Pulse (Toni Braxton album)
Encyclopedia
Pulse is the sixth studio album
by American R&B
singer–songwriter Toni Braxton
, released May 4, 2010, on Atlantic Records
. It is her first album in five years and serves as her debut for the Atlantic label after signing a new record deal. Production for the album took place during September 2008 to March 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including David Foster
, Harvey Mason, Jr.
, Frank E
, Oak
, Lucas Secon
, and Dapo Torimiro
. Pulse features up-tempo songs and R&B ballads with production varying from smooth to dance
-based styles.
The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200
chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It became Braxton's fifth US top-ten album and produced three singles that achieved moderate chart success. Upon its release, Pulse received positive reviews from most music critics.
chairman Craig Kallaman revealed that the label had signed Braxton and had the following to say "Last year [2008], we had the rare opportunity to bring another R&B icon into the Atlantic family, and for me it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Toni Braxton is not only one of the greatest voices of all time, but she is a charismatic superstar with an incredible list of achievements."
Production for the album took place during September 2008 to March 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including David Foster
, Harvey Mason, Jr.
, Frank E
, Oak
, Lucas Secon
, and Dapo Torimiro
. The entertainment outlet Rap-Up
revealed that Braxton's album would feature collaborations with Lucas Secon
; Harvey Mason, Jr.
; Warren "Oak" Felder
; and Troy Taylor
as well as collaborations with Robin Thicke
, Trey Songz
, Usher
and other reported collaborations included Claude Kelly
, Frank E
, Steve Mac
, Dapo Torimiro
and David Foster
. R&B songwriter and singer Ne-Yo
also worked on songs for the album.
Speaking of the thinking behind titling the album 'Pulse', Braxton explained to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of Blues & Soul
- in May 2010: "It comes from when I got ill. I went into cardic rehab, and there was this older lady there. She was like 'What are you doing here so young? It must have been your heart. You know what? This is my fourth heart-attack and you're so young, you can't be AFRAID! You can't stop LIVING!'... Then she told me how she'd just got back from holiday with her 40-year-old boyfriend! And because I'd lost hope - the doctors had told me I'd never be able to record again - her conversation was like that heartbeat, that pulse that gave me back the love of life."
that she had recorded around 30 songs and would like to collaborate with Alicia Keys
. Braxton also explained the delay of the album: "The album was supposed to come out in February, but we held it back because seven of the ten songs we picked were leaked. We decided to go back to the studio, record four or five more songs and then pick. Now we send everything via Federal Express - nothing's going through the internet - and that's why none of the new songs have leaked so far." The song "Woman" is a cover version of the original song by Delta Goodrem
from her 2007 album Delta.
Of the many planned collaborations none made the final album pressings. However the deluxe edition of the album on the iTunes store
contains several of them as bonus tracks including the remix of "Yesterday
" featuring Trey Songz
, "The Wave" written by Jesse McCartney
and Makeba Riddick
, "Stay", "Rewind" and "Yesterday (Cutmore Radio Remix)". It also features the high publicised "Caught (Don't Take Your Hat Off)" featuring Academy Award
winning actress Mo'Nique who appears in the middle of the song with a dramatic monologue.
A collaboration with R&B singer Robin Thicke
called "Don't Leave" would have featured on Braxton's vocals with Thicke providing production. Whilst the high profile collaboration with fellow R&B singer Usher also failed to materialize. Amongst reports that Braxton was working with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, a song tipped to be produced by Darkchild called "Get Loose" was also omitted from the album. Additionally reggae singer Sean Paul
recorded some vocals for a remix of "Lookin' At Me" but it is currently unknown what will become of the remix since it is not featured on the album.
. Braxton told Rap-Up
that the album had been pushed back because seven of the album's ten songs had leaked and so she had decided to go back into the studio to record new songs. The official cover art of the album was released on March 9, 2010. Amazon.com
streamed a different song from Pulse each week up until the album's release day. Braxton performed "Make My Heart" on The Ellen Show
on 27 April 2010, The Wendy Williams Show
and gave an interview on Good Day L.A.
