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((Infobox album
| name       = Never Say Never
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]]
| cover      = Brandy never say never.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = ((Start date|1998|6|9|mf=y))
| recorded   = May 1997 – 1998
| studio     = ((flatlist|
*[[Bernie Grundman|Bernie Grundman Mastering]]
*[[Larrabee Sound Studios|Larrabee]]
*[[Pacifique Recording Studios|Pacifique]]
*[[Record One]]
*Scream
*[[Sony Pictures Studios|Sony]] (Los Angeles)
*Chartmaker Studios (Malibu)
*Banana Boat
*The Enterprise (Burbank)
*[[The Hit Factory]] (New York City)
*[[Mick Guzauski|Barking Doctor]] (Mount Kisco)
*[[Dallas Austin|DARP]] (Atlanta)
))
| genre      =
*[[Pop music|Pop]]
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name="ti"/>
| length     = 66:36
| label      = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| producer   =
* Brandy Norwood
* [[Rodney Jerkins]]
* [[Dallas Austin]]
* [[David Foster]]
* [[Fred Jerkins III]]
* Brad Gilderman
* [[Harvey Mason, Jr.]]
* [[Marc Nelson (singer)|Marc Nelson]]
* Guy Roche
| prev_title = [[Brandy (album)|Brandy]]
| prev_year  = 1994
| next_title = [[Full Moon (Brandy album)|Full Moon]]
| next_year  = 2002
| misc       = ((Singles
 | name        = Never Say Never
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]
 | single1date = May 4, 1998<ref>((cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-w0EAAAAMBAJ&q=MONICA+%22THE+BOY+IS+MINE%22&pg=PA23|title=Sharing a Hit Duet, Arista's Monica Finds Her Own Voice on 'Boy'|last=Samuels|first=Anita|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=110|issue=25|page=23|date=June 20, 1998|access-date=February 9, 2022))</ref>
 | single2     = [[Top of the World (Brandy song)|Top of the World]]
 | single2date = July 7, 1998<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1998/RR-1998-07-03.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1255|page=48|date=July 3, 1998|access-date=July 6, 2021))</ref>
 | single3     = [[Have You Ever?]]
 | single3date = October 6, 1998<ref>((cite magazine|title=New Releases / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1268|pages=44, 49, 56|date=October 2, 1998))</ref>
 | single4     = [[Almost Doesn't Count]]
 | single4date = March 23, 1999<ref>((cite magazine|title=New Releases / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1291|pages=44, 49|date=March 19, 1999))</ref>
 | single5     = [[U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)]]
 | single5date = September 14, 1999<ref>((cite magazine|title=Going for Adds / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1316|pages=54, 60, 67|date=September 10, 1999))</ref>
 | single6     = [[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You#Brandy version|(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]
 | single6date = November 1999
))
))

'''''Never Say Never''''' is the second studio album by American singer [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]]. It was released on June 9, 1998, by [[Atlantic Records]]. Atlantic consulted [[David Foster]], as well as producer [[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] and his team to work with Norwood on the record; Jerkins went on to craft the majority of the album and would evolve as Norwood's mentor and head producer on her succeeding projects.<ref name="Vibe-02">((cite web|first=Shanel|last=Odum|date=2008-12-01|title=Girl, Interrupted|work=[[VIBE]]|url=((Google books |plainurl=yes |id=qiYEAAAAMBAJ |page=104 ))|access-date=2010-07-20))((Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes ))</ref>

The lyrical themes on the album include the singer's personal experiences with love, [[monogamy]], [[media bias]], and maturity. Influenced by [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Whitney Houston]], Norwood wanted to present a more mature facet of herself with the album, incorporating a ballad-heavy style and an [[adult contemporary]] feel into her [[urban pop]] sound for the album.<ref name="ew"/>

Upon its release, ''Never Say Never'' facilitated Norwood in becoming a viable recording artist with media-crossing appeal. It debuted at No. 3 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 160,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at No. 2 the following week, remaining within the chart's top 20 for 28 weeks.<ref name="MTV-11"/> Six of the album's 16 songs were chosen as singles, including duet with [[Monica (singer)|Monica]] "[[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]" and "[[Have You Ever?]]", which both topped the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], as well as "[[Top of the World (Brandy song)|Top of the World]]", which become an international hit.

''Never Say Never'' became Norwood's highest-selling and highest-charting album to date in most international markets, being certified [[RIAA certification|quintuple platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) and selling over 16 million copies worldwide. It won numerous awards and accolades, including a [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] for "[[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]".<ref name="Vibe-01">((cite web|first=Cheo Hodari|last=Coker|author-link=Cheo Hodari Coker|date=2004-07-01|title=Not That Innocent|work=[[VIBE]]|url=((Google books |plainurl=yes |id=wCYEAAAAMBAJ |page=94 ))|access-date=2010-07-20))((Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes ))</ref> The album was supported by the [[Never Say Never World Tour]] (1999), which included sold-out shows in North America, Europe, & Asia.

==Background and development==
Following the release of her multi-platinum [[Brandy (album)|eponymous debut album]] (1994) and several equally successful soundtrack contributions such as "[[Sittin' Up in My Room]]" from ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' (1995) and "[[Missing You (Brandy, Gladys Knight, Tamia, and Chaka Khan song)|Missing You]]" from ''[[Set It Off (film)|Set It Off]]'' (1996), Norwood took a lengthy musical break in which she graduated from high school, enrolled in college and established a flourishing acting career.<ref name="jet98"/><ref name=nynews98>((cite web|last=Millner|first=Denene|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/brandy-pours-veteran-superstar-19-record-article-1.804507|date=July 5, 1998|title='Brandy Pours it On A Veteran Superstar At 19, She's Going For The Record Again With 'Never Say Never|work=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=August 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070725/https://www.nydailynews.com/brandy-pours-veteran-superstar-19-record-article-1.804507|url-status=live|archive-date=January 20, 2018))</ref> In 1995, she was cast in the titular role in the [[UPN]] sitcom ''[[Moesha]]'',<ref name="moesha">((cite web|first=Katherine|last=Schaffstall|date=2017-03-11|title='Moesha' Stars Have Emotional Reunion, Talk Potential Reboot|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/moesha-stars-have-emotional-reunion-talk-potential-reboot-1054853|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=2017-12-30))</ref> and in the following two years, she appeared opposite her idol [[Whitney Houston]] in the musical television film ''[[Cinderella (1997 film)|Cinderella]]'' (1997) and filmed the [[slasher film]] [[sequel]] ''[[I Still Know What You Did Last Summer]]'' (1998).<ref name=jet>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PDsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Brandy%22+Cinderella+Houston&pg=PA44 "Whitney Houston and Brandy Star in TV Movie 'Cinderella'"]''Jet'', November 3, 1997, pp. 44–47</ref><ref name=nynews98/> While she enjoyed her acting profile accomplishments, Norwood felt that her transition had caused people to recognize her more as an actress than as a singer.<ref name="billboard25Apr.1998">((cite magazine|first=Anita M.|last=Samules|date=1998-04-25|title=Brandy Returns to Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22that+music+remains+a+priority+in+her+ca-+reer+with+the+worldwide+release+of+her+sophomore+album%2C+%22Never+Say+Never%22+billboard&pg=PA13|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2017-12-30))</ref> At one point she even considered giving up singing to concentrate on acting due to the ever changing music industry and losing her passion for it.<ref name="album97">((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_4.jhtml|title= Brandy Gets Real|work=[[MTV News]]|access-date=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011211090219/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_4.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2001))</ref>
According to her, "I think the music industry has changed so much... I don't know how to look at my first video... There was so much happening... And I'd rather go out with the first album, bang, and not have to come back and not be able to do the same thing again.<ref name="album97"/> Nevertheless, after ''Brandy''(('))s commercial success, she was heavily pressured, stating: "It's very important to me that my music connects with the general public.<ref name="billboard25Apr.1998"/>

For a while, she placed the recording of the album on the "back burner" because she was "barely satisfied with the material that was presented to her.<ref name="jet98">((cite web|date=1998-06-01|title=19-Years-Old Brandy Grows Up With New Album|work=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]] |url=((Google books |plainurl=yes |id=2sMDAAAAMBAJ |page=60 )) |access-date=2010-03-20))</ref> She found that many songs would not express what she wanted to tell at that point of her career.<ref name="jet98"/> According to her, "Many of the songs I heard were not 'me'," the singer stated during a promotional interview with ''[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]'' in 1999, "And If I can't feel it, then I won't sing it."<ref name="jet98"/> Also, after ''Brandy'', she felt in a space of wanting to do something different, while exploring her voice and playing with different sounds.<ref name="heron">((cite web|first=Asia |last=Burris|title=Interview: Brandy Discusses Early Beginnings At The Forefront of R&B|url=http://saintheron.com/featured/interview-brandy-discusses-early-beginnings-at-the-forefront-of-rb/|publisher=SaintHeron.com|date=2016-02-02|access-date=2017-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204111923/https://saintheron.com/featured/interview-brandy-discusses-early-beginnings-at-the-forefront-of-rb/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2016))</ref> Elaborating on her desire for progression and a more mature sound, Norwood added, that  "I'm not the little girl I was when I made my first record. My voice is a strong instrument now; my vocals come from both my heart and my [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]]. My heart because I matured in the four years since the last album; I'm more emotionally there."<ref name="jet98"/> She also regained interest with music when she met then upcoming producer Rodney Jerkins and his production team.<ref name="album97"/> "They really turned it around. When I met Rodney, his tracks were so mean, so unbelievable, and the writing that Sean and Jaffey did, they came to the table and they really brought a lot of the fill ins that I had inside of me out. They changed my whole perspective on the music thing. When I started to work with them, I wanted to go to the studio every day. I wanted to sing every day. I didn't want to act anymore after that", says Norwood.<ref name="album97"/>

