Never Say Never (Brandy album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Never Say Never
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 9, 1998 (1998-06-09)
RecordedMay 1997 – 1998
Studio
Genre
Length66:36
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Brandy chronology
Brandy
(1994)
Never Say Never
(1998)
Full Moon
(2002)
Singles from Never Say Never
  1. "The Boy Is Mine"
    Released: May 4, 1998[2]
  2. "Top of the World"
    Released: July 7, 1998[3]
  3. "Have You Ever?"
    Released: October 6, 1998[4]
  4. "Almost Doesn't Count"
    Released: March 23, 1999[5]
  5. "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)"
    Released: September 14, 1999[6]
  6. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
    Released: November 1999

Never Say Never is the second studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on June 9, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Atlantic consulted David Foster, as well as producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his team to work with Norwood on the record; Jerkins went on to craft the majority of the album and would evolve as Norwood's mentor and head producer on her succeeding projects.[7]

The lyrical themes on the album include the singer's personal experiences with love, monogamy, media bias, and maturity. Influenced by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, Norwood wanted to present a more mature facet of herself with the album, incorporating a ballad-heavy style and an adult contemporary feel into her urban pop sound for the album.[8]

Upon its release, Never Say Never facilitated Norwood in becoming a viable recording artist with media-crossing appeal. It debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 160,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at No. 2 the following week, remaining within the chart's top 20 for 28 weeks.[9] Six of the album's 16 songs were chosen as singles, including duet with Monica "The Boy Is Mine" and "Have You Ever?", which both topped the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as "Top of the World", which become an international hit.

Never Say Never became Norwood's highest-selling and highest-charting album to date in most international markets, being certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and selling over 16 million copies worldwide. It won numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "The Boy Is Mine".[10] The album was supported by the Never Say Never World Tour (1999), which included sold-out shows in North America, Europe, & Asia.

Background and development[edit]

Following the release of her multi-platinum eponymous debut album (1994) and several equally successful soundtrack contributions such as "Sittin' Up in My Room" from Waiting to Exhale (1995) and "Missing You" from Set It Off (1996), Norwood took a lengthy musical break in which she graduated from high school, enrolled in college and established a flourishing acting career.[11][12] In 1995, she was cast in the titular role in the UPN sitcom Moesha,[13] and in the following two years, she appeared opposite her idol Whitney Houston in the musical television film Cinderella (1997) and filmed the slasher film sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).[14][12] While she enjoyed her acting profile accomplishments, Norwood felt that her transition had caused people to recognize her more as an actress than as a singer.[15] At one point she even considered giving up singing to concentrate on acting due to the ever changing music industry and losing her passion for it.[16] According to her, "I think the music industry has changed so much... I don't know how to look at my first video... There was so much happening... And I'd rather go out with the first album, bang, and not have to come back and not be able to do the same thing again.[16] Nevertheless, after Brandy's commercial success, she was heavily pressured, stating: "It's very important to me that my music connects with the general public.[15]

For a while, she placed the recording of the album on the "back burner" because she was "barely satisfied with the material that was presented to her.[11] She found that many songs would not express what she wanted to tell at that point of her career.[11] According to her, "Many of the songs I heard were not 'me'," the singer stated during a promotional interview with Jet in 1999, "And If I can't feel it, then I won't sing it."[11] Also, after Brandy, she felt in a space of wanting to do something different, while exploring her voice and playing with different sounds.[17] Elaborating on her desire for progression and a more mature sound, Norwood added, that "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."[11] She also regained interest with music when she met then upcoming producer Rodney Jerkins and his production team.[16] "They really turned it around. When I met Rodney, his tracks were so mean, so unbelievable, and the writing that Sean and Jaffey did, they came to the table and they really brought a lot of the fill ins that I had inside of me out. They changed my whole perspective on the music thing. When I started to work with them, I wanted to go to the studio every day. I wanted to sing every day. I didn't want to act anymore after that", says Norwood.[16]

Recording and production[edit]

Never Say Never was executive produced by Rodney Jerkins (pictured) and his team.[18]

Production for the album dates back as early as May 1997, during this time MTV News reported that Norwood was "taking up two recording studios in both New York and Los Angeles, and is working on what she hopes will be a fall release".[19] Producers that were slated to work on the album at that point were Sean "Puffy" Combs, Babyface, David Foster, and Keith Crouch.[19] During the early recording stages she recorded a few songs with Puffy but didn't finish them due to their hectic schedules.[20] The plan was for the pair to resume what they had started.[20] According to her: "I'm going to go back in the studio with him. I'm really excited to work with Puffy. I'm more nervous than excited because I'm like the biggest Puffy fan. The last time I worked with Puffy, I couldn't even sing right".[20] Norwood was also planning to record a song with Wyclef Jean, in which she expressed that she had heard that his track was "so hot" and she was "ready to go in there and sing it, master it, get it done, and put it on the album".[20] Rapper and songwriter-producer Missy Elliott was also requested as a producer at one point.[21]

Recording for the album resumed in October 1997, with Norwood confirming that she was "right in the middle" of completing the album.[22] She stated that the material was going to be "sophisticated a little, a little sexy, a little edge, but I'm still gonna be innocent, you know, I still have to give 'em that America's sweetheart thing. I have to do that, can't never get rid of that".[22] The albums mature direction can be attributed to Norwood being influenced by Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Jewel.[22] "I look at all these other female artists that are coming out and who've done so well. I get to see what they're doin' with they self, you know, and the imaging and the songs, and I get to take bits and pieces from everybody and put it into my own style", says Norwood.[22]

