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Best Friend (Brandy song)
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Wikipedia article
"'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. Hence the title of the song, 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 moderately 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 she and Kim (Countess Vaughn) cheerleading in the final scene of the episode "Friends" that aired in early 1996. Brandy performed the song on 'Soul Train' (June 1995) and 'Showtime at the Apollo' (October 1995).
Background
"Best Friend" was written by Keith Crouch and Glenn McKinney, while production was helmed by Crouch. A lighthearted "jeep pop" ode to sibling bonds, Norwood dedicated the song to her younger brother Ray J who was initially supposed to appear on a duet version of the song. Crouch used an E-mu SP-1200 to sample the kick drums and snare drums on "Best Friend," and had Rashaan Patterson sing a scratch demo to the lead of the track. 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. With Crouch being the last producer on 'Brandy' to join the team, his songs were the last to be recorded.
Norwood created the backgrounds vocals on "Best Friend" by herself. 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." In a 2019 interview with 'Billboard', she disclosed that she had initially favored "Best Friend" to lead the 'Brandy's album 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." She further told 'Complex': "I actually think that was the song that shouldve 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."
Critical reception
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. 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)."
'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." Natalie Maher from 'Harpers Bazaar' called "Best Friend" a "standout from [Brandy's] nascent catalogue, as she floats over the airy instrumental, declaring: Youve always been here right beside me / So I call you my best friend. 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 albums mix of sharp soul and hip-hop production keeps heads bopping and things from teetering into corniness."
Music video
An accompanying music video for "Best Friend" was directed by Matthew Rolston and filmed in 1995. 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. 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. 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."
Track listings
All tracks written by Keith Crouch and Glenn McKinney.
{{track listing
| headline = CD single
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Best Friend
| note1 = Radio Edit
| extra1 = Crouch
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = Best Friend
| note2 = Character R&B Mix featuring Channel Live
| extra2 =
| length2 = 5:33
| title3 = Best Friend
| note3 = Rocappella Beat Box
| extra3 =
| length3 = 4:54
| title4 = Best Friend
| note4 = Midday Club Mix
| extra4 =
| length4 = 7:24
}}
'Notes'
* denotes additional producer
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of 'Brandy'.
*Keith Crouch producer, recording, writer
*Derrick Edmondson flute, saxophone
*Sherree Ford-Payne backing vocals
*Brian Gardner mastering
*Booker T. Jones mixing
*Glenn McKinney guitar, writer
*Brandy Norwood backing vocals, lead vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
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