"Best Friend" | ||||
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Single by Brandy | ||||
from the album Brandy | ||||
Released | June 27, 1995 | |||
Recorded | 1993 [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:48 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Keith Crouch | |||
Brandy singles chronology | ||||
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"Best Friend" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood. It was written by Keith Crouch and Glenn McKinney for her self-titled debut studio album, Brandy (1994), while production was helmed by the former. The song was dedicated to her brother Ray J.
The song was released as the album's third single in June 1995. With peak positions of number 11 in New Zealand and number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the song was successful. However, it peaked at number 7 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was also featured on her hit series Moesha where Kim and she (Countess Vaughn) were cheerleaders in the final scene of the second episode "Friends" that aired in early 1996. Brandy performed the song on Soul Train (June 1995) and Showtime at the Apollo (October 1995).
"Best Friend" was written by Keith Crouch and Glenn McKinney, while production was helmed by Crouch. [3] A lighthearted "jeep pop" ode to sibling bonds, [4] Norwood dedicated the song to her younger brother Ray J who was initially supposed to appear on a duet version of the song. [5] Crouch used an E-mu SP-1200 to sample the kick drums and snare drums on "Best Friend," [6] and had Rashaan Patterson sing a scratch demo to the lead of the track. [6] He also convinced his friend, saxophonist Derrick Edmondson, to play the flute on the song, though Edmondson initially disliked the raspy tone of his flute sounds which came from his deep, raspy voice. [6] With Crouch being the last producer on Brandy to join the team, his songs were the last to be recorded. [6]
Norwood created the backgrounds vocals on "Best Friend" by herself. [7] Coming from a church where she grew up singing a capella, she loved "playing with different notes and feeling that union with different harmonies and sounds [..] And this song was the first time I'd felt that feeling outside of the church." [7] In a 2019 interview with Billboard , she disclosed that she had initially favored "Best Friend" to be the lead single due to its personal lyrics and that she "had to be convinced that ["I Wanna Be Down"] was the right first single, because [she] loved "Best Friend" so much." [4] She further told Complex : "I actually think that was the song that should’ve been the first single, because it was about my brother Ray J [...] It was great to do a song about him, because he means everything to me. It was just about our relationship. We were not going through anything at the time. I just wanted to dedicate a song to him that meant something to me." [8]
In his review for Billboard , Larry Flick wrote: "Brandy's cachet as one of the freshest young talents to emerge in recent memory continues to increase. This third single from sterling eponymous collection follows the jeep-pop vibe of "I Wanna Be Down" and "Baby", while also going for a slightly harder-edged groove in rambunctious remixed by Troy Taylor and Charles Farrar. At all times, Brandy's sweet and girlishly soulful delivery is center stage – as is the song's wickedly infectious hook. Another out-of-the-box smash. [2] In a retrospective review, Flick's Billboard colleague Clover Hope wrote that "Brandy's relationship with her younger brother Ray J is well known. This lighthearted track [...] served as a super lovable ode to sibling bonds. Don't mind that it's heavy on cheese ("Friends are there through thick and thin”)." [4]
Oprah Daily 's Grant Rindnerfelt that the song was "sweet and consistently surprising, with blips of flute and eccentric percussion spicing up this tender family tribute. Brandy's delivery stands out, too, as she descends to the lowest point in her vocal range, creating a husky rasp." [9] Natalie Maher from Harpers Bazaar called "Best Friend" a "standout from [Brandy's] nascent catalogue, as she floats over the airy instrumental, declaring: “You’ve always been here right beside me / So I call you my best friend.” [10] In a review of parent album Brandy, Complex found that "even when things become a bit doe-eyed, as they do on [...] "Best Friend," the album’s mix of sharp soul and hip-hop production keeps heads bopping and things from teetering into corniness." [11]
An accompanying music video for "Best Friend" was directed by Matthew Rolston and filmed in 1995. [12] The partially black and white, partially colored video features Norwood and her backup troupe displaying their hip hop dancing skills in front of a garage. [12] Ray J appears as himself in the video, playing a larger role during the first half of the clip when Norwood tries to keep him away from an older woman he is dancing with on the dance floor. [12] On his appearance, Norwood commented: "It was so much fun just working with him, because it never feels like work when we work together. We were just young and we had so much fun doing that." [8]
All tracks written by Keith Crouch and Glenn McKinney. [3]
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Best Friend" (Radio Edit) | Crouch | 4:17 |
2. | "Best Friend" (Character R&B Mix featuring Channel Live) | 5:33 | |
3. | "Best Friend" (Rocappella Beat Box) |
| 4:54 |
4. | "Best Friend" (Midday Club Mix) |
| 7:24 |
Notes
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Brandy. [3]
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Weekly charts
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Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and model. Her sound, characterized by heavy voice-layering and intricate riffs, has seen her nicknamed "the Vocal Bible". As of August 2020, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.