Eventually, Rodney Jerkins jumped on board and the pair recorded "The Boy Is Mine"; the sixth track recorded for the album.[22] Norwood stated that the song was not a friendship type of duet, "you've seen friendship duets like Whitney, Cece and different duets. This is Brandy and Monica, like, they're, we're just gettin' it on".[22] Jerkins was brought in when Atlantic Records A&R Paris Davis called him to meet with Norwood at Georgia's, a restaurant in Los Angeles.[23] Accompanied by his brother Fred Jerkins III and songwriter LaShawn Daniels, he ended up completing five songs in five days with her, including “Learn the Hard Way”, “Happy”, “Put That on Everything,” and title track “Never Say Never.”[23] Satisfied with their output, Atlantic Records secured a production deal with Jerkins's team and encouraged them to work on more material for the album.[24] With Jerkins and his team producing the majority on the album, he was eventually promoted to executive producer on the album.[18]

Jerkins and his circle worked excessively on the album, with typical sessions starting in the afternoon and lasting until the early morning hours.[18] Despite the physical distance between the recording studios and Jerkins's native in New Jersey, he brought many of his family and friends to Los Angeles to help work on the album.[18] His brother Fred quit his steady job working at Prudential Insurance Company to work with Norwood on Never Say Never, while his sister Sybil received co-writing credits on the album.[18] Drawing from their own experiences, many titles of Never Say Never were built on a cliché book in the studio.[23] With Jerkins being inspired by the singer/producer partnerships of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson as well as the influence of DeVante Swing on Jodeci's sound, he envisioned a full body of work for Norwood's second album, telling: "I wanted to make records where you fell in love with and heard the journey of the artists from beginning to end. The intro is just as important as the song, the outro is just as important. Once I got Brandy to believe in that vision, then we just locked in."[23]

Apart from Jerkins and Darkchild crew, Norwood also worked with Canadian producer David Foster on the album.[11] Lending a certain level of adult contemporary–pop crossover credibility to the project, he would produce three songs on Never Say Never, including "Have You Ever?," written by his frequent collaborator Diane Warren, the Gordon Chambers-penned "One Voice" and "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," a cover version of Canadian singer Bryan Adams's 1991 song. Initially she was scared to record "huge" Pop ballads because she didn't know if she "could pull it off", however Foster showed her "the insides of doing a pop ballad".[25] Norwood recorded songs multiple times if she wasn't satisfied with them.[22] She stated: "I'll do a song, and then go in my car and listen to someone's CD and if that sounds better than what I did, I'll have to go do it again. Like I listened to number 4 on Mariah's album, I said, "Oh my God, I have to do the slow song again, it has to be just like this, it has to be this type of quality."[22] Ultimately, she credits the chemistry with Jerkins and Foster for her musical growth: "They brought out the best in me, the vocals I didn't know I had," she said.[11] Aside from improving vocally, she further showed musical growth by co-writing and producing songs on the album.[26]

Music and lyrics[edit]

The album's opening track "Angel in Disguise" is a Rodney Jerkins-produced mid-tempo track that features backing vocals by fellow R&B singer Joe.[27] It consists of a "dribbling bass line" that Chuck Taylor of Billboard compared to a "dreamlike, moonlit night".[28] The harmonic background song, created using the so-called multi-track recording, was described as "enchanting" and "seductive".[28] The lyrics of "Angel in Disguise" describe a protagonist who still loves her partner despite his infidelity, with Norwood quoted: "An angel in disguise she was / But somehow you fell for her / Till she broke your heart that day / And left you in the rain / But still I love you".[29] Set as the album's lead single, "The Boy Is Mine" was originally intended to be a solo song for Brandy, but due to Monica's success at the time, it was conceived as a duet. Inspired by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's 1982 duet "The Girl Is Mine", the lyrics of the mid-tempo R&B track revolve around two women fighting over a man.[30] "Learn the Hard Way" is the album's fourth track and shares similarities with the album's title track. The song's background revolves around Norwood telling a man "it's a shame you had to learn the hard way", and the lyrics quote: "You did me wrong / You told me lies / Treated me bad / All of the time." The lyrics also show Norwood does not feel sympathy for him after all he's done. The Guy Roche-produced "Almost Doesn't Count" follows; its lyrics revolve around its writer Shelly Peiken's powerful but unfruitful on-again, off-again relationship she had with a man while in college.[31] Peiken recalled her emotions during a writing session with Roche decades later when she "dug up that laundry list of all the 'almosts' I felt we had, and we put it into the song."[31] In a 2020 interview, she further elaborated about the lyrics: "It was a relationship that was more in my head than in his, and I always felt like we almost got there, he almost said I love you, he almost broke up with the girlfriend he had the whole time. He almost faced his feelings but he never quite got there – maybe that was all in my head too. Maybe he never had any of those feelings, maybe it was all my imagination."[31][32] Brandy performed the song in the 1999 television film Double Platinum, starring Diana Ross and herself. The international single "Top of the World" is the album's sixth track. It is a collaboration with Mase and talks about Brandy as a popstar "just trying to be her" and not feeling like being in her own world.