. On 3 May 2010 she performed "Hands Tied
" and "Breathe Again
" on The Mo'Nique Show
. "Hands Tied" was also performed on 4 May 2010 on The Today Show along with her most successful single "Un-Break My Heart
".
" was released digitally November 20, 2009. A version featuring Trey Songz
was also released with the latter serving as the US single whilst the former was serviced internationally. It peaked at number 12 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart.
It was then confirmed that she would film videos for two new singles: "Make My Heart" and "Hands Tied" in March 2010 with director Bille Woodruff
who worked with Braxton previously including on the video for "Unbreak My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough
". The video for "Make My Heart" premiered on April 13 whilst the video for "Hands Tied
" was released on April 14, 2010. The latter has so far peaked at #29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
.
The music video for the song "Woman" premiered June 28, 2010, on Yahoo! Music
. The video shows a live performance of the song.
chart with first-week sales of 54,000 copies, making it Braxton's fifth US top-ten album. It also entered at number one on Billboard
s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In its second week Pulse drop to number #22 and sold 16,588 in the US. On the third week, the album drop to #41. In Canada, Pulse debuted at number 72 on the Top 100 Albums
chart, and in the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 28 on the Top 40 Albums
and at number seven on the R&B Albums
chart. As of April 11, 2011, Pulse has sold 145,000 copies in the United States.
. Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it 4 out of 5 stars and commended its material's themes, noting "a high level of conviction that does not waver, and it’s particularly impressive given that the album covers so many stages of a romantic relationship". USA Today
s Steve Jones gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and viewed it as "a return to form" for Braxton. Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe
gave Pulse a positive review and wrote favorably of its execution, stating "Braxton and her star producers and songwriters mix old-school R&B balladry and modern dance pop while always keeping that luxurious voice as the focus".
In contrast, Los Angeles Times
writer Mikael Wood gave it 2 out of 4 stars and expressed a mixed response to "her attempt to keep up with" contemporary R&B artists, writing that "the flimsy material can't quite conceal her hit-hungry desperation". BBC Online's Natalie Shaw shared a similar sentiment, writing that the album "misfires when its slower numbers are interspersed with uptempo tracks ready-made for the younger market". Mark Edward Nero of About.com
gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and wrote that "no new ground is broken, no significant risks are taken and the album as a whole is doesn't really have any must-hear tracks", but recommended it to listeners of Braxton's previous work and noted that she "can still sing strongly and passionately". The Washington Post
s Sarah Godfrey commended the album's "club tracks" and wrote favorably of Braxton's "trusty album architecture of scorching dance songs, soft-focused up-tempo ballads and "Un-Break My Heart
"-style tear-jerkers without going too over-the-top".
Management
Technical
Art and imagery
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer–songwriter Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, released May 4, 2010, on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. It is her first album in five years and serves as her debut for the Atlantic label after signing a new record deal. Production for the album took place during September 2008 to March 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr. is a songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the biggest legends in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as today’s superstars like Britney Spears, Jordin...
, Frank E
DJ Frank E
Justin Franks, also known as DJ Frank E, is an American DJ and record producer from Denver, Colorado. He began mixing records and later progressed to producing remixes in 2003....
, Oak
Oak (producer)
Warren Okay "Oak" Felder is an Atlanta-based Turkish-American record producer. He is known as Oak and is part of a production team known as The Knightwritaz, with singers Mario, Sterling Simms, and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.-Production credits:...
, Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon, also known by the stage name Lucas, is a world-renowned Danish-American Grammy , MTV Award and Emmy Award-nominated record producer, songwriter,Golden Poets Award winner, DJ, rapper, singer and artist/conceptualist. He lives in London, United Kingdom.Secon has contributed to seven...
, and Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro is a multi-platinum songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he has worked in the music industry in the U.S...
. Pulse features up-tempo songs and R&B ballads with production varying from smooth to dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
-based styles.