==Recording and production==
[[File:Rodney Darkchild Jerkins (11149414586).jpg|right|thumb|upright|''Never Say Never'' was executive produced by [[Rodney Jerkins]] (''pictured'') and his team.<ref name="billboard2018"/>]]
Production for the album dates back as early as May 1997, during this time [[MTV News]] reported that Norwood was "taking up two recording studios in both [[New York City|New York]] and [[Los Angeles]], and is working on what she hopes will be a fall release".<ref name="mtv97">((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/7o7grw/janet-jackson-brandy-back-to-work-in-studio|date=May 21, 1997|title=Janet Jackson, Brandy Back To Work In Studio|work=[[MTV News]]|accessdate=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115065332/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426546/19970521/brandy.jhtml|url-status=live|archive-date=January 15, 2008))</ref> Producers that were slated to work on the album at that point were [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]], [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]], David Foster, and [[Keith Crouch]].<ref name="mtv97"/> During the early recording stages she recorded a few songs with Puffy but didn't finish them due to their hectic schedules.<ref name="mtvfeature"/> The plan was for the pair to resume what they had started.<ref name="mtvfeature"/> According to her: "I'm going to go back in the studio with him. I'm really excited to work with Puffy. I'm more nervous than excited because I'm like the biggest Puffy fan. The last time I worked with Puffy, I couldn't even sing right".<ref name="mtvfeature">((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_5.jhtml|title=Brandy Gets Real|work=[[MTV News]]|accessdate=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011213151829/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_5.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2001))</ref> Norwood was also planning to record a song with [[Wyclef Jean]], in which she expressed that she had heard that his track was "so hot" and she was "ready to go in there and sing it, master it, get it done, and put it on the album".<ref name="mtvfeature"/> Rapper and songwriter-producer [[Missy Elliott]] was also requested as a producer at one point.<ref name="spin2">((cite magazine |last=Good|first=Karen R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-86CzNjg9cC&dq=brandy+missy+elliott&pg=PA108|date=October 1997|title=Play Missy For Me|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|accessdate=|volume=13|number=7|page=108))</ref> 

Recording for the album resumed in October 1997, with Norwood confirming that she was "right in the middle" of completing the album.<ref name=MTVoct97>((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/dwifwm/brandy-back-in-the-studio|date=October 10, 1997|title=Brandy Back In The Studio|work=[[MTV News]]|accessdate=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206131230/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426545/brandy-back-studio.jhtml|url-status=live|archive-date=February 6, 2012))</ref> She stated that the material was going to be "sophisticated a little, a little sexy, a little edge, but I'm still gonna be innocent, you know, I still have to give 'em that America's sweetheart thing. I have to do that, can't never get rid of that".<ref name=MTVoct97/> The albums mature direction can be attributed to Norwood being influenced by [[Celine Dion]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Whitney Houston]], and [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]].<ref name=MTVoct97/> "I look at all these other female artists that are coming out and who've done so well. I get to see what they're doin' with they self, you know, and the imaging and the songs, and I get to take bits and pieces from everybody and put it into my own style", says Norwood.<ref name=MTVoct97/>

Eventually, Rodney Jerkins jumped on board and the pair recorded "The Boy Is Mine";  the sixth track recorded for the album.<ref name=MTVoct97/> Norwood stated that the song was not a friendship type of duet, "you've seen friendship duets like Whitney, Cece and different duets. This is Brandy and Monica, like, they're, we're just gettin' it on".<ref name=MTVoct97/> Jerkins was brought in when Atlantic Records  A&R Paris Davis called him to meet with Norwood at ''Georgia(('))s'', a restaurant in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="youknowigotsoul2020">((cite web|title=Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Interview: A Reflection on the Production of Legendary Songs|website=youknowigotsoul.com|url=https://youknowigotsoul.com/rodney-darkchild-jerkins-interview-a-reflection-on-the-production-of-legendary-songs|date=June 1, 2020|access-date=June 9, 2020))</ref> Accompanied by his brother [[Fred Jerkins III]] and songwriter [[LaShawn Daniels]], he ended up completing five songs in five days with her, including “Learn the Hard Way”, “Happy”, “Put That on Everything,” and title track “Never Say Never.”<ref name="youknowigotsoul2020"/> Satisfied with their output, Atlantic Records secured a production deal with Jerkins's team and encouraged them to work on more material for the album.<ref name="thefader">((cite web|first=Myles|last=Tanzer|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/07/19/brandy-monica-boy-is-mine-podcast|title=When Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" Ran the world|work=[[The Fader]]|date=July 19, 2018|access-date=May 12, 2020))</ref> With Jerkins and his team producing the majority on the album, he was eventually promoted to [[executive producer]] on the album.<ref name="billboard2018">((cite magazine|first=Morgan|last=Jerkins|title=How Brandy and 1998 Changed Everything for My Family|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458485/brandy-never-say-never-morgan-jerkins-rodney-interview-1998|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=June 20, 2020))</ref>

Jerkins and his circle worked excessively on the album, with typical sessions starting in the afternoon and lasting until the early morning hours.<ref name="billboard2018"/> Despite the physical distance between the recording studios and Jerkins's native in [[New Jersey]], he brought many of his family and friends to Los Angeles to help work on the album.<ref name="billboard2018"/> His brother Fred quit his steady job working at [[Prudential Insurance Company]] to work with Norwood on ''Never Say Never'', while his sister Sybil received co-writing credits on the album.<ref name="billboard2018"/> Drawing from their own experiences, many titles of ''Never Say Never'' were built on a cliché book in the studio.<ref name="youknowigotsoul2020"/> With Jerkins being inspired by the singer/producer partnerships of [[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis]] and [[Janet Jackson]] as well as the influence of [[DeVante Swing]] on [[Jodeci]]'s sound, he envisioned a full body of work for Norwood's second album, telling: "I wanted to make records where you fell in love with and heard the journey of the artists from beginning to end. The intro is just as important as the song, the outro is just as important. Once I got Brandy to believe in that vision, then we just locked in."<ref name="youknowigotsoul2020"/>

Apart from Jerkins and Darkchild crew, Norwood also worked with Canadian producer [[David Foster]] on the album.<ref name="jet98"/> Lending a certain level of [[adult contemporary]]–pop crossover credibility to the project, he would produce three songs on ''Never Say Never'', including "Have You Ever?," written by his frequent collaborator [[Diane Warren]], the [[Gordon Chambers]]-penned "One Voice" and "[[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]," a cover version of Canadian singer [[Bryan Adams]]'s 1991 song. Initially she was scared to record "huge" [[Pop (music)|Pop ballads]] because she didn't know if she "could pull it off", however Foster showed her "the insides of doing a pop ballad".<ref name="mtvfeature2">((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_6.jhtml|title=Brandy Gets Real|work=[[MTV News]]|accessdate=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011213194853/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/brandyfeature98_6.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2001))</ref> Norwood recorded songs multiple times if she wasn't satisfied with them.<ref name=MTVoct97/> She stated: "I'll do a song, and then go in my car and listen to someone's CD and if that sounds better than what I did, I'll have to go do it again. Like I listened to number 4 on Mariah's album, I said, "Oh my God, I have to do the slow song again, it has to be just like this, it has to be this type of quality."<ref name=MTVoct97/> Ultimately, she credits the chemistry with Jerkins and Foster for her musical growth: "They brought out the best in me, the vocals I didn't know I had," she said.<ref name="jet98"/> Aside from improving vocally, she further showed musical growth by co-writing and producing songs on the album.<ref>((cite magazine|last=Samuels|first=Anita M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Brandy+co-wrote&pg=PA13|title=Brandy Returns To Music|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=August 18, 2023|volume=110|number=17|page=87))</ref>

