Music/VideoThe R&B vocalist's self-titled debut album has sold almost 2 million copies and, like the Eveready Bunny, it's still going. Her single "Baby" has also gone platinum and the first release, "I Wanna Be Down," went gold. She shared a nationwide concert bill with pop and R&B's biggest names, Babyface and Boyz II Men. The Soul Train Music Awards named her best new artist. And the former co-star of television's now-defunct Thea (she played Denesha) has been tapped to shoot a pilot for a show she will star in that will be scheduled for the fall called Moesha.
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Whew! With all that Brandy has accomplished in her 16 years–the last one in particular–you have to wonder how she's handling so much, so soon.
Then you meet her. And it's like: average teenager.
Especially around other teenagers. Like now. With her mother/manager Sonja Norwood just a few steps behind her, Brandy barrels into a Atlanta high school gym as if the bell had just rang for recess. The squad of cheerleaders who've been waiting for her in the bleachers–passing time running through the hand gestures from the "Down" video–greet her like a best friend rather than a big-time platinum selling music star.
"Hey girl! How ya been?!" "Oooh, let me tell you this!"
Five minutes after Brandy's arrival, they're screeching that high-pitched teenage girl screech, huddling in corners, whispering in each other's ears; obviously forgetting that she's here to perform. That wide, endearing smile and tireless package of energy has won another handful of folks over.
"I miss this a lot," says Brandy, whose slightly husky speaking voice hints at her honey-dripped vocal style. "It's kind of hard for me because I want to socialize. I'm a very energetic person. I wanna be like, 'heygirlwhazzup' all the time but I can't do that. I have to be with a tutor everyday. No breaks. Just straight school and work."
Ummm, well, kinda. Back when Brandy first hit the road to promote her album, on occasion she had to interrupt the invitation-only crowd of radio programmers and retailers–who could make or break a burgeoning artist's career–and tell them to be quiet and let her sing "Everybody remembers that!" she roars, her eyes wide with amazement and embarrassment. "But you have to respect people. I mean, they come to my party, getting all the drinks, getting all the food for free–then you're going to listen, you know?"
The rub is that the scolded audience responded enthusiastically to her "respect me" stance, instead of the expected, "Who does she think she is?" Now, to add to the vigorous radio and video airplay she's receiving, veterans like Gladys Knight, Karyn White and Toni Braxton have been ringing her phone with their support. When "I Wanna Be Down" knocked Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" out of Billboard's No. 1 spot, Boyz member Wanya Morris called Brandy up to congratulate her–sparking a close friendship with the group.
"They're like my big brothers," she says. "My younger brother [Willie Jr., who is also a recording artist/actor, and is soon to come out with a solo album] is my best friend. But I learn from Boyz II Men, too. They are really protective over me, always telling me, 'You shouldn't do this,' 'Watch out for them,' that kind of stuff.
"When it comes to performing, I've learned so much watching Boyz II Men. Just about energy and relating to the crowd," she explains, adding, "Shawn pays a lot of attention to the crowd. He can tell when they happen to not be hype and he really gets them going. Wanya expresses himself well, he's the performer. And Nate, he's really laid back. He just sings. And Michael, he's just the sexy one. So I pick that up from each of them. I try to be the female Boyz II Men all in one."
Actually, it's Whitney Houston she's modeling her career after. "I guess I see myself in her," Brandy explains. "When I see her perform, I see myself perform. And, it's like...her smile. The way she sings her songs. It's like amazing. She's unbelievably dope!
"I met Whitney Houston once, but I want to meet her like I met Wanya. He called, we hung out with my friends and he just really paid attention to me. Even though Boyz II Men is, like, my favorite group...[thinking about it is obviously making her exasperated]. I mean, like, I just thought with all I've said in the press we might have talked by now. I still love Whitney. I really want her to call me."
Well let's do a recount. Millions of fans down. Whitney on the way.
By Sonia Murray
-- July YSB Magazine