You're Makin' Me High

"You're Makin' Me High" is the lead single from American singer Toni Braxton's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The mid-tempo song represents a joint collaboration between the Grammy Award-winning producer Babyface and Bryce Wilson. The beat of the song was originally for singer-songwriter Brandy, with Dallas Austin pegged to write a lyric to override; however, Braxton had Babyface write lyrics for the song. It was ultimately issued in the United States as a double A-side with "Let It Flow", the airplay hit from the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.

"You're Makin' Me High"
US artwork (commercial CD maxi-single pictured)
Single by Toni Braxton
from the album Secrets
A-side"Let It Flow"
ReleasedMay 13, 1996 (1996-05-13)
GenreR&B[1]
Length
  • 4:27 (album mix)
  • 4:12 (single mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"I Belong to You" / "How Many Ways"
(1994)		 "You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow"
(1996)		 "Un-Break My Heart"
(1996)

"You're Makin' Me High" became Braxton's first number-one single on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts; it remained on top for one week on the former and for two weeks on the latter, eventually going Platinum. A remix by David Morales with re-recorded vocals allowed the single to also top the Dance Club Songs chart for two weeks in August 1996. Another remix for urban markets was created featuring rapper Foxy Brown, called the "Groove Mix". A dancehall mix was also recorded featuring Jamaican dancehall DJ Mad Cobra.

The song earned Braxton her third Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1997. The success of "You're Makin' Me High" would later be continued with the release of "Un-Break My Heart". "You're Makin' Me High" was sampled for Method Man & Redman's 2001 song "Part II", from the How High soundtrack. In 2014, Anglo-American producer/DJ Secondcity sampled a part of the song's bridge for the main hook of his UK number-one single "I Wanna Feel".

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song a "sleek'n'sexy slice o' jeep funk" with a "sophisticated toned and rich production", as well as praising the song's chorus.[2] Peter Miro from Cash Box remarked that Braxton "oozes sensuality with her phrasing on “You’re Makin’ Me High”, mated to tight, cascading backup harmonies, and a crossover-capable baseline. She projects allure sufficient enough to perpetuate her sultry, waif-like mystique."[3] Alan Jones from Music Week declared it as "a nagging and surprisingly sprightly R&B workout", with the singer's "exceptional" vocals and deemed it "an obvious hit".[1] Damien Mendis from the RM Dance Update gave the song five out of five, writing, "Oh my gosh! The ever-reliable Babyface hooks up with Bryce Wilson of Groove Theory to create a definitive true R&B flave that'll leave you begging for more. Check the recipe: phat 'Tell Me'-style beats, Intro/Edie Brickell-ish guitar licks entwined with subtle bass and a floating eastern-sounding moog hook. Toni's effortlessly smooth vocal is textured beautifully with lushly layered backing harmonies. Delicious!"[4] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue complimented it as a "wonderful mid-tempo song, making the most of the sultry vocals, slinky bass and beats." The reviewer also added that the backing vocals "sound great – adding an extra layer of warmth."[5] Richard Harrington from The Washington Post stated that Braxton "can handle airy, upbeat material", like "You're Makin' Me High". He explained, "With its sinewy synth-line, it has more of a West Coast sound than most LaFace productions, but the impression is more joyful than ominous. A celebration of sexual desire, it also includes a bit of erotic breathing and a coy masturbation reference".[6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "You're Makin' Me High", directed by Bille Woodruff, features Braxton and a group of friends (consisting of actresses Erika Alexander, Vivica A. Fox, and Tisha Campbell-Martin) enjoying themselves in luxurious surroundings. An elevator brings up a series of men, some very attractive and others amusingly unattractive. Braxton and her friends "judge" the men using oversized playing cards as score cards. Periodically, one of the women chooses a man to leave with. Braxton chooses Bryce Wilson, whom she dated at the time, and they are shown together in a bathtub of cotton candy and on a dance floor, with Braxton also shown wearing a white bodysuit. The music video premiered on MTV, BET, and VH1 on the week ending May 5, 1996.[7]

Track listings

United States

International

Personnel and credits

Credits are adapted from the Secrets liner notes.[20]

  • Toni Braxton: lead vocals, background vocals
  • Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds: writer, producer, keyboards, guitar, background vocals
  • Bryce Wilson: writer, producer, keyboards, programming
  • Chante Moore, Marc Nelson, Jakkai Butler: background vocals
  • Brad Gilderman, Russell Elevado: recording
  • Bassy Bob Brockman: mixing
  • Paul Boutin, Robbes Stieglietz, Bryan Reminic: assistant engineers
  • Randy Walker: midi programming

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[61] Platinum 1,500,000[62]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States May 13–14, 1996
[63][64]
May 21, 1996
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [63]
Japan June 28, 1996 CD
  • LaFace
  • Arista
  • BMG
 [65]
United Kingdom July 1, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 [66]

See also

References
  1. Jones, Alan (July 6, 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  2. Flick, Larry (May 18, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - Pop". Billboard. p. 70.
  3. Miro, Peter (June 29, 1996). "Urban: Urban Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. Mendis, Damien (June 29, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  5. "Review: "Secrets" by Toni Braxton (CD, 1997)". Pop Rescue. November 27, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. Harrington, Richard (June 23, 1996). "After the Debuts, Precious Seconds". The Washington Post. p. G07.
  7. Video Monitor. Billboard. May 18, 1996. p. 81.
  8. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US CD single disc notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24160-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24161-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24161-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24160-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US cassette single cassette notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24160-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow (US maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-24161-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. You're Makin' Me High (UK CD1 liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. 74321 39540 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. You're Makin' Me High (UK CD2 liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. 74321 39541 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. You're Makin' Me High (UK cassette single sleeve). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. 74321 39540 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. You're Makin' Me High (European CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. 74321 38924 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. You're Makin' Me High (Australian CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. 74321 38923 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. You're Makin' Me High (Japanese CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1996. BVCA-8810.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Secrets (US CD album liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records. 1996. 73008-26020-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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