The Darkchild-produced "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)", which is the album's seventh and final single, is noted for its remix version with Shaunta and Da Brat. The title track, also produced by Rodney Jerkins, is the eighth song of the album. "Truthfully", a ballad about a broken relationship, was written by former Boyz II Men member, singer-songwriter Marc Nelson.[33] Recorded in a single take, it took Nelson five different sessions to get Norwood in the recording studio as she felt initially nervous about working with him.[33] Main production on the song was helmed by Harvey Mason, Jr., who received his first major placement as a producer on "Truthfully".[34] Mason was consulted by Jerkins after he had shopped around several tracks for record executives.[34] The No. 1 single "Have You Ever?" is the album's tenth track. Brandy states that it was the first time she had been in the studio with a producer like David Foster, initially being nervous about recording the song.[35] In the song's lyrics, Norwood sings about unrequited love with lyrics such as "Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to / Only to find that one will not give their heart to you".[36] "Put That on Everything", a mid-tempo ballad, is the album's eleventh track. The album's twelfth track "In the Car Interlude" is actually a phone conversation in the car between Brandy, Rodney and Fred Jerkins. "Happy", an R&B up-tempo song, was the album's thirteenth track. It was also featured in Double Platinum and received positive reception from Rolling Stone.[37] It also served as the theme song of the 2002 MTV reality television series Brandy: Special Delivery. "One Voice", the fourteenth track, was the official UNICEF theme song during its 50th anniversary celebration. Entertainment Weekly describes her voice in the song as "soft and smoky" and as a "gospel-fired ballad that finds her effortlessly raising the roof".[38] "Tomorrow", a nearly six-minutes-long ballad, is the fifteenth track and the album's longest song. The final song on the album is the Bryan Adams cover "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You".

Release and promotion[edit]

Never Say Never was released in the United States on June 9, 1998, by Atlantic Records;[39] its double-disc limited edition was released exclusively in Australia on July 13, 1999.[40] Promotion for Never Say Never began with Brandy's appearance on music magazine Vibe's April 1998 cover, followed by a massive print campaign, including cover shoots for Teen People and Ebony as well as coverage in fanzines.[41] The co-marketing venture between Vibe and Atlantic Records resulted in a number of joint projects, such as a Vibe–Brandy website, a college marketing tour, and several retail and radio promotions.[41] With television channel MTV, Brandy hosted the network's spring break shows in Jamaica on March 13–15.[41]

On May 14, Brandy performed "The Boy Is Mine" for the first time, solo on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[42][43][44] In June, Brandy performed "Top of the World" alongside Mase at the 1998 MTV Movie Awards.[45] On June 13, MTV aired a special in which Brandy presented a video countdown that consisted of her favorite music videos. The following day, MTV produced a 30-minute Ultra Sound segment special about her.[41] On June 16, Brandy appeared on CBS This Morning.[46][47] On July 17, Brandy went on The View ;[48] Three days later, she appeared on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.[49][50] On July 22, Brandy appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[51][52] On August 28, she made yet another appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ; this time performing "Have You Ever".[53][54][55][56] On September 3, Brandy performed the remix version of "Top of the World" alongside rappers Big Pun and Fat Joe at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.[57] Also in September, Brandy and Monica performed "The Boy Is Mine" live for the first time together at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.[58] On September 26, Brandy performed at the Hip-Hop Unity Festival held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[59] On October 11, Brandy performed at the 1998 International Achievement in Arts Awards.[60] Two days later she made an appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.[61]

On January 11, 1999, Brandy and actress Melissa Joan Hart hosted the 1999 American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.[62] During the award ceremony, she performed her song "Have You Ever?".[63] On January 31, Brandy and rapper LL Cool J hosted Miami radio station WEDR's Super Bowl concert, surrounding Super Bowl XXXIII.[64] In March 1999, Brandy joined former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno at the National Museum of Women in the Arts to recognize six young women that were selected for the second annual Volunteerism Awards.[65] On April 13, Brandy performed alongside Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Cher, Chaka Khan, and Faith Hill, among others, at VH1 Divas Live '99.[66] By May 1999, Brandy had embarked on a world tour with shows in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan.[67][68] Also in May, she performed "Almost Doesn't Count" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno[69][70][71] In June, Brandy returned to the US for the North American leg of her tour which was originally scheduled to run from June 18 to August 2.[67] The tour was cut short because she had to film the then-upcoming fifth season of her UPN sitcom Moesha.[68] On September 8, 1999, she performed "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)", on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[72][73][74]

In retail, a Brandy standee was provided to merchants, while the album was made part of "price and positing" programs at all major national accounts and urban indie accounts nationally upon its release.[41] Other marketing items for Never Say Never included a partnering with DC Comics, which created a Brandy comic book in September 1998 for junior high and high school students.[41] Atlantic also discussed plans with Disney for a cross-promotion between the home video version of Cinderella (1997) and the album, as well as the production of a major TV special, involving corporate sponsors.[41]

Singles[edit]

"The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer Monica, was the first song to be lifted from Never Say Never in May 1998. Released to generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, it became the first No. 1 pop record for both artists, both stateside and internationally. In the United States, "The Boy Is Mine" became the best-selling song of the year, spending 13 weeks on top of the US Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1998. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and ranked eighth on Billboard's decade-end chart.[75] Internationally, the single also achieved a strong charting, peaking at No. 1 in Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, while reaching the top five on most of the other charts on which it appeared.[76] "Top of the World" featuring rapper Mase served as the album's second single. The song was less successful around the world, but reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on October 23, 1998.[77]

"Have You Ever?" was released as the album's third single throughout fall 1998. It became the second song from Never Say Never to reach the top position on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the New Zealand Singles Chart, while reaching the top twenty in most English-speaking countries. The ballad garnered a generally mixed reception from critics and was ranked 14th on Billboard's 1999 year-end chart.[78] Midtempo track "Angel in Disguise" featuring prominent backing vocals by singer Joe, was released as a radio single on January 21, 1999, in the United States only. It reached the top twenty on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs based on airplay alone. "Almost Doesn't Count" was released in the second quarter of 1999, serving as the album's fifth single. The ballad reached the top twenty on the majority of all charts it appeared on and was promoted by a performance in the 1999 film Double Platinum, starring Diana Ross and Brandy herself.

