So Many Ways (The Braxtons song)

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"So Many Ways"
Single by The Braxtons
from the album High School High soundtrack and So Many Ways
ReleasedJuly 23, 1996
RecordedNovember 1995
Genre
Length3:54
5:37 (remix)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jermaine Dupri
The Braxtons singles chronology
"Family"
(1990) 		"So Many Ways"
(1996) 		"Only Love"
(1997)

"So Many Ways" is a song by American R&B vocal group The Braxtons, released on July 23, 1996, as the lead single from their debut album, So Many Ways (1996).[1] The song was written by Carl-So-Lowe, Jermaine Dupri and produced by Dupri. A version featuring Jay-Z was featured on the High School High soundtrack (1996). The song peaked at number 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2][3] It also reached the top 20 in New Zealand, and the top 40 in the UK.[4][5]

Critical reception[edit]

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as an "instantly memorable chugger". He added, "Fortunately, the Braxtons' smokey contralto tones are cast within a markedly more raw and streetwise musical setting than are the more sophisticated and mature Toni's recordings."[6] Peter Miro from Cash Box wrote, "What could be better than one entrancing Braxton, but three of them? There's a certain, original aura rising from this soulful, siren-esque chorus Toni's seasoned siblings generate on the title track to their forthcoming LP. Sounding full enough to be four women, The Braxtons seem capable of winning hearts and filling the void left by En Vogue and Jade. Deft-handed producer Dupri makes his foreground subject stand out with an infectious rhythm track and background touches ideal for girl-group profiling. Urban radio can heartily pipe this song aboard on July 2."[7]

Commercial performance[edit]

On August 10, 1996, "So Many Ways" charted at #52 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[8] On August 17, 1996, the song peaked at #31 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, sustaining 11 weeks on the chart.[9][10] Also that week, the song peaked at #22 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and remained on the chart for 19 weeks.[3][11] On October 5, 1996, "So Many Ways" debuted at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group's first and only time entry.[12] The song spent 8 weeks in the chart before its departure in December 1996.[2]

On October 20, 1996, the song debuted at #34 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[13] In its second week, the song moved up 13 places to #21.[14] In its third week, the song dropped 10 places to #31.[15] In its fourth week, the song moved up 6 places to #25.[16] In its fifth week, the song moved up 7 places to #18.[17] In its sixth week, the song moved up 1 place to its peak, at #17.[5] The song charted at #27, #31 and #39 in its seventh, eighth and ninth week.[18][19][20] The song moved up 5 places to #34 and remained for four weeks before falling to #48 on January 19, 1997, and later leaving the Top 50, spending a total of 14 weeks on the chart.[21][22][23][24][25]

On February 1, 1997, the song debuted at #32 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] The song spent a total of two weeks on the chart, falling to #58 after its chart debut, before leaving the Top 75 on February 8, 1997. It became their first top 40 in the UK.[26]

Live performances[edit]

The song was performed at the 1996 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards with rapper Jay-Z on September 9.[27] Further televised performances were made through the fall, on Showtime at the Apollo[28] (October 19), CBS This Morning[29], Teen Summit[30], and Soul Train[31] (November 16).

Music video[edit]

A music video was directed by Cameron Casey to promote the single, which features Trina and Tamar wearing a white two-piece and Towanda wearing a white dress. The video starts with The Braxtons dancing on a stage and performing in a white room featuring a male lead. Mekhi Phifer additionally makes a cameo appearance. Later on, the sisters are seen wearing dresses in a car together.

Track listings and formats[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1996-1997) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 17
Scotland (OCC)[39] 90
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 32
UK Dance (OCC)[41] 13
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[42] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 83
US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[3] 22
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[10] 31

References[edit]

  1. ^ "So Many Ways [Vinyl]". Amazon. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b "The Braxtons - Chart History Hot 100 Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS August 17, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "UK Singles Archive Chart 01.02.1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "New Zealand Charts November 24, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (July 6, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 86. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Miro, Peter (June 22, 1996). "Urban: Urban Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart August 10, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart August 17, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "The Braxtons - Chart History Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "The Braxtons Billboard Chart R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100 October 5, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "New Zealand Charts October 20, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Charts October 27, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "New Zealand Charts November 03, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "New Zealand Charts November 10, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "New Zealand Charts November 17, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "New Zealand Charts December 1, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "New Zealand Charts December 8, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  20. ^ "New Zealand Charts December 15, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "New Zealand Charts December 22, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  22. ^ "New Zealand Charts December 29, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  23. ^ "New Zealand Charts January 05, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  24. ^ "New Zealand Charts January 12, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  25. ^ "New Zealand Charts January 19, 1996". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  26. ^ "UK Singles Chart Archive 08.02.1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  27. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways FT Jay-z ( live)". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  28. ^ Episode #10.7, Showtime at the Apollo, The Braxtons, Steve Harvey, 1996-10-19, retrieved 2024-05-24{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  29. ^ "The Braxtons 1996 Interview & Performance". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  30. ^ R&B Nights TV (2017-11-12). The Braxtons - "So Many Ways" + Interview (Live). Retrieved 2024-05-24 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "The Braxtons "So Many Ways" [Soul Train November 16, 1996]". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  32. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  33. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD Promo at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  34. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways (Vinyl Promo) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  35. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD UK & Europe at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  36. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways Cassette at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  37. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways Europe (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  38. ^ "The Braxtons – So Many Ways". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  41. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  42. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
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