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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 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. It was also featured on the High School High soundtrack (1996). The song charted at 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2][3] It also reached the top 40 in the UK, charting at 32 and in New Zealand, the song charted at 17.[4][5]

Critical reception

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, sirenesque chorus Toni's seasoned siblings generate on the title track to their forthcoming LP. Sounding full enough to befour 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

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 remaining 11 weeks on the chart.[9][10] On August 17, 1996, the song peaked at 22 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs the song 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 it their first time charting in the Billboard Hot 100.[12] The song spent eight weeks in the chart before leaving the chart 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 on 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 on 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 in the chart 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 at numbers 58 respectively before leaving the Top 75 on February 8, 1997 becoming their first top 40 in the UK.[26]

Live performances and promotion

On November 16, 1996 "So Many Ways" was performed on Soul Train.[27] The song was performed on Sky News in 1996.[28] The song was performed at The Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards with rapper Jay-Z in 1996.[29]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring The Braxtons with Trina and Tamar wearing a white two piece and Towanda wearing a white dress. The length of the video at 3 minutes and 55 seconds. The video starts with The Braxtons dancing on a stage and performing in a white room featuring a male lead. Later on the sisters are seen in wearing dresses.

Track listings and formats

Charts

Chart (1996-1997) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 17
Scotland (OCC)[37] 90
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 32
UK Dance (OCC)[39] 13
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[40] 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

  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" [Soul Train November 16, 1996]". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  28. ^ "The Braxtons 1996 Interview & Performance". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  29. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways FT Jay-z ( live)". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  30. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  31. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD Promo at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  32. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways (Vinyl Promo) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  33. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD UK & Europe at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  34. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways Cassette at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  35. ^ "The Braxtons - So Many Ways Europe (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  36. ^ "The Braxtons – So Many Ways". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  39. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Many_Ways_(The_Braxtons_song)

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