"U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" was selected as the album's fifth single and marked the final single to be released from Never Say Never in North America. A minor commercial success, the song reached No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top thirty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In support of the single, a remix version of the track featuring female rappers Shaunta and Da Brat was released, accompanied by a remix EP entitled U Don't Know Me... Like U Used To – The Remix EP. In German-speaking Europe, "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" appeared as a B-side on the promotional single "Never Say Never". It failed to chart, however.[79] In Oceania, the Bryan Adams cover "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" was released as the album's sixth single instead. It reached No. 28 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[80]
BBC Music(positive)[81]
Entertainment WeeklyB[8]
The Independent(mixed)[1]
Los Angeles Times[82]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[83]
Rolling Stone[84]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[85]
The Spokesman-Review(positive)[86]
Q[87]

Never Say Never received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars and noted it a "better, more adventurous record than her debut," adding: "Brandy wisely decides to find a middle ground between Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige — it's adult contemporary with a slight streetwise edge. [Her] delivery has improved and her subdued vocals can make mediocre material sound convincing. Still, what makes Never Say Never a winning record is the quality songs and production."[80] Daryl Easlea from BBC Music felt that the collection of smooth, mid-paced jams provided a snapshot of commercial R&B from the era. He described Never Say Never "as the epitome of a mixed bag. However, given that a lot of R&B in the late 90s sounds like an ornate musical box revolving, the album is an intelligent brew that deviates sufficiently from that template and plays to Brandy and executive producer Rodney Jerkins's considerable strengths."[81]

Paul Verna from Billboard gave the album a mixed review. Verna felt that Brandy showed maturity and confidence on songs like "The Boy Is Mine"; yet the album as a whole was filled with “trend-conscious moves” from guest raps from Mase to “sound alike melodies ” similar to Janet Jackson. Overall, he expressed that Brandy should focus more on developing her own artistry opposed to imitating other artists.[88] The Spokesman-Review critic Richard Harrington was positive with the album, writing: "Brandy is co-writer on six of the album's 16 songs and no matter their achievement lyrically, she finds herself grown-up and confident, without taking any false steps."[86]

Rolling Stone magazine was generally positive with the album, giving it three stars out of five stars rating, and wrote: "Brandy exudes more pizazz than the Hanson brothers combined and bursts with enough naive charm to make Jewel look like a jaded sailor. Her second album bubbles with that same effervescence [...]."[84] J. D. Considine, reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, felt that Norwood's voice was lacking passion on the album.[8] Although he indicated that it was "hard to argue with Brandy's deference to the rhythm, especially when she rides one of producer Rodney Jerkins itchily propulsive tracks," he also noted that it was flattening "its emotional range, until the romantic bliss of "Happy," the dogged determination of "Never Say Never," and the conflicted affection of "Angel in Disguise" all end up sounding pretty much the same."[8] He gave the album a B rating.[8] Angela Lewis, writer for The Independent was disappointed with the album, saying: "This is pop R&B without the soul, and could see Brandy without a future in the adult big league. She lacks real command of tracks like "Have You Ever?", showing she's better at playing by the rules than anything else."[1] In his Consumer Guide, Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honorable mention and picked out its three songs ("The Boy Is Mine", "U Don't Know Me" and "Almost Doesn't Count") while describing Brandy as "America's sweetheart, and why not?"[83] Music Week stated that due to her past success Brandy will have "little trouble storming the UK charts with this second album" and that she "displays a maturity beyond her years."[89]

Accolades[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1998 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year "The Boy Is Mine" Nominated
Best R&B Video Nominated
1998 Billboard Music Video Awards Best R&B/Urban Clip Won
1999 Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Best R&B Song Nominated
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Won
Best R&B Album Never Say Never Nominated
1999 Echo Awards Newcomer of the year, International Nominated
1999 Soul Train Music Awards Best Female R&B/Soul Album, Female Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo "The Boy Is Mine" Nominated
1999 MTV Video Music Awards Best R&B Video "Have You Ever?" Nominated
2000 Grammy Awards Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Almost Doesn't Count" Nominated

Commercial performance[edit]

Never Say Never debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 for the week of June 16, 1998,[9] selling 160,000 units in its first week–Norwood's largest first-week sales.[9] The following week, the album managed to climb up to its peak position at No. 2, even though its sales had dipped slightly to 152,000 copies.[9] On the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart the album debuted and peaked at No. 2; where it charted for 68 consecutive weeks.[97] By its 14th week on the Billboard 200 chart, Never Say Never had sold 1.4 million copies.[98] By December 1998, Never Say Never sold 2.6 million copies in the United States.[99] In January 1999 the album was ranked as the 13th best-selling album of 1998 with total sales at 2.9 million.[100] The following year in January 2000, the album was the 62nd best-selling album of 1999 selling 1.3 million copies during that year.[101] In March 2002 sales for the album stood at over 4.4 million copies sold.[9] In February 2003 the album sold an additional 665,000 copies through BMG Music Club.[102] By June 2004 Never Say Never sold 4.5 million copies.[103] In total it has spent 72 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200—28 of which were within the top 20—and as of 2012, the album has sold 4.6 million copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan.[104] In December 1999, the album was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for five million shipped units.[105]

In Canada Never Say Never debuted on RPM' s Top Albums/CDs chart at No. 3 on the issue dated June 29, 1998.[106] The album remained at No. 3 for two additional weeks on the weeks ending on July 6 and July 13, 1998.[107][108] Overall, the album has spent a total of 54 consecutive weeks on the Top Albums/CDs chart.[109] On August 27, 1999, the album was certified Quadruple platinum by Music Canada for denoting shipments of 400,000 units.[110] In the UK the album debuted at No. 21 on the UK Albums Chart on June 14, 1998.[111] In its tenth week, the album climbed to a new peak of No. 19.[111] The album went on to sell 260,000 copies in the United Kingdom,[112] and was eventually certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments of 300,000 copies.[77] By May 1999, Never Say Never had sold seven million copies worldwide, according to Billboard.[113][114] To date, the album remains Norwood's biggest-selling effort with worldwide sales in excess of 16 million copies.[115]

