Never Say Never (album)

chronology
Never say never
Brandy studio album
Publication ; (s)	1998
Label (s)	Atlantic Records
Format (s)	CD
Genre (s)	R&B , pop
Title (number)	16
running time	66:30
occupation	Anas Allaf - guitar ; Chuckii Booker - drums ; Nathan East - electric bass ; David Foster - keyboard ; Harvey Mason, Sr. - percussion , keyboard ; Dean Parks - guitar ; Isaac Phillips - guitar ; Michael Thompson - guitar ; Rick Williams - guitar ;
production	Darkchild; Fred Jerkins III; Guy Roche; David Foster;
Studio (s)	The Hit Factory, New York; Darkchild Studios, New Jersey;
May 19, 1998	The Boy Is Mine
July 14, 1998	Top of the World
November 29, 1998	Have you ever?
April 13, 1999	Almost doesn't count
November 28, 1998	U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

Never Say Never ( Engl. For Never Say Never Again ) is the second studio album by American singer Brandy . It includes the hit singles Have You Ever , The Boy Is Mine and Top of the World . The album was released in 1998 and was mainly produced by Darkchild . Never Say Never is the singer's biggest commercial success with around 16 million units sold.

production

After a long break and many soundtracks, Brandy began working on her second album, which was untitled, in 1997. Her father Willie Norwood, Darkchild and Dallas Austin supported her. The reason for the numerous postponements for the release of her second studio album was Brandy's dissatisfaction and skepticism towards the material that was offered to her. In her opinion it was not able to express what the singer wanted to express.

“If I can't feel it, then I won't sing it [...] And many of the songs I heard were not 'me'. I'm not the little girl I was when I made my first record. My voice is a strong instrument now; my vocals come from both my heart and my diaphragm. My heart because I matured in the four years since the last album; I'm more emotionally there. "

"If I can't feel it, then I won't sing it [...] And a lot of the songs I heard were [just] not 'me'. I'm not the little girl I was on my first album. My voice is now a powerful instrument; My voice comes from both my heart and my diaphragm. My heart because I've matured in the four years since the last album; I'm there emotionally "

- Brandy in an interview with Jet Magazine

While Jerkins produced the majority of the album, Guy Roche and David Foster also co-produced. She had also worked with Babyface , Fat Joe , Da Brat and Big Pun , but none of the songs made it onto the album. However, some of these songs were found on the remix EP U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) - The Remix EP . Brandy also claims to have grown musically through producers Rodney Jerkins and David Foster .

"They brought out the best in me, the vocals I didn't know I had."

"You got the best out of me, the vocal abilities that I didn't even know I had"

- Brandy in an interview with Jet Magazine

Publication and criticism

Never Say Never received relatively good reviews. The ballads and the smoky, clear voice of Brandy were praised by critics, and the album was described as a good middle between Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey . Brandy's second album became a worldwide success: Never Say Never debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and at number 2 on the Billboard Top R&B / Hip-Hop album chart, with more than 160,000 units sold in the first week. In the second week, the album sold 153,000 copies and climbed to number 2 on the US charts. While the album reached the top ten in the USA , the Netherlands , Germany , Canada and Denmark , it was an international top twenty success. The record sold around 14 million times worldwide.

Never Say Never has been nominated for five Grammy Awards (Recording of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best Female R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group), won the latter, received numerous Billboard Music Awards and was nominated for several American Music Awards , MTV Awards, and Soul Train Awards . In Germany she was nominated for the high sales of the album and the singles for the ECHO 1999 as best international newcomer. In 1998 she was among the 5 best-selling newcomers from abroad in Germany and, after Janet Jackson, the most commercially successful R&B interpreter of the year.

Track list

Intro
Angel in Disguise (L. Daniels, F. Jenkins III, R. Jerkins , T. Truman)
The Boy Is Mine (featuring Monica ) ( B. Norwood , R. Jerkins, F. Jerkins III)
Learn the Hard Way (B. Norwood, L. Daniels, F. Jenkins III, R. Jerkins)
Almost Doesn't Count (B. Norwood, S. Peiken, G. Roche)
Top of the World (featuring Ma $ e ) (B. Norwood, M. Betha , L.Daniels, Traci Hale, F. Jerkins III, R. Jerkins, Isaac Phillips, Nycolia Turman)
U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) (Bryant, Davied, R. Jerkins, Phillips)
Never Say Never (B. Norwood, LaShawn Daniels, F. Jenkins III, R. Jerkins, J. Tejeda, R. Williams)
Truthfully (Harvey, Mason Jr., Marc Nelson)
Have you ever? (D. Warren)
Put That on Everything (B. Norwood, L. Daniels, F. Jenkins III, R. Jerkins, J. Tejeda)
In the Car Interlude (B. Norwood, F. Jerkins, R. Jerkins, W. Norwood )
Happy (B. Norwood, L. Daniels, F. Jenkins III, R. Jerkins, J. Tejeda)
One Voice (Gordon Chambers, Phil Galdston)
Tomorrow (B. Norwood, R. Jerkins, F. Jerkins III, J. Tejeda, L. Daniels)
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You ( B. Adams , Michael Kamen, R. Lange)

