"You Mean the World to Me" | ||||
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Single by Toni Braxton | ||||
from the album Toni Braxton | ||||
B-side | "Seven Whole Days (Live)" | |||
Released | April 21, 1994 | |||
Genre | Pop-soul [1] | |||
Length | 4:56 | |||
Label | LaFace | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Toni Braxton singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"You Mean the World to Me" on YouTube | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"You Mean the World to Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Toni Braxton. It was written and produced by Antonio "L.A." Reid,Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds,and Daryl Simmons for her self-titled debut album (1993). Selected as the album's fourth single,it was released on CD on April 21,1994,by LaFace and Arista Records. It peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart,while reaching the top ten of the Canadian Singles Chart. The music video for "You Mean the World to Me" was directed by Lionel C. Martin.
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "warm and fuzzy ballad",adding that "finger-poppin' rhythms give motion to a virtual mountain of slick synths. Of course,her increasingly familiar vocal style is a total joy. Watch this one soar up the charts within mere moments." [3] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box named it Pick of the Week,describing it as "a down-tempo soul burner",that "actually brings Toni closer to the style of Whitney Houston,her closest R&B competitor. Already in heavy rotation at many urban stations,a sure-bet hit." [4] Alan Jones from Music Week declared it "a typically tuneful,intelligent and pleasing LA and BabyFace creation,custom-built for Braxton's soulful scale-sliding. As well as being a hit in its own right,expect this to push her album into a higher orbit." [5]
Dele Fadele from NME wrote,"Toni Braxton is gifted with a gospel-tinged voice,but the big-money LA &Babyface production smothers her in molasses." [6] Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror Dance Update commented,"On the back of two hits,this record should face very little resistance as it eases nicely into the charts. Vocally,the track gives Toni another opportunity to showcase one of the best set of tonsils about and forces the shuffling midtempo pace and production to take a back seat." [7] Another Record Mirror editor,James Hamilton,deemed it a "glorious gurgling sultry swayer". [8]
In the United States on April 2,1994,the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 86,20 days ahead of its initial release. [9] On April 9,1994 in its second week the song moved up number 52. [10] The song continued to rise at numbers 37,23,17 in its third,fourth and fifth week. [11] [12] [13] In its sixth,seventh and eighth week the song rose to numbers 16,14 and 10. [14] [15] [16] On May 28,1994,the song reached its peak at number seven remaining for one week. [17] The song continued to spend a total of 31 weeks on the Billboard chart before leaving the Hot 100 at number 47 on October 29,1994. [18]
On June 12,1994 the song debuted at number 36 in New Zealand and reached its peak at number 32 on July 3,1994 spending a total of five weeks before leaving the New Zealand Singles Chart. [19] On July 9,1994 the song peaked at number 30 in the United Kingdom and became a non-mover for two weeks. [20] [21] The song later fell to numbers 40,50,and 68 in its third,fourth and fifth week respectively. [22] [23] [24] On July 25,1994 the song peaked at number 69 in Germany and remained in the German Singles Chart for seven weeks before leaving the chart on November 11,1994. [25] On September 4,1994 the song peaked at number 49 in Australia lasting one week before falling out of the Australian Singles Chart.
The music video for "You Mean the World to Me" was directed by American music video director,film director and VJ Lionel C. Martin. The video shows a sequence of Braxton playing the piano in a mansion intercut with scenes with her love interest (portrayed by German-born Michael Calvin Bacon,who later starred as J.B. Reese on Saban's syndicated television series VR Troopers ). It stayed in heavy rotation during the spring and summer of 1994. The video was later made available on Braxton's VEVO account on October 25,2009. [26]
Credits taken from liner notes. [27]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [53] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | April 21, 1994 | Mini-CD | [54] | |
Germany | May 2, 1994 | CD | [55] | |
United States |
| LaFace | [56] [57] [58] | |
United Kingdom | CD |
| [59] | |
Sweden | June 6, 1994 | [60] | ||
United Kingdom | June 27, 1994 |
| [61] |
Toni Michele Braxton is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other accolades. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2017 she was honored with the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.
Secrets is the second studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on June 18, 1996, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Secrets has been certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. In support of the album, Braxton embarked on the Secrets Tour, playing dates in North America and Europe from August 1996 to October 1997.
"Un-Break My Heart" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was released as the second single from the album on October 7, 1996, through LaFace Records. The song is a ballad about a "blistering heartbreak" in which the singer begs a former lover to return and undo the pain he has caused. It won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and nearly 3 million in the United States alone, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.
Toni Braxton is the debut studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on July 13, 1993, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was primarily produced by L.A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons.
Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album is the soundtrack for the film of the same name, released on November 14, 1995, by Arista Records. Produced by Babyface, the soundtrack features appearances by several prominent R&B artists, including Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, TLC, Brandy, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Patti LaBelle, SWV and Mary J. Blige.
"Hit the Freeway" is a song by American recording artist Toni Braxton, released as the lead single from her fourth studio album, More Than a Woman (2002). The song, which features American rapper Loon, was written by Pharrell Williams and Loon himself, while production was handled by Pharrell's production duo The Neptunes. It is a hip hop and R&B song, with lyrics about an ex trying to rekindle with Braxton, but Braxton claims she's not interested in him anymore.
