Yesterday (Toni Braxton song)

"Yesterday"
Single by Toni Braxton
from the album Pulse
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2009
Length3:48
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • Jerome Armstrong
  • Terrence Battle
  • Toni Braxton
  • Justin Franks
  • Michael White
Producer(s)DJ Frank E
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"The Time of Our Lives"
(2006) 		"Yesterday"
(2009) 		"Hands Tied"
(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 Billboard's 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

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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

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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

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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

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"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,[16] 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

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There are two versions of the music video for "Yesterday": one for the original solo version and one for the remix featuring Trey Songz.[17] Filming the video for the single started on October 8, 2009, in Los Angeles with director Bille Woodruff[18] (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.[19] The video[20] premiered on The Wendy Williams Show on November 20, 2009.[21] 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).[22]

Formats and track listings

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Charts

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Release history

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Release history and formats for "Yesterday"
Region Date Format(s) Label
United States September 29, 2009 Radio airplay Atlantic Records
December 8, 2009 Digital download
December 15, 2009 CD single (Wal-Mart)
United Kingdom May 2, 2010 Digital download
May 3, 2010 7" vinyl
Germany May 7, 2010
  • CD single
  • digital download

References

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  1. ^ "Exclusive: Be the First to Listen to Toni Braxton's New Single 'Yesterday'". Essence. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-14. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  2. ^ Sam (2010-01-21). "Toni Braxton's 'Pulse' Pushed Back – Again | ..::That Grape Juice // ThatGrapeJuice.net::.. || Thirsty?". Thatgrapejuice.net. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  3. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Listen To Toni Braxton's "Yesterday" Ft. Trey Songz! - Blog Detail". TreySongz.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  5. ^ "Toni Braxton interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' May 2010". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  6. ^ "Toni Braxton Joins The Atlantic Family - Blog Detail". ToniBraxton.com. October 30, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  7. ^ "Radio1 – UK Forthcoming Singles". Radio1. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  8. ^ [2] [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "GMTV | Week 19 Guests - ITV Press Centre". Itv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  10. ^ "Press releases | Programme press releases|The David Dickinson Show - ITV Press Centre". Itv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  11. ^ "Music - Singles Review - Toni Braxton: 'Yesterday'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  12. ^ Pulse album review by About.com Archived 2010-05-11 at the Wayback Machine About.com Retrieved 2010-12-04
  13. ^ Pulse album review by Allmusic Allmusic Retrieved 2010-12-03
  14. ^ Wood, Mikael. "Pulse album review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (September 14, 2009). "Taylor Swift Climbs Hot 100, Black Eyed Peas Still No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  17. ^ [3] [permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Toni's "Yesterday" Music Video Shoot! - Blog Detail". ToniBraxton.com. October 8, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  19. ^ "Toni's 'Yesterday' Video Shoot Pics! - Blog Detail". ToniBraxton.com. October 28, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  20. ^ Published by: Ha T (2009-11-20). "Music Video: Toni Braxton ft Trey Songz – Yesterday - TheNext2Shine:Exclusive RNB Music Downloads". Blog.thenext2shine.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  21. ^ "Toni's 'Yesterday' Video Ft. Trey Songz To Premiere On The Wendy Williams Show This Friday! - Blog Detail". ToniBraxton.com. November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  22. ^ "Yesterday music video facts". Songfacts. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Yesterday (+video): Toni Braxton: Amazon.de: MP3-Downloads". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  24. ^ "Yesterday (2track): Toni Braxton: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  25. ^ "Yesterday: Toni Braxton: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  26. ^ "Yesterday - Single by Toni Braxton - Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  27. ^ "Yesterday - EP by Toni Braxton - EP on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  28. ^ "Toni Braxton - Yesterday MP3 Downloads". 7digital. Archived from the original on 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  29. ^ "Toni Braxton - Yesterday at Juno Records". Juno.co.uk. 2010-05-03. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  30. ^ "music: Toni Braxton: Yesterday (2010)". hmv.com. 2005-12-15. Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  31. ^ "Toni Braxton – Yesterday" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  32. ^ Toni Braxton — Yesterday. TopHit. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  33. ^ "Toni Braxton – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Toni Braxton. Retrieved 2015-07-17. [dead link‍]
  34. ^ "Toni Braxton – Yesterday" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  35. ^ "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  36. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 12, 2010". TopHit. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  38. ^ "Toni Braxton – Yesterday". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  40. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  41. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  42. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  43. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2010". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  44. ^ "2010 Year End Chart: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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