Turn It Up (Brandy song)
Encyclopedia
"Turn It Up" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy Norwood
. It was written by Candice Nelson
, Walter Millsap III, and Timbaland
for her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac
(2004), with the latter two also handling its production.
It was released as an only-on-vinyl single in fall 2003. Although the song was not released commercially, it appeared on several charts, reaching number two on the German Black Charts
.
, and written by the latter, frequent co-producer Walter Millsap III and his wife Candice Nelson
. The song is an homage to the early 1990s
with references to Donnie Simpson
's Video Soul
, Kid n' Play, their 1990 film House Party
and Tony! Toni! Toné!
's 1996 studio album House of Music
. The line "'Cause I don't wanna sound familiar, want a guaranteed single, not an album filler" levels indirect criticism at former main producer Rodney Jerkins.
of Entertainment Weekly
favored the track stating that "Brandy's meatiest album to date also sports a few superior dance numbers, notably "Turn It Up," which should have Janet Jackson
second-guessing her last album." Keya Modessa of The Situation wrote that "perhaps the only track, which seems little out of place, is "Turn It Up" and that is only because it’s slightly more energetic than the rest of the album."
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
. It was written by Candice Nelson
Candice Nelson
Candice J. Nelson is Associate Professor of Government, Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute, and the former Chair of the Department of Government at American University in Washington, D.C.....
, Walter Millsap III, and Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
for her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Brandy Norwood, released by Atlantic Records on June 28, 2004 on most international territories and on June 29, 2004 in Canada and the United States...
(2004), with the latter two also handling its production.
It was released as an only-on-vinyl single in fall 2003. Although the song was not released commercially, it appeared on several charts, reaching number two on the German Black Charts
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
.
Background
"Turn It Up" was produced by TimbalandTimbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, and written by the latter, frequent co-producer Walter Millsap III and his wife Candice Nelson
Candice Nelson
Candice J. Nelson is Associate Professor of Government, Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute, and the former Chair of the Department of Government at American University in Washington, D.C.....
. The song is an homage to the early 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
with references to Donnie Simpson
Donnie Simpson
Donnie Simpson is a longtime American radio DJ as well as a television and movie personality. He hosted The Donnie Simpson Morning Show on Washington, D.C. radio station WPGC-FM from March 1993 to January 29, 2010. Simpson is the first urban-format radio personality to have an annual salary over...
's Video Soul
Video Soul
Video Soul was a 2-hour long American music video program that aired on BET from 1981 to 1996.-History:Video Soul premiered in June 1981 and was originally a half hour show. It was devoted to helping showcase new R&B/soul recording artists and performers...
, Kid n' Play, their 1990 film House Party
House Party (film)
House Party is a 1990 American comedy film released by New Line Cinema. It stars Kid and Play of the popular hip hop duo Kid 'n Play, and also stars Paul Anthony, Bow-Legged Lou, and B-Fine from Full Force, and Robin Harris . The film also starred Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J...
and Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! is an American Soul/R&B group from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy...
's 1996 studio album House of Music
House of Music
House of Music is the fourth studio album by American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, released November 19, 1996, on Mercury Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording studios during 1995 to 1996, with production handled primarily by the group members...
. The line "'Cause I don't wanna sound familiar, want a guaranteed single, not an album filler" levels indirect criticism at former main producer Rodney Jerkins.
Critical reception
In his review of the Afrodisiac album, David BrowneDavid Browne
David Browne is an American journalist and author. He was the resident music critic at Entertainment Weekly between 1990 and 2006. He was an editor at Music & Sound Output magazine and a music critic at the New York Daily News before EW...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
favored the track stating that "Brandy's meatiest album to date also sports a few superior dance numbers, notably "Turn It Up," which should have Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
second-guessing her last album." Keya Modessa of The Situation wrote that "perhaps the only track, which seems little out of place, is "Turn It Up" and that is only because it’s slightly more energetic than the rest of the album."
Tracklisting
12" promotional CD- "Turn It Up" (album version) – 4:12
- "Turn It Up" (instrumental) – 4:12
- "Turn It Up" (edited version) – 3:56
- "Turn It Up" (acapella) – 4:16
Credits and personnel
- Demacio "Demo" Castellón – engineer assistant
- Jimmy DouglassJimmy DouglassJimmy Douglass is an American four-time Grammy winning recording engineer and record producer, whose prolific career has spanned more than four decades.-Career:...
– engineerMix engineerA mix engineer, also referred to as "mixing engineer", is a person who, once all instruments, voices, and sounds, etc., have been recorded, creates what is called the final version of a song, hence the term "mix engineer"...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Blake English – engineer
- Chris Gehringher – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Walter Millsap III – additional vocals, songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
- Candice NelsonCandice NelsonCandice J. Nelson is Associate Professor of Government, Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute, and the former Chair of the Department of Government at American University in Washington, D.C.....
– songwriter - Brandy Norwood – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, vocal producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - TimbalandTimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
– additional vocals, mixing, producer, songwriter
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Black Charts Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
2 |
| German Black Year-End Chart | 22 |