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[valeolion]

Never Say Never: 20 Years After the Release of Brandy?s Successful Sophomore Album
by DIAMOND JONES

Brandy, righteously a.k.a. ?The Vocal Bible,? solidified her spot as a popular figure in 90s pop culture, not only as the spunky, intelligent and independent lead character Moesha Mitchell, in the family sitcom ?Moesha,? but more effectively through her delivery of relatable and rhythmic music.

Her debut album, ?Brandy,? introduced us to the melodic sounds and extravagant use of runs and her head voice. The 15-year-old superstar on the rise, presented those vocal techniques effortlessly, through tracks such as ?I Wanna Be Down,? ?Baby,? and ?Best Friend,? a track dedicated to the close relationship she shares with her baby brother, and also musician, Ray J. The album went to sell over six million copies, worldwide.

In just two days, it?ll be the 20-year mark of one of the singer?s most memorable bodies of work, ?Never Say Never.? This album was a collection of perfectly developed and heartfelt lyricism, and a growing range within Brandy?s voice and maturity.


Brandy in a photoshoot for the Never Say Never era/ Photo by Reisig and Taylor
In it?s first week, ?Never Say Never? sold over 163,000 copies, certifying it as her highest-selling album to date with 16 million sold worldwide, also earning her a Grammy and a no.1 single, which sat pretty for 13 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

For this ?Throwback Thursday,? we?ll be taking it back to the highlights of one the most notable vocalists of our generation?s successful sophomore album, which has left an impact on today?s R&B, and those stepping into the field.

?The Boy is Mine? duet with Monica

Brandy and another one of our favorite R&B songstress, Monica, came head to head in an ode to ?may the best women win,? for the lead single of NSN.

But it wasn?t the conflict or rival that made the song. It was the smooth intersection of these two different, but equally impactful voices coming together to create one of the greatest duets of all time, selling over 2.6 million copies in the U.S., with an iconic 13 weeks at no.1 on the charts.

?Have You Ever?

This beautiful and emotionally gravitated ballad, written by the brilliantly talented songwriter, Diana Warren, was the perfect description of what it felt like to be in love with someone from afar, who had no clue of your heart?s desires.

Brandy?s vocals over the slow jam, poured smooth like butter, and gave personally, one of the best tracks on the album. The video alone, was nominated for Best R&B Video at the 1999 MTV Movie awards, which Lauryn Hill?s ?Doo Wop (That Thing),? ended up taking the win.

?Top of the World? feat. Ma$e

Hip-Hop and R&B meshed together, as Brandy joined forces with Bad Boy rapper Ma$e, in this fun, up tempo vibe.

Produced by Rodney ?Darkchild? Jerkins and Brandy herself, the record brought to the forefront staying true to who you are and where you come from, even when you?re dreams start skyrocketing to bigger heights. It was tracks like these that made fans relate more to a 19-year-old Brandy at the time, and how at the end of the day, she?s just another teenager figuring it all out.

?Almost Doesn?t Count?

Another personal fave, for its simplicity and the singer?s ability to bring a relaxed feel to a complicated situation, ?Almost Doesn?t Count,? reached the top 20 in New Zealand, the UK and the Billboard Hot 100.

The record was also featured and performed by Brandy in the film ?Double Platinum,? accompanied by ?Have You Ever,? and where she shared the screen with legendary disco diva, Diana Ross.

?Angel in Disguise?

Brandy and Joe on the same song? Literal ?music to the ears.?

Although it was just selective background vocals, it was one of the most important parts in the finishing product of this mysterious, techno inspired, and dipped in R&B record.

?Angel in Disguise,? was also Brandy?s first song to chart without being released as an actual single, or having a music video attached.

?(Everything I do) I Do It For You?

Originally performed by multi-talented, Canadian, singer-songwriter, Bryan Adams, and featured on two albums, the soundtrack for the 19991 film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and also Adams? sixth studio album, ?Waking up the Neighbors,? Brandy decided to put her on twist on the 15 million copy sold major hit.

