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My Man (Tamar Braxton song)

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"My Man"
Song

"My Man" is a song recorded by American singer Tamar Braxton from her fifth studio album Bluebird of Happiness (2017). It was released as the lead single from the record on April 27, 2017, through eOne Entertainment and Braxton's independent record label Tamartian Land Records. "My Man" was produced by Bob Robinson Jr. and written by Braxton and Cory Rooney. A R&B and soul ballad and torch song, its lyrics are about infidelity and its negative impact on a relationship. Braxton wrote the song about her parents' marriage and their relationship following their divorce, and used her mother's perspective as inspiration.

Critics responded positively to "My Man", praising Braxton's vocals and the lyrics. The single peaked at number three and twenty-one on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs and Hot R&B Songs component charts, respectively. It was prominently featured on an episode of the reality television series Braxton Family Values. To promote "My Man", Braxton performed it during the BET Awards 2017; she received primarily positive feedback from media outlets for her vocals and dramatic stage presence. Some commentators, however, believed Braxton was lip syncing. An accompanying video, released on June 25, 2017, features Braxton confronting her lover and his mistress in a hotel room.

Background and release

"My Man" was released as the lead single from Tamar Braxton's fifth studio album Bluebird of Happiness (2017). It was the first song from Braxton's independent record label, Tamartian Land Records, which was created with the support of eOne Entertainment. She described the single and overall album as "the first time you see an X-ray vision of Tamar and everything I've been through". Braxton said she wanted to have more control over her career and develop a deeper connection with her fans.[1] Describing the switch to her own record label, she said she was happy about not having to "sell people on things that I want to do".[2] "My Man" was produced by Bob Robinson Jr. and written by Braxton and Cory Rooney.[3] Robinson had previously worked with Braxton on her 2000 eponymous debut album, co-writing and producing five songs.[4]

"My Man" was released on April 27, 2017, which was accompanied by an announcement on Braxton's official Instagram account.[5][6] On her post, she encouraged her fans to use the hashtag "#MyMan" to share similar experiences regarding infidelity.[6] A radio edit of the song was released on the same day.[7] It was featured on an episode of the reality television series Braxton Family Values.[1] Prior to the song's release, she had played it for her father, whom she told that she had forgiven him for his past affair. Entertainment Tonight's Latifah Muhammad said Braxton's discussion about her parents' divorce and her relationship with them were examples of the Braxton family having "shar[ed] some tough moments on camera for their reality show".[8] The song was sent to urban radio stations on July 18, 2017.[9]

Composition and lyrics

An image of a blonde woman sitting on a stool in front of a microphone. She is looking away from the microphone.
Tamar Braxton (pictured) wrote "My Man" about her parents' divorce and her past relationships.[1][2]

"My Man" is a R&B and soul song that lasts four minutes and 11-seconds.[10][11] Elias Leight of Uproxx described it as having a "southern soul soul sound".[10] Braxton said "My Man" was inspired by her parents' marriage and their relationship following their divorce. For the single, she wanted to "channel [her] mother and say the things she probably should have said then".[1] She added that she wanted to speak from her mother's perspective "as a woman and not just as my mom".[2] The singer connected the song's lyrics with her own failed relationships.[1] According to Braxton, the song was developed and recorded quickly; she said it "just rolled out of me".[1] While promoting the single, Braxton identified it as her most personal work due to its content and described it as a "personal anthem where people can relate if you've been cheated on before", and that she wanted to be a voice for those who have been hurt.[12]

The singer discusses the "heartache of deception" through the lyrics: "I am so confused / I stood right by your side / Through everything that you went through / Why is she around, why are you so cruel" and "Boy, you let me down". The chorus includes the lines: "I don't want to hear no bullshit stories about my man, I just can't believe that you're with her / I just can't believe she stole my man."[5] Braxton discusses the affair further by singing: "She called me 'bout her man, Well, I didn't understand, she was talkin' 'bout my man (heifer)."[13]

Billboard's Sadie Bell described "My Man" as an "emotional ballad",[14] and said the lyrics are about infidelity and its negative impact on a marriage.[8] Libby Hill of the Los Angeles Times called it a "fiery torch song about a man who done her wrong".[13] According to Mikael Wood of the same publication, the single's central message was to "never trust a lonely woman with the one you love".[15] Ebony's Bianca Garwood described the lyrics as "sorrowful",[16] and a writer from The Grio interpreted Braxton's vocals as her way of "unleash[ing] her rage on the friend and her 'man'".[17]

Reception

"My Man" received positive reviews from music critics. A reviewer from Rap-Up praised Braxton's vocals and described "My Man" as "heart-wrenching",[5] while The Boombox's Trent Fitzgerald called it "heartbreaking".[18] Libby Hill pointed out Braxton's use of the word "heifer" as an aside as one of the single's highlights.[13] A writer from We TV said the song's content was relatable, calling it "the next best break-up remedy since ice cream".[19] AllMusic's Andy Kellman selected "My Man" as one of the standouts from Bluebird of Happiness, writing that the album "crest[ed] with the two-timed belter".[20] Da'Shan Smith of Vibe wrote that Braxton delivered a "heartfelt and suspiciously auto-biographical performance" on the song, and felt that she was snubbed for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[21]

