Music Review: Brandy
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Music Review: Brandy http://elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle/entertainment/april/brandy.htm Music Review: Brandy Brandy's highly anticipated album, Full Moon, was released on March 5. It sold more than 155,000 copies in the first week, which landed it at the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Because it has been four years since her last album, the success comes as no shock. Considering the popularity of her last album, surely it left her fans wanting more. The recent news of her secret marriage to music producer Robert Smith and surprise pregnancy have also added to the anticipation of this album. Brandy Norwood was born on February 11, 1979, in McComb, Mississippi. At a very young age, she moved to California with her family. She grew up singing in the choir of her father's church and in youth groups. She was drawn to pop music when she heard Whitney Houston on the radio. Darryl Williams signed her to Atlantic in 1993. Before releasing her debut album, she had a role on the short-lived ABC television sitcom, "Thea." On September 27, 1994, she released Brandy. The album's success was due to hits such as "Baby," "I Wanna Be Down," and "Brokenhearted." By the end of the year, it had been certified four times platinum. This album earned her two Billboard Awards and two Soul Train Awards. She won the Best New Artist, R&B and Best R&B Female Billboard Awards. She also won the Soul Train Award for Best New Artist and Best R&B/Soul Artist Female. Brandy received five Soul Train 'Lady of Soul' Awards, also including Best New Artist. This album also gave her the chance to open for Boyz II Men on their North American Tour. This success led to many other projects. One of Brandy's biggest hits was "Sittin' Up In My Room," which was off of the Waiting To Exhale Soundtrack in 1995. The single went platinum and garnered her two Grammy nominations. She also contributed "Missing You" to the Set It Off Soundtrack in 1996. That track also included the talents of Tamia, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan. Instead of going back to the studio, she returned to acting. Later that year, Brandy's sitcom, "Moesha," aired on UPN. She also appeared in the title role of Disney's TV-movie, Cinderella, in 1997. Her biggest inspiration, Whitney Houston, played her fairy godmother. Later that year she headed back into the studio. Never S-A-Y Never was released on June 9, 1998. Its first week sales got it to debut at #3 on the Billboard 200. This was due to the success of the first single, "The Boy Is Mine," a duet with fellow pop star Monica. It immediately became #1 on the charts and was certified two times platinum. The later singles, "Top Of The World," "Have You Ever," "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)," and "Almost Doesn't Count," also became radio hits. Brandy became one of the biggest stars of that year. She had a successful album; she became a Cover Girl spokes model; she had a starring role in I Still Know What You Did Last Year; and she was the executive producer and star of the TV-movie Double Platinum. In November 1999, rumors were spread that she was addicted to diet pills and 1 of 2 6/30/2008 5:04 PM schedule began to slow down. Aside from "Moesha," nothing was Music Review: Brandy seen or heard about Brandy forhttp://elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle/entertainment about two years. /april/brandy.htm In 2001, she returned to the studio to work on her third album. The result was Full Moon. The album is being pushed by the first single, "What About Us." This song was produced by Rodney Jerkins, just as her last album was. It is known for its jerky and digital beat. A couple of the other tracks on this CD are cut from the same beat with just a hint of something different. "I Thought," "All In Me," and "Anybody" sound very much like the first single. The only difference, and my favorite part is when "All In Me" breaks down into a two-step beat. The slower tracks on the album also sound almost identical to each other. This is the problem with using the same producer for eleven of the seventeen tracks on the album. "Like This" and "When You Touch Me" both have a romantic, but slightly dirty sense to them. They remind me of Aaliyah's "Rock The Boat." My favorite slow song on the CD is a cover of P.M. Dawn's "Die Without You," featuring Brandy's younger brother Ray-J. Overall this is a pretty good CD. If you like "What About Us," I can almost guarantee that you will like at least half of the album. Personally, I think Never S-A-Y Never was a little better, but this is a great way to break back into the music scene after four years. 2 of 2 6/30/2008 5:04 PM.