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.
open
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never thought of us as more than friends
Began with your advances
But I resisted ev'ry one of them
You were such a player
And I didn't think that you would ever change
Now, a few years later
I'm lovin' you; it's so hard to explain
CHORUS
How'd you do it?
How could you get me so open?
Maybe you're Cupid
Got me fiendin', got me jonesin'
For your kisses
They're so rich and choc'late-coated
Feels like this is
Close to heaven as I'm gon' get
Ev'ry time the phone rings
I rush to answer, hoping that it's you
And, ev'ry time I hear a
Car pull up, I want it to be you
I don't know what's better
Kissing you, or simply holding hands
The fact that we're together
Is not by chance or any circumstance
And I can't help but wonder...
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
Never have I
Ever felt this
Way about anyone
Way about anyone
I can't imagine
Something would happen
To you
You're such a big part of me
REPEAT CHORUS 4x
As I'm gon' get
As I'm gon' get...
The song "Open" by Brandy talks about unexpected love that blossomed between two people who started as just friends. The lyrics describe how the singer never saw their relationship as anything more than platonic, but as time passed, she fell in love with the other person. Initially, the other person was perceived as a player, but as they got to know each other better, the singer realized that she loved them deeply. The chorus then asks how this person was able to get her to open up her heart to them, and the bridge emphasizes how strong the love feels.
The rest of the lyrics go on to describe how the singer eagerly anticipates seeing and hearing from her lover, and how being together feels like heaven. The singer also expresses how deeply she feels for this person, and can't imagine losing them as they have become a significant part of who she is.
Line by Line Meaning
Long as I have known you
From the time I've known you
I never thought of us as more than friends
I never had romantic feelings for you
Began with your advances
Our relationship started with your advancements towards me
But I resisted ev'ry one of them
I declined every one of them
You were such a player
You had a reputation of being a ladies' man
And I didn't think that you would ever change
I didn't believe that you would change your ways
Now, a few years later
After some time has passed
I'm lovin' you; it's so hard to explain
I have developed romantic feelings for you that are difficult to express
How we got to where we are
I'm uncertain about how our relationship has progressed to this point
How'd you do it?
How were you able to win my heart?
How could you get me so open?
How were you able to make me feel so vulnerable and open with you?
Maybe you're Cupid
Perhaps you are the god of love, Cupid
Got me fiendin', got me jonesin'
You have me craving and longing for you
For your kisses
I desire your kisses
They're so rich and choc'late-coated
Your kisses are sweet and indulgent
Feels like this is
It seems like
Close to heaven as I'm gon' get
This is the closest I will ever experience to being in heaven
Every time the phone rings
Whenever the phone rings
I rush to answer, hoping that it's you
I quickly answer the phone, hoping that it's you on the other end
And, ev'ry time I hear a
Each time I hear
Car pull up, I want it to be you
I hope that the car is yours and that you have come to see me
I don't know what's better
I'm not sure which is better
Kissing you, or simply holding hands
Is it better to kiss you or just hold your hand?
The fact that we're together
The fact that we are in a relationship
Is not by chance or any circumstance
Our relationship didn't happen by coincidence or any particular circumstance
And I can't help but wonder...
I can't stop pondering...
Never have I
I have never
Ever felt this
Experienced this feeling
Way about anyone
For anyone else
I can't imagine
I cannot fathom
Something would happen
If anything were to happen
To you
To you specifically
You're such a big part of me
You are integral to my life
As I'm gon' get
This is the closest I will ever get
As I'm gon' get...
This is the closest I will ever get...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CameroTV
Reasons I love this song: Brandy's voice is transitional with each era. This song bridges the gap between the "teen Brandy" vocal and the "full moon" vocal phase. You get the best of those worlds here. The neatest thing about Brandy's voice is have realized is that with each vocal phase of her career, she progresses but can tap right back into all of them. I was shocked to know she could still tap into baby Brandy on "Talk to Me". The bih is bad.
Michael Bull
It is an underrated song…. Osmosis Jones soundtrack in general I agree Brandy sings the hell out this song. I wish she would’ve sang the song in the movie since her voice was used as one of the characters that would’ve been cool
UnconditionalOcean11
SPEAK!!!
woke1
Her voice deepened when aphrodisiac came around
Diante Foxx
Thank You Cam, YoU HIT RIGHT ON THE NAIL , You don't need to read , interpret or write music to understand vocals , innovative music , the angelic voice of Brandy , she is truly the Goat .
Jamel Smith
TALK ABOUT THIS!!
squirebuffy
Brandy has said that this is actually her favorite song she has ever recorded.
Jaye Walt
I need receipts. But I love this song though.❤️
Demon Boyz Production
She never said that.
Keedeeg
Vocal arrangements are mind blowing and I HATE this song didn't soar like it should have. It's the song that made me love Brandy!