Never Say Never - Brandy

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	See op
Disadvantages:	one bad track

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This op not only is looking at Brandy’s album Never Say Never, it also includes general information on her.

So its very very very long!!!!!!

Brandy’s road to fame
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Brandy is a talented actress, singer, dancer and producer. She started her career at the tender age off 14 and is still going strong 8 years after.

The day Brandy was born her mother said to the nurse “you have just given birth to a star” Little did the nurse know that Brandy would become as successful that she is.

Brandy’s school was the very popular U.S “drama” school. Hollywood High. Although some of the people there disagreed with not only her talent but also the way she looks. Brandy recalls that a tutor said to her she would not be called for auditions because she didn’t have the right, pretty face. This devastated brandy and she thought for many years that was why she hadn’t become famous.

Having your first album out at 14 was obviously not young enough for Brandy!

Brandy started off her career as an actress in a U.S comedy “Thea” unfortunately the show was cancelled after the first series.

She went on after to do what she loves, that is singing. Although she was not in the limelight she was content with singing background vocals for the young U.S R’n’B boy band “Immature”.

The time came when Brandy new she wanted to set out on her own, this was in 1994 when she signed a record deal with Atlantic records.
Brandy was so excited with getting the deal, that the time making the album flew by and she was then ready to release her first single, Baby.

Baby was not released in the U.K but was a massive hit in the U.S and set in stone that Brandy was a success. Many singles followed and her success became even more exciting.

She was asked to appear in her own show titled “Moesha” which was about a young woman living in L.A. The show became the highest rated black comedy. Brandy continued her success with the show for several years after. Although the last episode was screened in 2000.

Although she was a success her fans were worried she put her “first love” music on the back burner. Brandy describes that she did try and record but “nothing felt right, and I was worried after such a long absence how people would receive me”

During this time of troubles, Brandy recorded the T.V multi cultural version of Cinderella, where Whitney Houston played her Godmother. The film was a huge success in the U.S and has been shown in the U.K on the Disney channel.

The time had come for Brandy she hired Rodney Jerkins to produce her songs, and instantly it fell into place. The album was a mix of modern R’n’B and hip-hop. The first single from the album, Never Say Never, was the fantastic duet with Monica.

The Boy Is Mine. I don’t think she or anyone knew how successful the single would be. Other singles followed but not with the massive success of The Boy Is Mine.

Brandy then did a tour, she performed all the tracks from her new album, but also a melody of all her old songs from her self titled debut. The one date Brandy did in the UK was at the Royal Albert Hall………..and she bought the house down!!!

Time passed after this and we saw Brandy return to acting, not on the small screen, but the big screen, she starred at Kayla in “I still know what you did last summer” which was a massive box office hit. She also starred alongside Diana Ross in “Double Platinum” a heart-warming drama, where she performs songs from her album “Never Say Never”

In 2002 she returned a married woman, and just recently reviled she is having her first child. Her image has changed the braids that we all love are now gone!!

What about us? Produced by Rodney Jerkins is a great song that suits Brandy to a T! Her album “Full Moon” shows Brandy as a new more mature artist. But still she doesn’t loose her modesty!

Brandy although is a big star still gets very star struck; she doesn’t realised the success she is. I’m sure Brandy will be around for another 22 years.

Never Say Never
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A typical “Brandy” saying, she is always positive and encourages her fans to do their best in whatever they do or want to do.

In 1996 the album Never Say Never was released, it included the hit the Boy Is Mine, and also held many great album tracks. The album has so many singles on it that could have been released.

I still listen to the album now, I don’t think it will ever get old, it is a classic in its early stages.

1) Intro
Includes helicopter sounds in the background, then a hip hop beat enters and Brandy sings the chorus of a featured song on the album, which is also the title track Never Say Never.

2) Angel in Disguise
This song features the R’n’B singer Joe, and it is a fantastic song. The beat and strings really fit in well, it would be a good dance hit. Straight away with the song you can see Brandy’s new style, and she instantly shows off her voice.