The singer?s cover, produced by David Foster, worked in the root of R&B and soul, as she transitioned the soft rock ballad, into an even sweeter love song.

http://kontrolmag.com/never-say-never-20-years-after-the-release-of-brandys-successful-sophomore-album/

[Purple Moon]

It?s ?unbreak my heart? and not ?unbreak your heart?.

[Young]

Amazing read

Ugh

I wish it was like the 90s all over again

[Young]

 Her influence

This was a good read

[DrewBabyLove]

Icon

[DrewBabyLove]

Haven?t listened to this album in years.

[D.I.E.G.O.]

[D.I.E.G.O.]

All of this homage. Ugh I?d love for #NSN20 to trend and a tribute.

[Harlem]

Brandy bitch today would?ve been a perfect day for a anniversary concert!!!!

[Lazarus]

Every artist has that one album that is career-defining. It?s the album that takes them to another level of creativity that showcases their true star power. For the late Michael Jackson, it was Thriller. For Usher, it was Confessions and for Brandy, it was her sophomore LP, Never Say Never.

Twenty years to the day of its release (June 9, 1998), the impact of Brandy?s magnum opus is felt between the grooves of R&B today. Think the playful vibes of Ella Mai?s ?Boo?d Up,? the vocals of Sevyn Streeter or the storytelling of Jhene Aiko. Before their respective careers, there was Brandy, who possessed all traits and then some.

Her project came four years after her self-titled debut, a notion that would be considered blasphemous today. But Brandy was in no way resting on her laurels. During the 90s and early aughts, Brandy was the R&B ?it girl,? with mainstream appeal. She was the epitome of the ?girl next door,? which was showcased on our television screens every week as she starred on the hit UPN (now CW) sitcom, Moesha.

When Brandy entered the studio in the fall of 1997 to begin recording, she wanted to break away from the songs heard on her debut. But in some ways, the Brandy album has similarities to Never Say Never when it comes to ballads such as ?Brokenhearted? and ?Always On My Mind.? Both records have the then-14-year-old singer crooning about heartbreak and longing, themes she would come to revisit on her sophomore offering.

This time around, things would be different? enter Rodney ?Darkchild? Jerkins. Brandy?s record label connected her with the then-upcoming producer, and the next is R&B music history.

Jerkins, along with his production and songwriting team consisting of brother, Fred Jerkins III, and LaShawn Daniels, gave Brandy a timeless mix of R&B ballads, up-tempo and mid-tempo tracks. He was the mastermind behind Never Say Never?s hit lead single, ?The Boy Is Mine,? a duet with Monica. Playing on the rumors in the press about the two songstresses disliking each other, Jerkins thought it would be cool to put those stories to a song.

It paid off with ?The Boy Is Mine? spending 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and winning both ladies a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. Brandy had officially arrived.

In addition to Never Say Never having commercial appeal with ?The Boy Is Mine,? the album is strong in its R&B roots. ?Angel In Disguise? is arguably one of the best opening tracks on a 90s R&B album. With backing vocals from R&B veteran Joe, the song tells a story of Brandy playing tug of war with her love with him pulling back emotionally. It?s mid-tempo production leaves any listener drenched in all the feelings as Brandy stands her ground in the game of love.

Let?s keep in mind, when Never Say Never is released, Brandy was only 19-years-old. One would never know that seeing as the album?s messages and lyrics appear to be from someone 5 to 10 years older.

Even though there are songs about heartbreak, Brandy is not singing about wallowing in her sorrow. Instead, she?s belting out lyrics about the aftermath of a bad relationship and why she?s already out the door. So, what or who could have possibly inspired her to sing and write (she co-wrote six of the album?s 14 songs) such convincing and realistic songs about love?

Brandy was in an extremely low-key relationship with Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men for two years. You might remember he was featured on the remix to her single, ?Brokenhearted? off her debut album. The singer only recently confirmed their relationship on her April 2012 episode of VH1?s Behind the Music. Many of the songs on Never Say Never were inspired by her and Morris? relationship and subsequent breakup.

