nonetheless.

Observe that their co-casting within the film preceded the music video, not the opposite method round. “I had simply moved to California from New York, and I used to be assembly with the individuals concerned with I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time, and Brandy had already been solid within the movie as my love curiosity,” Phifer advised Leisure Weekly. “We have been on the point of shoot the film in just a few weeks, and in between all that, she was engaged on the music video for “The Boy Is Mine.” They requested me if I wished to be the boy in ‘The Boy is Mine,’ and I believed it will be a cool little prequel to the movie, so I stated, ‘For positive!’ The remaining is historical past.”

I Know What Brandi Did In Latest Many years (Fairly A Bit, Apparently)

Though Brandi and Monica haven’t been in a position to recreate the hysterical success of their hit, it’s tough to argue that they’re singers of 1 duet. Brandi burst onto the scene on the age of 14, along with her first album named after her, after which with hits like “I Wanna Be Down.”

Many individuals ask how outdated Brandy and Monica have been on “The Boy Is Mine”. The clip was recorded in October 1997, that means Brandy, born in February 1979, was about 18 years outdated. At present, Brandy is 46 and has launched about 10 albums so far and offered greater than 10.5 million albums worldwide. In between, she has composed, written, and produced songs for artists akin to Toni Braxton and Kelly Rowland, judged the primary season of “America’s Acquired Expertise,” and in addition skilled some tough moments in her private life.

In 2006, Brandy was concerned in a sequence accident after driving at excessive pace and never having time to cease. She crashed into the primary automobile and induced the demise of the driving force of the third automobile. The deceased’s household claimed wrongful demise and sued Brandi for $50 million. The events finally reached a settlement, the main points of which weren’t made public.

In between, Brandi appeared in a number of movie and tv roles, such because the character of Cinderella within the 2024 movie “Descendants: The Rise of Crimson” (her first movie position, by the way in which, was as Cinderella within the film of the identical identify in 1997) or the romantic comedy “The Excellent Match” in 2016.

Her comeback to the horror style was comparatively latest, in A24’s “The Entrance Room.“ Within the movie, she performs a pregnant lady, and in addition an anthropology professor who’s annoyed with the remedy within the ward, suffers from some tough signs, and remains to be grieving the lack of her first little one, in a silent beginning. Her husband (Andrew Burnap from the play “The Inheritance,“ which we bear in mind in a fairly terrible position as Snow White’s lover in that horrible remake with horrific Rachel Zigler) receives a telephone name and learns from his estranged mom that his father is dying. After the daddy’s passing, the couple goes to the funeral and will get a deal from the evil mom: to maintain her for a short while, and obtain the inheritance. They agree, however they may quickly remorse it, as there are a number of mysteries in the home and inside the household story. “The Entrance Room“ obtained fairly unfavorable evaluations, and it’s laborious to say that Brandy’s look within the movie is the massive comeback she dreamed of.

Nonetheless, Brandy could also be right here to remain, or to make a comeback to our favourite style. Followers of the collection could also be completely happy to listen to that Brandy has a visitor look within the reboot of “I Know What You Did Final Summer time.“ With out spoilers – primarily as a result of I haven’t seen the movie but – she seems in a short scene through the credit. So far as I perceive, this scene additionally hints at a sequel, and maybe even means that she can have a bigger position in it.

The Horror Life Of Monica

All through her decades-long profession, Monica (who’s a 12 months youthful than Brandy) has additionally tried to show that she is greater than only a duet singer. After her debut album, “Miss Thang,” got here the album “The Boy Is Mine,” which turned a sensation, and “After the Storm”, which obtained platinum album standing. She launched a number of hits, appeared in TV reveals (akin to “Felicity” and “American Desires”), movies (though not many have been notable), actuality reveals (together with “The Voice”), and extra. The majority of her success stays within the subject of music, with greater than 5 million albums offered, together with hits akin to “Why I Love You So A lot”, “Earlier than You Stroll Out Of My Life”, “U Ought to Have Recognized Higher”, and others.

Monica’s private life is sort of turbulent, and it’s unclear whether or not it’s her fault. In 1999, on the top of her profession, she took a break from music attributable to her difficult relationship along with her then-boyfriend, Jarvis Weems. That relationship got here to a very tragic finish in July 2000, when the 2 visited Weems’ brother’s grave, marking the second anniversary of his demise in a automobile accident. In entrance of Monica’s shocked eyes, Weems pulled out a gun and dedicated suicide. She realized (or satisfied herself) that there was nothing she might do, and tried to maneuver on along with her life.