10 out of 10

3) The Boy Is Mine (Feat Monica)
Another great song by Rodney Jerkins and co-written by Brandy. The song is unique as it features R’n’B beats with harp. The song and chorus are very catchy and however many times I listen to it I never get fed up with it! It was a big hit in the U.K and U.S and established Brandy in the U.K

10 out of 10

4) Learn The Hard Way
A song that is not one of my fave songs, it again was written by Rodney Jerkins. Although its not one of the songs that stands out it still is very catchy and the chorus is very repetitive and addictive! It is a slower song than the previous two.

8 out of 10

5) Almost Doesn’t Count
This was Brandy’s last release from her second album. I really like this song as it shows Brandy’s low voice, with a slight husk. She sings with a lot of feeling in the song which shines through in her voice. Unfortunately the release was a bit late, maybe if the song would have been released earlier it may have been more popular.

10 out of 10

6) Top Of The World (Feat Mase)
The song that features the once rapper Mase. It was Brandy’s second release and again was a massive hit here and overseas. It is a great Hip Hop song and again is catchy!! The video also is very good, where it features Brandy walking on the sides of buildings!!

10 out of 10

7) U Don’t Know Me (Like You Used To)
This was Brandy’s last released song. When I first got the album, I listened to this song a lot! It has a really great beat and layered vocals, which really suit the song. The song did not do too well, as there were just a few too many releases from the album. However it does not diminish the top ness of the song!!

10 out of 10

8) Never Say Never
The title track from the album. Again it is a song that needs quite a few listens before you like it, but when you do you cant get it out of your head. Not a particularly strong track on the album.

8 out of 10

9) Truthfully
This is the first real slow song on the album and is very romantic. Brandy’s feelings through her voice are really shown through on this track. It is more of a pop song than an R’n’B one. A track that needs a few listens, but when you do you begin to realise the importance of the song.

10 out of 10

10) Have You Ever?
Another personal favourite of mine! It was the third release and is a song that shows Brandy to her full potential. It was written by pop writer Diane Warren (Celine Dion) and is a change for Brandy as it is a straight pop ballad. She handles the change with ease and the song will be remembered as a strong point on the album.

10 out of 10

11) Put That On Everything
This is the one song that I Don’t like on the album. For some reason it doesn’t appeal to me as it seems to have no real structure to it!! It is a slow song with a beat. Its not the singing that puts me off it, just the song!!!

6 out of 10

12) In The Car (Interlude)
Where Brandy gets in her car and rings Rodney Jerkins up on her car phone and she asks him to play her the new track………….

13) Happy
A song, which contains a sample of “It’s Like That” by Run DMC. A great upbeat song that shows off her true potential. It is featured in the film Double Platinum where she performs it on stage. It is a very grand performance with out fits to match!

10 out of 10

14) One Voice
An amazing gospel/pop song which features her father in the choir and also BeBe Winans (a top gospel singer) Brandy leading the choir fits in perfectly and her true singing voice shines on in this song, where she sings from the heart. It is a great song for Brandy as she started off singing in the church.

10 out of 10

15) Tomorrow
I have to say out of all the songs, this is my ultimate favourite, when I first heard the song I was blown away, with the structure and performance of the song by Brandy. It is a strong pop ballad written by Rodney Jerkins, and I am sure that if it would have been released it would have been more than a massive hit!

20000 out of 10

16) (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
A cover of the Brian Adams classic, and I must say Brandy pulls it off better than ok. I saw this sung live and she put all her heart and soul into it, it was amazing. It is a great song to finish the fantastic album.

10 out of 10

Album Booklet
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Features lyrics and track details. I like the books with the lyrics in as I can sing along!!

It also includes pictures of Brandy.

Overall
*****
As you can see by the ratings I really like this album!! It still is played by me now as I like it so much!! I would not only advise the album to R’n’B fans as there are many songs that appeal to everyone.