"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by Dallas Austin, Willie James Baker, and Derrick Simmons for her debut album, Miss Thang (1995), while production was helmed by the former. The song is built around samples of "Bring the Noise" (1987) by American hip hop group Public Enemy, and "Back Seat (Of My Jeep)" (1993) by American rapper LL Cool J, which itself samples elements from the song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" (1973) by R&B vocal group The Detroit Emeralds. Due to the inclusion of the samples, several other writers are credited as songwriters.
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" | ||||
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Single by Monica | ||||
from the album Miss Thang | ||||
Released | April 10, 1995 (1995-04-10) | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 4:18 (album version) | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Dallas Austin | |||
Monica singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" on YouTube | ||||
The song was released as Monica's debut single in early 1995. A major success, it sold 1.2 million copies domestically, going platinum in the United States, where it spent two weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, and peaked at number two for three non consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" also reached the top ten in Australia and New Zealand, where it was certified gold and platinum, respectively. The song, alongside follow-up single "Before You Walk Out of My Life," made Monica the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard R&B chart at the age of fourteen.
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a mid-tempo song lasting four minutes and eighteen seconds, while drawing influence from hip hop and R&B music genres.[1] Written by Dallas Austin, Willie James Baker, Derrick Simmons and herself, and produced by the former, the song samples of "Bring the Noise" (1987) by American hip hop group Public Enemy, and "Back Seat (Of My Jeep)" (1993) by American rapper LL Cool J, which itself samples elements from the song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" (1973) by R&B vocal group The Detroit Emeralds.[2] Due to its sampling, additional writers such as Carl Ridenhour, Hank Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, James Brown, George Clinton, LL Cool J, Quincy Jones III, and Abrim Tilmon, Jr. are credited as songwriters.[2] When asked about the development of the song, Austin elaborated: "When I did [it], I got her. I understood her attitude and I thought 'this is where we have to take her for the records' [...] I then took 'Don't Take It Personal' to play for Clive Davis, and he says, 'Well I don't know… it needs a bridge.' And I said, 'No, it doesn't (because of the style).' And he says, 'I don't understand why [the lyrics] say "Dem Days" instead of "Those Days"' (laughs). But I said 'That's not what we say in the environment. We say it's one of "dem days."'"[1]
Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "There’s very little attitude on this highly warm and accessible track. Technically, this is not an overly impressive single, but that doesn’t matter as most listeners aren’t seeking virtuosity, especially this time of year. With the weather getting warmer, these are the songs fans want—and Monica has delivered with the first hit uf the summer of ’95."[3] James Masterton described it as "a very radio-friendly summer groove"in his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic.[4] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update noted, "The label is a new urban soul offshoot for Arista in New York and Monica is a swing diva who debuts with an earthy two-stepper with 'live crowd' effects accompanying a phat bassline and all the appropriate snare and synth sounds. It's all written by Dallas Austin who warms things up nicely for the upcoming album 'Miss Thang'. The track also contains a evident in the cut, which pumps along nicely."[5]
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" was released as the album's lead single in the United States in early 1995. It sold 1.2 million copies domestically and earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[6][7] It spent two weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and peaked at number two for three non consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top ten of the singles charts in Australia and New Zealand, where it was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and platinum by Recorded Music NZ, and entered the top 20 of the Dutch Single Top 100.[8][9] "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," alongside follow-up single "Before You Walk Out of My Life," would make the singer the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard R&B chart at the age of fourteen.[10]
An accompanying music video for "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)", shot in black-and-white, was directed by Rich Murray.[11] It was sent to video stations like BET and local stations on February 21, 1995.[12] It received nominations for Best R&B/Urban Clip and Best New R&B/Urban Artist Clip at the 1995 Billboard Music Video Awards.[13] The video was later published on Monica's official YouTube channel in September 2010. It has amassed more than 21,2 million views as of September 2021.[14]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Mainstream Radio Version) | 4:05 |
2. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Radio Edit) | 4:20 |
3. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Album Version) | 4:17 |
4. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Instrumental) | 3:58 |
5. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Acappella) | 4:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Radio Edit) | 4:20 |
2. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Album Version) | 4:17 |
3. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Instrumental) | 3:58 |
4. | "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (Acappella) | 4:40 |
Credits lifted from the album's liner notes.[2]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[31] | Gold | 35,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United States (RIAA)[33] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
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United States | April 7, 1995 | Urban contemporary radio | Arista | [12] |
April 25, 1995 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [34] | ||
May 30, 1995 | Contemporary hit radio | [35] | ||
United Kingdom | July 17, 1995 |
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[36] |
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Monica songs | |
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Discography | |
Miss Thang | |
The Boy Is Mine | |
All Eyez on Me | |
After the Storm | |
The Makings of Me | |
Still Standing | |
New Life | |
Code Red | |
Trenches |
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As featured artist |
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Other songs |
Authority control ![]() |
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