The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It became Braxton's fifth US top-ten album and produced three singles that achieved moderate chart success. Upon its release, Pulse received positive reviews from most music critics.
Background
In October 2009 Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
chairman Craig Kallaman revealed that the label had signed Braxton and had the following to say "Last year [2008], we had the rare opportunity to bring another R&B icon into the Atlantic family, and for me it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Toni Braxton is not only one of the greatest voices of all time, but she is a charismatic superstar with an incredible list of achievements."
Production for the album took place during September 2008 to March 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr. is a songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the biggest legends in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as today’s superstars like Britney Spears, Jordin...
, Frank E
DJ Frank E
Justin Franks, also known as DJ Frank E, is an American DJ and record producer from Denver, Colorado. He began mixing records and later progressed to producing remixes in 2003....
, Oak
Oak (producer)
Warren Okay "Oak" Felder is an Atlanta-based Turkish-American record producer. He is known as Oak and is part of a production team known as The Knightwritaz, with singers Mario, Sterling Simms, and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.-Production credits:...
, Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon, also known by the stage name Lucas, is a world-renowned Danish-American Grammy , MTV Award and Emmy Award-nominated record producer, songwriter,Golden Poets Award winner, DJ, rapper, singer and artist/conceptualist. He lives in London, United Kingdom.Secon has contributed to seven...
, and Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro is a multi-platinum songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he has worked in the music industry in the U.S...
. The entertainment outlet Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
revealed that Braxton's album would feature collaborations with Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon
Lucas Secon, also known by the stage name Lucas, is a world-renowned Danish-American Grammy , MTV Award and Emmy Award-nominated record producer, songwriter,Golden Poets Award winner, DJ, rapper, singer and artist/conceptualist. He lives in London, United Kingdom.Secon has contributed to seven...
; Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr. is a songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the biggest legends in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as today’s superstars like Britney Spears, Jordin...
; Warren "Oak" Felder
Oak (producer)
Warren Okay "Oak" Felder is an Atlanta-based Turkish-American record producer. He is known as Oak and is part of a production team known as The Knightwritaz, with singers Mario, Sterling Simms, and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.-Production credits:...
; and Troy Taylor
Troy Taylor (producer)
Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
as well as collaborations with Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke
Robin Charles Thicke is an Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as...
, Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
and other reported collaborations included Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly is an American singer-songwriter. He has a prolific discography, well known for writing for artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Jay Sean, Adam Lambert, Jessie J and Charice.-Career:He began playing the piano...
, Frank E
DJ Frank E
Justin Franks, also known as DJ Frank E, is an American DJ and record producer from Denver, Colorado. He began mixing records and later progressed to producing remixes in 2003....
, Steve Mac
Steve Mac
Steve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...
, Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro
Dapo Torimiro is a multi-platinum songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he has worked in the music industry in the U.S...
and David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
. R&B songwriter and singer Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
also worked on songs for the album.
Speaking of the thinking behind titling the album 'Pulse', Braxton explained to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul is a British music magazine covering black music. Genres covered include soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. It was first published in 1966 and is known for first using the term Northern Soul....
- in May 2010: "It comes from when I got ill. I went into cardic rehab, and there was this older lady there. She was like 'What are you doing here so young? It must have been your heart. You know what? This is my fourth heart-attack and you're so young, you can't be AFRAID! You can't stop LIVING!'... Then she told me how she'd just got back from holiday with her 40-year-old boyfriend! And because I'd lost hope - the doctors had told me I'd never be able to record again - her conversation was like that heartbeat, that pulse that gave me back the love of life."
Music
She explained in an interview with Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
that she had recorded around 30 songs and would like to collaborate with Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
. Braxton also explained the delay of the album: "The album was supposed to come out in February, but we held it back because seven of the ten songs we picked were leaked. We decided to go back to the studio, record four or five more songs and then pick. Now we send everything via Federal Express - nothing's going through the internet - and that's why none of the new songs have leaked so far." The song "Woman" is a cover version of the original song by Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
from her 2007 album Delta.