Brandy is the debut studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on September 27, 1994, by Atlantic Records. Chiefly produced by Keith Crouch, the album contains a range of contemporary genres, including hip-hop, pop-soul, and R&B. Aside from Crouch, Norwood worked with a range of other writers and producers, including R&B group Somethin' for the People, Arvel McClinton, and Damon Thomas.
Full Moon is the third studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released by Atlantic Records on March 5, 2002 in the United States. The album was recorded primarily during the summer and fall of 2001 at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, amid a three-year musical hiatus following the success of her multi-platinum previous studio album Never Say Never (1998) and the finale of her highly successful television sitcom Moesha in May 2001. As with Never Say Never, Brandy collaborated with producer Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild production and songwriting team on the majority of the album's composition, while Mike City, Warryn Campbell, and Keith Crouch contributed additional production.
The Best of Brandy is the first greatest hits album by American singer Brandy. It was released on March 28, 2005 by Atlantic Records, completing her contract with the label after being signed since 1994. The album comprises nearly all of Norwood's 1994–2004 singles, compiling her first four studio albums Brandy (1994), Never Say Never (1998), Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), as well as songs she contributed to film soundtracks such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Set It Off (1996). While it features no original material, the album includes rare tracks such as a 1995 cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You", her international single "Another Day in Paradise" and the single remix of "U Don't Know Me ".
"Talk About Our Love" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Kanye West, who also appears as a featured artist on it, and Harold Lilly, while production was handled by the former. Due to the song's use of a sample of Mandrill's 1978 song "Gilly Hines", band members Claude Cave II, and Carlos, Louis, and Ricardo Wilson are also credited as writers. Lyrically, "Talk About Our Love" is about a relationship lacking support from family and friends.
"Who Is She 2 U" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood from her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Candice Nelson, Walter Millsap III and Timbaland, and produced by the latter. The song is built around a sample of "Instant Love" (1977) by American singer Leon Ware. Due to the inclusion of the sample, he and Jacqueline Hilliard are also credited as songwriters. Based on true events, the song describes a woman who is suspicious about her mate's awkward behavior around a seemingly unfamiliar woman. The dramatic up-tempo incorporates piano keys, flutes, chamber pop string melodies and go-go drum programming.
"What About Us?" is a song by American singer Brandy from her third studio album, Full Moon (2002). It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Kenisha Pratt, Nora Payne and Norwood, featuring main production by Jerkins. An offbeat, aggressive high-tech track, the song's development was motivated by the fact that the singer wanted something different–an aggressive, sexier and edgier sound with a message which would empower women while also reflecting her own growth and maturity.
"Full Moon" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her third studio album of the same title (2002). A breakaway from Rodney Jerkins' dominating influence on the album, it was written and produced by Mike City, one of the few producers Norwood worked with on Full Moon apart from Jerkins and his production and songwriting crew. Described by Norwood as "ghetto", the track is an R&B and pop song with a simple, piano-led production. Lyrically, the song follows Norwood as she experiences love at first sight in a nightclub, whose circumstances she attributes to a full moon night.
