Yesterday (Toni Braxton song)
Encyclopedia
"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". Outside North America, the original version of the song was released, which features only Braxton's vocals.
The song was a moderate success on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
, peaking 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.
. 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. "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.
gave to the song 3 out of 5 stars and a favorable review of the solo version of the song, saying that: "'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. 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". 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". 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
".
for "Yesterday": one for the original solo version and one for the remix featuring Trey Songz
.
Filming the video for the single started on October 8, 2009 in Los Angeles
with director Bille Woodruff
(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 with Songz playing her boyfriend. The video premiered on The Wendy Williams Show
on November 20, 2009. 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), that discovers that her boyfriend (Brown) is cheating on her with another girl (Hogan).
of 2009, along with Songz. Braxton will also promote the single in the UK with performances on GMTV
on 11 May 2010, Loose Women
and The David Dickinson Show
on 18 May 2010.
U.S. Wal-Mart CD single
German digital single
German CD single
UK digital single
UK iTunes digital single
UK iTunes digital remix single
UK 7Digital digital single
UK 7" Vinyl
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. On the issue dated January 2, 2010, the song made a massive thirty-nine-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
.
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...
. The track is the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from her album, Pulse
Pulse (Toni Braxton album)
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...
, which has been released May 4, 2010. 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...
appears on the American version released to radio, "Troy Taylor Radio Edit". Outside North America, the original version of the song was released, which features only Braxton's vocals.
The song was a moderate success on the Billboard's 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,...
, peaking 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.
Song information
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 RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the song was supposed to be released on February 22, 2010 but ultimately the single release date was moved to May 3, 2010. "Yesterday" is Braxton's first single release in the UK since "Hit the Freeway
Hit the Freeway
"Hit the Freeway" is the only single from American recording artist Toni Braxton's fourth studio album, More Than a Woman , featuring American rapper Loon. As a result of the poor chart performance of "Hit the Freeway", no more singles from More Than a Woman were released...
" in 2003 as Libra was only available on import and no singles from the album were released there.
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from music critics. Nick Levine from entertainment website 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....
gave to the song 3 out of 5 stars and a favorable review of the solo version of the song, saying that: "'Yesterday' shares a little too much of its DNA with Beyoncé's 'Halo
Halo (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce . Columbia Records released the song as the fourth single of the album, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009. It was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and...
' 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. Mark Edward Nero from 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....
say, positively, "Arguably the best song on Pulse
Pulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
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". 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". Mikael Wood from 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....
said: "Opener "Yesterday" cribs its twinkly emo-soul texture (and some of its airy vocal melody) from Beyoncé's "Broken-Hearted Girl
Broken-Hearted Girl
"Broken-Hearted Girl" is a song by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Knowles, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and was produced by Knowles and Stargate for Knowles' third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce...
".
Music video
There are two versions of the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Yesterday": one for the original solo version and one for the remix 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...
.
Filming the video for the single started on October 8, 2009 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
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...
(known for such classic Braxton videos as "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...
" 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...
"). Photos from the video were revealed on her official website on October 28 and show Braxton playing a piano, and with Songz playing her boyfriend. The video premiered on 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...
on November 20, 2009. The video features singer Brooke Hogan
Brooke Hogan
Brooke Ellen Bollea , better known by her stage name Brooke Hogan, is an American singer, actress, model, socialite, and television personality, and the oldest child of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan . She appeared on the reality-television series Hogan Knows Best, which focused on her family,...
as well as basketball players Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown is an American professional basketball player who plays at the shooting guard and point guard positions. He last played in the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, was named Illinois Mr...
and Ron Artest
Ron Artest
Metta World Peace is an American professional basketball player and rapper who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. World Peace gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004...
from the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. The video tells the story about a woman (Braxton), that discovers that her boyfriend (Brown) is cheating on her with another girl (Hogan).
Promotion
Braxton's promotion of the track commenced at the Soul Train Music AwardsSoul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
of 2009, along with Songz. Braxton will also promote the single in the UK with performances on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
on 11 May 2010, Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
and The David Dickinson Show
David Dickinson
David Dickinson is an English antiques expert, television presenter and entrepreneur.-Biography:...
on 18 May 2010.
Formats and track listings
U.S. iTunes digital EP- "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey SongzTrey SongzTremaine "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...
) — 3:46 - "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
- "Yesterday" (Instrumental) — 3:48
U.S. Wal-Mart CD single
- "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
- "Rewind" — 3:30
German digital single
- "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
- "Yesterday" (Bimbo JonesBimbo JonesBimbo Jones is a UK dance music group comprising producers Lee Dagger and Marc JB and vocalist Katherine Ellis. Known for their remix work and white label releases, they produced a remix of Meck's 2006 UK number-one single "Thunder in My Heart Again"...
Mix) — 7:05 - "Yesterday" (Fred Falke Mix) — 7:02
- "Yesterday" (Dave AudeDave AudéDave Audé is a Grammy nominated producer, house DJ, and remixer. He has done production for musicians such as KoЯn, t.A.T.u., DJ Keoki, Barenaked Ladies, Faith No More, Cause and Effect, Hilary Duff, Wanessa, Ashley Tisdale, The Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga, Lunascape, Madonna, Britney Spears, CeCe...
Club Mix) - 8:41 - "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
- "Yesterday" (Video) — 3:47
German CD single
- "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
- "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
UK digital single
- "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
UK iTunes digital single
- "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
- "Rewind" — 3:30
UK iTunes digital remix single
- "Yesterday" (Bimbo Jones Mix) — 7:05
- "Yesterday" (Fred Falke Mix) — 7:02
- "Yesterday" (Nu Addiction Mix) — 6:04
- "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Remix) — 4:58
- "Yesterday" (Remix featuring Trey Songz) — 3:46
UK 7Digital digital single
- "Yesterday" (Album Version) — 3:48
- "Yesterday" (Cutmore Mix) — 6:18
UK 7" Vinyl
- "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Remix) — 4:58
- "Yesterday" (Sticky Lovers Dub Mix) — 4:58
Chart performance
"Yesterday" debuted at number ninety-six on the U.S. BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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. On the issue dated January 2, 2010, the song made a massive thirty-nine-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
Just Be a Man About It
"Just Be a Man About It" is the second single from Toni Braxton's third studio album, The Heat . It was released as a DVD single in the United States on November 21, 2000 and in Canada on February 6, 2001.-Music video:...
", which peaked at number six. In the UK, "Yesterday" became Braxton's first hit single since the release of "Hit the Freeway
Hit the Freeway
"Hit the Freeway" is the only single from American recording artist Toni Braxton's fourth studio album, More Than a Woman , featuring American rapper Loon. As a result of the poor chart performance of "Hit the Freeway", no more singles from More Than a Woman were released...
", peaking at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and at number seventeen on the UK R&B Singles 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...
.
| Chart (2009/2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 49 |
| European Hot 100 | 50 |
| German Singles Chart | 20 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 17 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
50 |
| UK R&B Singles 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... |
17 |
| 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,... |
12 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
16 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | September 29, 2009 | Radio airplay | 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... |
| 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 |