Customer Reviews

Forever

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Bobby Brown has a lot going on in his life. He's been arrested on numerous occasions. He had reunited with New Edition only to diss them not even a year later. After all this, he still released another album and expected it to be accepted with open arms by the public.

I didn't expect this album to be all that good, but then I didn't expect the album to be this BAD. This album was no doubt put together because Bobby needed something to do. The album has eleven tracks, but in some ways the album can be said to have nine tracks because "Feelin' Inside" and "Give It Up" are so uninspiring you'll forget them halfway through listening to them. The intro has Whitney Houston sucking up to him by singing: "Nobody does it better/Makes me feel sorry for the rest/Nobody does it quite the way you do/Bobby, you're the best." Did anyone ask for her opinion? Next comes "It's Still My Thang," where you hear him saying "And like I told you eighty years ago/It's still my prerogative don't you know." EIGHTY years ago? What's he talking about?

The last two songs on the album have problems all their own. "Sunday Afternoon" is way too literal, talking about how a typical Sunday afternoon is for him. He even tries to hype himself by telling how other guys on the street are "rollin' in their jeeps/Pumpin' the funky sounds of me, Bobby Brown." "Heart And Soul" sounds like a mirror of "Been Around The World," but both of those songs are uniquely bad. "Been Around The World" is a boring track that tells how he's seen a lot of women worldwide, but he still comes home to "her." And it doesn't help that the song has a very annoying drumbeat that's reminiscent of Free Instrument Time in third grade Music class. "Heart And Soul" is the same thing without the drumbeat, but then he adds very raunchy and ridiculous lyrics.

No full song on this album is worth listening to. Guest spots from unknown rappers like Carole Brown and Irvin Fomar, not to mention Bobby himself, degrade the songs even more. And Bobby still thinks it's obligatory to say "Peace B. Brown. We outta here" at the end of most of the songs. (He even says it in the liner notes.) I think everyone would be a lot happier if that statement referred to his being in the studio.

Looks as if Bobby Brown's cocky attitude got the best of him. After successfully re-teaming with New Edition and then bashing his group (Brown claimed he could make as much money on his own rather than having to split it with 5 other people...so it's all about money, eh Bob?), Bobby Brown released this mess, and it sold approximately no copies. No hit singles. Not a redeeming tune. Not to mention a horrible attitude. Bobby Brown is over. I'm sure he will not be missed.

This is a very bad and boring record. That said, I would like to offer a few mild defenses of Mr. Brown.

First, the voice. It still sounds the same and it sounds great. This album is bad because of the songs, not because of the singing.

Second, the production. Many reviewers have made comments along the lines of "This sounds so 1992", etc. The pursuit of the latest trend in hip-hop studio gimmicks is a truly empty pursuit. Many musical greats in R&B have been consistently "behind the times" on record. Marvin Gaye, with his jazz and doo-wop inflected late records, comes to mind immediately. Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight are two more great talents who were behind the times from about 1970 to the present day. By the way, Bach's music was considered old-fashioned in his day. So let's please not encourage the meaningless pursuit of what's "new" and "trendy" in music. Soulful singing, funky grooves, memorable melodies, and meaningful lyrics will do it every time...it is unfortunate that those things are not to be found on this record...or on many others these days.

In conclusion, don't buy this record!

I am a huge Bobby Brown fan. Only in my early 20s, I virtually grew up on his songs. His earlier CD's were among my first in my CD collection. What a disappointment this CD was. Don't even bother considering this poor excuse for a CD. Did they even TRY to put out something good???

I dont understand why these people r trashing this cd this cd sounds great wut in the hell r they lisening 2 this is a damn good cd.People keep saying that BOBBY BROWN is crazy so wut that doesn't have anything 2 do with the way this album sounds.He really surprised me with this album because i saw all the bad reviews i almost didn buy it but like they say listen 2 it 4 ur self dont listen 2 these crazy people up here giving this cd bad reviews this is a great album.

I have been a dedicated Brown fan since the early days of New Edition- Bobby Brown is my alter ego :) The unspoken promise was that I would buy evry CD that he produced. This is the first Brown CD I could not even bring myself to buy. Hubris seems to have gotten the better of good music sense. Mr. Brown is obviously trying to make his mark as an artist rather than just an entertainer, and I respect him for that, however his current formula simply doesn't work. The lyrics are banal and lack creativity. At times the poor quality of the vocals makes the listener wonder if Mr. Brown is even bothering to actually sing! Too much chest beating and talking, not enough singing. Musically, the whole album feels forced- it lacks a soul. This experiment in self-production never takes off the ground- it simply does not work. Mr Brown should work with winning formula producers on 3/4 of his albums and produce himself on the remaining 1/4.

I haven't given up on you yet Mr.Brown- you are an incredibly talented individual and I own every CD you have ever produced- except "Forever". I had to give this one a pass- I'll look forward to the next one!

Why did he release this?

His last 2 albums Bobby & Don't Be Cruel were really good. For some idiotic reason known only to Bobby he has dropped the writers & producers Babyface & Teddy Riley who gave him all his solo hits.

Instead he has decided to produce half the album himself. B-List producers Tim & Bob did produce a couple of tracks on the album, they are well known for Sisqo's "Thong Song" and their work with Bobby Valentino. All other creative personnel are pretty much unknown.

I have tried over a number of years dusting this CD off and giving it another spin but the music is generic and boring.

I don't know why he thought he could be the creative force behind this instead of using proven hit makers like Babyface & Teddy Riley, possibly ego. Well he's paid the price because not only is this his worst album but it was a massive flop.

It's a shame that a lot of people can't see past Bobby Brown: Media Story and listen to Bobby Brown: Singer when reviewing this CD. It wasn't the hit that his previous releases were, firstly because 5 years is a long time between solo albums, and secondly because this one has a completely different sound and more relaxed tempo. I think Bobby matured faster than the tastes of his fans on this one - that was the case with me anyway.
The production and arrangements on the album are very polished, Bobby's vocals are strong, and lyrically I will take this album over the vast majority of the "R&B" released today.
Not a great album, but a more than solid effort that still stands up ok today in my opinion.

It's nowhere near a classic record, but listening to it a decade (plus) later I have to admit it has a good vibe. I didn't listen to this album much in '97, but compared to today's R&B it's refreshing. I could do without Whitney at the beginning. Standouts for me on here are "Feelin' Inside", "My Place", and "Been Around the World." Trust folks: It's not that bad.

Like his first solo album, the only good thing about this album are the slow jams in particular She's My Lady, Forever & My Place. Bobby ego's got the best of him on this album and it shows.