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He Wasn't Man Enough

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"He Wasn't Man Enough"
Song

"He Wasn't Man Enough" is a song by American R&B recording artist and songwriter Toni Braxton and released by LaFace Records on March 7, 2000 as the lead single from her third studio album, The Heat (2000). The song was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. "He Wasn't Man Enough" is an uptempo dance-pop and R&B inspired song that differs in genre from Braxton's previous ballads.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom praised it as one of Braxton's best works.[1] "He Wasn't Man Enough" had international success and became one of Braxton's signature songs, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, where the single stood for several weeks, and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for four weeks. As of 2017, this song is her last Top 10 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. An accompanying music video was released for the single. The song earned Braxton her sixth Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.

Background and composition

"He Wasn't Man Enough" was released as the lead single from Braxton's studio album The Heat (2000). The song was written by Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr., while it was produced by Darkchild. The song was recorded in the United States, during the production of Braxton's third studio album, between January and February 2000.[2][3] During its production, L.A. Reid said "It's very strong, and very personal to her".[4]

"He Wasn't Man Enough" is a dance inspired song, which features more mainstream pop music with strong R&B influences. All instruments were played by Darkchild and the background vocals were sung by Braxton, Nora Payne, Sharlotte Gibson and Darkchild.[5][6] The song's vocal range starts with a D#4 chord to a C#6 chord in a chord of G Major. Popmatters praised Braxton for singing a non-ballad pop song, saying "the track seems to be an attempt to make some headway within the lucrative urban R&B market."[7] The song's length is a total of four minutes and twenty-one seconds at a moderately slow, yet steady pace.[8] The song earned Braxton her sixth Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.[9] According to Billboard.com, this song is her last Top 10 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 to date.

Critical reception

"He Wasn't Man Enough" was widely acclaimed by contemporary music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic highlighted the track as an album highlight, which along with "Gimme Some" was a "skimmering beat".[1] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly gave it a positive review, certificating it with a B rating. He said "From producer Rodney Jerkins' cushiony pulse to its premise (one woman warning another about her ex-beau), the amenable single "He Wasn't Man Enough" sounds mightily familiar. But it's still no "Scrubs", largely thanks to Braxton's husky, mumbly delivery."[10] NME gave it a positive review, saying that for the track, "Braxton can probably claim the best set of tonsils in soul-pop".[11] Popmatters gave it a positive review, saying "The lead single sees Toni tapping into the recent success of female assertiveness (TLC, Kelis, Destiny's Child, and Pink) with the hit single "He Wasn’t Man Enough". Produced by the ubiquitous Darkchild, the track seems to be an attempt to make some headway within the lucrative urban R&B market.[7]

Chart performance

"He Wasn't Man Enough" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 6, 2000 and stayed there for two weeks behind "Maria Maria" by Santana featuring The Product G&B. The song spent 37 weeks on the chart. The song also peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for four weeks. The song debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart on its issue date of 29 April 2000. The song debuted at number six on the Australian Singles Chart and peaked at number five in that country. The song debuted at number 36 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and later rose to number five after seven weeks on the charts. The song received platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), selling over 15,000 copies there.[12] The song debuted at number 99 on the French Singles Chart before falling out, then re-entering at number 74 on the charts and eventually peaked at number fifteen, becoming the biggest jump of the issue date of 1 July 2000. The song debuted at number 21 on the Single Top 100, peaked at number five and stayed on the charts for seventeen weeks.[13]

Music video

The video, directed by Bille Woodruff from February 25–26, 2000,[14] starts out with Braxton as an animated superhero who unzips her shirt to ward off villains. Next, she is shown dancing in a red cylinder-like hallway. The shot turns to a club where her ex (portrayed by Braxton's former husband Keri Lewis of R&B group Mint Condition) and his current wife (portrayed by Robin Givens) walk in. Givens looks Braxton up and down and flashes her wedding ring at her. Braxton scoffs because she'd had him first and knows what a cheat he is.

The video flashes between Braxton dancing in the hallway and the club scene. At one point, the two women are in the club's bathroom, and Braxton lets the new wife know why she dumped her husband. They set up an act, wherein Braxton goes into a private room with him and gets him to drop his pants; all the while he is on camera, and everyone at the club, including his current wife, is watching. At the end, Givens busts in and throws the ring at him, and the two women give each other a high five.

