Toni Michelle Braxton is a famous American R&B, pop and soul singer. She has won six Grammy Awards. Toni started to sing in her childhood: her father was a priest, and she began singing in the Church choir. Professional musical career started in the late 80’s, when Toni and four her younger sisters performed as The Braxtons. The young singer’s talent was noticed and she was invited to participate in the record of the demo version of Love Shoulda Brought You Home. Later that composition was included into Boomerang movie soundtrack. After that Toni started to work on her debut solo album, which was issued in 1993. It is worth mentioning that not every artist can have such a powerful debut: Toni’s first album Toni Braxton reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. Braxton won several awards for that album, including three Grammy Awards. She won in such nominations as “Best New Artist” and twice in “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” in 1994 and 1995. More than 15 million copies of Toni Braxton album were sold all over the world, which means that the record was certified 8x platinum.
Biography
The first single, 'You're Makin' Me High,' was Braxton's most overtly sexual yet, and it became her biggest pop hit to date; however, its success was soon eclipsed by the follow-up single, the Diane Warren-penned ballad 'Un-break My Heart.' 'Un-break My Heart' was an inescapable juggernaut, spending an amazing 11 weeks on top of the pop charts.
The second album Secrets turned out to be even more successful: more than 20 million copies were sold. That record won several awards, including two Grammy awards and two American Music Awards. Toni wrote two songs for that album, and one of them, How Could an Angel Break My Heart was included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a Princess Diana memorial album.
In 1998 Toni had to experience the unpleasant surprise – she had to announce her bankruptcy. As the result the singer had to set out all her property, including music awards. But even these circumstances could not stop her. Braxton was offered the role in Disney musical Beauty and the Beast and she was performing in Broadway in 1998 and 1999. Toni was the first Afro-American singer, playing the leading role in Disney musical. In 1999 all the financial problems were solved and Toni continued to record on LaFace label. Third studio work titled The Heat (2000) and the composition He Wasn’t Man Enough brought Braxton the third Grammy award. The Heat was certified 2x Platinum and in 2001 it won American Music Awards in the nomination “Best Soul/R&B album”. Toni’s fourth studio work titled More Than a Woman was issued in 2002. In comparison with previous albums it was not so commercially successful. Nevertheless, the next record Libra (2005) debuted on number 4 of Billboard 200 Albums and by the end of the year it was certified Gold.
Toni Braxton’s new studio album Pulse was released in 2010. It is Toni’s first record in five years and it has all the chances to please old fans and to attract attention of new music lovers.
Studio AlbumsPulse
Among the 13 songs on Toni Braxton’s new album Pulse there are both R&B compositions like the single Yesterday with contagious beats and slow ballads like those which have brought the singer fame
Libra
Libra marks Toni Braxton's departure from Arista, her longtime label. And according to the cover of her fifth album, she is just Toni now, not Toni Braxton. If you're in for an easy listening ride through the thickets of passion, this album delivers
10
Compilation albums
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RemixesUn-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection
Toni Braxton, the sultry alto who steamed up the nineties with her torch ballads, has had a remarkable career. Unbreak My Heart: The Remix Collection is a nice change of pace from the typical patched-together cash-in compilation of remixes
1
Libra review
Long before the likes of J-Lo and Britney Spears hypnotized the world with their frequently photographed rumps and midriffs, Toni Braxton spearheaded the cluster of desirable females with a knockout combination of seductive looks, silky vocal tones and an inclination towards dresses which seemed to be produced during a cloth shortage. But image aside, Braxton's career CV can't be laughed at. She had six Grammys, seven American Music Awards and a total of 25 million worldwide album sales. Toni Braxton just might be one of the best, most distinctive voices to have come out of the nineties. Taking the deep, lush tones and timbres of Anita Baker and adding a sizzling sensuality she created her own sound. Recently Braxton tried packaging herself to a younger audience and it just didn’t work. Although she had more talent in her manicured left pinky than a good portion of the competition her urban sound didn’t impress the young potential fans and confused her established fanbase. After several different greatest hits and a remix album many people were wondering when they’d hear from Toni again. Then the single Please came out and eventually it became clear there would be an album. Libra marks Toni Braxton's departure from Arista, her longtime label. And according to the cover of her fifth studio album, she is just Toni now, not Toni Braxton.
Thankfully, this album is a return to form with a smooth and consistent R&B offering. Although it’s not in the same league as Mariah's comeback earlier this year it’s still a welcomed return for this diva. Please, the first single from Libra, is classic Toni with its sparse but absolutely irresistible R&B production. Trippin (That’s The Way Love Works) features police sirens, a melancholy piano riff and some interesting lyrics about the love/hate relationship that being in a romance can have. What’s Good is more typical Toni fare, which would have fit in nicely on the Secrets album with it’s subtle nods to jazz and R&B. Midnight is another nod to Toni's beginnings over a more modern hip-hop beat. Take This Ring is almost a complete pilfering of Amerie’s go-go flavored delight 1 Thing. Toni does her own thing with her low, sultry vocals over the top and that part is very nice. Shadowless ends the album with one of her best ballads since Unbreak My Heart. Toni communicates the same isolated feeling she has before but the production is so vulnerable and her voice communicates such a bruising loss. The acoustic guitar is her only companion and you can hear the squeaks of fingers sliding across the string, the thud as the guitar player smacks the guitar for emphasis. The fact that Nuno Bettencourt is playing gives it that same aching feeling you got from Extreme’s More Than Words so many years ago.
Overall, Libra is a good and enjoyable album. While no Toni Braxton, it's definitely her answer to Secrets. If you're expecting over the top, bombastic vocals on Libra, then this album may not be the one for you. If you're expecting a barrage of uptempo dancables, then this album may not be the one for you. But if you're in for an easy listening ride through the thickets of passion, this album delivers. Although Libra is Toni's spottiest album to date, her fans shouldn't have any trouble appreciating it.
Rate review4.01
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December 2022
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