"Have You Ever?" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood for her second studio album, Never Say Never (1998). The song was written by Diane Warren, while production was handled by David Foster. It was released as the album's third single by Atlantic Records in October 1998. The song became Norwood's second song to reach the top position on the US Billboard Hot 100, following the worldwide chart-topping of "The Boy Is Mine". The former further reached number one in New Zealand, number two in Iceland, number eight in Australia and the top 30 in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
American singer Brandy Norwood entered the music business as a backing vocalist for R&B boy bands such as Immature, prior to launching her own career in 1994. Her discography, as a solo artist, includes seven studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play, 42 singles, 46 album appearances and 25 soundtrack appearances. Norwood has sold over 8.6 million albums in the United States, and more than 40 million records worldwide. Additionally, she has won over 100 awards as a recording artist. In 1999, Billboard ranked Norwood among the top 20 of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s.
"Sittin' Up in My Room" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written and produced by Babyface and recorded by Norwood for the soundtrack of the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale, starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. The track was one out of five singles the album spawned and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Norwood's most successful single on that particular chart up to that point. It is of note that the characteristic bass intro is a replica of the famous riff performed by bassist Larry Graham, of Sly and the Family Stone, on their hit "Thank You ", and its remix featuring LL Cool J contains a sample of "Haven't You Heard" by Patrice Rushen.
"Baby" is a song by American R&B recording artist Brandy, taken from her debut studio album, Brandy (1994). It was penned by Keith Crouch, Kipper Jones, and Rahsaan Patterson and produced by the former. Released as the album's second single on December 24, 1994, in the United States, it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It also reached number four in New Zealand, number 16 in Australia, and number 68 in Canada. The single sold 1,000,000 copies in 1995 in the United States.
"I Wanna Be Down" is the debut single of American recording artist Brandy from her self-titled debut album (1994). It was written by musicians Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, with production helmed by the former, it was released on September 5, 1994, by the Atlantic Recording Corporation. The song is a mid-tempo track that features a thunderous beat and light synth riffs. Lyrically, "I Wanna Be Down" describes a flirt with a boy, who Norwood tries to convince of her loveliness.
"Brokenhearted" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written and produced by Kipper Jones and Keith Crouch for her self-titled debut studio album, Brandy (1994). Requested by then Atlantic Records head Sylvia Rhone, the song was developed late into the production of the album. Pressured to meet Rhone's deadline for Brandy, Kipper suffered from a case of writer's block during the early writing process but eventually came up with the idea for a sweet, morose R&B ballad that deals with the aches of a teenager's first heartbreak.
"Let It Go" is the debut single by American R&B singer Ray J from his debut album Everything You Want (1997). It peaked at No. 10 in New Zealand and No. 25 in the U.S.. It sold 600,000 copies domestically.
"Right Here (Departed)" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and The Writing Camp members Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Victoria Horn, Erika Nuri, and David "DQ" Quiñones and produced by Jerkins for her fifth studio album, Human (2008). Not recorded until late into the production of the album, it set much of the tone for the final Human track listing as it was the first out of several new songs Norwood and Jerkins recorded together following his absence on her previous album Afrodisiac (2004). Its lyrics chronicle a woman's talks about mutual support with loved ones.
Human is the fifth studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on December 5, 2008 by Epic Records, Knockout Entertainment and Koch Records. The album was Norwood's debut Epic Records release, following her split with Atlantic Records in 2005, and her reunion with longtime collaborator and mentor Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who executively produced and wrote most of the album with his songwriting collective.
"Long Distance" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Jeff Bhasker, and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and was co-produced by Jerkins and Mars for her fifth studio album Human (2008) based on a demo by Mars. It appears as the seventh track on the album on which it is interluded by a telephone conversation between two lovers. The lyrics of the piano–led power ballad describe the protagonist's emotional state towards an ongoing long-distance relationship, which leaves her in depression.
Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Brandy. Released on October 12, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human (2008). The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months prior to Two Eleven's release.
"Put It Down" is a song by American recording artist Brandy, featuring fellow R&B singer Chris Brown. Taken from her sixth studio album Two Eleven (2012), it was written and produced by Sean Garrett, Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford and Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy along with Brown, telling the story of Norwood complimenting a prospective beau on his swag. The bass-heavy, R&B up-tempo track served as Norwood's first release under RCA Records, since signing to Chameleon Records under the label, and was released to US digital outlets on May 4, 2012.
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