She has won 7 Grammy Awards. The RIAA named Braxton as one of the top selling R&B artists of all time.
She first burst onto the scene in 1992 on the Boomerang soundtrack, after Anita Baker turned down the opportunity. In 1993 Toni released her self-titled debut album, which stayed at the top of the charts for a year and was a critically acclaimed album.
Toni released her sophomore effort, Secrets in 1996 which also did very well on both R&B and Pop charts. From that album Toni got two #1 hits; "You're Making Me High "and "Unbreak My Heart", which spent 14 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard top 100, and was a worldwide hit. After 5 Grammy awards and a little break, Toni Braxton came back strong with her 2000 album The Heat. Though not as successful as her first two albums, The Heat went on to sell 4 million copies and spawned the huge hits "He Wasn't Man Enough"and "Just Be A Man About It".
Toni has released two further albums, 2002's More Than a Woman and 2005's Libra. Toni's sixth studio album Pulse was released in May 2010 via Atlantic Records. The singles "Yesterday" and "Hands Tied" were the biggest hits. Subsequent singles to be released from "Pulse" include "Make My Heart" and "Woman."
In January 2011, the WE Television Network confirmed that it had signed Toni and the rest of the Braxton family for a reality series, Braxton Family Values, which will be marketed as one of the network's flagship shows. The series debuted April 12, 2011, and looks at the relationship between Toni, her mother, and her four sisters; Trina, Tamar, Traci and Towanda — all aspiring singers themselves — along with the interpersonal relationships of each family member. The show also looked at Braxton's heavily publicized separation from estranged husband, singer Keri Lewis. Toni parted ways with her long time manager Vincent Herbert (who was also the husband of sister Tamar Braxton at the time), and signed a new management deal with Los Angeles-based entertainment/production company 'The Collective'.
In 2014, Toni released a collaborative album with Babyface entitled Love, Marriage & Divorce; primarily inspired by their individual divorces (Toni with Keri, and Babyface with Tracey Edmonds). The album was supported by the singles "Hurt You", "Where Did We Go Wrong" and "Roller Coaster"; and won Best R&B Album in the 57th Annual Grammy Awards (2015).
Toni's long-awaited eighth album Sex & Cigarettes was released on Def Jam in March 2018, which was supported by the singles "Deadwood", "Long as I Live" and "FOH". The album also featured a sole guest appearance from singer Colbie Caillat, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album in the 61st awards ceremony (2019).
Signing to Island Records in 2020, Toni released her ninth album Spell My Name in August 2020, featuring collaborations with H.E.R. & Missy Elliott. The album was released to positive reception, but was her lowest-charting album yet, peaking at #163 on the Billboard 200.
Why Don't You Love Me
Toni Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Promise you'll be honest and you'll tell me
Everything
That you feel
I just wanna know the truth
Even if it hurts me
Tell me now if you can
[Chorus]
Tell me why (why, why)
Why won't you love me
The way I need to be?
I keep trying (try, try)
Why won't you love me
The way I need to be loved?
My heart keeps cryin'
I need to feel loved
Hold up, wait a minute, can you tell me?
Promise you'll be honest and you'll tell me
Everything
Keep it real
Is it the way I wear my hair
Just tell me the truth, boy; I don't care
Look at me as I am
I just don't understand
[Chorus]
What's wrong with me? (what's wrong with me?)
How come you don't wanna be in love with me?
What can I do to be perfect for you?
Tell me; I'll do anything; I'll be anything
If you say you love me
I still love you; I'm sorry
And I'm gon' make it up to you, baby
I'm gon' love you just the way you need to be loved
I'm gon' love you just the way you need to be loved
I still love you; I'm sorry
And I'm gon' make it up to you, baby
I'm gonna love you just the way you need to be loved
I'm gonna love you just the way you need to be loved
[Chorus]
Tonight I'm gonna show you just how much I love you
I'm gon' love you, love you, love you like you need to be loved
Why won't you love me?
My heart keeps cryin'
I need to feel loved
Tonight I'm gonna show you just how much I love you
I'm gon' love you, love you, love you like you need to be loved
Why won't you love me?
Tonight I'm gonna show you just how much I love you
I'm gon' love you, love you, love you like you need to be loved
In the song "Why Won't You Love Me" by Toni Braxton, the artist is expressing her frustration and desperation in a relationship where her love is not being reciprocated in the way she needs. The song speaks to the universal human desire to be loved and to understand why someone we care about does not feel the same way about us. It is a heartfelt plea to a partner to be honest and vulnerable about their feelings and to try to work towards a resolution.
Throughout the song, Braxton begs her partner to be truthful with her and to help her understand why the love she is giving is not enough. She questions whether there is something she can do to be more perfect for him and, ultimately, comes to the decision that she will love him the way he needs to be loved, no matter how much it may hurt or how much she may have to change herself. In the end, the song is a bittersweet reminder that sometimes love is not always enough and that we must be willing to accept the people we care about for who they are, even if it means letting them go.
Overall, "Why Won't You Love Me" is a beautifully raw and emotional ballad that touches on the complexities of love, relationships, and the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold up, wait a minute, can you tell me?
Asking the listener to take a moment and focus on what's about to be said.
Promise you'll be honest and you'll tell me everything
Requesting the listener to disclose all of their thoughts.
That you feel
Specifically asking about the listener's emotions.
I just wanna know the truth
Expressing a desire for complete openness and honesty.
Even if it hurts me
Acknowledging that the truth could be difficult to hear, but still valuing it.
Tell me now if you can
Asking for an immediate response.
I just wanna understand
Expressing a desire for comprehension and clarity.
Tell me why (why, why)
Reiterating the question of why the listener doesn't love the singer.
Why won't you love me
Expressing hurt and confusion that the listener doesn't reciprocate the singer's love.
The way I need to be?
Clarifying that the love desired is specific to the singer's needs.
I keep trying (try, try)
Acknowledging that the singer hasn't given up despite previous rejections.
My heart keeps cryin'
Describing how the lack of love is affecting the singer emotionally.
I need to feel loved
Expressing how important love is to the singer.
Keep it real
Asking the listener to be genuine and truthful.
Is it the way I wear my hair
Offering a specific example of what might be causing the love to be withheld.
Just tell me the truth, boy; I don't care
Stating that the specific reason for the lack of love isn't important, but the truth is.
Look at me as I am
Asking to be accepted for who the singer truly is.
I just don't understand
Admitting the confusion and inability to comprehend the situation.
What's wrong with me? (what's wrong with me?)
Questioning what the singer is lacking that prevents the listener from loving them.
How come you don't wanna be in love with me?
Inquiring about the listener's lack of desire for love with the singer.
What can I do to be perfect for you?
Asking what changes the singer can make to be more attractive to the listener.
Tell me; I'll do anything; I'll be anything
Expressing the willingness to change to meet the listener's desires.
If you say you love me
Offering the possibility of love if the listener reciprocates.
I still love you; I'm sorry
Expressing love for the listener despite the lack of reciprocation, and apologizing for any perceived wrongs.
And I'm gon' make it up to you, baby
Promising to make it right and improve the situation.
I'm gon' love you just the way you need to be loved
Vowing to love the listener in the way they desire.
Tonight I'm gonna show you just how much I love you
Promising to demonstrate love for the listener in a tangible way.
I'm gon' love you, love you, love you like you need to be loved
Reiterating the promise to love the listener as they desire.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TONI BRAXTON, HARVEY MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind