Toni Braxton - “Libra” to “Sex & Cigarettes” Eras

[Musiq]

There are lots of artists that are commercially successful. That didn't make sense.

[Resident_Evil]

Mar 20, 2012 19:37:23 GMT -5 Musiq said:

There are lots of artists that are commercially successful. That didn't make sense.

Well if think going gold is success then yeah a lot of them are successful but only a handful artists sell platinum albums these days.

[Deleted]

I think success is relative. Most artists aren't successful by 1999 standards anymore, but it's not 1999. There are obviously plenty of artists who are successful by 2012 standards.

[Caviar]

I wouldn't consider "Libra" a flop. It sold 114k the first week with no major hit and went on to go Gold. It's "Pulse" that flopped.

I've been stanning for Toni since the Boomerang OST days and she almost always delivers, with the exception with her last album. The fact that "Libra" is her best album (IMO) since "Secrets" says a lot about her talent. :)

[stunnedout]

I think Pulse is her best work since Secrets.

[SHOOTER]

She has yet to make a bad album to me. Even More Than a Woman was one of the stronger contemporary R&B albums released in 2002.

[George]

Some footage from her concert last weekend at the Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, OR:

[George]

The Amazing Toni Braxton is Announced to Perform at the Official Closing Concert for The Dubai World Cup
20/03/2012



Dubai, UAE, March 20, 2012 - The Meydan Group and Atelier Live are proud to bring international recording artist and famed performer Toni Braxton to perform in concert as the spectacular closing event of the Dubai World Cup on March 31, 2012.

The Dubai World Cup is recognised as the world’s richest day in racing and this year’s event promises to continue the tradition of great entertainment that adds to the spectacle of the biggest event on the Dubai calendar.

Alchemy Project, under Atelier Live brand is known for bringing amazing talent to the region including Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz, The Pussycat Dolls and many more. This partnership with Meydan and Dubai World Cup is an exciting venture, and the selection of Toni Braxon to close the racing programme with a show live in concert was a fantastic choice to match the diverse audience who will be at the World Cup. This live concert is brought by Atelier Live, a development by the award winning Atelier brand, part of Alchemy Project Group.

Mac.s.Far,Managing director of Alchemy Project and creator of the brand “Atelier” said: "We are extremely excited to be a part of Dubai World Cup which by far is the biggest calendar event in the UAE. We are extremely excited to host the legendary TONI BRAXTON for the first time in UAE, under the ATELIER LIVE brand which focuses on the Live Performance element in the entertainment industry. All we can say about this happening is that tickets will sell out very fast and we advise the fans to get their tickets as soon as they can, since this will be an indelible night and a concert to remember by.

Toni Braxton is a true global superstar. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide, has won 6 Grammy Awards and also 5 Billboard Music Awards. Her hit singles “Unbreak My Heart”, “Another Sad Love Song”, “Breathe Again”, “He Wasn’t Man Enough” and many more are well known and loved songs by all ages."

Frank Gabriel Jr, CEO of Dubai Racing Club added: “Toni Braxton has a world-wide reputation for great music and performances that will be a great entertaining end to the prestige and glamour of the Dubai World Cup. We are pleased to offer this performance as the closing show for the 17th running of the Dubai World Cup. Not only do we look forward to a great day of international racing, but also an impressive performance by a renowned international performer.”

Apron View Tickets at 350 AED per person are available now for the Dubai World Cup Day with all attendees to gain entrance to the Toni Braxton closing concert. Dubai World Cup tickets can be purchased by contacting the badge office at: [phone] or [e-mail] or visit www.meydan.ae

In addition, to keep the party going, the famous Dirtcaps DJ will be flown in from Amsterdam to play into the night. Local DJs will also feature so that the party will carry on in style.

Be part of the biggest event of the UAE Calendar whilst watching international superstar Toni Braxton. Get your tickets soon.
.

[George]

Fashion Cares NY @fashioncaresny
Toni Braxton and Joe Jonas are both coming to Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2012! It'll be like a fashion concert. Look out!
3:21 PM - 20 Mar 12 via web

[Caviar]

Mar 21, 2012 12:46:39 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

She has yet to make a bad album to me. Even More Than a Woman was one of the stronger contemporary R&B albums released in 2002.

"Lies Lies Lies", "Rock Me/Roll Me", and "Selfish". OMGGGG don't get me started.

I love that Toni is back out there touring and working again. I am buying her new album regardless of how it sounds. Her voice hasn't aged at ALL since she came out.

[Rican@]

Oh yes, Toni's vocals are excellent still today. She is one of the few that voice held up so well.