Of the many planned collaborations none made the final album pressings. However the deluxe edition of the album on the iTunes store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
contains several of them as bonus tracks including the remix of "Yesterday
Yesterday (Toni Braxton song)
"Yesterday" is a song by American R&B singer–songwriter Toni Braxton. The track is the lead single from her album, Pulse, which has been released May 4, 2010. Trey Songz appears on the American version released to radio, "Troy Taylor Radio Edit"...
" featuring Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
, "The Wave" written by Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney is an American singer-songwriter, actor and voice actor. McCartney achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama All My Children as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo musical career...
and Makeba Riddick
Makeba Riddick
Makeba Riddick is a singer-songwriter who has been active since 2005. She is originally from West Baltimore, United States. Currently she is managed by Jay-Z's record label and production house, Roc Nation...
, "Stay", "Rewind" and "Yesterday (Cutmore Radio Remix)". It also features the high publicised "Caught (Don't Take Your Hat Off)" featuring Academy Award
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
winning actress Mo'Nique who appears in the middle of the song with a dramatic monologue.
A collaboration with R&B singer Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke
Robin Charles Thicke is an Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as...
called "Don't Leave" would have featured on Braxton's vocals with Thicke providing production. Whilst the high profile collaboration with fellow R&B singer Usher also failed to materialize. Amongst reports that Braxton was working with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, a song tipped to be produced by Darkchild called "Get Loose" was also omitted from the album. Additionally reggae singer Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
recorded some vocals for a remix of "Lookin' At Me" but it is currently unknown what will become of the remix since it is not featured on the album.
Release and promotion
The album was originally scheduled for release in 2009, but then pushed back to February 2, 2010 before ultimately being released May 4, 2010 on Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Braxton told Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
that the album had been pushed back because seven of the album's ten songs had leaked and so she had decided to go back into the studio to record new songs. The official cover art of the album was released on March 9, 2010. Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
streamed a different song from Pulse each week up until the album's release day. Braxton performed "Make My Heart" on The Ellen Show
The Ellen Show
The Ellen Show is a television sitcom starring Ellen DeGeneres that aired during the 2001–2002 season on CBS. It was DeGeneres's second attempt at a sitcom, after Ellen on ABC , but it was unable to garner strong ratings and was quickly cancelled.After coming out of the closet as a lesbian on her...
on 27 April 2010, The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
and gave an interview on Good Day L.A.
Good Day L.A.
Good Day L.A. is a television talk show aired on KTTV , the Fox Broadcasting Company-owned and operated station in Los Angeles, California. The show airs Monday through Friday mornings from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and is simulcast live on myfoxla.com...
. On 3 May 2010 she performed "Hands Tied
Hands Tied
"Hands Tied" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton. Written by Heather Bright, Warren Felder, and Harvey Mason, Jr. and produced by Oak for Braxton's sixth studio album Pulse , it was premiered on January 29, 2010 on her official website....
" and "Breathe Again
Breathe Again
"Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton from her self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton . Written by Babyface and produced by L. A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons, the ballad was released as the album's second single, garnering heavy airplay during late 1993 and early 1994,...
" on The Mo'Nique Show
The Mo'Nique Show
The Mo'Nique Show is an American talk show hosted by comedienne actress Mo'Nique. Aired on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. She is the first African American woman to host her own late night show. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010.On July 18, 2011, BET...
. "Hands Tied" was also performed on 4 May 2010 on The Today Show along with her most successful single "Un-Break My Heart
Un-Break My Heart
"Un-Break My Heart" is a song by American recording artist Toni Braxton from her second studio album, Secrets . Written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, the ballad was released as the album's second single...
".
Singles
The first single "YesterdayYesterday (Toni Braxton song)
"Yesterday" is a song by American R&B singer–songwriter Toni Braxton. The track is the lead single from her album, Pulse, which has been released May 4, 2010. Trey Songz appears on the American version released to radio, "Troy Taylor Radio Edit"...
