Brandy was already becoming a household name when she issued her second album, 1998’s Never Say Never, but it was that release that made her a true star. With hits that went on for days, Never became her signature album and one of the most memorable collections of the 1990s. At the same time, emerging songwriter Gordon Chambers was facing some big decisions about his life, including whether he should fully make the plunge into a career in music.
In our latest “The Backstory,” Gordon tells the story behind “One Voice,” the anthemic song that was a highpoint of Never Say Never and that later was adopted by relief organization UNICEF for its 50th anniversary. With David Foster’s lush production and vocal arrangements by BeBe Winans, the song still gives chills now, two decades later. And it was an important validation of Gordon’s decision to leave his career in journalism to fully embrace a new career in music. It is a decision that has benefitted music fans all over the world, who have enjoyed dozens of great Gordon Chambers songs ever since.
The personal meaning behind “One Voice” led Gordon to re-record it for his latest album, Surrender.
Check out Gordon’s touching backstory behind the beautiful, unifying song, “One Voice.” We’ve also included both versions of the song: Brandy’s 1998 release and Gordon’s very personal 2016 recording. Enjoy!