On this day, 25 years ago, Brandy RELEASED her GROUNDBREAKING sophomore album, ‘Never Say Never’.
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. 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“.
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. It consists of a “dribbling bass line” that Chuck Taylor of Billboard compared to a “dreamlike, moonlit night”. The harmonic background song, created using the so-called multi-track recording, was described as “enchanting” and “seductive”.
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”.
For the LIFE of me I am not sure why this song never got a VISUAL, bust despite no video, still became a HUGE hit for Brandy and one of my FAVES!
The Gamutt Blog 