[George]

Official Album Title: Heartstrings & Synagogue Vibes

[George]

Inside Toni Braxton's "I Heart You" video shoot!
Mar 21, 2012 12:38 PM by Meagan Morris
Posted in Entertainment / Music & Books / Music



Toni Braxton is back with a sexy new music video -- and SheKnows was there to capture all the behind the scenes action during the video shoot.

It's hard to believe it's been 19 years since Toni Braxton broke out onto the R&B scene with her self-titled debut album and hit single "Breathe Again." Many female singers from the '90s have faded away, but Braxton is still going strong, despite financial and health challenges. Need proof? The singer and autism advocate just filmed a sexy video for her new single "I Heart You" over the St. Patrick's Day weekend — and SheKnows was invited to watch the songstress in action.

"I Heart You" — the single from her upcoming album Heartstrings & Synagogue Vibes, due out in May. "You're going to want to dance all night," she said recently. "Let's say it's probably very 'Last Dance'-ish."

Braxton went on to say that she put all of her effort into the new album. "I'm kind of a beast, I'm kind of bad in the studio," she said. "I'm a perfectionist and I repeat things. I want to get it right so I make the engineers 'give it to me again, give it to me again.'"

That's no secret to fans of the Atlanta-based star of Braxton Family Values. Braxton works tirelessly on her career and for causes dear to her, like autism awareness. Her son, Diezel, is autistic and she's partnered with SheKnows on the "Where's the Other Sock?" campaign to raise money for Autism Speaks.

"I felt sorry for myself for a long time and I blamed myself. I thought it was something I had done," she admitted when she learned of Diezel's autism at age three. "Friends came to me, that are like me, and said 'Okay, you're not a victim, our babies are great, they're fine, get him into these therapies.'"

Diezel was there to support his mom during the shoot -- as was her other son, Denim.

"Early diagnosis makes a lifetime of difference," Braxton recently said of her son's treatment. "We have him in occupational therapy, speech therapy, he's being mainstreamed [and] he's in public school, general ed. He does have his special ed therapies, but we are very, very lucky."

[Resident_Evil]

I repeat, Seriously Toni Braxton? Seriously????

[SHOOTER]

W
T
F

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2012 22:31:47 GMT -5 George said:

Official Album Title: Heartstrings & Synagogue Vibes

LMAO. Crazier than a Mariah title!!

[wavey.]

Toni is on that s**t now.

[kidrockthemic]

Say WHAT? What the hell kind of name is that? Does she know what a synagogue is? It's just ridiculous.

[SHOOTER]

I smell a Wiki prank!

[kidrockthemic]

Mar 22, 2012 11:29:12 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

I smell a Wiki prank!

I sure as hell hope so. She'd do better naming it "Please Buy Me"...at least that would make some sense.

[Agent Yoncé]

She's in need of some serious direction. After "The Heat," everything went downhill. I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed a Toni album from start to finish since "TH."

I understand she wants to the make the music she wants, but 'IHY' should not be her 1st single. If anything a R&B midtempo or UAC ballad should be her 1st 2 singles. Then you can get adventurous w/'IHY.' They did that for "Pulse," but didn't capitalize on "Yesterday"'s success.

[Deleted]

It's funny for me to think back even up to the point that "He Wasn't Man Enough" was out, and I didn't think twice about considering her a peer of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and comparable success-wise (and I remember the media putting her in that league too). At this point of her career, I feel like she's got more in common with someone like Deborah Cox. It's amazing to me how huge she was in the 90s and how that completely fell apart as fast as it did. I agree that there was a lot of misguidance and bad decisions made in the past decade. I got put off as soon as she put out that Irv Gotti heater in 2002 and followed it up with "Hit The Freeway". She was trying to stay relevant by veering into hip-hop territory, and I just don't think she's that kind of artist. It feels like ever since then she's been trying to figure out what kind of music to record and jumping all over the place. In the process, she's really lost my interest and she was one of my favorites in the 90s.

[George]

Performances from her concerts this weekend:

How Could An Angel Break My Heart (w/Babyface)


Talking to the fans


Let It Flow


Breathe Again


I Heart You

[George]

Toni Braxton Heads to 'The Revolution'



Six-time Grammy winner and reality star Toni Braxton is getting into the daytime game. The star of "Braxton Family Values" has signed on as "The Revolution" guest host during the show's "Spring Into Action Week," beginning Monday, March 26.

Braxton's week with "The Revolution" includes a Harley Pasternak celebrity fitness series that promises to help fans get Lady Gaga's abs, Rihanna's legs, Megan Fox's butt, Katy Perry's chest and Amanda Seyfried's arms. Braxton and her sisters will get in on Thursday's demonstration on how to get Katy Perry's chest.