==Music and lyrics==
The album's opening track "[[Angel in Disguise (Brandy song)|Angel in Disguise]]" is a [[Rodney Jerkins]]-produced mid-tempo track that features backing vocals by fellow R&B singer [[Joe (singer)|Joe]].<ref>((cite web|first1=David|last1=Nathan|first2=Chris|last2=Rizik|title=Brandy Discography|work=Soultracks.com|date=8 May 2007|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm|access-date=2010-06-20))</ref> It consists of a "dribbling bass line" that [[Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|Chuck Taylor]] of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' compared to a "dreamlike, moonlit night".<ref name="angelindisguise">((Cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Q0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22brandy%22+++%22angel+in+disguise%22&pg=PA23|date=January 30, 1999|title=Reviews & Previews - Singles|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|number=5|page=23))</ref> The harmonic background song, created using the so-called [[multi-track recording]], was described as "enchanting" and "seductive".<ref name="angelindisguise"/> The lyrics of "Angel in Disguise" describe a protagonist who still loves her partner despite his infidelity, with Norwood quoted: "An angel in disguise she was / But somehow you fell for her / Till she broke your heart that day / And left you in the rain / But still I love you".<ref>((cite web|author=Anon.|date=n.d.|title=Brandy – Angel in Disguise Lyrics|website=[[Genius (website)|Genius]]|url=https://www.genius.com/amp/Brandy-angel-in-disguise-lyrics|accessdate=September 4, 2021))</ref> Set as the album's [[lead single]], "[[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]" was originally intended to be a solo song for Brandy, but due to [[Monica (entertainer)|Monica]]'s success at the time, it was conceived as a duet. Inspired by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Paul McCartney]]'s 1982 duet "[[The Girl Is Mine]]", the lyrics of the mid-tempo R&B track revolve around two women fighting over a man.<ref name=HeraldS>((cite web|title=We Assess The Best, and Worst, All-Time Musical Duets |last=Adams |first=Cameron |date=June 19, 2008 |work=Herald Sun |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23888090-2902,00.html |access-date=December 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622151152/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23888090-2902%2C00.html |archive-date=June 22, 2008 ))</ref> "Learn the Hard Way" is the album's fourth track and shares similarities with the album's [[Never Say Never (Brandy song)|title track]]. The song's background revolves around Norwood telling a man "it's a shame you had to learn the hard way", and the lyrics quote: "You did me wrong / You told me lies / Treated me bad / All of the time." The lyrics also show Norwood does not feel sympathy for him after all he's done. The Guy Roche-produced "[[Almost Doesn't Count]]" follows; its lyrics revolve around its writer [[Shelly Peiken]]'s powerful but unfruitful [[on-again, off-again relationship]] she had with a man while in college.<ref name="songfacts">((cite web|first=Carl|last=Wiser|title=Songwriter Interviews: Shelly Peiken|website=songfacts.com|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/shelly-peiken|accessdate=May 3, 2020))</ref> Peiken recalled her emotions during a writing session with Roche decades later when she "dug up that laundry list of all the 'almosts' I felt we had, and we put it into the song."<ref name="songfacts"/> In a 2020 interview, she further elaborated about the lyrics: "It was a relationship that was more in my head than in his, and I always felt like we almost got there, he almost said I love you, he almost broke up with the girlfriend he had the whole time. He almost faced his feelings but he never quite got there – maybe that was all in my head too. Maybe he never had any of those feelings, maybe it was all my imagination."<ref name="songfacts"/><ref>((harvnb|Peiken|2016))</ref> Brandy performed the song in the 1999 television film ''[[Double Platinum (film)|Double Platinum]]'', starring [[Diana Ross]] and herself. The international single "[[Top of the World (Brandy song)|Top of the World]]" is the album's sixth track. It is a collaboration with [[Mase]] and talks about Brandy as a popstar "just trying to be her" and not feeling like being in her own world.

The [[Rodney Jerkins|Darkchild]]-produced "[[U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)]]", which is the album's seventh and final single, is noted for its remix version with Shaunta and [[Da Brat]]. The title track, also produced by [[Rodney Jerkins]], is the eighth song of the album. "Truthfully", a ballad about a broken relationship, was written by former [[Boyz II Men]] member, singer-songwriter [[Marc Nelson (singer)|Marc Nelson]].<ref name="ykigs1">((cite web|date=2011-03-28|title=YouKnowIGotSoul Interview With Marc Nelson|publisher=YouKnowIGotSoul.com|url=http://youknowigotsoul.com/youknowigotsoul-interview-with-marc-nelson|access-date=2013-06-04))</ref> Recorded in a single take, it took Nelson five different sessions to get Norwood in the recording studio as she felt initially nervous about working with him.<ref name="ykigs1"/> Main production on the song was helmed by [[Harvey Mason, Jr.]], who received his first major placement as a producer on "Truthfully".<ref name="ykigs2">((cite web|date=2011-06-20|title=Interview: An "Underdog" in Name Only, Harvey Mason Jr. Has Grown Into One of R&B's Elite Producers|publisher=YouKnowIGotSoul.com|url=http://youknowigotsoul.com/interview-an-%E2%80%9Cunderdog%E2%80%9D-in-name-only-harvey-mason-jr-has-grown-into-one-of-rb%E2%80%99s-elite-producers|access-date=2013-06-04))</ref> Mason was consulted by Jerkins after he had shopped around several tracks for record executives.<ref name="ykigs2"/> The No. 1 single "[[Have You Ever?]]" is the album's tenth track. Brandy states that it was the first time she had been in the studio with a producer like [[David Foster]], initially being nervous about recording the song.<ref name="soul">((cite web|first1=David|last1=Nathan|first2=Chris|last2=Rizik|title=Brandy Biography – ''The Best of Brandy''|date=8 May 2007|publisher=Soultracks.com|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm|access-date=2007-07-10))</ref> In the song's lyrics, Norwood sings about unrequited love with lyrics such as "Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to / Only to find that one will not give their heart to you".<ref>((cite web|author=Anon.|date=n.d.|title=Brandy – Have You Ever? Lyrics|website=[[Genius (website)|Genius]]|url=https://www.genius.com/amp/Brandy-have-you-ever-lyrics|accessdate=September 4, 2021))</ref> "Put That on Everything", a mid-tempo ballad, is the album's eleventh track. The album's twelfth track "In the Car Interlude" is actually a phone conversation in the car between Brandy, Rodney and Fred Jerkins. "Happy", an R&B up-tempo song, was the album's thirteenth track. It was also featured in ''Double Platinum'' and received positive reception from ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060823043556/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/brandy/albums/album/200271/review/5945797/never_say_never Brandy: Never Say Never : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It also served as the theme song of the 2002 [[MTV]] reality television series ''[[Brandy: Special Delivery]]''. "One Voice", the fourteenth track, was the official [[UNICEF]] theme song during its 50th anniversary celebration. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' describes her voice in the song as "soft and smoky" and as a "gospel-fired ballad that finds her effortlessly raising the roof".<ref name="ew.com">((cite magazine | url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,283602,00.html | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=Music Review: Never Say Never, by Ian McLagan & the Bump Band | access-date=2007-01-22 | archive-date=2014-10-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025022615/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,283602,00.html | url-status=dead ))</ref> "Tomorrow", a nearly six-minutes-long ballad, is the fifteenth track and the album's longest song. The final song on the album is the [[Bryan Adams]] cover "[[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]".

==Release and promotion==
''Never Say Never'' was released in the United States on June 9, 1998, by [[Atlantic Records]];<ref name="uscd">((cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/never-say-never-mw0000180778|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Never Say Never &ndash; Brandy|website=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=Alliance Entertainment Corporation|date=June 9, 1998|accessdate=September 4, 2021))</ref> its double-disc limited edition was released exclusively in Australia on July 13, 1999.<ref name="ausltd">((cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/never-say-never-bonus-cd-mr0001355894|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Never Say Never [Bonus CD] &ndash; Brandy|website=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=Alliance Entertainment Corporation|date=July 13, 1999|accessdate=September 4, 2021))</ref> Promotion for ''Never Say Never'' began with Brandy's appearance on music magazine ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''(('))s April 1998 cover, followed by a massive print campaign, including cover shoots for ''[[Teen People]]'' and ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' as well as coverage in [[fanzine]]s.<ref name="bb19980425">((cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22never+say+never%22+%22RODNEY+JERKINS%22&pg=PA87 |title=Brandy Returns To Music |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=April 25, 1998|access-date=April 30, 2017))</ref> The co-marketing venture between ''Vibe'' and [[Atlantic Records]] resulted in a number of joint projects, such as a ''Vibe''&ndash;Brandy website, a college marketing tour, and several retail and radio promotions.<ref name="bb19980425"/> With television channel [[MTV]], Brandy hosted the network's [[spring break]] shows in Jamaica on March 13–15.<ref name="bb19980425"/>

On May 14, Brandy performed "The Boy Is Mine" for the first time, solo on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/277728531/?terms=singer%20brandy%20the%20tonight%20show&match=1|title=The Tonight Show|newspaper=[[The Morning Call]]|page=62|date=May 14, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbToBpZ3a0|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/hYbToBpZ3a0|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy - "The Boy Is Mine" (Solo) Live (1998)|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/episode-1379-air-date-pictured-actor-jerry-seinfeld-news-photo/140799110?adppopup=true|title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|work=[[Getty Images]]|date=May 14, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022))</ref> In June, Brandy performed "Top of the World" alongside Mase at the [[1998 MTV Movie Awards]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1426539/mase-duets-with-brandy-forms-record-label/|title=MASE DUETS WITH BRANDY, FORMS RECORD LABEL
|date=June 3, 1998|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> On June 13,  MTV aired a special in which Brandy presented a video countdown that consisted of her favorite music videos. The following day, MTV produced a 30-minute ''Ultra Sound'' segment special about her.<ref name="bb19980425"/> On June 16, Brandy appeared on ''[[CBS This Morning]]''.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/172810255/?terms=singer%20brandy&match=1|title=This Morning|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|page=60|date=June 16, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_bzRJoG2a8|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/L_bzRJoG2a8|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy on "CBS This Morning" (1998)|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref> On July 17, Brandy went on ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'' ;<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/584352969/?terms=singer%20brandy%20the%20view&match=1|title=The View|newspaper=[[Longview Daily News]]|page=110|date=July 17, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref> Three days later, she appeared on ''[[Live with Kelly and Ryan|Live with Regis and Kathie Lee]].''<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/90204707/?terms=singer%20brandy&match=1|title=Live - Regis & Kathie Lee|newspaper=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]]|page=10|date=July 20, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkJJqSXDUrw|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/QkJJqSXDUrw|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy & Monica on "Regis & Kathie Lee|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref> On July 22, Brandy appeared on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/124202249/?terms=singer%20brandy%20Late%20night%20with%20Conan%20O%27Brien&match=1|title=Late Night with Conan O'Brien|newspaper=[[Arizona Republic]]|page=67|date=July 22, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C17N0hHx9Ok|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/C17N0hHx9Ok|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy on "Conan O'Brien" (1998)|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref> On August 28, she made yet another appearance on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' ; this time performing "Have You Ever".<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/431959485/?terms=singer%20brandy%20the%20tonight%20show&match=1|title=The Tonight Show|newspaper=[[El Paso Times]]|page=32|date=August 28, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5l9965MjLI|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/s5l9965MjLI|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy - Have you ever? (Live)|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=accR1d7iihE|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/accR1d7iihE|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy on "Jay Leno" (1998)|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/episode-1445-pictured-singer-brandy-during-an-interview-news-photo/156273416?adppopup=true|title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|work=[[Getty Images]]|date=August 28, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022))</ref> On September 3, Brandy performed the remix version of "Top of the World" alongside rappers [[Big Pun]] and [[Fat Joe]] at the [[Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1425316/destinys-child-erykah-badu-mary-j-blige-and-lil-kim-big-winners-at-lady-of-soul-awards/|title=DESTINY'S CHILD, ERYKAH BADU, MARY J. BLIGE AND LIL' KIM BIG WINNERS AT LADY OF SOUL AWARDS|date=September 4, 1998|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> Also in September, Brandy and Monica performed "The Boy Is Mine" live for the first time together at the [[1998 MTV Video Music Awards]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1425251/ben-stiller-to-host-video-music-awards-featuring-backstreet-boys-beasties-brandy-and-monica/|title=BEN STILLER TO HOST VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS FEATURING BACKSTREET BOYS, BEASTIES, BRANDY AND MONICA
|date=August 12, 1998|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> On September 26, Brandy performed at the Hip-Hop Unity Festival held at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426535/brandy-warren-g-def-squad-ice-t-on-board-for-hip-hop-unity-festival/|title=BRANDY, WARREN G, DEF SQUAD, ICE-T ON BOARD FOR HIP-HOP UNITY FESTIVAL|date=September 9, 1998|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> On October 11, Brandy performed at the 1998 International Achievement in Arts Awards.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/502038/brandy-monica-to-perform-at-benefit/|title=BRANDY, MONICA TO PERFORM AT BENEFIT|date=September 23, 1998|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> Two days later she made an appearance on ''[[The Rosie O'Donnell Show]]''.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/406362133/?terms=singer%20brandy&match=1|title=Rosie O'Donnell|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|page=19|date=October 13, 1998|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref>