Impact and legacy[edit]

While her debut album had been a major success in the United States, Never Say Never was credited with Norwood's international breakthrough and facilitated her in becoming a viable recording artist with media–crossing appeal in music, film, and television.[116] Claire Lobenfeld from Fact found that while "Brandy's self-titled debut was sweet and flirty, its follow-up separated her from being just a pop singer with an accelerating star to one with something to say."[117] HipHopDX's Aaron McKrell remarked that "Brandy's newfound maturity was reflected in her music, and audiences and critics alike raved about the pop-tinged R&B that permeated the album,"[118] with Lela Olds, writing for The Boombox, further reporting that she "grew confident as both an artist and a young woman on Never Say Never, creating an album that showed both personal and vocal growth."[116] Never Say Never is Norwood's most successful album to date, with worldwide sales of 14 million records, including singles and album copies.[116] One of the biggest-selling album of the year for WEA Music, Billboard ranked Never Say Never among the most successful comeback albums of 1998.[119]

Musically, Never Say Never blueprinted Norwood's signature "silky, smooth sound" which would also dominate on following projects.[120] In a 2018 anniversary retrospective, Vibe editor Brittney Fennell declared Never Say Never as Norwood's "career-defining magnum opus." She felt that "it is arguably one of the best R&B albums of the 90s [...] 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."[121] In a similar article, Da’Shan Smith from Revolt noted that while the album "had an electric sensibility directed towards the approaching new millennium, they helped finalize the standard for what a pop&B diva's midtempos and ballads should consist of [...] Looking back at Never Say Never, one could argue that Brandy remodeled the construct of a teen-star-pushing-20."[120] Critics noted that her ability to grow musically while simultaneously balancing life as an actress served as role model material for other teen singers such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera who had upcoming studio debuts.[120] In fact, both Spears and Aguilera referred to Norwood and Never Say Never, as one of their influences during the recording sessions for their debut albums.[122][123]

Aside from boosting Norwood's own success, Never Say Never became instrumental in promoting the careers of many from those involved in the making of the album who were relatively unknown prior to its release, notably chief producer Rodney Jerkins, his brother Fred and songwriter LaShawn Daniels.[124] The trio would go on to work with industry veterans such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Toni Braxton as well as upcoming performers such as Jennifer Lopez and Destiny's Child, while reteaming with Norwood – to varying commercial and critical success – on her third and fifth studio albums Full Moon (2002) and Human (2008).[124] Norwood herself commented in a 2018 interview with music website Okayplayer: "Never Say Never changed the course of my life. I found one of the best producers [Rodney Jerkins] in the world to help me find my new sound. I was so free to try things vocally and the Darkchild team gave me their best work and sweet support."[125] In 2020, she ranked the album among her three favorite releases.[126]

Track listing[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Never Say Never.[127]

Never Say Never – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  0:49
2."Angel in Disguise"R. Jerkins4:48
3."The Boy Is Mine" (duet with Monica)
4:55
4."Learn the Hard Way"
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Daniels
  • Sybil Jerkins Cherry
  • Rick Williams
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
4:51
5."Almost Doesn't Count"
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Roche
3:37
6."Top of the World" (featuring Mase)
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
4:41
7."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)"
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • Sean Bryant
  • Paris Davis
  • Phillips
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
4:28
8."Never Say Never"
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
  • Daniels
  • Tejeda
  • Williams
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
5:10
9."Truthfully"
  • Gilderman
  • R. Jerkins
  • Mason, Jr.
  • Nelson
4:58
10."Have You Ever?"David Foster4:32
11."Put That on Everything"
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Daniels
  • Tejeda
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Norwood[a]
4:51
12."In the Car Interlude" R. Jerkins1:10
13."Happy"
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Tejeda
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
4:06
14."One Voice"
Foster4:08
15."Tomorrow"
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Daniels
  • Tejeda
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Norwood[a]
5:21
16."(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"Foster4:10
Total length:66:36
Never Say Never – Japanese edition (bonus track)[128]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."The Boy Is Mine" (Radio edit without intro) (duet with Monica)
  • Norwood
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Daniels
  • Japhe Tejeda
  • R. Jerkins
  • Austin
  • Norwood
4:01
Total length:70:37
Never Say Never – Australian limited edition (bonus disc)[40]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Have You Ever" (Soul Skank Remix)Warren
  • Foster
  • Soul Inside Productions 98[a]
3:59
2."Top of the World" (Boogiesoul Remix Radio Edit)
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins III
  • Betha
  • Daniels
  • Phillips
  • Turman
  • R. Jerkins
  • Norwood[a]
  • Boogieman[a]
3:53
Total length:7:52

Notes

  • ^[a] denotes additional producer

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Never Say Never.[129]