One of Never Say Never?s signature tracks, ?Almost Doesn?t Count,? which was released as a single, has some of the album?s most mature lyrics as it describes a lover who just can?t get right in the relationship.

For the song?s chorus, Brandy sings, ?I can?t keep on lovin? you/ One foot outside the door/ I hear a funny hesitation/ Of a heart that?s never really sure/ Can?t keep on tryin?/ If you?re lookin? for more/ Than all that I could give you/ Than what you came here for. On the bridge, she took you to church with, But you can?t get to heaven/ Half off the ground/ Everybody knows/ Almost doesn?t count.?

The maturity didn?t stop at ?Almost Doesn?t Count.? ?Learn the Hard Way? tells an ex-lover goodbye for all the mistreatment, but it?s not just the lyrics which make this song special, it?s the way Brandy delivers them. It?s hard to ignore the soulfulness and sassiness of her voice as she sings, ?Never took the time to think of/ All the love that we have shared/ I realized that most of the time/ You were just not there/ It was hard for me to see when/ When your love was blinding me/ But now I know I have to let you go your separate way.?

The lyrics ring true today as situationships and missteps in young love are becoming more natural by the minute.

When you think of a Brandy ballad, ?Have You Ever? is the obvious song to come to mind. If there?s a list of the best 90s R&B songs about unrequited love, ?Have You Ever? is definitely in the top 10.

Released as Never Say Never?s third single, ?Have You Ever? reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song finds Brandy having more than just a crush on a guy. She?s downright in love and wants to know why he won?t love her back. If you were in middle or high school at the time, ?Have You Ever? was probably the song you kept on repeat to help you cope with the feelings you had about your first crush.

One thing even casual Brandy fans have come to appreciate about the singer is her signature vocal tone and runs. This is mainly heard on the tracks, ?Tomorrow,? ?Truthfully? and the power ballad, ?One Voice.? The latter even became the UNICEF theme song for its 50th anniversary.

So, after all is said and done about Never Say Never, where do we hold it in regard to its impact? It is arguably one of the best R&B albums of the 90s. Speaking of the 90s, what music lovers appreciated most about the coveted decade is the variety of artists we were blessed with. There were a plethora of young female R&B singers at this time, but Brandy?s star power allowed her to transcend genres by transforming her style of R&B into pop music. It also led to her now-classic roles in Rodgers & Hammerstein?s Cinderella with her idol, Whitney Houston and Double Platinum with Diana Ross.

Never Say Never is connected to Brandy?s legacy in ways her other albums are not. It took her music, career and image to the next level while also paving the way for her 2002 follow-up, Full Moon. If released today, Never Say Never would serve as plenty of caption quotes on Instagram and most importantly, continue the blooming progression of R&B.

Either way, the music?s songs and themes still ring true today.

Lengthy but a good read.

[b7]

These write ups have been slaying me omg

[valeolion]

The Relatable Depression of 'Never Say Never'
20 years after its debut, Brandy's sophomore album is still helping me through tough times.

BY IMADE NIBOKUN
JUN 8, 2018


I?ve always felt an overwhelming sense of depression woven between the lyrics and melodies on Brandy Norwood?s sophomore album, "Never Say Never." And that sense ? whether it was a true assessment of Brandy?s emotions or not ? has long been a comfort to me.

I held that feeling close as I wrote the first draft of this essay, freshly readmitted to a psych ward. This was my second time in the same facility, surrounded by the same locked doors, laceless shoes, and disturbing shrieks I told myself I would never witness again.

Psych wards strip you raw, down to your most unsightly element. For me, "raw" was the tank top and basketball shorts I?d attempted suicide in. "Unsightly" were the vomit stains covering my chest. When I was admitted that Friday night, nurses stashed my clothing in a large paper bag along with other personal items. In the light of the next day, I saw who I really was: A patient.

Yet, in that moment, I didn?t feel alone.

My social worker, concerned that I was getting nothing out of group therapy, had me moved into a less restrictive ward where I could access my phone twice a day. One of the first things I did with my new privileges was press play on Brandy?s "Never Say Never" album; I was desperate to escape the confines of my room through music. The moody chords that open the "Intro" greeted me immediately before transitioning into "Angel in Disguise," where Brandy tells the story of losing her lover to another woman.