On January 11, 1999, Brandy and actress [[Melissa Joan Hart]] hosted the [[American Music Awards of 1999|1999 American Music Awards]] at the [[Shrine Auditorium]] in Los Angeles.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/music/features/ama98.htm?noredirect=on|title=Will Smith Wins 3 Music Awards|date=January 12, 1999|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> During the award ceremony, she performed her song "Have You Ever?".<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK8hKoDdB_4|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/yK8hKoDdB_4|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy Have You Ever Live AMA 1999|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref> On January 31, Brandy and rapper [[LL Cool J]] hosted Miami radio station [[WEDR]]'s [[Super Bowl]] concert, surrounding [[Super Bowl XXXIII]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1426530/jay-z-method-man-brandy-foxy-brown-to-team-up-for-super-bowl-show/|title=JAY-Z, METHOD MAN, BRANDY, FOXY BROWN TO TEAM UP FOR SUPER BOWL SHOW|date=January 19, 1999|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> In March 1999, Brandy joined former [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] and [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Janet Reno]] at the [[National Museum of Women in the Arts]] to recognize six young women that were selected for the second annual Volunteerism Awards.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426527/brandy-goes-to-washington-to-present-volunteer-awards/|title=BRANDY GOES TO WASHINGTON TO PRESENT VOLUNTEER AWARDS|date=March 15, 1999|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> On April 13, Brandy performed alongside  [[Whitney Houston]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Cher]], [[Chaka Khan]], and [[Faith Hill]], among others, at ''[[VH1 Divas#VH1 Divas Live/99|VH1 Divas Live '99]]''.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/513108/brandy-to-join-vh1s-divas/|title=BRANDY TO JOIN VH1'S DIVAS|date=March 26, 1999|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> By May 1999, Brandy had embarked on a world tour with shows in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan.<ref name=tour>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426526/brandy-sets-dates-for-summer-tour-with-tyrese-c-note/|title=BRANDY SETS DATES FOR SUMMER TOUR WITH TYRESE, C-NOTE|date=April 27, 1999|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref><ref name=worldtour>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426522/brandy-cuts-short-american-tour-to-make-tv-return/|title=BRANDY CUTS SHORT AMERICAN TOUR TO MAKE TV RETURN|date=June 15, 1999|work=[[MTV news]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref> Also in May, she performed "Almost Doesn't Count" on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/212136478/?terms=singer%20brandy%20the%20tonight%20show&match=1|title=Live - Regis & Kathie Lee|newspaper=[[The News-Press|News-Press]]|page=43|date=May 13, 1999|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elC1WQ9iczww|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/elC1WQ9iczw|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Brandy - Almost Doesn't Count (Jay Leno Show Live) HD|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/episode-1604-pictured-musical-guest-brandy-performs-on-may-news-photo/978800358?adppopup=true|title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|work=[[Getty Images]]|date=May 13, 1999|access-date=May 15, 2022))</ref> In June, Brandy returned to the US for the North American leg of her tour which was originally scheduled to run from June 18 to August 2.<ref name=tour/> The tour was cut short because she had to film the then-upcoming fifth season of her [[UPN]] sitcom ''[[Moesha]]''.<ref name=worldtour/> On September 8, 1999, she performed "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)", on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/220446403/?terms=singer%20brandy%20the%20tonight%20show&match=1|title=Tonight Show|newspaper=[[The News-Press|News-Press]]|page=47|date=September 8, 1999|access-date=May 15, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiiNyYwiZ30|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/YiiNyYwiZ30|archive-date=May 15, 2022 |url-status=live|title="You Don't Know Me"-Brandy|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 15, 2022))((cbignore))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/episode-1675-pictured-musical-guest-brandy-performing-on-news-photo/1000344598?adppopup=true|title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|work=[[Getty Images]]|date=September 8, 1999|access-date=May 15, 2022))</ref>

In retail, a Brandy standee was provided to merchants, while the album was made part of "price and positing" programs at all major national accounts and urban indie accounts nationally upon its release.<ref name="bb19980425"/> Other marketing items for ''Never Say Never'' included a partnering with [[DC Comics]], which created a Brandy [[comic book]] in September 1998 for junior high and high school students.<ref name="bb19980425"/> Atlantic also discussed plans with [[Disney]] for a cross-promotion between the home video version of ''[[Cinderella (1997 film)|Cinderella]]'' (1997) and the album, as well as the production of a major TV special, involving corporate sponsors.<ref name="bb19980425"/>

==Singles==
"[[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]", a duet with singer [[Monica (singer)|Monica]], was the first song to be lifted from ''Never Say Never'' in May 1998. Released to generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, it became the first No. 1 pop record for both artists, both stateside and internationally. In the United States, "The Boy Is Mine" became the best-selling song of the year, spending 13 weeks on top of the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] during the summer of 1998. It was certified [[RIAA certification|double platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) and ranked eighth on ''Billboard''(('))s decade-end chart.<ref>((Cite book | author = Geoff Mayfield | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA4 | title = 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s | publisher = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = December 25, 1999 | access-date = October 15, 2010))</ref> Internationally, the single also achieved a strong charting, peaking at No. 1 in Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, while reaching the top five on most of the other charts on which it appeared.<ref name="sixty-one">((cite web|title=At Age 21, The N.J.-based Producer Is King of His World|author=Farber, Jim|date=2002-02-06|work=NY Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2000/02/06/2000-02-06_r___b_rodney_at_age_21__the_.html|access-date=2008-04-22))</ref> "[[Top of the World (Brandy song)|Top of the World]]" featuring rapper [[Mase]] served as the album's second single. The song was less successful around the world, but reached No. 2 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. It was certified silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) on October 23, 1998.<ref name="BPI"/>

"[[Have You Ever?]]" was released as the album's third single throughout fall 1998. It became the second song from ''Never Say Never'' to reach the top position on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the [[New Zealand Singles Chart]], while reaching the top twenty in most English-speaking countries. The ballad garnered a generally mixed reception from critics and was ranked 14th on ''Billboard''(('))s 1999 year-end chart.<ref>((cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|title=Billboard Top 100&ndash;1999|access-date=2010-08-28|archive-date=2006-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095342/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|url-status=dead))</ref> Midtempo track "[[Angel in Disguise (Brandy song)|Angel in Disguise]]" featuring prominent backing vocals by singer [[Joe (singer)|Joe]], was released as a radio single on January 21, 1999, in the United States only. It reached the top twenty on the ''Billboard''(('))s [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] based on airplay alone. "[[Almost Doesn't Count]]" was released in the second quarter of 1999, serving as the album's fifth single. The ballad reached the top twenty on the majority of all charts it appeared on and was promoted by a performance in the 1999 film ''[[Double Platinum (film)|Double Platinum]]'', starring [[Diana Ross]] and Brandy herself.

