Give U My Heart

Album: Ultimate Toni Braxton (1992)
Charted: 29
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was recorded by American R&B singers Babyface and Toni Braxton for the soundtrack to the 1992 Eddie Murphy film Boomerang. It was written by Babyface, with his songwriting partners L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons.
  • Reid, Simmons and Babyface originally recruited Toni Braxton to record some demos for some songs they were writing for Anita Baker for the soundtrack of Boomerang. Daryl Simmons recalled to Songwriter Universe:

    "We started working on these songs for Anita Baker. But everytime we'd send a song to Anita Baker, she called back and said she didn't like it, for whatever reason. We sent her four songs, including 'Give U My Heart,' 'Love Shoulda Brought You Home' and 'Another Sad Love Song.' In the meantime, Toni and I were in the studio demoing these songs for Anita, with Toni putting the vocal down.

    So we got Anita on the phone, and we're standing around hearing her on the speakerphone, and L.A. says, 'What about this one?' And she says, 'Well you know, I don't really…the beat on that one really scares me.' Then she says, 'What about the girl you got singing on the demo? Why don't you let her sing it?' And we all looked at each other, and L.A. says (to Anita), 'Okay, thank you.' (the phone clicks). He then said, 'Toni, you got four songs for your album.' And Toni was so ecstatic!

    So we decided that Toni would sing (the duet) 'Give U My Heart' with Kenny, for the Boomerang soundtrack. We would introduce Toni to the world, with Kenny, on the soundtrack. And so that's how that came about."
  • This was the start of a successful creative partnership between Toni Braxton and Babyface, which produced a number of hit singles including "Another Sad Song," and "Breathe Again." In 2013 they recorded a duet album together, Love, Marriage & Divorce.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.