There will tons of chatter on spring fashion, as well, culminating in a Friday fashion show featuring looks worn by Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron and Cameron Diaz.

"The Revolution" hasn't been getting the ratings it needs to stay in the daytime game, so far. The fledgling self-help show is staying on point for "Spring Into Action Week," with segments aimed at helping viewers transform their body, health, style, mind and environment; but is also clearly hoping an eye-catching guest host and celebrity inspired features will help their plight.

"The Revolution" airs weekdays on ABC.

[Ky]

Awww i went to see her on Friday night and Babyface opened but didn't come out for How Could an Angel. That would've been awesome!

[Caviar]

I HAVE to see her live. I can't believe she did "Breathe Again (Reprise)". :'(

[Agent Yoncé]

When is she coming to SF?! I need to see her!

[George]

Concert Review: Toni Braxton's Sultry Delivery Scores At Foxwoods
March 24, 2012 | By THOMAS KINTNER, Special to The Courant



Her last three albums struggled to find the audiences that flocked to her first three, but Toni Braxton remains one of R&B’s signature voices, still able to heat up a lyric with low-register richness. In her show Friday at the Foxwoods Casino’s MGM Grand Theater in Mashantucket, the 44-year-old singer coolly navigated her catalog while stoking the proceedings with well-placed flourishes.

Braxton’s contralto was not built to compete with blowout arrangements, which meant it disappeared on occasion beneath the sonic surface created by her five-piece band and two of her sisters on backing vocals in the opener “He Wasn’t man Enough.” Her reading of “Seven Whole Days” was a slinky caress with crisp highlights, and “Just Be A Man About It" sported earthy charm. Braxton frequently kicked a leg out from under a black and pink dress built for dancing to punctuate beats, and sang with equal vigor when dressing up the puffy swell of “I Don’t Want To.” Her singing swooped and soared across her 1992 debut single “Love Shoulda Brought You Home.”

The backdrop of “How Could an Angel Break my Heart” was augmented by piping in prerecorded Kenny G. saxophone lines, and the electric guitar line on “Yesterday” contributed to the curiously arch bluster with which it was delivered. Braxton settled in front of a piano to navigate the opening passages of the silky torch song “Why Won’t you Love Me,” and soon after sought out very different seating arrangements, nesting in the laps of one man after another in the front row as she sizzled through “Breathe Again,” asking each man’s significant other for permission before snuggling.

More audience members were welcomed onstage to join the rousing “You’re Makin’ Me High,” a distraction Braxton removed as she closed the set herself with a hearty ascent of “Un-Break my Heart.” She made an encore of a song she has not yet released, embracing the throbbing dance pulse of her soon-to-arrive single “I Heart You,” even though it sounded like a detour from the rest of the show’s flow.

Braxton has reunited with producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds for the album due in May that the new tune heralds, and brought him along Friday as her opening act. He pulled chestnuts from his own catalog of hits, digging into the very 1980s pulse of “It’s No Crime” and adding the mildest of heat to the mellow sway of “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”

The biggest hits of his career came when he served as a writer/producer for others in the then-emerging new jack swing, a fact he embraced in a medley of tunes he steered, from a take on Bobby Brown’s “Don’t be Cruel” that came complete with appropriate dance steps to a silky rendition of “My, My, My” that landed far from the growling assertiveness Johnny Gill brought to it more than two decades before. Edmonds displayed a solid sense of showmanship that informed the silky blowout of “Whip Appeal” with which he closed.

Toni Braxton’s Friday Set List: “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” “How Many Ways,” “Seven Whole Days,” “Just be a man About It,” “I Love me Some Him,” “I Don’t Want To,” “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” “Another sad Love Song,” “You Mean the World to Me,” “How Could an Angel Break my Heart,” “Yesterday,” “Why Won’t you Love Me,” “Let it Flow,” “Breathe Again,” “You’re Makin’ me High,” “Un-Break my Heart,” (Encore) “I Heart You.”

[Agent Yoncé]

Toni Braxton’s Friday Set List: “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” “How Many Ways,” “Seven Whole Days,” “Just be a man About It,” “I Love me Some Him,” “I Don’t Want To,” “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” “Another sad Love Song,” “You Mean the World to Me,” “How Could an Angel Break my Heart,” “Yesterday,” “Why Won’t you Love Me,” “Let it Flow,” “Breathe Again,” “You’re Makin’ me High,” “Un-Break my Heart,” (Encore) “I Heart You.”

I love this setlist!

[SHOOTER]

I don't appreciate her neglecting Libra.