Yesterday (Toni Braxton song) explained

Yesterday
Cover:Toni Braxton - Yesterday.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Toni Braxton
Album:Pulse
Released:September 29, 2009
Length:3:48
Label:Atlantic
Producer:DJ Frank E
Chronology:Toni Braxton
Prev Title:The Time of Our Lives
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Hands Tied
Next Year:2010

"Yesterday" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Braxton, Jerome Armstrong, Terrence Battle, Michael White, and DJ Frank E and produced by the latter for her seventh studio album Pulse (2010). Selected as the album's lead single,[1] [2] it was released by Atlantic Records to US radios on September 29, 2009. American singer Trey Songz appears on the Troy Taylor radio edit of "Yesterday," which served as the American version released to radio.[3] [4] Outside North America, the original version of the song was released, which features only Braxton's vocals.[5]

The song was a moderate success on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and peaked at number twelve. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 50 on the Official UK Singles top 100 Chart and at number 17 on R&B Singles top 40.

Background and release

The song was released on Braxton's official website on September 29, 2009, after four years in hiatus. It is Braxton's first single released under Atlantic Records.[6] In the United Kingdom, the song was supposed to be released on February 22, 2010, but ultimately the single release date was moved to May 3, 2010.[7] "Yesterday" is Braxton's first single release in the UK since "Hit the Freeway" in 2003, as Libra was only available on import and no singles from the album were released there. A Spanish version of the track, titled "Ayer", was recorded with Alexander Acha but remains unreleased to this day.

Promotion

Braxton's promotion of the track commenced at the Soul Train Music Awards of 2009, along with Songz.[8] Braxton also promoted the single in the UK with performances on GMTV on 11 May 2010,[9] Loose Women and The David Dickinson Show on 18 May 2010.[10]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Nick Levine from Digital Spy rated the song 3 out of 5 stars and favorably reviewed the solo version of the song, saying: "'Yesterday' shares a little too much of its DNA with Beyoncé's 'Halo' to satisfy fully, but [Braxton] sounds as seductive as ever crooning the surprisingly bitter lyrics - ("I don't love you, don't need you, can't stand you,") she insists on the middle 8. In fact, when she growls those last three words, it's almost like she never went away.[11] Mark Edward Nero from About.com say, positively, "Arguably the best song on Pulse is the passionately bitter break-up song 'Yesterday', but interestingly, the better of two versions of the song isn't included on the album's standard version".[12] Andy Kellman from Allmusic said: "'Yesterday' is a bitter breakup ballad in which the teeth-clenched 'I don’t love ya/Don’t need ya/Can’t stand ya no more' sounds very real".[13] Mikael Wood from Los Angeles Times said: "Opener 'Yesterday' cribs its twinkly emo-soul texture (and some of its airy vocal melody) from Beyoncé's 'Broken-Hearted Girl'".[14]

Chart performance

"Yesterday" debuted at number 96 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[15] On the issue dated January 2, 2010, the song made a massive 39-spot jump and has now peaked at number twelve, making it her highest chart performance since her 2000 single "Just Be a Man About It", which peaked at number six. In the UK, "Yesterday" became Braxton's first hit single since the release of "Hit the Freeway", peaking at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart and at number seventeen on the UK R&B Singles Chart.

Music video

There are two versions of the music video for "Yesterday": one for the original solo version and one for the remix featuring Trey Songz.[16] Filming the video for the single started on October 8, 2009, in Los Angeles with director Bille Woodruff[17] (known for such classic Braxton videos as "Un-Break My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough"). Photos from the video were revealed on her official website on October 28 and show Braxton playing a piano, and Songz playing her boyfriend.[18] The video[19] premiered on The Wendy Williams Show on November 20, 2009.[20] The video features singer Brooke Hogan as well as basketball players Shannon Brown and Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers. The video tells the story about a woman (Braxton) who discovers that her boyfriend (Brown) is cheating on her with another woman (Hogan).[21]

Formats and track listings

U.S. iTunes digital EP
  1. "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
  2. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
  3. "Yesterday" (Instrumental) — 3:48
U.S. Wal-Mart CD single
  1. "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
  2. "Rewind" — 3:30
German digital single[22]
  1. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
  2. "Yesterday" (Bimbo Jones Mix) — 7:05
  3. "Yesterday" (Fred Falke Mix) — 7:02
  4. "Yesterday" (Dave Audé Club Mix) - 8:41
  5. "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
  6. "Yesterday" (Video) — 3:47
German CD single[23]
  1. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
  2. "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
UK digital single[24]
  1. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
UK iTunes digital single[25]
  1. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
  2. "Rewind" — 3:30
UK iTunes digital remix single[26]
  1. "Yesterday" (Bimbo Jones Mix) — 7:05
  2. "Yesterday" (Fred Falke Mix) — 7:02
  3. "Yesterday" (Nu Addiction Mix) — 6:04
  4. "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Remix) — 4:58
  5. "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
UK 7Digital digital single[27]
  1. "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
  2. "Yesterday" (Cutmore Mix) — 6:18
UK 7" Vinyl[28] [29]
  1. "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Remix) — 4:58
  2. "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Dub Mix) — 4:58

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Yesterday"
Chart (2009–10)Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[30] 100
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[31] 44

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Yesterday"
Chart (2010)Position
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[32] 55
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[33] 41

