Now we all know there's only room for two B's in my life. One is the great Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter, and the other is the iconic Ms. Brandy Rayana Norwood.
Comedian and actress Niecy Nash, a dear friend of Brandy's, recently ended her run as guest Blogger on Essence.com, dedicating her last post with a "very special epiphany" she had about her dear friend.
She writes:
As my time as guest blogger on ESSENCE.com comes to an end I want to leave you with a very special epiphany I had about my dear friend Brandy.
My daughter Dia is turning 14 in a few weeks so I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday. Her reply? "I want to see Brandy.” I said, ‘She lives down the street, we could go by her house right now.’ Her reply: ‘No, I'm not ready, I'm not in a cute outfit!’ As she continued to talk about Brandy, I started to sing "Mo-to-the-E to the: Moesha! Dia's eyes got big as saucers and she yelled, ‘Wait, Brandy is Moesha?!’ This became a teaching moment.
The woman I call my friend is actually an icon. I think I missed it too because she doesn't act like one. Down to earth, funny and approachable and the best ways to describe her. I took the opportunity to educate my daughter on Brandy's contribution to entertainment. I told her that she is so much more than Chardonnay on BET's The Game. When I was growing up Brandy was TV star, reality star, a pop star, a Cover girl, Grammy winner, had her own Brandy doll, and was the first African American to play Disney princess Cinderella.
Most importantly she is a survivor. Many only judge and remember a person’s most recent failure. Brandy has had her share of headaches, heartaches, and public tragedies. The things she has faced like coming clean about the fabricated story about her marriage, being involved in a tragic accident where someone lost their life, and trying to manage her relationships with her family members would have crippled a lesser person. She has survived it all IN THE PUBLIC EYE! She has a resilient spirit that I would be blessed to duplicate. Thirty minutes later, my daughter said, ‘Wow mommy, I thought Brandy was just your friend’ My reply? ‘She is baby girl, it just so happens my friend is an icon.'
And there you have it. Niecy couldn't have said it better. Well, yes she could. But I don't think Essence would allow her the space. So here, let me do it. LOL!
Brandy is more than just a superstar. She is a icon. One whose shoulders most of your faves stood on to get to where they are today. The blueprint to the ultimate popstar dream. On mainstream. Not just the 'urban-stream.'
All while remaining a lady. In a day where showing skin is the prerequisite, I believe Brandy's career flourished more than most because she was a lady. She remained fully clothed. She wasn't like the girls we see today, coming out of clubs with twisted eyes. She wasn't falling out of cars with no underwear. She held herself like a respectable young lady. Which was more appealing. Parents would then support their children's obsession with Brandy because she was the ideal. The girl next door that everybody loved. And to top it off, she's black. An African American girl breaking down doors her community never really saw before. A braided, brown-skinned girl who didn't look like Halle Berry or Vanessa Williams was breaking down these doors.
When you're a cultural phenomenon, you're more than just the 'It girl' of the moment. 'Moesha,' a TV show that was #1 in African American and Latino households for five seasons. Five seasons! Today you'd be lucky if an all black-cast show lasts five episodes, let alone at number one for five straight seasons.
A music career with a voice that has never, will never, been able to be duplicated. When someone can sing like your fave, you have to admit, they can't be that special if someone else can do it. But NOBODY can sing like Brandy. Nobody! She's been called the 'vocal bible.' The 'harmonic queen.' A career that saw her debut album sell four million worldwide, and the follow up sell 16 million. Like, who does that. Brandy does!
Movies, 6 Matell Barbie dolls, several endorsement deals. Star along side greats like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross. Make music with Queens like Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight. She has done it all.
To me, Brandy represented the face of insecurity. The face that represented self-doubt. She was different. Because she didn't look like a supermodel, in a industry that threw you to the wolves because of that same reason, it was that more personal when one would latch onto, and follow her. Because when she won, we won. The kid that felt ugly, different, and alone, had someone representing them. Therefore it was more important than most, that we saw Brandy win. And that she did, triumphantly. A legend and an Icon.
I feel sorry for the 'urban' world these days. They don't have someone to grow up with like I did. The urban industry is so saturated with sex, money, and fame, it's sad. Instead of supporting and pushing forward for the betterment of young people. To inspire, change and grow. Everything's more based on politics and whatever makes the quickest check. It really is sad.
It's slowly coming around though. I think. I hope so. There's not a Black girl, or ethnic for that matter, in mainstream winning right now that I would want my child, if I had one, looking up to. Not one. These girls are for grown folks who pay taxes and ride public transport. Just saying...
OK story over. Bye!x
(ImageSource: BrandyDaily)
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