I Don't Want To

"I Don't Want To" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, Secrets (1996). It was released as the third single from the album on March 11, 1997; in the United States it was released as a double A-side with "I Love Me Some Him". Written and produced by R. Kelly, the R&B ballad describes the agony of a break-up. The song was well received by music critics, who were complimentary about Kelly's production.

"I Don't Want To"
Artwork for US CD maxi-single. US CD single and non-US releases use this artwork with different background color; non-US releases omit "I Love Me Some Him" on the front cover
Single by Toni Braxton
from the album Secrets
B-side"I Love Me Some Him"
ReleasedMarch 11, 1997
RecordedMay 1996[1]
GenreR&B
Length4:17
LabelLaFace
Songwriter(s)R. Kelly
Producer(s)R. Kelly
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"Un-Break My Heart"
(1996)		 "I Don't Want To" / "I Love Me Some Him"
(1997)		 "How Could an Angel Break My Heart"
(1997)
Music video
"I Don't Want To'" on YouTube

The single reached the top-ten in Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and the top-twenty in six countries, including Canada and the United States, where it shot to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs during the summer of 1997. While not as successful as the two preceding singles, it became her third consecutive chart-topper on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in July 1997, following "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart".

The music video was shot during a hectic time in Braxton's career. After the commercial success from the preceding singles and co-headlining a tour with Kenny G, Braxton was exhausted. The time schedule for a video was roughly one day for director Bille Woodruff. A simple video featured Braxton wandering around in a white room wearing a white tanktop, blue jeans and a built up shoe.

Composition

"I Don't Want To" was written and produced by R. Kelly, who was also responsible for all instruments, background vocals and mixing. Braxton provided both lead and background vocals. It was recorded at Middle Ear Studio, Miami Beach, Florida.[2] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, "I Don't Want To" is written in the key of B major with a moderate tempo of 109 beats per minute. Braxton's vocal range spans from the low note of F3 to the high note of G4. It follows in the chord progression of B–B9-G#7sus4-G#7–C#m-C#m(maj7)-C#m7-F#7.[3] The midtempo R&B ballad talks about the agony of heartbreak.[4] It also touches upon themes of loss and abstinence.[5]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised R. Kelly's composition, noting that he "demonstrate[s] why [he is] considered [one] of the top songwriters in '90s R&B and soul."[6] Larry Flick of Billboard praised its groove, which according to him, "is masterfully woven by R. Kelly," adding: "He smartly keeps the musical melodrama to a minimum, opting instead for a smooth and subtle jeep-soul setting that leaves plenty of room for La B to flex her rich vocal range.[4] David Fricke of Rolling Stone also praised Kelly, noting that "the unruffled tenor of the music, however, puts the focus squarely on Braxton, and she's up to it."[5] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave the song 8 out of 10. He commented, "Another aching soul-searcher from the most beautiful woman in America. It should be almost as successful as Un-Break My Heart but it's a bit too slow for a dance remix. Not that anyone cares about the song anyway - we just want to see her in that video."[7]

Release and commercial performance

"I Don't Want To" was released as the album's third single on March 11, 1997.[4] In the United States, the song was released as a double A-side with "I Love Me Some Him".[8] On March 31, 1997, the song was released in the United Kingdom.[9] Commercially, "I Don't Want To" proved to be moderately successful in the United States, reaching number nineteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[10] The song also became her third consecutive chart-topper on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in July 1997, following "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart".[11] In the United Kingdom, "I Don't Want To" became Braxton's third consecutive top-ten single from Secrets, peaking at number nine.[12] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 31, and two weeks later climbed to number 21, becoming its peak position.[13] In Sweden, the song debuted at number 57, climbing to number 29 in the second week. Two weeks later, the song peaked at number 15, falling on the two following weeks until it climbed to its peak position once again. It later remained for further six weeks on the charts.[14]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Bille Woodruff and shot during a hectic time in Braxton's career. After the commercial success from the preceding singles and co-headlining a tour with Kenny G, Braxton was exhausted and it was shot in one day. The video was considered simple, featuring Braxton wandering around in a white room wearing a white tanktop, blue jeans and a built up shoe.[15] The original treatment for the video was a one-take version. Woodruff told MTV News that he shot multiple takes and at the end of the day, the best version would be picked. The video had Braxton walking around a house, trying on various wigs and scrubbing her feet in a bathtub. However, Woodruff made a "creative decision to scrap the first shoot in favor of a simpler, non-bathroom video," after MTV News staff claimed that "a reporter pointed out that Jewel, Tony Rich and No Doubt had already started a mini-trend by using bathrooms as video backdrops" (in "Who Will Save Your Soul", "Nobody Knows", and "Just a Girl" respectively).[15]

Track listings and formats
European CD single[18]
  1. "I Don't Want To" (Album Version) – 4:15
  2. "I Don't Want To" (Frankie Knuckles Radio Edit) – 4:17
  3. "I Don't Want To" (Franktified Club Mix) – 10:57

Charts and certifications

See also

References
  1. R. Kelly: The New King of R&B (Magazine) |format= requires |url= (help). Ebony Man (EM). May 1996.
  2. Secrets (CD liner notes). Toni Braxton. La Face Records. 1996.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "Toni Braxton "I Don't Want To It" Sheet Music". MusicNotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  4. Flick, Larry (March 1, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 109 (9): 60. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  5. Fricke, David (December 26, 1996). "Toni Braxton: Secrets". Rolling Stone (750–751): 190. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Secrets – Toni Braxton". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  7. Hyland, Ian (May 11, 1997). "He's Got Us All at His Beck and Call". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  8. "I Don't Want To - Toni Braxton | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  9. "I Don't Want To: Amazon.co.uk". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  10. "Secrets > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  11. "Billboard Hot Dance Music". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 109 (29): 30. July 19, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  13. "Charts.nz – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  14. "Swedishcharts.com – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  15. MTV News Staff (April 23, 1997). "Toni Braxton Leaves The Bathroom For New Video -". MTV News. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  16. "Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To / I Love Me Some Him". Discogs. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  17. "Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To [UK CD 1]". Discogs. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  18. "I Don't Want To: Amazon.co.uk". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  19. "Austriancharts.at – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  22. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1874". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  23. "Toni Braxton - Chart history - Billboard". June 3, 2018.
  24. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 22. May 31, 1997. p. 19. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Braxton, Toni – I Don't Want To". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  26. "Íslenski Listinn NR. 220 Vikuna 8.5. '97 - 14.5. '97" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. May 9, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Don't Want To". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Toni Braxton" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Toni Braxton – I Don't Want To" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  31. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  32. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  33. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  34. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  35. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  36. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  37. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten 1997". Ultratop. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  39. "Rapports Annuels 1997". Ultratop. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  40. "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  41. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  42. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  43. "American single certifications – Braxton, Toni – I Don%27t Want To". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  44. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
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