You're Makin' Me High

"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"
Released	May 13, 1996 (1996-05-13)
Genre	R&B[1][2]
Length	4:27 (album mix) 4:12 (single mix)
Label	LaFace Arista
Songwriter(s)	Kenneth Edmonds Bryce Wilson
Producer(s)	Babyface Bryce Wilson
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" 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" 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.[3] 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."[4] 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!"[5] In a 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."[6] 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".[7]

Music video

The 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) enjoying themselves in luxurious surroundings. An elevator brings up a series of men. 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.[8]

Track listings

United States

CD single[9] "You're Makin' Me High" (album version) – 4:27 "Let It Flow" (album version) – 4:21 Maxi-CD single[10] "You're Makin' Me High" (album version) – 4:27 "You're Makin' Me High" (classic mix) – 9:41 "You're Makin' Me High" (dance hall mix) – 4:51 "You're Makin' Me High" (groove remix) – 4:32 "Let It Flow" – 4:21 12-inch single[11] A1. "You're Makin' Me High" (classic mix) – 9:41 A2. "You're Makin' Me High" (classic dub) – 6:12 B1. "You're Makin' Me High" (groove remix) – 4:32 B2. "You're Makin' Me High" (dance hall mix) – 4:51 B3. "You're Makin' Me High" (album version) – 4:27 B4. "Let It Flow" – 4:21

7-inch single[12] A. "You're Makin' Me High" – 4:07 B. "Let It Flow" – 4:21 Cassette single[13] A1. "You're Makin' Me High" (radio edit) – 4:07 A2. "Let It Flow" (album version) – 4:22 B1. "You're Makin' Me High" (instrumental) – 4:07 B2. "Let It Flow" (instrumental) – 4:22 Maxi-cassette single[14] A1. "You're Makin' Me High" (classic mix) – 9:41 A2. "You're Makin' Me High" (groove remix) – 4:32 A3. "Let It Flow" – 4:21 B1. "You're Makin' Me High" (dance hall mix) – 4:51 B2. "You're Makin' Me High" (album version) – 4:27

International

UK CD1[15] "You're Makin' Me High" (radio edit) "You're Makin' Me High" (T'empo's radio edit) "You're Makin' Me High" (dancehall mix) "You're Makin' Me High" (groove remix) "You're Makin' Me High" (T'empo's private club mix) "You're Makin' Me High" (classic mix—Morales) UK CD2[16] "You're Makin' Me High" (radio edit) "Let It Flow" "Breathe Again" "Another Sad Love Song"

UK cassette single[17] "You're Makin' Me High" (radio edit) "Let It Flow" European CD single[18] "You're Makin' Me High" (album version/radio edit) – 4:07 "You're Makin' Me High" (classic edit) – 3:35 Australian and Japanese CD single[19][20] "You're Makin' Me High" (album version/radio edit) – 4:07 "You're Makin' Me High" (album version) – 4:26 "You're Makin' Me High" (classic edit) – 3:35 "You're Makin' Me High" (classic mix) – 9:41

Personnel and credits

Credits are adapted from the Secrets liner notes.[21]

• 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

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[22] 2 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[23] 6 Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)[24] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 5 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[26] 16 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[27] 1 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[28] 30 Germany (GfK)[29] 47 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 5 Scotland (OCC)[34] 26 Spain (AFYVE)[35] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 11 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 7 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[38] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[39] 1 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[40] 28 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[41] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[42] 2 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[43] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[44] 6 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)[46] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[47] 57 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[48] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 74 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 92 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 22 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[53] 79 US Billboard Hot 100[54] 9 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[55] 5 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[56] 1 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[57] 7 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[58] 20 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)[59] 5 Chart (1997) Position US Billboard Hot 100[60] 98 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[61] 68

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46]	Platinum	70,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62]	Platinum	10,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)[63]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[65]	Platinum	1,500,000[64]
^* 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	Contemporary hit radio rhythmic contemporary radio urban contemporary radio	LaFace Arista	[66][67]
	May 21, 1996	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[66]
Sweden	June 3, 1996	CD	LaFace Arista BMG	[68]
Japan	June 28, 1996			[69]
United Kingdom	July 1, 1996	CD cassette		[70]

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1996 (USA)
• Hot 100 number-one hits of 1996 (United States)
• Number-one dance hits of 1996 (USA)

References

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3. Flick, Larry (May 18, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - Pop". Billboard. p. 70.
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