But Google the Song/Record of The Year winner for 96-97.
You learn something new every day on this forum... I only knew of the Slowhand version But I assume that it's one of the other singles from that album?
Anywho, great to see Toni in! There's a 10 or two in there with her song... Now let's put Vanessa's "Running Back to You" in this so that I can do some cartwheels a la Dutchess
EDIT: Oh, and was I the only one at least low-key hoping for "A Change Would Do You Good"? Probably...
Right out of other 80s girls and into other 90s girls like that I see
So many great songs already. Alanis, Sarah, Jewel, Sheryl, it's like a 90s white girl's paradise This rate is going to be so hard to go through though. I'm not ready for some of these classics to be sabotaged
It may be hard to believe, in these days of Viners and Disney/Nick girls immediately getting record deals, but teenagers did not really have a voice in popular music thirty years ago. Tiffany and Debbie Gibson broke the doors open a little bit, and R&B chanteuses Tracie Spencer and Shanice dug in a little further, but it wasn't until the arrival of three young girls onto the R&B scene that the message was clear: teens had a place at the table.
The first one to hit? Brandy. Ms. Norwood, born in Mississippi, but raised in Oakland, California, began singing in church at a young age. Her path crystallized when she fell for Whitney Houston in the mid 80s - she had to be a singer. Teachers in school didn't support her ambition, but screw them! She gained the attention of R&B impresario Chris Stokes, who made her a backup singer to boy band Immature, and produced her first demo tape. Her mother quit her job, became her manager, and got her a deal with Atlantic Records. Around this time, as with any starstruck Californian kid, Brandy was auditioning - and she got a role! She played the young, wisecrack daughter in ABC sitcom Thea; it lasted for one season, which was the right amount of time for Brandy to penetrate the cultural conversation.
While shooting, Brandy was recording her eponymous debut album. Her label decided the first single would be I Wanna Be Down, a choice Brandy did not understand at the time.
She didn't need to, as its smooth blend of R&B sentiment and hip-hop grooves produced a top ten hit, and a multi-week number one on the R&B charts.
The track was so hot that a year later, three of the biggest femcees in the game - MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and YoYo - created their own remix. Brandy her power.
The next two singles - Baby and Best Friend - proved to be modern soul classic, with Baby going top ten on the pop charts. Around this time, Brandy was booked as the opening act on Boyz II Men's national tour, where she met the six-year-older Wanya Morris. They started dating, and someone in the label got the bright idea to remix Brandy's fourth single, Brokenhearted, and turn it into a duet.
Brandy her people were asked to join the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, and the song Babyface wrote for her - Sittin' Up in My Room - might be one of her best.
The audience agreed, as it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. Nodding to Sly and the Family Stone, SUIMR showcased Brandy where she shines - her lower register.
Oh yeah - around this time, Brandy became a superstar.
She became Moesha, the lead in a new sitcom on the UPN network; it ran for six years. She was also cast as Cinderella in a ABC remake of the musical, with her fairy godmother Whitney playing Cindy's fairy godmother.
This is around the time Brandy dolls began packaging. In ethnic communities, just as in the UK and Australia, we suffer from something called "tall poppy syndrome." We love to build them up, just to knock them down - just in case they start thinking they're better us. This happened to Brandy in the mid 90s, just like it happened to Whitney in the mid 90s. People called her "white," "oreo,' "sadiddy."
Before there were #teams, most young Blacks proudly shunned Brandy and started fanning for one of her 'competitors.' Brandy didn't really do herself any favors by dueting with one of her competitors, but it did give them the biggest hit they ever had!
Time for Brandy's sophomore album. She wanted it to be fresher, more honest, real. Her goals were accomplished with lead single Top of the World, with a verse from (rumored boyfriend) Mase.
Sittin' Up In My Room is hands down one of my favourite songs from the entire '90s decade. Probably will get my 11 (if we have those)... unless if something else shows up.
Brandy was such an iconic legend, with the drop braids and everything. But the hood had more reason to resent her after she was handed a Diane Warren penned, David Foster produced song called Have You Ever?, and took it to number one.
Brandy scored another top twenty HIT with Almost Doesn't Count, which she performed in her ABC tv movie Double Platinum.
Diana Ross played her deadbeat mother.
At the same time, Brandy was starring in the sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt.
I mean, Brandy her POWER. So mainstream at the time. What a legend.
I Wanna Be Down
Brokenhearted (with Wanya Morris)
Sittin' Up in My Room
Top of the World (featuring Mase)
Have You Ever?
Almost Doesn't Count