  • Anas Allaf – guitar
  • Monica Arnold – lead vocals, backing vocals[a]
  • Tom Bender – mixing assistance
  • Chuckii Booker – drums
  • Leslie Brathwaite – engineer
  • Thomas Bricker – art director
  • Alex Brown – backing vocals
  • Gerry Brown – mixing
  • Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals
  • Carmen Carter – backing vocals
  • Paris Davis – executive producer
  • Ken Deranteriasian – engineer, mixing
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Felipe Elgueta – engineer
  • David Foster – keyboard
  • Brian Gardner – mastering
  • Ben Garrison – engineer
  • Brad Gilderman – engineer, mixing
  • Nikisha Grierf – backing vocals
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing
  • Dorian Holley – backing vocals
  • LaTonya Holman – backing vocals
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – engineer
  • Richard Jackson – backing vocals
  • Bobette Jamison-Harrison – backing vocals
  • Rodney Jerkins – executive producer
  • Donyle Jones – backing vocals
  • Craig Kallman – executive producer
  • Vatrena King – backing vocals
  • Mario Lucy – engineer
  • Carlton Lynn – assistant engineer
  • Harvey Mason, Jr. – keyboard
  • Harvey Mason, Sr. – percussion
  • Victor McCoy – engineer, assistant engineer
  • James McCrary – backing vocals
  • Kristle Murden – backing vocals
  • Brandy Norwood – lead vocals, backing vocals, executive producer, engineer
  • Willie Norwood – backing vocals
  • Kayla Parker – backing vocals
  • Dean Parks – guitar
  • Shelly Peiken – backing vocals
  • Isaac Phillips – guitar
  • Al Schmitt – engineer
  • Rick Sigel – engineer
  • Alfie Silas – backing vocals
  • Dexter Simmons – mixing
  • Moana Suchard – engineer, assistant engineer
  • Chris Tergesen – engineer
  • Joseph Thomas – backing vocals
  • Meri Thomas – backing vocals
  • Greg Thompson – assistant engineer
  • Michael Thompson – guitar
  • Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
  • Mervyn Warren – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters – backing vocals
  • Oren Waters – backing vocals
  • Rick Williams – guitar
  • Yvonne Williams – backing vocals
  • BeBe Winans – backing vocals
  • Monalisa Young – backing vocals

Charts[edit]

Certifications and sales[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[161] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[162] 4× Platinum 400,000^
France (SNEP)[163] Gold 100,000*
Ghana 3,000[164]
Japan (RIAJ)[165] Platinum 200,000^
Kenya 6,500[164]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[166] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[167] Platinum 300,000*
United States (RIAA)[168] 5× Platinum 4,600,000[104]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for Never Say Never
Region Date Edition(s) Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France June 4, 1998 Standard CD Warner Music
Germany June 8, 1998
United Kingdom Atlantic
Canada June 9, 1998 Warner Music
United States Atlantic
Japan June 15, 1998 East West
Australia July 13, 1999 Limited Double CD Warner Music

