"Long as I Live"
Single by Toni Braxton
from the album Sex & Cigarettes
ReleasedFebruary 9, 2018
Length4:51
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dixon
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"Deadwood"
(2017) 		"Long as I Live"
(2018) 		"FOH"
(2018)
Music video
"Long as I Live" on YouTube

"Long as I Live" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton from her eighth studio album Sex & Cigarettes (2018). Written by Braxton, Paul Boutin, and Antonio Dixon, whom also produced the track, it is a "soulful '90s-style" R&B and soul track that finds the singer struggling with breaking up and moving on from her past lover. The song was released on February 9, 2018 by Def Jam Recordings as the second single from the album, with an accompanying music video premiered on March 23, 2018 to coincide with the parent album's release.[1]

Upon its release, "Long as I Live" received positive reviews from music critics for its "nostalgic" feel, with Braxton's voice described "as strong as ever".[2][3] The song won the 50th NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song, Traditional, and also earned Braxton nominations for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, the former being her fifth overall and first nomination in eighteen years since "He Wasn't Man Enough".[4]

The song also attained commercial success for the singer in the States, becoming her eight chart-topper for five consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs, thus becoming the artist with the second most number one titles on the chart. It was also her first top fifteen entry on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in nearly eighteen years since "Just Be a Man About It", and her first single to enter the component UK Singles Downloads Chart, peaking at number fifty-four. Braxton has since appeared on several daytime shows to promote the song, and eventually embarked on the eponymous As Long as I Live Tour to further perform the song and its parental album throughout 2019.[5]

Background and promotion

On February 27, 2018, Braxton appeared on the daytime show Loose Women to promote "Long as I Live" and her upcoming album Sex & Cigarettes.[6] A behind-the-scenes video was released on Braxton's Instagram account featuring the auditions of dancers for the music video.[7] On March 21, 2018, she posted a 26-second teaser of the music video, announcing that it would premiere on WEtv after the season six premiere of Braxton Family Values on March 22, 2018.[8]

Music video

The audio video was released to Braxton's VEVO channel on February 9, 2018.[9] The music video was recorded on March 6, 2018,[10] and released on March 23, 2018.[11] The music video also features Braxton's younger sisters, Towanda and Tamar Braxton. Since its release the video has garnered over 100 million views on YouTube. Model Herly Ulysse starred in the video.[12]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sex & Cigarettes.[13]

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref
Various February 9, 2018 Digital download, streaming Def Jam [1][22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Long as I Live – Single by Toni Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). 9 February 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "2. Toni Braxton, 'Long as I Live'". Herald-Review.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  3. ^ "Toni Braxton's 'Long As I Live': Hear New Single, See Upcoming Album and Tour Info". Billboard. 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  4. ^ "61st Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  5. ^ BWW News Desk. "Toni Braxton Takes Her AS LONG AS I LIVE On The Road". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  6. ^ "Toni Braxton Shows off Ring After Engagement to Birdman: 'He Did Well, Right?'". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Toni Braxton on Instagram "Long As I Live"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  8. ^ "Toni Braxton on Instagram "Be sure to tune into #BFV tomorrow night! My new video for Long As I Live Premieres immediately after!"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  9. ^ "Toni Braxton – Long As I Live (Audio)". YouTube. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Toni Braxton – Long As I Live Music Video Snippet". YouTube. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Toni Braxton – Long As I Live". YouTube. March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. ^ Handsome Model Speaks to RTM About Starring In Toni Braxton's Latest Video Right This Minute
  13. ^ Sex & Cigarettes (Media notes). Toni Braxton. Def Jam Recordings. 2018.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  18. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  19. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "2018 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  22. ^ International releases of Long As I Live:
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