"I found it quite strange/The way you said her name/And when you look in her eyes/I see the lust you can't deny"

This contemplative grief connected with my own. I?d broken up with my ex-boyfriend over the phone an hour before my suicide attempt. And even before then, I tried to break up with him almost every week of our short-lived relationship. I wasn?t ready to be honest with him about the depths of my depression. And, thus, he could not fully give me everything I would need from him in a relationship; it was unfair to expect someone to fulfill needs that were never communicated.

I needed an outlet for my emotions ? the sort of outlet Brandy had with "Never Say Never." Industry insiders must have known her opening track alluded to the secret demise of Brandy?s relationship with Wanya Morris, the Boyz II Men singer five years her senior ? a great deal of time when you're an (underage) teenage girl. Together, they?d released "Brokenhearted" in 1995 when Brandy was around 15 and Morris was in his early twenties.

Brandy opened up about this relationship on her 2012 VH1 "Behind the Music" episode. "He fell in love with someone else," she said. "It felt like somebody completely taken my heart out of my body and just crushed it."

Just a year after the release of "Never Say Never," Brandy experienced a mental, physical, and emotional crisis that led to her spending two days in a hospital. Brandy later described the forced rest as rejuvenating, while her mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, took public blame for the relationship and its outcome. "I believe that she was in love, for what she knew love to be," Norwood said of her daughter?s feelings for Morris during an interview for Brandy?s Lifetime "Intimate Portrait" episode in 2002. "But she was very young. In terms of having just a full-blown relationship, that was not something her father and I felt that was right for her."

The emotional heaviness of "Never Say Never" remains present in the album?s breakout single, "The Boy Is Mine," or during the tonal shifts of "Happy" and "Top of the World" featuring Ma$e. "Top of the World," with its danceable bassline and lyrical materialism, seems out of place with Brandy?s plea for people to see who she really is. On "Happy," the hook comes across as a wish more than reality:

"You make me happy/You make me feel so good/With the things you do for me"

The raspy edges and smokiness of Brandy?s rich tone can give life to even the most mundane lyrics. But with this ability to emote comes a fortunate weakness: Brandy cannot vocally lie. Despite "Happy," "Never Say Never" sits in contemplative grief. This feels almost palpable in the album?s emotional anchors of "Almost Doesn?t Count," "Have You Ever," and "Put That on Everything." Yet, by the track "Tomorrow," Brandy sounds transformed:

"So long to all my pain/Goodnight to my heartache/Goodbye sorrow/I won't cry no more/I'm leaving tomorrow"

This song, with its sweeping strings and piano melody, may come across as an obligatory closing ballad, but Brandy does not waste a note. The final line, "I?m leaving tomorrow," is both literal and metaphorical. "Tomorrow" can be exactly tomorrow, or that place your mind must get to before you?re finally ready to leave a bad relationship. No matter what time that is, it's a reminder that disconnecting from a relationship that does not positively serve you is possible.

Two weeks after leaving the psych ward, I was full of "Tomorrow"-like self-revelations. My epiphanies, granted from group therapy, deep emotional work, and my access to "Never Say Never," manifested themselves in the form of lengthy texts and phone calls with the same ex-boyfriend. He listened. I spoke. And after many of those one-sided conversations, I learned to let go. My own tomorrow had arrived.

"Never Say Never" taught me that you will have your heart broken by someone, even if that someone is yourself. But you will get through it, and if you?re anything like Brandy, you?ll still look cute while you do it.

Imade Nibokun is a freelance writer and founder of Depressed While Black, an online platform that shares mental health stories through an African-American lens.

https://www.shondaland.com/live/a21088443/the-relatable-depression-of-never-say-never/

[L0NZ.]

ackkkklet me play this

this really is such a sad moody fuckin album

[b7]

Ommmmmmmm
these people are WRITING today huh?

[b7]

Don?t wanna book anyone?s thread without asking. Just the ones with the nice long reads, not Yummy?s