Yesterday 15th Anniversary

 

15 years ago today Toni Braxton released the lead single "Yesterday" from her seventh studio album "Pulse" (2010) on September 29, 2009 by Atlantic Records. It was written by Braxton, Jerome Armstrong, Terrence Battle, Michael White, and DJ Frank E and produced by DJ Frank E. American singer Trey Songz appears on the Troy Taylor radio edit of "Yesterday," which served as the American version released to radio. Outside North America, the original version of the song was released, which features only Braxton's vocals.

In the United Kingdom, the song was supposed to be released on February 22, 2010, but ultimately the single release date was moved to May 3, 2010. "Yesterday" is Braxton's first single release in the UK since "Hit the Freeway" in 2003, as Libra was only available on import and no singles from the album were released there. A Spanish version of the track, titled "Ayer", was recorded with Alexander Acha but remains unreleased to this day.

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Nick Levine from Digital Spy rated the song 3 out of 5 stars and favorably reviewed the solo version of the song, saying: "'Yesterday' shares a little too much of its DNA with Beyoncé's 'Halo' to satisfy fully, but [Braxton] sounds as seductive as ever crooning the surprisingly bitter lyrics - ("I don't love you, don't need you, can't stand you,") she insists on the middle 8. In fact, when she growls those last three words, it's almost like she never went away. Mark Edward Nero from About.com say, positively, "Arguably the best song on Pulse is the passionately bitter break-up song 'Yesterday', but interestingly, the better of two versions of the song isn't included on the album's standard version".

There are two versions of the music video for "Yesterday": one for the original solo version and one for the remix featuring Trey Songz. Filming the video for the single started on October 8, 2009, in Los Angeles with director Bille Woodruff (known for such classic Braxton videos as "Un-Break My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough"). Photos from the video were revealed on her official website on October 28 and show Braxton playing a piano, and Songz playing her boyfriend. The video premiered on The Wendy Williams Show on November 20, 2009. The video features singer Brooke Hogan as well as basketball players Shannon Brown and Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers. The video tells the story about a woman (Braxton) who discovers that her boyfriend (Brown) is cheating on her with another woman (Hogan).

In the U.S., the song charted at #11 on the Adult R&B Songs chart, #12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, #16 Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. In Europe, the song had a better reception. #17 in Switzerland, #20 Germany, #44 Russia, #49 Austria, #50 United Kingdom (also #17 UK R&B Songs chart), #73 in Scotland, and outside Europe #100 in Japan.

Format of CD single, and 7-inch vinyl was released in various countries in U.S., and Europe. 

Check out a live performance on SWR live in Germany from 2009 below.

Check out a live performance on Soul Train Awards with Trey Songz from 2009 below.