"[[U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)]]" was selected as the album's fifth single and marked the final single to be released from ''Never Say Never'' in North America. A minor commercial success, the song reached No. 79 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the top thirty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In support of the single, a remix version of the track featuring female rappers Shaunta and [[Da Brat]] was released, accompanied by a remix EP entitled ''[[U Don't Know Me (EP)|U Don't Know Me... Like U Used To – The Remix EP]]''. In German-speaking Europe, "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" appeared as a [[B-side]] on the promotional single "Never Say Never". It failed to chart, however.<ref name="cd">((cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Brandy-Never-Say-Never/release/3028791|title=Brandy (2)– Never Say Never|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=2013-02-09))</ref> In Oceania, the [[Bryan Adams]] cover "[[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]" was released as the album's sixth single instead. It reached No. 28 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

==Critical reception==
((Music ratings
| title      = Professional ratings
| subtitle   = <!-- Aggregate scores -->
| rev1       = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score  = ((Rating|3.5|5))<ref name="allmusic">((cite web|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|work=[[AllMusic]]|url=((AllMusic|class=album|id=r351851|pure_url=yes))|title=''Never Say Never'' - Brandy ((!)) Songs, Reviews, Credits|access-date=2020-08-20))</ref>
| rev2       = [[BBC Music]]
| rev2Score  = (positive)<ref name="bbc">((cite web|date=2009-11-10|first=Daryl|last=Easlea|work=[[BBC Music]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pwd3/|title=The Epitome Of A Mixed Bag|access-date=May 13, 2022))</ref>
| rev3       = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score  = B<ref name="ew">((cite magazine|date=1998-06-12|first=J.D.|last=Considine|author-link=J.D. Considine|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1998/06/12/never-say-never|title=Never Say Never Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501070438/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/06/12/never-say-never |access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=2016-05-01 ))</ref>
| rev4       = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev4Score  = (mixed)<ref name="ti">((cite news|first=Angela|last=Lewis|date=1998-06-13|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-album-reviews-1164754.html|title=Music: Album Reviews|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=May 13, 2022|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212455/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-album-reviews-1164754.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 ))</ref>
| rev5       = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5Score  = ((Rating|2|4))<ref>((cite web|date=December 3, 1998|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/03/entertainment/ca-49981|title=Top Pop Albums|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930040717/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/03/entertainment/ca-49981 |access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=2018-09-30 ))</ref>
| rev6       = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev6Score  = ((Rating-Christgau|hm2))<ref name="christgau">((cite web|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=brandy|title=CG: Brandy|work=RobertChristgau.com|access-date=2012-10-05))</ref>
| rev7       = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score  = ((Rating|3|5))<ref name="rs">((cite magazine|first=Lorraine|last=Ali|date=1998-06-18|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/brandy/albums/album/200271/review/5945797/never_say_never|title=Brandy: Never Say Never : Music Reviews|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=2010-07-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002111003/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/brandy/albums/album/200271/review/5945797/never_say_never|archive-date=2007-10-02))</ref>
| rev8       = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8Score  = ((Rating|3.5|5))<ref>((harvnb|Brackett & Hoard|2004|p=103))</ref>
| rev9       = ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]''
| rev9Score  = (positive)<ref name="tsr">((cite news|first=Richard|last=Harrington|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/575336450/?terms=Brandy&match=1|title=Brandy's Talent Showcased On New Never Say Never|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|page=64|date=June 21, 1998|access-date=May 13, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref>
| rev10      = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev10score = ((Rating|4|5))<ref>((cite journal |title= Brandy – Never Say Never  |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=144 |date=September 1998 |page=95 |last=Steele |first=Sam))</ref>
))

''Never Say Never'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics. [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[AllMusic]] gave the album four out of five stars and noted it a "better, more adventurous record than [[Brandy (album)|her debut]]," adding: "Brandy wisely decides to find a middle ground between [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Mary J. Blige]] — it's [[adult contemporary]] with a slight [[street music|streetwise edge]]. [Her] delivery has improved and her subdued vocals can make mediocre material sound convincing. Still, what makes ''Never Say Never'' a winning record is the quality songs and production."<ref name="allmusic"/> Daryl Easlea from [[BBC Music]] felt that the collection of smooth, mid-paced jams provided a snapshot of commercial R&B from the era. He described ''Never Say Never'' "as the epitome of a mixed bag. However, given that a lot of R&B in the late 90s sounds like an ornate musical box revolving, the album is an intelligent brew that deviates sufficiently from that template and plays to Brandy and executive producer Rodney Jerkins's considerable strengths."<ref name="bbc"/>

Paul Verna from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' gave the album a mixed review. Verna felt that Brandy showed maturity and confidence on songs like "The Boy Is Mine"; yet the album as a whole was filled with “trend-conscious moves” from guest raps from Mase to “sound alike melodies ” similar to [[Janet Jackson]]. Overall, he expressed that Brandy should focus more on developing her own artistry opposed to imitating other artists.<ref>((cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Verna|title=Reviews & Previews|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 13, 1998|page=22|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQ4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Brandy%27s+Talent+Showcased+On+New+Never+Say+Never&pg=PA22|accessdate=May 13, 2022))</ref> ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]'' critic Richard Harrington was positive with the album, writing: "Brandy is co-writer on six of the album's 16 songs and no matter their achievement lyrically, she finds herself grown-up and confident, without taking any false steps."<ref name="tsr"/>

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine was generally positive with the album, giving it three stars out of five stars rating, and wrote: "Brandy exudes more pizazz than the [[Hanson (band)|Hanson]] brothers combined and bursts with enough naive charm to make [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]] look like a jaded sailor. Her second album bubbles with that same effervescence [...]."<ref name="rs"/> [[J. D. Considine]], reviewer for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', felt that Norwood's voice was lacking passion on the album.<ref name="ew"/> Although he indicated that it was "hard to argue with Brandy's deference to the rhythm, especially when she rides one of producer Rodney Jerkins itchily propulsive tracks," he also noted that it was flattening "its emotional range, until the romantic bliss of "Happy," the dogged determination of "[[Never Say Never (Brandy song)|Never Say Never]]," and the conflicted affection of "[[Angel in Disguise (Brandy song)|Angel in Disguise]]" all end up sounding pretty much the same."<ref name="ew"/> He gave the album a B rating.<ref name="ew"/> Angela Lewis, writer for ''[[The Independent]]'' was disappointed with the album, saying: "This is pop R&B without the soul, and could see Brandy without a future in the adult big league. She lacks real command of tracks like "[[Have You Ever?]]", showing she's better at playing by the rules than anything else."<ref name="ti"/>  In his Consumer Guide, [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album a two-star honorable mention and picked out its three songs ("The Boy Is Mine", "U Don't Know Me" and "Almost Doesn't Count") while describing Brandy as "America's sweetheart, and why not?"<ref name="christgau"/> ''[[Music Week]]'' stated that due to her past success Brandy will have "little trouble storming the UK charts with this second album" and that she "displays a maturity beyond her years."<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-05-30.pdf|date=May 30, 1998|title=Album Reviews|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|accessdate=August 28, 2023))</ref>

((clear))

==Accolades==
((Awards table|5))
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[1998 MTV Video Music Awards|1998]]
| rowspan="2"| [[MTV Video Music Awards]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]]
| rowspan="6"| "[[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]"
| ((nom))
| rowspan="2"| ((center|<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1998/|title=1998 MTV Video Music Awards - Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 1998 MTV VMAs|website=[[MTV]]|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207231649/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1998/|archive-date=February 7, 2010|accessdate=August 18, 2023|quote=click on the winners tab for the list of winners/nominees.))</ref>))
|-
| [[Best R&B Video]]
| ((nom))
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 1998
| rowspan="1"|[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Music Video Awards]]
| Best R&B/Urban Clip
| ((won))
| rowspan="1"| ((center|<ref>((cite magazine|last=Hay|first=Carla|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQoEAAAAMBAJ&q=Brandy+Best+R%26B+Clip&pg=PA88|title=Marilyn Manson, 'Nsync Lead Billboard Music Video Awards|date=November 21, 1998|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=110|number=47|page=88|accessdate=August 18, 2023))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[41st Annual Grammy Awards|1999]]
| rowspan="4"| [[Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| ((nom))
| rowspan="4"| ((center|<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/brandy/4828|title=Brandy|work=[[Grammy Awards|Grammy.com]]|access-date=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109013304/https://www.grammy.com/artists/brandy/4828|url-status=live|archive-date=January 9, 2023))</ref>))
|-
| [[Best R&B Song]]
| ((nom))
|-
| [[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]]
| ((won))
|-
| [[Best R&B Album]]
| rowspan="3"| ''Never Say Never''
| ((nom))
|-
! scope="row"| 1999
| [[Echo Awards]]
| Newcomer of the year, International
| ((nom))
| ((center|<ref>((cite web |title=Nominees and winners ECHO [Search] |url=https://echopop-archiv.de/nominierte-und-gewinner/ |publisher=[[Echo Music Prize]] |access-date=June 30, 2022|language=de |format=To access, enter the search parameter "Brandy"))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[1999 Soul Train Music Awards|1999]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Soul Train Music Awards]]
| [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female|Best Female R&B/Soul Album, Female]]
| ((nom))
| rowspan="2"| ((center|<ref>((cite web|author=MTV News Staff|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1429210/lauryn-hill-leads-nominees-for-1999-soul-train-music-awards/|title=Lauryn Hill Leads Nominees For 1999 Soul Train Music Awards|website=[[MTV News]]|date=February 18, 1999|access-date=August 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915120309/https://www.mtv.com/news/1429210/lauryn-hill-leads-nominees-for-1999-soul-train-music-awards/|archive-date=September 15, 2014))</ref>))
|-
| [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo|Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo]]
| "The Boy Is Mine"
| ((nom))
|-
! scope="row"| [[1999 MTV Video Music Awards|1999]]
| MTV Video Music Awards
| Best R&B Video
| "[[Have You Ever?]]"
| ((nom))
| ((center|<ref>((cite magazine|last=Hay|first=Carla|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=1999+mtv+video+awards+Aaliyah&pg=PA73|date=August 7, 1999 |title=Retail:MTV Awards Will Boost Martin|magazine=[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]|access-date=August 18, 2023|volume=111|number=32|page=73))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row"| [[42nd Annual Grammy Awards|2000]]
| Grammy Awards
| [[Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]]
| "[[Almost Doesn't Count]]"
| ((nom))
| ((center|<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501120901/https://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html|url-status=live|archive-date=May 1, 2022|work=[[CNN]]|title=42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations|date=January 4, 2000|accessdate=August 18, 2023))</ref>))
|}