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Monica was co-credited as a lead artist on "The Boy Is Mine"; the song was also included on her second studio album of the same title (1998).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Lewis, Angela (1998-06-13). "Music: Album Reviews". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Samuels, Anita (June 20, 1998). "Sharing a Hit Duet, Arista's Monica Finds Her Own Voice on 'Boy'". Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1255. July 3, 1998. p. 48. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "New Releases / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1268. October 2, 1998. pp. 44, 49, 56.
  5. ^ "New Releases / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1291. March 19, 1999. pp. 44, 49.
  6. ^ "Going for Adds / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1316. September 10, 1999. pp. 54, 60, 67.
  7. ^ Odum, Shanel (2008-12-01). "Girl, Interrupted". VIBE. Retrieved 2010-07-20.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b c d e Considine, J.D. (1998-06-12). "Never Say Never Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2016-05-01. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e Basham, David (2002-03-14). "Got Charts? The Long Road To #1 — And Those Who Rocked It". MTV. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  10. ^ Coker, Cheo Hodari (2004-07-01). "Not That Innocent". VIBE. Retrieved 2010-07-20.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "19-Years-Old Brandy Grows Up With New Album". Jet. 1998-06-01. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
  12. ^ a b Millner, Denene (July 5, 1998). "'Brandy Pours it On A Veteran Superstar At 19, She's Going For The Record Again With 'Never Say Never". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Schaffstall, Katherine (2017-03-11). "'Moesha' Stars Have Emotional Reunion, Talk Potential Reboot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  14. ^ "Whitney Houston and Brandy Star in TV Movie 'Cinderella'"Jet, November 3, 1997, pp. 44–47
  15. ^ a b Samules, Anita M. (1998-04-25). "Brandy Returns to Music". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  16. ^ a b c d MTV News Staff. "Brandy Gets Real". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Burris, Asia (2016-02-02). "Interview: Brandy Discusses Early Beginnings At The Forefront of R&B". SaintHeron.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  18. ^ a b c d e Jerkins, Morgan (May 30, 2018). "How Brandy and 1998 Changed Everything for My Family". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  19. ^ a b MTV News Staff (May 21, 1997). "Janet Jackson, Brandy Back To Work In Studio". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d MTV News Staff. "Brandy Gets Real". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Good, Karen R. (October 1997). "Play Missy For Me". Spin. Vol. 13, no. 7. p. 108.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h MTV News Staff (October 10, 1997). "Brandy Back In The Studio". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d "Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Interview: A Reflection on the Production of Legendary Songs". youknowigotsoul.com. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  24. ^ Tanzer, Myles (July 19, 2018). "When Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" Ran the world". The Fader. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  25. ^ MTV News Staff. "Brandy Gets Real". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  26. ^ Samuels, Anita M. "Brandy Returns To Music". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 17. p. 87. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  27. ^ Nathan, David; Rizik, Chris (8 May 2007). "Brandy Discography". Soultracks.com. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  28. ^ a b Taylor, Chuck (January 30, 1999). "Reviews & Previews - Singles". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. p. 23.
  29. ^ Anon. (n.d.). "Brandy – Angel in Disguise Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  30. ^ Adams, Cameron (June 19, 2008). "We Assess The Best, and Worst, All-Time Musical Duets". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  31. ^ a b c Wiser, Carl. "Songwriter Interviews: Shelly Peiken". songfacts.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  32. ^ Peiken 2016
  33. ^ a b "YouKnowIGotSoul Interview With Marc Nelson". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  34. ^ a b "Interview: An "Underdog" in Name Only, Harvey Mason Jr. Has Grown Into One of R&B's Elite Producers". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  35. ^ Nathan, David; Rizik, Chris (8 May 2007). "Brandy Biography – The Best of Brandy". Soultracks.com. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  36. ^ Anon. (n.d.). "Brandy – Have You Ever? Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  37. ^ Brandy: Never Say Never : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone
  38. ^ "Music Review: Never Say Never, by Ian McLagan & the Bump Band". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  39. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (June 9, 1998). "Never Say Never – Brandy". AllMusic. Alliance Entertainment Corporation. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  40. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 13, 1999). "Never Say Never [Bonus CD] – Brandy". AllMusic. Alliance Entertainment Corporation. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g "Brandy Returns To Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. April 25, 1998. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  42. ^ "The Tonight Show". The Morning Call. May 14, 1998. p. 62. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Brandy - "The Boy Is Mine" (Solo) Live (1998)". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  44. ^ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Getty Images. May 14, 1998. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  45. ^ "MASE DUETS WITH BRANDY, FORMS RECORD LABEL". MTV news. June 3, 1998. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  46. ^ "This Morning". The Baltimore Sun. June 16, 1998. p. 60. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Brandy on "CBS This Morning" (1998)". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ "The View". Longview Daily News. July 17, 1998. p. 110. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Live - Regis & Kathie Lee". Santa Cruz Sentinel. July 20, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "Brandy & Monica on "Regis & Kathie Lee". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  51. ^ "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Arizona Republic. July 22, 1998. p. 67. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Brandy on "Conan O'Brien" (1998)". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  53. ^ "The Tonight Show". El Paso Times. August 28, 1998. p. 32. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "Brandy - Have you ever? (Live)". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  55. ^ "Brandy on "Jay Leno" (1998)". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  56. ^ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Getty Images. August 28, 1998. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  57. ^ "DESTINY'S CHILD, ERYKAH BADU, MARY J. BLIGE AND LIL' KIM BIG WINNERS AT LADY OF SOUL AWARDS". MTV news. September 4, 1998. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  58. ^ "BEN STILLER TO HOST VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS FEATURING BACKSTREET BOYS, BEASTIES, BRANDY AND MONICA". MTV news. August 12, 1998. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  59. ^ "BRANDY, WARREN G, DEF SQUAD, ICE-T ON BOARD FOR HIP-HOP UNITY FESTIVAL". MTV news. September 9, 1998. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  60. ^ "BRANDY, MONICA TO PERFORM AT BENEFIT". MTV news. September 23, 1998. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  61. ^ "Rosie O'Donnell". Wisconsin State Journal. October 13, 1998. p. 19. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Will Smith Wins 3 Music Awards". The Washington Post. January 12, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  63. ^ "Brandy Have You Ever Live AMA 1999". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  64. ^ "JAY-Z, METHOD MAN, BRANDY, FOXY BROWN TO TEAM UP FOR SUPER BOWL SHOW". MTV news. January 19, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  65. ^ "BRANDY GOES TO WASHINGTON TO PRESENT VOLUNTEER AWARDS". MTV news. March 15, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  66. ^ "BRANDY TO JOIN VH1'S DIVAS". MTV news. March 26, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  67. ^ a b "BRANDY SETS DATES FOR SUMMER TOUR WITH TYRESE, C-NOTE". MTV news. April 27, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  68. ^ a b "BRANDY CUTS SHORT AMERICAN TOUR TO MAKE TV RETURN". MTV news. June 15, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  69. ^ "Live - Regis & Kathie Lee". News-Press. May 13, 1999. p. 43. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "Brandy - Almost Doesn't Count (Jay Leno Show Live) HD". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  71. ^ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Getty Images. May 13, 1999. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  72. ^ "Tonight Show". News-Press. September 8, 1999. p. 47. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ ""You Don't Know Me"-Brandy". Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  74. ^ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Getty Images. September 8, 1999. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  75. ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  76. ^ Farber, Jim (2002-02-06). "At Age 21, The N.J.-based Producer Is King of His World". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  77. ^ a b "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  78. ^ "Billboard Top 100–1999". Archived from the original on 2006-11-10. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  79. ^ "Brandy (2)– Never Say Never". Discogs. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  80. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Never Say Never - Brandy | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  81. ^ a b Easlea, Daryl (2009-11-10). "The Epitome Of A Mixed Bag". BBC Music. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  82. ^ "Top Pop Albums". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1998. Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  83. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "CG: Brandy". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  84. ^ a b Ali, Lorraine (1998-06-18). "Brandy: Never Say Never : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  85. ^ Brackett & Hoard 2004, p. 103