" was released digitally November 20, 2009. A version featuring Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
was also released with the latter serving as the US single whilst the former was serviced internationally. It peaked at number 12 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart.
It was then confirmed that she would film videos for two new singles: "Make My Heart" and "Hands Tied" in March 2010 with director Bille Woodruff
Bille Woodruff
Bille Woodruff is a music video and film director, noted for directing many videos for a number of R&B and hip-hop artists since the mid-1990s. These artists include Joe, for whom Woodruff has directed nine music videos since 1994, and Toni Braxton, whom he has worked 8 times since 1996...
who worked with Braxton previously including on the video for "Unbreak My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough
He Wasn't Man Enough
"He Wasn't Man Enough" is a song from American R&B recording artist and songwriter Toni Braxton, and was released as the lead single from her third studio album, The Heat . The song was released on March 7, 200 by LaFace Records. The song was produced by Rodney 'Darkchild' Jenkins. "He Wasn't Man...
". The video for "Make My Heart" premiered on April 13 whilst the video for "Hands Tied
Hands Tied
"Hands Tied" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton. Written by Heather Bright, Warren Felder, and Harvey Mason, Jr. and produced by Oak for Braxton's sixth studio album Pulse , it was premiered on January 29, 2010 on her official website....
" was released on April 14, 2010. The latter has so far peaked at #29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
.
The music video for the song "Woman" premiered June 28, 2010, on Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
. The video shows a live performance of the song.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart with first-week sales of 54,000 copies, making it Braxton's fifth US top-ten album. It also entered at number one on Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In its second week Pulse drop to number #22 and sold 16,588 in the US. On the third week, the album drop to #41. In Canada, Pulse debuted at number 72 on the Top 100 Albums
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS...
chart, and in the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 28 on the Top 40 Albums
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and at number seven on the R&B Albums
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
chart. As of April 11, 2011, Pulse has sold 145,000 copies in the United States.
Critical response
Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 71/100 from MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it 4 out of 5 stars and commended its material's themes, noting "a high level of conviction that does not waver, and it’s particularly impressive given that the album covers so many stages of a romantic relationship". USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
s Steve Jones gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and viewed it as "a return to form" for Braxton. Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
gave Pulse a positive review and wrote favorably of its execution, stating "Braxton and her star producers and songwriters mix old-school R&B balladry and modern dance pop while always keeping that luxurious voice as the focus".
In contrast, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Mikael Wood gave it 2 out of 4 stars and expressed a mixed response to "her attempt to keep up with" contemporary R&B artists, writing that "the flimsy material can't quite conceal her hit-hungry desperation". BBC Online's Natalie Shaw shared a similar sentiment, writing that the album "misfires when its slower numbers are interspersed with uptempo tracks ready-made for the younger market". Mark Edward Nero of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and wrote that "no new ground is broken, no significant risks are taken and the album as a whole is doesn't really have any must-hear tracks", but recommended it to listeners of Braxton's previous work and noted that she "can still sing strongly and passionately". The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Sarah Godfrey commended the album's "club tracks" and wrote favorably of Braxton's "trusty album architecture of scorching dance songs, soft-focused up-tempo ballads and "Un-Break My Heart
Un-Break My Heart
"Un-Break My Heart" is a song by American recording artist Toni Braxton from her second studio album, Secrets . Written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, the ballad was released as the album's second single...
"-style tear-jerkers without going too over-the-top".
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for Pulse adapted from liner notes.Management
- A&R - Aaron Bay-Schuck, Harvey Mason, Jr.Harvey Mason, Jr.Harvey Mason, Jr. is a songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the biggest legends in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as today’s superstars like Britney Spears, Jordin...
- Executive producersExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Vincent Herbert, Craig Kallman
Technical
- Vocals - Toni Braxton
- Producers - Toni Braxton, Busbee, Warren "Oak" FelderOak (producer)Warren Okay "Oak" Felder is an Atlanta-based Turkish-American record producer. He is known as Oak and is part of a production team known as The Knightwritaz, with singers Mario, Sterling Simms, and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.-Production credits:...
