As “the Vocal Bible,” also known as Ms. Brandy Norwood, concludes her co-headlining tour, “The Boy Is Mine,” with Monica, I decided to revisit her 2023 holiday album, “Christmas with Brandy,” for this week’s Second Listen Sunday and to kick off the holiday season.
When we look back over Brandy’s career, it’s pretty surprising that it took her so long to create a Christmas album. When one looks at her discography and work with Rodney Jerkins, the duo could’ve easily crafted a project similar to Alexander O’Neal’s still classic 1988 album “My Gift To You”.
Brandy steps into the holiday lane with the ease of someone who’s been seasoning R&B for three decades. Christmas with Brandy clocks in at a dozen cuts, but it’s the originals that do the real work. Collaborating with producers such as Theron “Neff-U” Feemster, DJ Camper, Kyle Mann, Nasri Atweh, and Adam Messinger from The Messengers, Brandy creates her own holiday canon.
The lead single is a slow-burning invitation titled “Christmas Party for Two,” which could efficiently work as standard R&B bop. While there is a warm grin of a groove on “Christmas Gift,” and the airy optimism of “Somebody’s Waiting.” “Shine Out Your Light” and “Christmas Everyday” are both packed with the kind of uplifting energy that comes naturally to her.
The standout among the original material is “Feels Different.” However, it is the curveball—a mid-tempo heart-warmer that could fit onto any R&B playlist during the summertime and still make perfect sense. Naturally, it’s not a Christmas album without a few covers of the classics.
With ease, Brandy gives the iconic songs a reshaping with
her unmistakable phrasing—stacked harmonies, conversational runs, and a tone that somehow glows and sighs at the same time. Her “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” feels like a fireside check-in with an old friend. “Santa Baby,” “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Deck the Halls” all have a modern shimmer.
But the real holiday treat is her take on “Someday at Christmas”. Brandy’s version carries the ache, hope, and soul of the original without ever mimicking it. While Rodney Jerkins doesn’t participate, this ball plays like a holiday evening spent with someone who knows when to toast, when to laugh, and when to let the silence breathe.
“Christmas with Brandy” lands as a welcome addition to the modern holiday stash—smooth, spirited, and unmistakably hers.
Final Grade: B
“Christmas with Brandy” is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.