==Commercial performance==
''Never Say Never'' debuted at No. 3 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] for the week of June 16, 1998,<ref name="MTV-11">((cite web|first=David|last=Basham|date=2002-03-14|title=Got Charts? The Long Road To #1 — And Those Who Rocked It|website=[[MTV]]|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452903/20020314/brandy.jhtml|access-date=2010-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226151152/https://www.mtv.com/news/1452903/got-charts-the-long-road-to-1-and-those-who-rocked-it/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2022))</ref> selling 160,000 units in its first week&ndash;Norwood's largest first-week sales.<ref name="MTV-11"/> The following week, the album managed to climb up to its peak position at No. 2, even though its sales had dipped slightly to 152,000 copies.<ref name="MTV-11"/> On the US [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart the album debuted and peaked at No. 2; where it charted for 68 consecutive weeks.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/brandy/chart-history/blp/|title=Brandy- Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|publisher=[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]] |access-date=May 20, 2022))</ref> By its 14th week on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, ''Never Say Never'' had sold 1.4 million copies.<ref name="yahoo">((cite web|title=Brandy And Monica 'Held Hands And Prayed Together'|publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]]|date=16 September 1998 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12032969 |access-date=2008-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923051944/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12032969 |archive-date=2005-09-23))</ref> By December 1998, ''Never Say Never'' sold 2.6 million copies in the United States.<ref>((cite magazine|first=Anita M.|last=Samuels|title=Comebacks, Rap Smashes Spark R&B|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 26, 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22MONICA%22+%22THE+BOY+IS+MINE%22+ALBUM&pg=PA34))</ref> In January 1999 the album was ranked as the 13th best-selling album of 1998 with total sales at 2.9 million.<ref name="1998rnb">((Google books |id=1Q0EAAAAMBAJ |page=75 |title=Billboard Jan 30, 1999 ))</ref> The following year in January 2000, the album was the 62nd best-selling album of 1999 selling 1.3 million copies during that year.<ref>((cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sA0EAAAAMBAJ&q=best+selling+records|title=Best-Selling Records of 1999 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|date=January 22, 2000|accessdate=May 10, 2022|page=63|issn=0006-2510|volume=112|number=4))</ref> In March 2002 sales for the album stood at over 4.4 million copies sold.<ref name="MTV-11"/> In February 2003 the album sold an additional 665,000 copies through [[BMG Music Services|BMG Music Club]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |title=Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Emimen And Janet Top All Time Sellers |publisher=Mi2N.com |date=February 18, 2003 |access-date=May 10, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817152522/http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |archive-date=August 17, 2009 ))</ref> By June 2004 ''Never Say Never'' sold 4.5 million copies.<ref name=BB>((cite magazine|title=Brandy's Return Burns With Desire|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000536441|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111070101/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000536441|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012|date=June 26, 2004|access-date=May 2, 2022))</ref> In total it has spent 72 consecutive weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200—28 of which were within the top 20—and as of 2012, the album has sold 4.6 million copies in the United States according to [[Nielsen Soundscan]].<ref name=autogenerated1>((cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/480966/brandy-why-her-past-and-comeback-are-so-important|title=Brandy: Why Her Past, and Comeback, Are So Important|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]))</ref> In December 1999, the album was certified [[RIAA certification|quintuple platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for five million shipped units.<ref name=riaa>((cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS|title=RIAA > Gold & Platinum Search|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=2009-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626051113/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS|archive-date=2007-06-26))</ref>

In Canada ''Never Say Never'' debuted on [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM''' s Top Albums/CDs]] chart at No. 3 on the issue dated June 29, 1998.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7900&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7900.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7900|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 14 (13) Jun 29, 1998|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=May 12, 2022))</ref> The album remained at No. 3 for two additional weeks on the weeks ending on July 6 and July 13, 1998.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3613&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3613.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3613|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 15 Jul 06, 1998|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=May 12, 2022))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3624&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3624.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3624|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 15a Jul 13, 1998|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=May 12, 2022))</ref> Overall, the album has spent a total of 54 consecutive weeks on the Top Albums/CDs chart.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8402&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8402.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8402|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 69, No. 10 Jun 28, 1999|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=May 14, 2022))</ref> On August 27, 1999, the album was certified Quadruple platinum by [[Music Canada]] for denoting shipments of 400,000 units.<ref>((cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Brandy%20never%20say%20never&_gp_canadian=n|title=Gold/Platinum - Music Canada|date=August 27, 1999|access-date=May 12, 2022|work=[[Music Canada]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512041127/https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Brandy+never+say+never&_gp_canadian=n|archive-date=May 12, 2022))</ref> In the UK the album debuted at No. 21 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] on June 14, 1998.<ref name="occ">((cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19980614/7502/|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 (14 June 1998 – 20 June 1998) |publisher=Official Charts Company|date=1998-06-14|access-date=2015-12-06))</ref> In its tenth week, the album climbed to a new peak of No. 19.<ref name="occ"/> The album went on to sell 260,000 copies in the United Kingdom,<ref name="chartarchive">((cite web|url=http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/2002/UK%20Charts%202002.03.09.pdf|title=Chart Commentary > Albums Factfile|work=[[Music Week]]|access-date=June 10, 2020))((Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes ))</ref> and was eventually certified platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI), denoting shipments of 300,000 copies.<ref name="BPI">((cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx|title=Certified Awards|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=2015-12-06|archive-date=2017-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801142929/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/Search.aspx|url-status=dead))</ref> By May 1999, ''Never Say Never'' had sold seven million copies worldwide, according to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''.<ref>((cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mg0EAAAAMBAJ&q=brandy+5+million+worldwide&pg=PT1|title=Our Diva Is America's Cover Girl|date=May 29, 1999|work=[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]|access-date=August 6, 2018))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jggEAAAAMBAJ&dq=brandy+plaque&pg=PA7-IA5
|title=EMusic Buys Blues/R&B Masters|date=July 19, 1999|work=[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]|access-date=May 10, 2022))</ref> To date, the album remains Norwood's biggest-selling effort with worldwide sales in excess of 16 million copies.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dancing-stars-results-michael-bolton-chelsie-hightower-eliminated/story?id=11754049&page=2|title = Michael Bolton Demands Apology from Bruno Tonioli|website = [[ABC News]]))</ref>

==Impact and legacy==
While her debut album had been a major success in the United States, ''Never Say Never'' was credited with Norwood's international breakthrough and facilitated her in becoming a viable recording artist with media–crossing appeal in music, film, and television.<ref name="boombox"/> Claire Lobenfeld from ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'' found that while "Brandy's self-titled debut was sweet and flirty, its follow-up separated her from being just a pop singer with an accelerating star to one with something to say."<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2017/12/30/albums-turning-20-in-2018/|title=22 incredible albums turning 20 in 2018|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|last=Lobenfeld |first=Claire |date=December 20, 2017|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> ''[[HipHopDX]]''(('))s Aaron McKrell remarked that "Brandy's newfound maturity was reflected in her music, and audiences and critics alike raved about the pop-tinged R&B that permeated the album,"<ref>((cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3979/title.the-china-anniversary-18-great-hip-hop-rb-albums-that-turn-20-in-2018|title=The China Anniversary: 18 Great Hip Hop & R&B Albums That Turn 20 In 2018|work=[[HipHopDX]]|last=McKrell|first=Aaron |date=January 6, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> with Lela Olds, writing for ''[[The Boombox]]'', further reporting that she "grew confident as both an artist and a young woman on ''Never Say Never'', creating an album that showed both personal and vocal growth."<ref name="boombox">((cite web|url=https://theboombox.com/brandys-never-say-never-invented-the-vocal-bible/|title=How Brandy's 'Never Say Never' Invented 'The Vocal Bible'|work=[[The Boombox]]|last=Olds |first=Lela|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> ''Never Say Never'' is Norwood's most successful album to date, with worldwide sales of 14 million records, including singles and album copies.<ref name="boombox"/> One of the biggest-selling album of the year for [[Warner Music Group|WEA Music]], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' ranked ''Never Say Never'' among the most successful comeback albums of 1998.<ref name="Variety">((cite web|author=Variety Staff|date=2020-07-28|title=Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith Hitmaker Rodney Jerkins Sells Catalog to Hipgnosis Songs|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/mary-j-blige-sam-smith-rodney-jerkins-hipgnosis-1234719195/|access-date=2020-08-11))</ref>