  86. ^ a b Harrington, Richard (June 21, 1998). "Brandy's Talent Showcased On New Never Say Never". The Spokesman-Review. p. 64. Retrieved May 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  87. ^ Steele, Sam (September 1998). "Brandy – Never Say Never". Q (144): 95.
  88. ^ Verna, Paul (June 13, 1998). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 22. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  89. ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. May 30, 1998. p. 27. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  90. ^ "1998 MTV Video Music Awards - Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 1998 MTV VMAs". MTV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2023. click on the winners tab for the list of winners/nominees.
  91. ^ Hay, Carla (November 21, 1998). "Marilyn Manson, 'Nsync Lead Billboard Music Video Awards". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 47. p. 88. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  92. ^ "Brandy". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  93. ^ "Nominees and winners ECHO [Search]" (To access, enter the search parameter "Brandy") (in German). Echo Music Prize. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  94. ^ MTV News Staff (February 18, 1999). "Lauryn Hill Leads Nominees For 1999 Soul Train Music Awards". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  95. ^ Hay, Carla (August 7, 1999). "Retail:MTV Awards Will Boost Martin". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 32. p. 73. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  96. ^ "42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations". CNN. January 4, 2000. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  97. ^ "Brandy- Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  98. ^ "Brandy And Monica 'Held Hands And Prayed Together'". Yahoo! Music. 16 September 1998. Archived from the original on 2005-09-23. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  99. ^ Samuels, Anita M. (December 26, 1998). "Comebacks, Rap Smashes Spark R&B". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  100. ^ Billboard Jan 30, 1999, p. 75, at Google Books
  101. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 4. BPI Communications Inc. January 22, 2000. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  102. ^ "Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Emimen And Janet Top All Time Sellers". Mi2N.com. February 18, 2003. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  103. ^ "Brandy's Return Burns With Desire". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 26, 2004. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  104. ^ a b "Brandy: Why Her Past, and Comeback, Are So Important". Billboard.
  105. ^ "RIAA > Gold & Platinum Search". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  106. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 14 (13) Jun 29, 1998". RPM. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  107. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 15 Jul 06, 1998". RPM. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  108. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 15a Jul 13, 1998". RPM. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  109. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 69, No. 10 Jun 28, 1999". RPM. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  110. ^ "Gold/Platinum - Music Canada". Music Canada. August 27, 1999. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  111. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100 (14 June 1998 – 20 June 1998)". Official Charts Company. 1998-06-14. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  112. ^ "Chart Commentary > Albums Factfile" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved June 10, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  113. ^ "Our Diva Is America's Cover Girl". Billboard. May 29, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  114. ^ "EMusic Buys Blues/R&B Masters". Billboard. July 19, 1999. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  115. ^ "Michael Bolton Demands Apology from Bruno Tonioli". ABC News.
  116. ^ a b c Olds, Lela (June 8, 2018). "How Brandy's 'Never Say Never' Invented 'The Vocal Bible'". The Boombox. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  117. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (December 20, 2017). "22 incredible albums turning 20 in 2018". Fact. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  118. ^ McKrell, Aaron (January 6, 2018). "The China Anniversary: 18 Great Hip Hop & R&B Albums That Turn 20 In 2018". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  119. ^ Variety Staff (2020-07-28). "Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith Hitmaker Rodney Jerkins Sells Catalog to Hipgnosis Songs". Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  120. ^ a b c Smith, Da’Shan (June 8, 2018). "Revisiting Brandy's 'Never Say Never' 20 years later". revolt.tv. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  121. ^ Fennell, Brittney (June 9, 2018). "How Brandy's 'Never Say Never' Solidified Her Place In R&B". Vibe. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  122. ^ "Britney Spears 1998 first interview". YouTube. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  123. ^ Loyola University Film and Music Industry Studies (3 May 2016). "Film & Music Industry Forum – Ron Harris 3-7-16" – via YouTube.
  124. ^ a b Payton, Sarah (May 30, 2018). "How Brandy and 1998 Changed Everything for My Family". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  125. ^ Hunter, Samantha (July 29, 2018). "Brandy Talks 20 Years of 'Never Say Never,' Social Media & Her Upcoming Album". okayplayer.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  126. ^ "Exclusive: Brandy Talks Comeback Album, 'Moesha' Reboot, Biopic, & Much More!". thatgrapejuice.net. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  127. ^ Never Say Never (Media notes). Brandy Norwood. Atlantic Records. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  128. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 11, 2000). "Never Say Never [Japan Bonus Tracks] – Brandy". AllMusic. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  129. ^ Never Say Never (CD liner). Brandy. Atlantic Records. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  130. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  131. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  132. ^ a b "Ultratop.be – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  133. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7900". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  134. ^ "Top 10 R&B Albums". The Gazette. June 18, 1998. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
  135. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  136. ^ "Euro Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. August 22, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  137. ^ "Lescharts.com – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  138. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  139. ^ "Brandy | Oricon News". Oricon. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  140. ^ "Charts.nz – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  141. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  142. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  143. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  144. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Brandy – Never Say Never". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  145. ^ "Brandy | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  146. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  147. ^ "Brandy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  148. ^ "Brandy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  149. ^ "RPM's Top 100 CDs of '98". RPM. Vol. 68, no. 12. 14 December 1998. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  150. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  151. ^ "Euro Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. December 19, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  152. ^ "Classement Albums – année 1998" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  153. ^ "1998 Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  154. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  155. ^ "Billboard 200: Year End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2017-11-11.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  156. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  157. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  158. ^ "1999 Year-End Chart – Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2013.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  159. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1999". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  160. ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  161. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  162. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never". Music Canada. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  163. ^ "French album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  164. ^ a b Gorman, Paul (March 1, 1999). "Africa: A law unto itself". One to One. p. 73. Retrieved March 1, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  165. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1999年02月 on the drop-down menu
  166. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never". Recorded Music NZ. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  167. ^ "British album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never". British Phonographic Industry.
  168. ^ "American album certifications – Brandy – Never Say Never". Recording Industry Association of America.
  169. ^ Anon. (n.d.). "Never Say Never by Brandy (1998) Audio CD" (in French). France: Amazon Music. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  170. ^ "Releases For 8 June — 14 June, 1998" (PDF). Music Week. June 6, 1998. p. 24. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  171. ^ "Album Releases: June 1998". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 5, 2003. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  172. ^ Anon. (n.d.). "ブランディーのアルバム売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Japan: Oricon. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2018.

Bibliography[edit]