"My Man" debuted at number 29 on the Adult R&B Songs Billboard chart for the week of May 13, 2017, and peaked at number three in August. It remained on the chart for 22 weeks.[22] The track also reached number 21 on the Hot R&B Songs Billboard chart for the week of August 26, 2017.[23]

Music video and promotion

An accompanying music video for "My Man" was released on June 25, 2017. Filmed in black and white, it depicts Braxton confronting her lover and his mistress over his infidelity.[17][24] In the video, the singer goes to her lover's hotel room and sees him in bed with another woman.[17] She pushes the mistress to the bathroom floor before confronting him and taking back her coat to leave the hotel. A writer from Rap-Up believed that the story would continue in a future music video.[24]

Braxton sang "My Man" during the BET Awards 2017 on June 25, 2017; she wore a gown and was accompanied by a group of back-up dancers.[14] Several media outlets identified the performance as one of the best from the awards show.[13][25][26] Sadie Bell praised Braxton's decision to keep the focus on her vocals.[14] Pointing to the mic drop as a "fitting exclamation point", Billboard's Dan Rys said Braxton gave one of the night's "powerhouse performances".[27] Rolling Stone's Elias Leight, Brittany Spanos, Mosi Reeves, and Maura Johnston described Braxton as a "glorious drama queen", highlighting her "series of well-honed, highly dramatic gestures".[28]

On the other hand, Michael Arceneaux of The Root was more critical of Braxton; he thought she was lip syncing and overly dramatic.[29] For Braxton's appearance on the game show Hip Hop Squares, host DeRay Davis joked that she was lip syncing during the performance.[30][31] In an interview with the radio show The Breakfast Club, Braxton responded that she is close friends with Davis.[32]

Track listings

Digital download[11]
No.TitleLength
1."My Man"4:11
Radio Edit — Digital download[7]
No.TitleLength
1."My Man" (Radio edit)3:47

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of "My Man".[3]

  • Songwriting – Tamar Braxton, Tiyon "TC" Christian, Cory Rooney, and Bob Robinson Jr.
  • Production – Bob Robinson Jr.

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[33] 3
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[23] 21

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref
Worldwide April 27, 2017 Digital download Tamartian Land Records [6][7]
United States July 18, 2017 Urban radio [9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Gail (May 12, 2017). "Tamar Braxton Talks Single 'My Man' and New Album: 'I Know Who I Am as a Woman'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c Garwood, Bianca (June 19, 2017). "Tamar Braxton has a New Album on the Way and it's Her "Best Work Yet"". Ebony. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "My Man" (Media notes). Tamar Braxton. Tamartian Land. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Blanford, Roxanne (March 21, 2000). ""Tamar" – Allmusic review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Tamar Braxton Talks New Single 'My Man,' Opens Up About Forgiving Her Father for Cheating On Her Mother". Rap-Up. April 27, 2017. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c Braxton, Tamar (April 27, 2017). "tamarbraxton". Instagram. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c "My Man (Radio Edit) – Single". Apple Music. April 27, 2017. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Muhammad, Latifah (May 3, 2017). "Tamar Braxton Talks New Single 'My Man,' Opens Up About Forgiving Her Father for Cheating On Her Mother". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b "Future Releases". All Access Music Group. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b Leight, Elias (January 16, 2018). "On Anderson East's 'Encore,' An Aspiring Soul Singer Steps Into His Own". Uproxx. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "My Man – Single". Apple Music. April 27, 2017. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Como, Erin (August 28, 2017). "Tamar Braxton returns to Howard Theatre". WTTG. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b c d Hill, Libby (June 26, 2017). "Chance the Rapper, Solange Knowles and five must-see BET Awards moments". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c Bell, Sadie (June 26, 2017). "Watch Tamar Braxton's Dazzling Performance of 'My Man' at the BET Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Wood, Mikael (June 25, 2017). "This year's BET Awards took a dip in energy — then came Tamar Braxton". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Garwood, Bianca (September 15, 2017). "Tamar Braxton Shares a Friday Afternoon "Pick Me Up"". Ebony. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b c "Tamar Braxton debuts new music video for 'My Man'". The Grio. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent (September 15, 2017). "Tamar Braxton Drops Bouncy New Single 'Pick Me Up'". The Boombox. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Tamar Braxton Drops New Single!!". We TV. April 28, 2017. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Smith, Da’Shan (January 24, 2018). "The State Of Today's R&B According To The 2018 Grammy Nominations". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Search Results". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b "Billboard R&B Songs Chart August 26, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b "Video: Tamar Braxton – 'My Man'". Rap-Up. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Best of BET Awards". Reuters. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Migos, Remy Ma Among BET Awards Winners". Variety. June 25, 2017. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Rys, Dan (June 26, 2017). "The 10 Best Moments From the 2017 BET Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Leight, Elias; Spanos, Brittany; Reeves, Mosi; Johnston, Maura (June 26, 2017). "BET Awards 2017: 15 Best, Worst and WTF Moments". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Arceneaux, Michael (June 26, 2017). "The BET Awards Show Felt Like It Was on Forever, but I Had Chicken and Was Entertained". The Root. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Tamar Braxton gets into it with comedian DeRay over lip-sync joke". The Grio. September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Samuel, Renee (September 11, 2017). "Comedian DeRay Davis Explains What Started His Alleged Feud With Tamar Braxton". BET. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Miller, Kai (October 5, 2017). "Tamar Braxton Offers Lil Mama Advice". BET. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Tamar Braxton Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.
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