American singer Toni Braxton has released ten studio albums, five extended plays, six compilation albums, two remix albums, thirty-four singles, two video albums and twenty-two music videos in a career spanning over 30 years. Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland, on October 7, 1967. Her mother, an opera vocalist, encouraged Braxton and her four sisters to sing in church at a young age. In 1990, songwriter Bill Pettaway discovered the sisters and helped them obtain a record deal with Arista Records, as the group titled The Braxtons; the group's debut single, "Good Life", was released the same year. Although the song failed to chart, Braxton's voice caught the attention of producers, L.A. Reid and Babyface, who signed her to their newly formed LaFace Records. In 1991, Braxton recorded songs for the soundtrack to the 1992 film Boomerang. Her solo debut single, "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", reached the top forty of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top five of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Two years later, her self-titled debut album was issued through LaFace. The album topped the US Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned four singles, including "Breathe Again", which peaked within the top ten in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The album has sold over ten million copies worldwide.
"You're Makin' Me High" is the lead single from American singer Toni Braxton's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The mid-tempo song represents a joint collaboration between the Grammy Award-winning producer Babyface and Bryce Wilson. The beat of the song was originally for singer-songwriter Brandy, with Dallas Austin pegged to write a lyric to override; however, Braxton had Babyface write lyrics for the song. It was ultimately issued in the United States as a double A-side with "Let It Flow", the airplay hit from the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.
"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" is a song by American singer and songwriter Toni Braxton, released in November 1997 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song, co-written by Braxton and Babyface and produced by Babyface, features Kenny G on the saxophone. At the time of this single's release, Secrets had reached five-time Platinum status by the RIAA.
"Love Shoulda Brought You Home" is the debut solo single by American singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Daryl Simmons, and Bo Watson and produced by Edmonds and Simmons along with L.A. Reid. Originally written for singer Anita Baker, who had to decline due to her pregnancy, it was eventually recorded by Braxton and featured on the soundtrack to Reginald Hudlin's romantic comedy film Boomerang (1992). The song was later also included on Braxton's self titled debut album (1993). Lyrically, the slow-groove R&B song is saga of betrayal and infidelity that depicts a heartbroken Braxton.
"Another Sad Love Song" is a song by American singer-songwriter Toni Braxton. Written and produced by Daryl Simmons and Babyface, featuring additional production from L.A. Reid, it was released as the lead single and its opening track from Braxton's self-titled debut album (1993) on June 11, 1993, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. Lyrically, it talks about Braxton complaining that every song played on the radio is a reminder of her ex-boyfriend.
"Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and produced by Edmonds, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons for Braxton's self-titled debut album (1993). Its lyrics evokes a sense of nostalgia from a relationship that has run its course. The ballad was released as the album's second single on October 6, 1993, by LaFace and Arista Records.
"Seven Whole Days" is a song performed by American singer Toni Braxton. It serves as the third single from her self-titled debut album (1993). It was released on October 8, 1993 by LaFace and Arista Records. Written and produced by Kenneth Edmonds, Antonio Reid and Daryl Simmons, the track describes a romance that was fading. As the single was not commercially released in the United States, it was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and only managed to chart on the Hot 100 Airplay at number forty-eight in early March 1994. Nevertheless, it successfully topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay in late January 1994.
"I Don't Want To" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, Secrets (1996). It was released as the third single from the album on March 11, 1997; in the United States it was released as a double A-side with "I Love Me Some Him". Written and produced by R. Kelly, the R&B ballad describes the agony of a break-up. The song was well received by music critics, who were complimentary about Kelly's production.
So Many Ways is the debut album by American R&B vocal group The Braxtons. Released on August 6, 1996, the album produced four singles; "So Many Ways", "Only Love", "The Boss" – which peaked at number-one in the Billboard Dance Charts – and "Slow Flow". "So Many Ways" peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and No. 3 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.
The following is the discography of American musician Babyface.
"Let It Flow" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. Written and produced by Babyface, the song was originally recorded for, and included on, the soundtrack to the 1995 motion picture Waiting to Exhale.
Paul Boutin is a French-born American music mixer, audio engineer and a long-time collaborator with producer/songwriter/artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
"Hurt You" is a song by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface. It was written by Braxton and Babyface along with Daryl Simmons and Antonio Dixon for their collaborative studio album Love, Marriage & Divorce (2014), while Babyface helmed production. The song was released on August 17, 2013, as the lead single from the album. It topped the US Adult R&B Songs and was ranked fifth on the chart's year-end listing.
"So Many Ways" is a song by American vocal group the Braxtons, released on July 23, 1996 as the lead single from their debut album, So Many Ways (1996). The song was written by Carl-So-Lowe, Jermaine Dupri and produced by Dupri. It was also featured on the High School High soundtrack (1996). The song charted at 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It also reached the top 40 in the UK, charting at 32 and in New Zealand, the song charted at 17.