Musically, ''Never Say Never'' blueprinted Norwood's signature "silky, smooth sound" which would also dominate on following projects.<ref name="revolt"/> In a 2018 anniversary retrospective, ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' editor Brittney Fennell declared ''Never Say Never'' as Norwood's "career-defining [[magnum opus]]." She felt that "it is arguably one of the best R&B albums of the 90s [...] There were a plethora of young female R&B singers at this time, but Brandy's star power allowed her to transcend genres by transforming her style of R&B into pop music."<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/06/brandy-never-say-never-20-anniversary-feature|title=How Brandy's 'Never Say Never' Solidified Her Place In R&B|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|last=Fennell |first=Brittney |date=June 9, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> In a similar article, Da’Shan Smith from ''[[Revolt (network)|Revolt]]'' noted that while the album "had an electric sensibility directed towards the approaching new millennium, they helped finalize the standard for what a pop&B diva's midtempos and ballads should consist of [...] Looking back at ''Never Say Never'', one could argue that Brandy remodeled the construct of a teen-star-pushing-20."<ref name="revolt">((cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/2018/6/8/20824953/revisiting-brandy-s-never-say-never-20-years-later|title=Revisiting Brandy's 'Never Say Never' 20 years later |website=revolt.tv|last=Smith|first=Da’Shan |date=June 8, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> Critics noted that her ability to grow musically while simultaneously balancing life as an actress served as role model material for other teen singers such as [[Britney Spears]] and [[Christina Aguilera]] who had upcoming studio debuts.<ref name="revolt"/> In fact, both Spears and Aguilera referred to Norwood and ''Never Say Never'', as one of their influences during the recording sessions for their debut albums.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWfRd8zyHg8 |title=Britney Spears 1998 first interview |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 2, 2015))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS2ncjBBC2k|title=Film & Music Industry Forum – Ron Harris 3-7-16|last=Loyola University Film and Music Industry Studies|date=3 May 2016|via=YouTube))</ref>

Aside from boosting Norwood's own success, ''Never Say Never'' became instrumental in promoting the careers of many from those involved in the making of the album who were relatively unknown prior to its release, notably chief producer Rodney Jerkins, his brother Fred and songwriter LaShawn Daniels.<ref name="billboard 2018"/> The trio would go on to work with industry veterans such as [[Michael Jackson]], [[Whitney Houston]], and [[Toni Braxton]] as well as upcoming performers such as [[Jennifer Lopez]] and [[Destiny's Child]], while reteaming with Norwood – to varying commercial and critical success – on her third and fifth studio albums ''[[Full Moon (Brandy album)|Full Moon]]'' (2002) and ''[[Human (Brandy album)|Human]]'' (2008).<ref name="billboard 2018">((cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458485/brandy-never-say-never-morgan-jerkins-rodney-interview-1998|title=How Brandy and 1998 Changed Everything for My Family|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Payton|first=Sarah|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> Norwood herself commented in a 2018 interview with music website ''[[Okayplayer]]'': "''Never Say Never'' changed the course of my life. I found one of the best producers [Rodney Jerkins] in the world to help me find my new sound. I was so free to try things vocally and the Darkchild team gave me their best work and sweet support."<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/brandy-interview-never-say-never-20-years-later-okayplayer.html|title=Brandy Talks 20 Years of 'Never Say Never,' Social Media & Her Upcoming Album|website=[[okayplayer]].com|last=Hunter|first=Samantha |date=July 29, 2018|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref> In 2020, she ranked the album among her three favorite releases.<ref>((cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2020/05/exclusive-brandy-talks-comeback-baby-mama-new-album/|title=Exclusive: Brandy Talks Comeback Album, 'Moesha' Reboot, Biopic, & Much More!|website=thatgrapejuice.net|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020))</ref>

==Track listing==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Never Say Never''.<ref name=linernotes>((cite AV media notes|title=Never Say Never|others=[[Brandy Norwood]]|year=1998|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]))</ref>
((Track listing
| headline        = ''Never Say Never'' ((nobold|&ndash; Standard edition))
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| total_length    = 66:36

| title1          = Intro
| writer1         =
| extra1          =
| length1         = 0:49

| title2          = [[Angel in Disguise (Brandy song)|Angel in Disguise]]
| writer2         = ((flat list|
* [[Rodney Jerkins|Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]]
* [[Fred Jerkins III]]
* [[LaShawn Daniels]]
* [[Traci Hale]]
* [[Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman]]
* [[Joseph Lewis Thomas]] 
))
| extra2          = R. Jerkins
| length2         = 4:48

| title3          = [[The Boy Is Mine (song)|The Boy Is Mine]]
| note3           = duet with [[Monica (singer)|Monica]]
| writer3         = ((flat list|
* [[Brandy Norwood]]
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Daniels
* [[Japhe Tejeda]]
))
| extra3          = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* [[Dallas Austin]]
* Norwood
))
| length3         = 4:55

| title4          = Learn the Hard Way
| writer4         = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Daniels
* Sybil Jerkins Cherry
* Rick Williams
))
| extra4          = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length4         = 4:51

| title5          = [[Almost Doesn't Count]]
| writer5         = ((flat list|
* Guy Roche
* [[Shelly Peiken]]
))
| extra5          = ((flat list|
* F. Jerkins III
* Roche
))
| length5         = 3:37

| title6          = [[Top of the World (Brandy song)|Top of the World]]
| note6           = featuring [[Mase]]
| writer6         = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* [[Mase|Mason Betha]]
* Daniels
* [[Isaac Phillips]]
* Turman
))
| extra6          = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length6         = 4:41

| title7          = [[U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)]]
| writer7         = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* Sean Bryant
* Paris Davis
* Phillips
))
| extra7          = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length7         = 4:28

| title8          = [[Never Say Never (Brandy song)|Never Say Never]]
| writer8         = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins
* Daniels
* Tejeda
* Williams
))
| extra8          = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length8         = 5:10

| title9          = Truthfully
| writer9         = ((flat list|
* Brad Gilderman
* R. Jerkins
* [[Harvey Mason, Jr.|Harvey Mason Jr.]]
* [[Marc Nelson (singer)|Marc Nelson]]
))
| extra9          = ((flat list|
* Gilderman
* R. Jerkins
* Mason, Jr.
* Nelson
))
| length9         = 4:58

| title10         = [[Have You Ever?]]
| writer10        = ((flat list|
* [[Diane Warren]]
))
| extra10         = [[David Foster]]
| length10        = 4:32

| title11         = Put That on Everything
| writer11        = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Daniels
* Tejeda
)) 
| extra11         = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length11        = 4:51

| title12         = In the Car Interlude
| writer12        =
| extra12         = R. Jerkins
| length12        = 1:10

| title13         = Happy
| writer13        = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Tejeda
)) 
| extra13         = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length13        = 4:06

| title14         = One Voice
| writer14        = ((flat list|
* Phil Galdston
* [[Gordon Chambers]]
))
| extra14         = Foster
| length14        = 4:08

| title15         = Tomorrow
| writer15        = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Daniels
* Tejeda
)) 
| extra15         = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Norwood((ref|a|[a])) 
))
| length15        = 5:21

| title16         = [[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You#Brandy version|(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]
| writer16        = ((flat list|
* [[Bryan Adams]]
* [[Michael Kamen]]
* [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange|Robert John Lange]]
))
| extra16         = Foster
| length16        = 4:10
))
((Track listing
| headline        = ''Never Say Never'' ((nobold|&ndash; Japanese edition (bonus track)))<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/never-say-never-japan-bonus-tracks-mr0001353612|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Never Say Never [Japan Bonus Tracks] &ndash; Brandy|website=[[AllMusic]]|date=April 11, 2000|accessdate=September 5, 2021))</ref>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| total_length    = 70:37

| title17         = The Boy Is Mine
| note17          = Radio edit without intro) (duet with Monica
| writer17        = ((flat list|
* Norwood
* R. Jerkins
* F. Jerkins III
* Daniels
* Japhe Tejeda
))
| extra17         = ((flat list|
* R. Jerkins
* Austin
* Norwood
))
| length17        = 4:01
))
((Track listing
| headline        = ''Never Say Never'' ((nobold|&ndash; Australian limited edition (bonus disc)))<ref name="ausltd"/>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| total_length    = 7:52

| title1          = Have You Ever
| note1           = Soul Skank Remix
| writer1         = Warren
| extra1          = ((hlist|Foster|Soul Inside Productions 98((ref|a|[a]))))
| length1         = 3:59

| title2          = Top of the World
| note2           = Boogiesoul Remix Radio Edit
| writer2         = ((hlist|R. Jerkins|F. Jerkins III|Betha|Daniels|Phillips|Turman))
| extra2          = ((hlist|R. Jerkins|Norwood((ref|a|[a]))|Boogieman((ref|a|[a]))))
| length2         = 3:53
))

'''Notes''' 
*<sup>((note|a|[a]))</sup> denotes additional producer

==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Never Say Never''.<ref name="booklet nsn">((cite AV media notes |title=Never Say Never|others=Brandy|date=1998 |type=CD liner |publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]))</ref>