, David FosterDavid FosterDavid Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, Simon Franglen, Justin "DJ Frank E" FranksDJ Frank EJustin Franks, also known as DJ Frank E, is an American DJ and record producer from Denver, Colorado. He began mixing records and later progressed to producing remixes in 2003....
, Chuck HarmonyChuck HarmonyCharles T. Harmon better known as Chuck Harmony is an American music producer, musician and songwriter, based in Los Angeles, California, USA.-Early life:Harmon was born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois...
, Steve MacSteve MacSteve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...
, Harvey Mason Jr., D'MileD'MileDernst "D'Mile" Emile II is an American songwriting music producer from Brooklyn, New York. Sometimes referred to as D. Emile, Dernst Emile II or Dee'Mile is most commonly known and accredited as D'Mile...
, Madd Scientist, Lucas SeconLucas SeconLucas Secon, also known by the stage name Lucas, is a world-renowned Danish-American Grammy , MTV Award and Emmy Award-nominated record producer, songwriter,Golden Poets Award winner, DJ, rapper, singer and artist/conceptualist. He lives in London, United Kingdom.Secon has contributed to seven...
, Troy TaylorTroy Taylor (producer)Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
, Michael Warren - Musicians - Paul Bailey, Steve Brewster, Toni Braxton, Jimmy Carter, City of Prague Philhomic Orchestra, Don E, Oak, Paul Franklin, Frank E, Andrew Hey, John Hobbs, Jeff King, Josh Lopez, Jacob Luttrell, Harvey Mason Jr., John Paracelli, Lucas Secon, Troy Taylor, Bobby Terry, Dapo TorimiroDapo TorimiroDapo Torimiro is a multi-platinum songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he has worked in the music industry in the U.S...
, Michael Warren, Brandon White - Background Vocals: Tamar BraxtonTamar BraxtonTamar Braxton-Herbert is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and reality television personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a founding member of the R&B group, The Braxtons. Braxton is the youngest sister of prominent R&B singer Toni Braxton.In 2011, Tamar Braxton reunited with her sisters,...
, Toni Braxton, Heather Bright, James Fauntleroy, Makeba Riddick, Lucas Secon
Art and imagery
- Art direction and design - Mark Obriski
- Hair stylist - Chuck Amos
- PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Indrani, Markus Klinko, Walter Tabayoyong - Make-up - Fran Cooper
- Stylist - G.K. Reid, Beagy Zielinski
Chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Urban Albums Chart | 22 |
| Austrian Albums Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
32 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
72 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 83 |
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
31 |
| German Albums Chart | 18 |
| Greek Albums Chart IFPI Greece International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece or IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and is the official charts provider and recording sales certification body for Greece. Currently two charts are compiled, one for sales of... |
14 |
| South African Albums Chart Recording Industry of South Africa The Recording Industry of South Africa is a trade association that represents the collective interests of producers of music sound recordings, major and independent record labels in South Africa. Formerly known as the Association of the South African Music Industry it was established in the 1970s... |
12 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 9 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
28 |
| UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
7 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
9 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
Chart procession and succession
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | May 4, 2010 | Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
075678959301 |
| Canada | |||
| Germany | May 7, 2010 | Warner Music Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies... |
|
| Poland | 7567893027 | ||
| Australia | May 8, 2010 | ||
| The Netherlands | |||
| United Kingdom | May 10, 2010 | Atlantic Records (UK) | 756789302 |
| Worldwide | Warner Music | ||
| South Korea | WKPD-0155 | ||
| Mexico | May 18, 2010 | 75678930270 | |
| Japan | May 26, 2010 | WPCR-13837 | |
| Brazil | May 27, 2010 | 75678930270 | |
| South Africa | May 28, 2010 |
External links
- Pulse at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...