Dylan Masvidal | Staff Writer
It’s not cool to be emotional anymore.
I can’t pinpoint exactly when this cultural shift occurred; maybe it was the birth of top text/bottom text memes or something as far back as Eminem calling out Will Smith on “The Real Slim Shady”.
Uncertainty aside, there was a significant moment in the 21st century where the masses collectively agreed that being corny, even if genuine, was beneath them.
And I’m not talking about that Drake kind of corny where you sulk in the VIP lounge either.
This old-school sappiness was all about bearing your soul to whoever was willing to listen and singing with a passion for love that could make the Grinch’s heart grow four sizes instead of three.
Very few artists embodied such a philosophy with real oomph quite like Toni Braxton.
Her self-titled debut is not only an unabashed introduction into who she is as an artist but has also gained immense significance over the years for giving us a peek into an era when R&B fans fiended for sensational sensuality.
Braxton, rocking a Halle Berry haircut on the album cover because it’s the early ‘90s of course, is what you would call the last of a dying breed.
By 1993, pop-soul queens such as Whitney Houston and Anita Baker were no longer in the spotlight, and the R&B landscape was already easy pickings for Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige.
While Braxton’s vocal style can be attributed to the aforementioned powerhouses of the past, her self-titled debut finds her operating in a sweet spot between traditional soul and jamming contemporary textures.
Who would have thought that being a Babyface protégé would help your record go eight times platinum?
His patented pen glide is a surefire hit coupled with Braxton’s enchanting delivery.
Wearing her heart proudly on her sleeve, she achieves an iconic vocal distinction through a dynamite understanding of melody and cadence.
Tracks like “Another Sad Love Song” and “Breathe Again” which kick off the album are enthralling in the way Braxton sounds as if she’s fighting back tears.
A constant tug-of-war between keeping your composure and breaking down emotionally is what pervades each and every ballad.
Endearing volatility set her apart from her peers and made her a megastar.
Well, that and her husky timbre kept lovestruck teens tossing and turning in the middle of the night.
Don’t mistake her gentle nature as some sort of gimmick though, Braxton has sultry confidence in spades on “How Many Ways”, exercising the hook with total grace over slick percussion and lush keys.
“I Belong to You” goes full-on new jack swing in an irresistibly catchy manner, sporting top-of-the-line vocal harmonies and a healthy influence from fellow rising pop star Mariah Carey’s “Emotions”.
Wrapping up the album with “Breathe Again (Reprise)” is quite the power move as well.
She rightfully put all her chips down on this song and it paid off big time.
How could you not smile throughout this record?
Braxton is so pure, so genuine, it feels like she’s extending her hand through your headphones and pulling you in for a warm embrace.
Sure, the chart-topping singles would keep on rolling, but the magic of her self-titled debut was, I feel, never replicated again.
This doesn’t change the fact that all of Braxton’s songs I mentioned will find a happy home on my wedding day playlist.
For that, I’m forever in her debt.
CLASSIC/10.
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