Bonus tracks

The Boy Is Mine (With Out Intro) (Japan Edition)
Have You Ever (Soul Skank Remix)
Top of the World (Boogie Soul Remix)

Songs

Singles

The Boy Is Mine

The Boy Is Mine is thefirst single from the album, writtenby Brandy Norwood, LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins and Fred Jerkins III and released in 1998. It is a duet with the singer Monica and an international success. The song was produced by Darkchild and Dallas Austin . The Boy Is Mine made it to the top 5 in various countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Australia. In the US, the single was number 1 for 13 weeks, and in Canada the song was number 1 for 15 weeks. The song was also 35 Weeks in the French charts. The song was nominated for three Grammys and received one. The single reached double platinum status over two million units sold in the US.

Top of the World

Top of the World is the second single and featured the rapper Ma $ e . Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Traci Hale, Isaac Phillips, Nycolia Turman and Mason Betha wrote the song, it was produced by Darkchild . In the USA the song could not be placed because it was released there as an airplay single. The single reached number 2 in Great Britain and the top 20 in Ireland. It was the most successful song by Ma $ e in Europe. It is also the only song that Ma $ e released as a single with a woman. In addition to the version, Brandy also recorded Part II with Fat Joe and Big Pun , which appeared on Big Pun's 2001 best-of album Endangered Species .

Have you ever?

Have you ever? is the third single and was an international chart success, placed in the top 20 of many states and occupied number 1 in the US and New Zealand charts. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster . Director Kevin Bray, who has worked for Christina Aguilera , Whitney Houston , Jennifer Lopez , Lauryn Hill and De La Soul , directed the video. In a 2005 interview, Brandy said that she was told that the song needed certain " money notes " that would give you number 1 hits. Have you ever? wasreinterpretedby Westlife in 2007.

Almost doesn't count

Almost Doesn't Count , the fourth release, is a mid-tempo ballad written by Shelly Peiken, Guy Roche and produced by Guy Roche. The song was also one of the theme songs for the Diana Ross film Double Platinum . Released in mid-1999, the song was placed in the top twenty in New Zealand, the UK and the United States. The video was again directed by Kevin Bray. A remix produced by DJ Premier appeared on the 1999 EP U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) The Remix EP . In 2000, country singer Mark Wills covered the song on the album Permanently . In 2007 Jermaine Dupri sampled the song for the title Almost Made Ya with LeToya Luckett .

U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) was lastreleased from the albumwith the accompanying remix featuring Da Brat and Shaunta. The title is produced by Rodney Jerkins and written by Brandy Norwood, Rodney Jerkins, Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant and Shawntae Harris. A video was shot with Martin Weizs for the remix and album versions. However, the remix was only included on the EP U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) The Remix EP ,released in 1999. The up-tempo track did not achieve any great chart success, although it contained a second A-side specially adapted to the publication area (in Germany Never Say Never , in New Zealand (Everything I Do) I Do It For You , in the USA U Don't Know Me (Darkchild Remix) ).

Album tracks

Happy

Happy is one of the few up tempo songs on the album and was also included on the soundtrack of the feature film Double Platinum . The music video, a scene from the film, shows Brandy as the fictional singer Kayla Harris and includes a cameo by singer Diana Ross . The track was produced by Rodney Jerkins . On the "In The Car Interlude" the process of creating the song is dealt with.

One Voice

One Voice is a ballad by the American contemporary R&B singer and the official theme song for the 50th anniversary of UNICEF , the United Nations Children's Fund. The pop anthem was written by Gordon Chambers and Phil Galdston. Together with gospel veteran Hezekiah Walker and his Hezekiah Walker Choir , she sang the song live at the 1999 Soul Train Awards .

