Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996–2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.
Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012–2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.
In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.
Rather Be
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I don't need your extras, just give you to me (I, I)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Just call me more, a little
Your voice, it makes me feel better
Why you even tryna ignore me?
Just be here for me, baby, I
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, I)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah-yeah, oh)
I don't need your extras, just give you to me (I, I)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
You know I love you, down deep within
You're my best friend
When we are together, it feels like forever
Ain't nobody like you
Kissing me the way you do
You's a real one, ooh, ooh-ooh (talk about it, babe)
Nobody in this world is like us two (ooh, ooh-ooh)
That's why I'd rather
I'd rather be kissing you (baby, yeah), baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I'd rather be kissing you (baby, yeah), baby (yeah-yeah)
I don't need your extras (I don't need your), just give you to me (no)
I'd rather be kissing you (kissing you), baby (yeah-yeah)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I don't need your extras, just give you to me
I'd rather be kissing you
(Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah)
Extras, just give you to me (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Extras, just give you to me (yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Extras, just give you to me, oh (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)
(Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) yeah
The lyrics to Brandy's song "Rather Be" express a deep desire and longing for the presence and affection of a loved one. The repetition of the phrase "I'd rather be kissing you, baby" suggests that the singer's ultimate happiness and fulfillment lie in the intimate connection and physical intimacy shared with this person. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and impatience, as the singer pleads for more attention and presence from their partner.
The lines "Just call me more, a little / Your voice, it makes me feel better" reflects the singer's yearning for communication and reassurance. They express a need for the partner to actively engage with them and make an effort to bridge any emotional distance between them. The lyrics also acknowledge that there are other ways to grab the singer's attention, but emphasize that being physically present and sharing kisses is what truly matters.
The chorus highlights the deep love and connection the singer feels with their partner. The lyrics imply a strong bond and friendship, describing the partner as a best friend and expressing that being together feels like forever. The repeated lines "You's a real one" and "Nobody in this world is like us two" emphasize the uniqueness and specialness of their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rather Be" convey a longing for physical and emotional intimacy, a plea for more attention and presence from the partner, and a celebration of the deep love and connection shared between them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I prefer to be kissing you, my love
I don't need your extras, just give you to me (I, I)
I don't require any additional things, just give me your presence
Just call me more, a little
Just contact me more often, a little bit
Your voice, it makes me feel better
The sound of your voice brings me comfort
Why you even tryna ignore me?
Why are you attempting to ignore me?
Boy, there's other ways to get my attention
Boy, there are alternative methods to capture my interest
Just be here for me, baby, I
Just stay by my side, my dear, I want that
You know I love you, down deep within
You know I truly love you, in the depths of my heart
You're my best friend
You are my closest companion
When we are together, it feels like forever
When we are together, it feels like eternity
Ain't nobody like you
There is nobody like you
Kissing me the way you do
Kissing me in the way that you do
You's a real one, ooh, ooh-ooh (talk about it, babe)
You are an authentic individual, ooh, ooh-ooh (let's discuss it, babe)
Nobody in this world is like us two (ooh, ooh-ooh)
There is nobody else in this world like the two of us
That's why I'd rather
That is why I would rather
I don't need your extras (I don't need your), just give you to me (no)
I don't require any additional things, just give me your presence
Extras, just give you to me (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Additional things, just offer me your presence
Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)
Yes (yes), yes (yes)
(Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) yeah
(Yes, yes-yes, yes) yes
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Antonio Dixon, Brandy Norwood, Darhyl Camper Jr., Victoria McCants
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@COLORSxSTUDIOS
Lyrics:
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) I don't need your extras, just give you to me (I, I)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Call me more, a little
Your circumstances are different
So why you even tryna ignore me?
Boy, there's other ways to get my attention Just be here for me, baby, I
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, I) I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah-yeah, oh)
I don't need your extras, just give you to me (I, I)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
You know I love you, down deep within You're my best friend
When we are together, it feels like forever Ain't nobody like you
Kissing me the way you do
Ooh, ooh-ooh (talk about it, babe)
Nobody in this world is like us two (ooh, ooh-ooh) That's why I'd rather
I'd rather be kissing you (baby, yeah), baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) I'd rather be kissing you (baby, yeah), baby (yeah-yeah)
I don't need your extras (I don't need your), just give you to me (no) I'd rather be kissing you (kissing you), baby (yeah-yeah)
I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah) I'd rather be kissing you, baby (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I don't need your extras, just give you to me
I'd rather be kissing you
(Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah)
Extras, just give you to me (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
Extras, just give you to me (yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) No Extras, just give you to me, oh (yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)
(Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah) yeah
@brandy
What song do y'all think I did? ❤
@fitoland737
Afro, Full Moon or Your Debut Classics? 🙌🏾☀️😍 #Justice4BlackPepper
@mayajumpp6816
Something from full moon
@pati2570
Whatever song it is, you definitely cooked it, served it on a hot platter and ate it up! Cannot wait!
@fitoland737
Bran Babygirl Plz give Us an Xmas/Gospel Album This Year! Give Us An Unreleased Compilation Some Day If Possible! We’ll B 4ever Grateful! God Bless & Keep Using U 4 His Glory🙌🏾
@brandongutierrez8899
The boy is mine, plsss
@NelsonMusicCOUK
Everyone always talks about Brandy's vocals, but I just wanna shout out the way she records her BACKING VOCALS. Untouchable. Best since MJ.
@chiefservant7862
Right.
@brandygee9954
I'm in love with the background rifts. 😫
@tessagodsAsset3N21
Facts!!! Not every vocalist Can do their own background vocals.