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
United StatesSeptember 29, 2009Radio airplayAtlantic Records
December 8, 2009Digital download
December 15, 2009CD single (Wal-Mart)
United KingdomMay 2, 2010Digital download
May 3, 20107" vinyl
GermanyMay 7, 2010

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Exclusive: Be the First to Listen to Toni Braxton's New Single 'Yesterday' . . September 11, 2009 . October 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090914055322/http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/listen_to_toni_braxtons_new_single_yesterday# . 2009-09-14 . dead .
  2. Web site: Sam . Toni Braxton's 'Pulse' Pushed Back – Again | ..::That Grape Juice // ThatGrapeJuice.net::.. || Thirsty? . Thatgrapejuice.net . 2010-01-21 . 2010-05-05.
  3. http://www.tonibraxton.com/news/listen-to-toni-braxtons-yesterday-ft-trey-songz/
  4. Web site: Listen To Toni Braxton's "Yesterday" Ft. Trey Songz! - Blog Detail . TreySongz.com . October 17, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091017003107/http://www.treysongz.com/news/listen-to-toni-braxtons-yesterday-ft-trey-songz/ . October 17, 2009 . dead . mdy-all .
  5. Web site: Toni Braxton interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' May 2010 . Bluesandsoul.com . 2012-05-21.
  6. Web site: Toni Braxton Joins The Atlantic Family - Blog Detail . ToniBraxton.com . October 30, 2009 . November 20, 2009.
  7. Web site: Radio1 – UK Forthcoming Singles . Radio1 . December 30, 2009 . October 11, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011155818/http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm . dead .
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbeqxr5XaNk
  9. Web site: GMTV | Week 19 Guests - ITV Press Centre . Itv.com . 2012-05-21.
  10. Web site: Press releases | Programme press releases|The David Dickinson Show - ITV Press Centre . Itv.com . 2012-05-21.
  11. Web site: Music - Singles Review - Toni Braxton: 'Yesterday' . Digital Spy . 2010-05-05.
  12. http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/ToniBraxtonPulse.htm Pulse album review by About.com
  13. http://www.allmusic.com/album/pulse-r1720947/review Pulse album review by Allmusic
  14. News: Wood, Mikael. Pulse album review . Los Angeles Times. December 2, 2010.
  15. Web site: Trust . Gary . Taylor Swift Climbs Hot 100, Black Eyed Peas Still No. 1 . . . September 14, 2009 . October 3, 2009.
  16. http://www.wearepopslags.com/2009/toni-braxton-yesterday-solo-video/
  17. Web site: Toni's "Yesterday" Music Video Shoot! - Blog Detail . ToniBraxton.com . October 8, 2009 . October 17, 2009.
  18. Web site: Toni's 'Yesterday' Video Shoot Pics! - Blog Detail . ToniBraxton.com . October 28, 2009 . November 20, 2009.
  19. Web site: Published by: Ha T . Music Video: Toni Braxton ft Trey Songz – Yesterday - TheNext2Shine:Exclusive RNB Music Downloads . Blog.thenext2shine.com . 2009-11-20 . 2010-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100511162239/http://blog.thenext2shine.com/2009/music-video-toni-braxton-ft-trey-songz-yesterday# . 2010-05-11 . dead .
  20. Web site: Toni's 'Yesterday' Video Ft. Trey Songz To Premiere On The Wendy Williams Show This Friday! - Blog Detail . ToniBraxton.com . November 18, 2009 . November 20, 2009.
  21. Web site: Yesterday music video facts. Songfacts. 15 March 2010.
  22. Web site: Yesterday (+video): Toni Braxton: Amazon.de: MP3-Downloads . Amazon.de . 2012-05-21.
  23. Web site: Yesterday (2track): Toni Braxton: Amazon.de: Musik . Amazon.de . 2009-09-09 . 2012-05-21.
  24. Web site: Yesterday: Toni Braxton: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads . Amazon.co.uk . 2012-05-21.
  25. Web site: Yesterday - Single by Toni Braxton - Single on iTunes . Itunes.apple.com . 2010-04-30 . 2012-05-21.
  26. Web site: Yesterday - EP by Toni Braxton - EP on iTunes . Itunes.apple.com . 2010-04-30 . 2012-05-21.
  27. Web site: Toni Braxton - Yesterday MP3 Downloads . 7digital . 2012-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110912115655/http://www.7digital.com/artists/toni-braxton-%282%29/yesterday-5/# . 2011-09-12 . dead .
  28. Web site: Toni Braxton - Yesterday at Juno Records . https://archive.today/20120904211720/http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/390241-01.htm . dead . 2012-09-04 . Juno.co.uk . 2010-05-03 . 2012-05-21 .
  29. Web site: music: Toni Braxton: Yesterday (2010) . hmv.com . 2005-12-15 . 2012-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120922093706/http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=473028# . 2012-09-22 . dead .
  30. Japan Hot 100. https://web.archive.org/web/20151128180438/http://www.billboard.com/artist/430180/toni-braxton/chart?f=848 . 2015-11-28 . Billboard. May 21, 2022.
  31. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 12, 2010. TopHit. April 30, 2024.
  32. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2010. TopHit. April 30, 2024. April 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240428163200/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2010. live.
  33. Web site: 2010 Year End Chart: Adult R&B Songs. Billboard. June 24, 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yesterday (Toni Braxton song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.