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You

In 1999 Brandy released a cover version of the Bryan Adams song " (Everything I Do) I Do It for You " as a single on her album Never Say Never . The single, which was released in Oceania, reached number 28 in New Zealand . The song was released there instead of the tracks U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) (North America and British Isles) and Never Say Never (continental Europe). It is the eighth single from the studio album. A version with country singer Faith Hill can be heard on the 1999 live album VH1 Divas .

occupation

Anas Allaf - guitar
Chuckii Booker - drums
Nathan East - bass
David Foster - keyboard
Harvey Mason, Sr. - percussion , keyboard
Dean Parks - guitar
Isaac Phillips - guitar
Michael Thompson - guitar
Rick Williams - guitar

production

Music producers : Paris Davis, Rodney Jerkins, Craig Kallman, Brandy Norwood
Backing vocals: Alex Brown, Bridgette Bryant, Carmen Carter, Nikisha Grierf, Dorian Holley, LaTonya Holman, Richard Jackson, Bobette Jamison-Harrison, Donyle Jones, Vatrina King, James McCrary, Kristle Murden, Willie Norwood, Kayla Parker, Shelly Peiken, Alfie Silas, Meri Thomas, Carmen Twillie, Mervyn Warren, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Yvonne Williams, BeBe Winans , Monalisa Young
Sound engineers: Leslie Brathwaite, Ken Deranteriasian, Felipe Elgueta, Ben Garrison, Brad Gilderman, Jean-Marie Horvat, Mario Lucy, Victor McCoy, Brandy Norwood, Al Schmitt, Rick Sigel, Moana Suchard, Chris Tergesen
Mix : Gerry Brown, Ken Deranteriasian, Brad Gilderman, Mick Guzauski, Dexter Simmons
Mastering: Brian Gardner, Bernie Grundman
Cover : Thomas Bricker

Charts

Land (1998)	Chart placement	Award	Sales
Austria	17th
Germany	10	gold	100,000 +
Switzerland	11
Great Britain	19th	gold	100,000 +
Billboard 200	2	5 × platinum	5,000,000 +
Billboard Top R&B / Hip-Hop Albums	2	5 × platinum	5,000,000 +

Sources: lescharts.com and mariah-charts.com

swell

↑ abc.go.com - Meet the Stars ( Memento from December 13, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
↑ ^a ^b ^c 19-Years-Old Brandy Grows Up With New Album Never Say Never . In: Jet Magazine . Google . June 1, 1998. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
↑ Entertainment Weekly - album review for Never SAY Never
↑ Allmusic - album review for Never SAY Never
↑ Grammy Surge Pushes 'O Brother' To The Top
↑ http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Brandy&titel=Never+Say+Never&cat=a
↑ http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=3709&cat=s
↑ http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/monica_main.htm
↑ http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=3709&cat=s
↑ http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/monica_main.htm
↑ http://www.ascap.com/legislation/galdstontestimony.html ( Memento from March 13, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
↑ ^a ^b ^c "Brandy Outdoes Herself With Multiplatinum Certifications". In: Yahoo! Music. Retrieved July 29, 2007 .
↑ BRANDY - NEVER S A Y NEVER (ALBUM) ( French ) lescharts.com. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
↑ Brandy ( English mariah-charts.com). Retrieved September 14, 2019.

[1] .go.com - Meet the Stars ( Memento from December 13, 2010 in the Internet Archive )

[jet98-2] 19-Years-Old Brandy Grows Up With New Album Never Say Never . In: Jet Magazine . Google . June 1, 1998. Retrieved March 20, 2010.

[3] Entertainment Weekly - album review for Never SAY Never

[4] Allmusic - album review for Never SAY Never

[5] Grammy Surge Pushes 'O Brother' To The Top

[6] ttp://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Brandy&titel=Never+Say+Never&cat=a

[7] ttp://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=3709&cat=s

[8] ttp://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/monica_main.htm

[9] ttp://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=3709&cat=s

[10] ttp://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/monica_main.htm

[11] ttp://www.ascap.com/legislation/galdstontestimony.html ( Memento from March 13, 2006 in the Internet Archive )

[yahoo-12] "Brandy Outdoes Herself With Multiplatinum Certifications". In: Yahoo! Music. Retrieved July 29, 2007 .

[13] BRANDY - NEVER S A Y NEVER (ALBUM) ( French ) lescharts.com. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

[14] Brandy ( English mariah-charts.com). Retrieved September 14, 2019.