((Div col|colwidth=30em))
* Anas Allaf – guitar
* [[Monica (singer)|Monica Arnold]] – lead vocals, backing vocals((efn|Monica was co-credited as a lead artist on "The Boy Is Mine"; the song was also included on her second studio [[The Boy Is Mine (album)|album of the same title]] (1998).))
* Tom Bender – mixing assistance
* [[Chuckii Booker]] – drums
* Leslie Brathwaite – engineer
* Thomas Bricker – art director
* Alex Brown – backing vocals
* Gerry Brown – mixing
* Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals
* Carmen Carter – backing vocals
* Paris Davis – executive producer
* Ken Deranteriasian – engineer, mixing
* [[Nathan East]] – bass
* Felipe Elgueta – engineer
* [[David Foster]] – keyboard
* [[Brian Gardner]] – mastering
* Ben Garrison – engineer
* Brad Gilderman – engineer, mixing
* Nikisha Grierf – backing vocals
* [[Bernie Grundman]] – mastering
* [[Mick Guzauski]] – mixing
* [[Dorian Holley]] – backing vocals
* LaTonya Holman – backing vocals
* Jean-Marie Horvat – engineer
* Richard Jackson – backing vocals
* Bobette Jamison-Harrison – backing vocals
* [[Rodney Jerkins]] – executive producer
* Donyle Jones – backing vocals
* [[Craig Kallman]] – executive producer
* Vatrena King – backing vocals
* Mario Lucy – engineer
* Carlton Lynn – assistant engineer
* Harvey Mason, Jr. – keyboard
* [[Harvey Mason|Harvey Mason, Sr.]] – percussion
* Victor McCoy – engineer, assistant engineer
* James McCrary – backing vocals
* Kristle Murden – backing vocals
* [[Brandy Norwood]] – lead vocals, backing vocals, executive producer, engineer
* [[Willie Norwood]] – backing vocals
* Kayla Parker – backing vocals
* [[Dean Parks]] – guitar
* [[Shelly Peiken]] – backing vocals
* [[Isaac Phillips]] – guitar
* Al Schmitt – engineer
* Rick Sigel – engineer
* Alfie Silas – backing vocals
* Dexter Simmons – mixing
* Moana Suchard – engineer, assistant engineer
* Chris Tergesen – engineer
* [[Joe (singer)|Joseph Thomas]] – backing vocals
* Meri Thomas – backing vocals
* Greg Thompson – assistant engineer
* Michael Thompson – guitar
* Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
* [[Mervyn Warren]] – backing vocals
* Maxine Waters – backing vocals
* Oren Waters – backing vocals
* Rick Williams – guitar
* Yvonne Williams – backing vocals
* [[BeBe Winans]] – backing vocals
* Monalisa Young – backing vocals
((Div col end))

==Charts==
((col-begin))
((col-2))

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (1998&ndash;1999)
! scope="col"|Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Australia|13|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Austria|17|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Flanders|21|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04|refname="ultratop"))
|-
((Album chart|Canada|3|chartid=7900|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2022))
|-
! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums ([[SoundScan]])<ref>((cite news |date=June 18, 1998 |title=Top 10 R&B Albums |newspaper=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]] |page=C9 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111635189/the-gazette/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]))</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Netherlands|5|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
!scope="row"|[[European Top 100 Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-08-22.pdf|title=Euro Top 100 Albums|work=Music & Media|page=8|date=August 22, 1998|access-date=July 4, 2018))</ref>
|align="center"|12
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|France|12|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Germany4|10|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never|id=2799|rowheader=true|access-date=April 18, 2023))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Oricon|14|M|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023234510/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/145089/ranking/cd_album|title=Brandy ((!)) Oricon News|work=[[Oricon]]|artist=Brandy|album=Never S·A·Y Never|rowheader=true|access-date=2017-11-26))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|New Zealand|16|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Norway|25|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Scotland|64|date=19981011|rowheader=true|access-date=March 10, 2019))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Sweden|15|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Switzerland|11|artist=Brandy|album=Never Say Never |rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|UK|19|artist=Brandy|rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|UKR&B|1|date=19980614|rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Brandy|rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|-
! scope="row" ((album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Brandy|rowheader=true|access-date=2015-12-04))
|}
((col-2))

=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1998)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')<ref>((cite magazine |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7015&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=RPM's Top 100 CDs of '98 |magazine=RPM |volume=68 |issue=12 |date=14 December 1998 |issn=0315-5994 |access-date=2017-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114733/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7015&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |archive-date=2 February 2014))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>((cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1998&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 1998|language=nl |work=[[MegaCharts]] |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=2015-11-22))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|64
|-
!scope="row"|European Top 100 Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-12-19.pdf|title=Euro Top 100 Albums|work=Music & Media|page=8|date=December 19, 1998|access-date=July 4, 2018))</ref>
|align="center"|69
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=1998&type=2 |title=Classement Albums – année 1998 |language=fr |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229010459/http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=1998&type=2|archive-date=29 December 2013 |access-date=2017-12-30))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|59
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1998|title=1998 Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=[[GfK Entertainment]]|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=2017-12-30))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|55
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19980104/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=2017-12-30))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|68
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref name="year-end1">((cite magazine|title=Billboard 200: Year End 1998|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1998/the-billboard-200|access-date=2017-11-11|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123044858/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1998/the-billboard-200|archive-date=2015-01-23))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|29
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="year-end1998">((cite web|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1998/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums|access-date=May 19, 2022|archive-date=November 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104034418/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1998/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|18
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-1999.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=2010-01-12))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|95
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>((cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/the-billboard-200 |title=1999 Year-End Chart – Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 7, 2013 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102050742/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/the-billboard-200 |archive-date=January 2, 2017))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="year-end1999">((cite web|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1999|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums|access-date=May 19, 2022|archive-date=November 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104034343/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|21
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1990–1999)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>((cite book | author = Geoff Mayfield | url = ((Google books |plainurl=yes |id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ |page=RA1-PA4 )) | title = 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s | publisher = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = December 25, 1999 | access-date = October 15, 2010))</ref>
| 79
|}
((col-end))

==Certifications and sales==
((certification Table Top))
((certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Brandy|title=Never Say Never|refname="aria"|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|relmonth=06|certyear=1999|access-date=November 19, 2021))
((Certification Table Entry|type=album |region=Canada|artist=Brandy|title=Never Say Never|award=Platinum |number=4|certyear=1999 |relyear=1998 |access-date=2017-07-01))
((certification Table Entry|title=Never Say Never|type=album|artist=Brandy|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|region=France|award=Gold))
((Certification Table Entry | region=Ghana|nocert=true|salesamount=3,000|salesref=<ref name="Africa">((cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/africa-law-unto-itself/docview/235963905/se-2|title=Africa: A law unto itself|newspaper=One to One|page=73|date=March 1, 1999|first=Paul|last=Gorman|url-access=subscription|via=ProQuest|access-date=March 1, 2024))</ref>))
((certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Japan|artist=Brandy|title=Never Say Never |award=Platinum|relyear=1998|relmonth=06|certyear=1999|certmonth=02))
((Certification Table Entry | region=Kenya|nocert=true|salesamount=6,500|salesref=<ref name="Africa">((cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/africa-law-unto-itself/docview/235963905/se-2|title=Africa: A law unto itself|newspaper=One to One|page=73|date=March 1, 1999|first=Paul|last=Gorman|url-access=subscription|via=ProQuest|access-date=March 1, 2024))</ref>))
((Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Never Say Never|artist=Brandy|type=album|award=Gold|id=1043|date=July 1, 2017|access-date=July 1, 2017))
((certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Brandy|title=Never Say Never|award=Platinum|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|relyear=1998|id=4519-286-2))
((certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Brandy|title=Never Say Never|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=1999|relyear=1998|relmonth=09|salesamount=4,600,000|salesref=<ref name=autogenerated1/>))
((Certification Table Bottom))

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for ''Never Say Never''
|-
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Edition(s)
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|((abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)))
|-
! scope="row" | France
| June 4, 1998
| rowspan="6" | Standard
| rowspan="6" | [[Compact disc|CD]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]]
| ((center|<ref>((cite web|author=Anon.|date=n.d.|url=https://www.amazon.fr/Never-Say-Brandy-Audio-CD/dp/B00FW68FZE|title=Never Say Never by Brandy (1998) Audio CD|language=French|location=France|publisher=[[Amazon Music]]|access-date=September 5, 2021))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" | Germany
| rowspan="2"| June 8, 1998
| ((center|<ref name="ultratop"/>))
|-
! scope="row" | United Kingdom 
| [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| ((center|<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-06-06.pdf|date=June 6, 1998|title=Releases For 8 June — 14 June, 1998|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=24|access-date=August 28, 2023))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" | Canada
| rowspan="2"| June 9, 1998
| [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]]
| ((center|<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1998/jun.html|title=Album Releases: June 1998|work=[[Jam!]]|accessdate=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030705230006/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1998/jun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2003))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" | United States
| Atlantic
| ((center|<ref name="uscd"/>))
|-
! scope="row" | Japan
| June 15, 1998
| [[East West Records|East West]]
| ((center|<ref>((cite web|author=Anon.|date=n.d.|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/145089/ranking/cd_album |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023234510/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/145089/ranking/cd_album |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=ブランディーのアルバム売り上げランキング|language=Japanese |location=Japan |publisher=[[Oricon]] |access-date=July 4, 2018))</ref>))
|-
! scope="row" | Australia
| July 13, 1999
| Limited
| [[Double album|Double CD]]
| Warner Music
| ((center|<ref name="ausltd"/>))
|}

==See also==
* [[Album era]]
* [[List of UK R&B Albums Chart number ones of 1998]]

==Notes==
((Notelist))

==References==
((Reflist))

==Bibliography==
* ((cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/103 103]|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|first1=Nathan|last1=Brackett|author1-link=Nathan Brackett|first2=Christian David|last2=Hoard|author2-link=Christian Hoard|year=2004|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=9780743201698|via=Internet Archive|ref=((SfnRef|Brackett & Hoard|2004|p=103))))
* ((cite book|first=Shelly |last=Peiken|author-link=Shelly Peiken|title=Confessions of a Serial Songwriter|date=March 1, 2016|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=9781495063619|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V4LfCwAAQBAJ&q=%22BRANDY%22&pg=PT115))

((Brandy))

((Authority control))

[[Category:1998 albums]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rodney Jerkins]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dallas Austin]]
[[Category:Albums produced by David Foster]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Guy Roche]]
[[Category:Brandy Norwood albums]]

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