The video also features cameo appearances by Rodney Chester and Tamar Braxton.[citation needed] Originally, actor Michael Jai White was cast to play the role of the husband. However, he ended up dropping out before the video shoot, due to Givens allegedly taking issue with White's resemblance to her former husband Mike Tyson, who White played in the HBO film Tyson five years earlier.[15][16] He would make an appearance in another Braxton video a decade later, 2010's "Hands Tied".

Track listing and formats

CD Single
(Arista 74321 75146 2)
  1. He Wasn't Man Enough (Radio edit) - 3:58
  2. He Wasn't Man Enough (Extended edit) - 5:35
Promo CD Single
(LaFace CDX 2239)
  1. He Wasn't Man Enough - 4:21
Australian CD Single
(Arista / LaFace 74321 75785 2)
  1. He Wasn't Man Enough (Radio edit) - 4:02
  2. You're Makin' Me High (Classic edit) - 3:38
  3. He Wasn't Man Enough (Extended edit) - 5:35
  4. He Wasn't Man Enough (Music video)
US CD Single
(LaFace 73008 24463 2)
  1. He Wasn't Man Enough (Album version) - 4:21
  2. He Wasn't Man Enough (Instrumental) - 4:19
US Promo CD
(LaFace LFPCD-4444)
  1. He Wasn't Man Enough (Album version) - 4:21
  2. He Wasn't Man Enough (Instrumental) - 4:19
  3. He Wasn't Man Enough (Call Out Research Hook) - 0:10
Official versions
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (a cappella) – 4:19
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Junior Marathon Mix) – 12:06
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Junior Instrumental) – 8:06
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Peter Rauhofer NYC Club Mix) – 8:42
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Peter Rauhofer NYC Dub) – 10:29
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Forces of Nature Remix)
  • "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Forces of Nature Dub)

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Stephen (2000-04-25). "The Heat - Toni Braxton". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  2. ^ Sinclair, Tom (2000-01-24). "'Heat' Seeker". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ^ Seymour, Craig (2000-01-05). "Nasty Girl". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. ^ Sinclair, Tom (24 January 2000). "The latest on Toni Braxton's new album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  6. ^ Toni Braxton - The Heat (CD liner notes). LaFace Records. Catalog No:73008 26069 2
  7. ^ a b Ross, Colin. "Toni Braxton: The Heat < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  8. ^ "Unsupported Browser or Operating System". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  9. ^ Taylor, Chuck (19 October 2002). "Braxton is back with 'More'". Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Music Review: He Wasn't Man Enough, by Toni Braxton". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ "NME Track Reviews - He Wasn't Man Enough". Nme.Com. 2000-04-01. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  12. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  13. ^ "Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Actor Has Too Familiar A Ring For Robin Givens". Daily News. New York. 2000-02-29. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Lauren Rubin, Mitchell Fink. "ACTOR HAS TOO FAMILIAR A RING FOR ROBIN GIVENS". nydailynews.com. New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  16. ^ Farber, Jim. "SOFT AND SEXY Toni Braxton has a new album, a new video and a 'cute' new man. How sad is that?". nydailynews.com. New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  17. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  18. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  21. ^ "Toni Braxton - Chart history - Billboard". March 26, 2018.
  22. ^ Canadian AC peak
  23. ^ Canadian Dance peak
  24. ^ Canadian Top Singles peak
  25. ^ "Hits Of The World". Billboard. May 13, 2000. p. 123. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. June 3, 2000. p. 71. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  27. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in French). Les classement single.
  28. ^ "Irish Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 27 April 2000". Chart-Track. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  29. ^ Italian Artists
  30. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Toni Braxton" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  31. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". VG-lista.
  34. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2007-05-12.
  35. ^ a b "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  37. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  38. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". Singles Top 100.
  39. ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  41. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  43. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  44. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  45. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  46. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  47. ^ "End of Year Charts 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  48. ^ "Swiss year-end chart". swisscharts.com. 2000. Retrieved November 22, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  50. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  51. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  52. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". Recorded Music NZ.
  53. ^ "British single certifications – Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type He Wasn't Man Enough in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  54. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 2000". Billboard. 113 (6). BPI Communications Inc.: 64 February 10, 2001. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  55. ^ "American single certifications – Braxton, Toni – He Wasn%27t Man Enough". Recording Industry Association of America.
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