Her relationship with a rapper named C-Homicide was additionally traumatic, when the singer – maybe influenced by his stage identify – was imprisoned in 2003 on homicide costs. She dated one other rapper, obtained again collectively, broke up, and had two kids. She then met an NBA participant named Shannon Brown, and the 2 obtained engaged and married, additionally bringing a daughter into the world. In 2019, they divorced.

Extra Than The Boy From The Boy Is Mine

And what concerning the third rib, Mekhi Phifer? To this present day, he’s an energetic actor, with a number of memorable roles in movie (“8 Mile“ alongside Eminem, “Carmen: A Hip Opera“ alongside Beyoncé, “Honey“ with Jessica Alba, the “Divergent” movies and particularly George Romero’s “Daybreak of the Useless“ in 2024) and on tv (Dr. Greg Pratt in “ER”, “Home of Lies”, “Love, Victor”).

Phifer has demonstrated spectacular talents in these movies, far past the “be good-looking and smile” strategy seen in his early music video.

The Legacy Of The Boy Is Mine remains to be Alive

It’s price noting that, aside from occasional airplay on radio stations, the tune has been given new life on a number of events. It has starred within the soundtracks of a number of movies and tv collection, unsurprisingly from the romantic comedy style: “He’s All That“ (2021) with the recent Addison Rae (“Thanksgiving”), Tanner Buchanan (“Cobra Kai”, “Designated Survivor“ and in addition horror icon Matthew Lillard (“Scream”, “Scooby Doo”, “13 Ghosts”, “5 Nights on the Freddy”) in a supporting position; Judd Apatow’s glorious “Trainwreck” (2015) starring Amy Schumer, Invoice Hader, Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton and others; and naturally musical TV collection, akin to “Glee“ and the fabulous “Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist”, which had a twist with two bosses combating over a genius man, primarily as a result of he has some Excessive-Tech factor.

The one who just lately introduced the tune again to life is none aside from Ariana Grande. Across the similar time that she shone as the nice witch Galinda in “Depraved“ in 2024, she launched “The Boy Is Mine”, a form of reimagination of THAT Brandy and Monica hit. The tune, the third single from her seventh album, options an elaborate video impressed by comedian motion pictures. The plot takes place in a fictional metropolis stricken by a rat infestation. The mayor (Penn Badgley, “Gossip Lady”, “You) decides that the answer is to launch stray cats. Grande performs the Catwoman, who at one level tries to interrupt into the mayor’s condo, seduce him, and inject him with a love potion, or one thing like that – a plan that fails. What’s related is that at the start of the video, we see Grande watching a information report, which describes the rat plague. The information stories are, as you might need guessed, no aside from Brandi and Monica.

Shortly after, the three, particularly Ariana Grande, Brandi, and Monica, launched a joint remix of the tune. Surprisingly, I preferred this model, with Grande’s fingerprint, in addition to the voices of the three that mix splendidly. Should you have been hoping for a visitor look by Phifer to finish the reunion present, chances are you’ll be disillusioned to listen to that this remix solely launched a video that features the lyrics and a few fairly primary animations.

The Boy Is Mine Tour 2025

Lately, Brandi and Monica introduced a joint tour, marking the thirtieth anniversary of “The Boy Is Mine” (or, extra exactly, 27 years, by her calculation). However for some purpose, references to a thirtieth anniversary tour nonetheless seem in varied locations.

The Boy Is Mine tour will begin this October in Cincinnati, Ohio, and can embody a complete of 24 cities throughout the US, akin to New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Houston. We don’t know for 100% who’s on The Boy Is Mine tour, however the information we obtained until now are that the tour will historically function a number of artists, akin to Kelly Rowland, Mooney Lengthy, and the final American Idol winner, Jamal Roberts.

This tour is prone to be an enormous hit, primarily as a result of tune that turned an unprecedented sensation. You possibly can see The Boy Is Mine tour dates and dates, and purchase tickets, right here.

Do you might have any concepts for extra songs with a scary angle that we should always analyze? Be at liberty to ship us your recommendations.