So Many Ways (The Braxtons song)

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as an "instantly memorable chugger". He added, "Fortunately, the Braxtons' smokey contralto tones are cast within a markedly more raw and streetwise musical setting than are the more sophisticated and mature Toni's recordings."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-07-06.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=July 6, 1996|page=86|accessdate=November 30, 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}} Peter Miro from Cash Box wrote, "What could be better than one entrancing Braxton, but three of them? There's a certain, original aura rising from this soulful, siren-esque chorus Toni's seasoned siblings generate on the title track to their forthcoming LP. Sounding full enough to be four women, The Braxtons seem capable of winning hearts and filling the void left by En Vogue and Jade. Deft-handed producer Dupri makes his foreground subject stand out with an infectious rhythm track and background touches ideal for girl-group profiling. Urban radio can heartily pipe this song aboard on July 2."{{cite magazine|first=Peter|last=Miro|title=Urban: Urban Singles Reviews|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1996/CB-1996-06-22.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=June 22, 1996|page=13|accessdate=November 12, 2022}}

On August 10, 1996, "So Many Ways" charted at #52 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.{{cite magazine|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart August 10, 1996|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/1996-08-10/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-airplay|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} On August 17, 1996, the song peaked at #31 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, sustaining 11 weeks on the chart.{{cite magazine|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart August 17, 1996|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/388935/braxtons/chart?f=364|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 21, 2016}}{{cite magazine|title=The Braxtons - Chart History Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/388935/braxtons/chart?f=364|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} Also that week, the song peaked at #22 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and remained on the chart for 19 weeks.{{cite magazine|title=The Braxtons Billboard Chart R&B Songs|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/388935/braxtons/chart?f=367|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} On October 5, 1996, "So Many Ways" debuted at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group's first and only time entry.{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Hot 100 October 5, 1996|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1996-10-05|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} The song spent 8 weeks in the chart before its departure in December 1996.

On October 20, 1996, the song debuted at #34 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts October 20, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-10-18|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} In its second week, the song moved up 13 places to #21.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts October 27, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-10-25|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} In its third week, the song dropped 10 places to #31.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts November 03, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-11-01|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} In its fourth week, the song moved up 6 places to #25.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts November 10, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-11-08|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} In its fifth week, the song moved up 7 places to #18.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts November 17, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-11-15|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} In its sixth week, the song moved up 1 place to its peak, at #17. The song charted at #27, #31 and #39 in its seventh, eighth and ninth week.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts December 1, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-11-29|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts December 8, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-06|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts December 15, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-13|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}} The song moved up 5 places to #34 and remained for four weeks before falling to #48 on January 19, 1997, and later leaving the Top 50, spending a total of 14 weeks on the chart.{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts December 22, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-20|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts December 29, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-20|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts January 05, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-20|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts January 12, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-12-20|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand Charts January 19, 1996|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1997-01-17|website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|access-date=August 21, 2016}}

On February 1, 1997, the song debuted at #32 on the UK Singles Chart. The song spent a total of two weeks on the chart, falling to #58 after its chart debut, before leaving the Top 75 on February 8, 1997. It became their first top 40 in the UK.{{cite web|title=UK Singles Chart Archive 08.02.1997|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19970208/7501|website=Official Charts Company|accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

The song was performed at the 1996 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards with rapper Jay-Z on September 9.{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways FT Jay-z ( live)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V17nRfbLiE|website=YouTube| date=17 August 2011 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}} Further televised performances were made through the fall, on Showtime at the Apollo{{Citation |title=Episode #10.7 |date=1996-10-19 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11634020/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |series=Showtime at the Apollo |others=The Braxtons, Steve Harvey}} (October 19), CBS This Morning,{{cite web|title=The Braxtons 1996 Interview & Performance|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF5tjBlvPeg|website=YouTube| date=28 May 2011 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}} Teen Summit,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ku7QFl2sM0 |title=The Braxtons - "So Many Ways" + Interview (Live) |date=2017-11-12 |last=R&B Nights TV |access-date=2024-05-24 |via=YouTube}} and Soul Train{{cite web|title=The Braxtons "So Many Ways" [Soul Train November 16, 1996]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUfiJ7NameA|website=YouTube|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} (November 16).

A music video was directed by Cameron Casey to promote the single, which features Trina and Tamar wearing a white two-piece and Towanda wearing a white dress. The video starts with The Braxtons dancing on a stage and performing in a white room featuring a male lead. Mekhi Phifer additionally makes a cameo appearance. Later on, the sisters are seen wearing dresses in a car together.

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• US vinyl single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/master/160758|website=Discogs|date=1996 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. "So Many Ways" (Extended Mix) – 5:17
2. "So Many Ways" (Extended Instrumental Mix) – 5:18
3. "So Many Ways" (A Cappella) – 3:51
4. "So Many Ways" (T.V. Track) – 3:55

• US CD promo single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD Promo at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/release/6621111|website=Discogs|date=1995 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. "So Many Ways" (Trina's Mix) – 4:34
2. "So Many Ways" (The Braxtons Mix) – 4:40
3. "So Many Ways" (Towanda's Mix) – 4:04
4. "So Many Ways" (Tamar's Mix) – 4:25
5. "So Many Ways" (Album Version) – 3:54

• UK vinyl promo single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways (Vinyl Promo) at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/release/913015|website=Discogs|date=1996 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. A1 "So Many Ways" (Trina's Mix) (LP Version) – 5:20
2. A2 "So Many Ways" (The Braxtons Mix) – 5:37
3. A3 "So Many Ways" (Tamar's Mix) – 4:58
4. B1 "The Boss" (Masters At Work Album Mix) – 9:41
5. B1 "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13

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• UK, Europe CD maxi-single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways CD UK & Europe at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/release/1984182|website=Discogs|date=1996 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. "So Many Ways" (Album Version) – 3:55
2. "So Many Ways" (Trina's Mix Extended) – 5:20
3. "So Many Ways" (Feat. Jay-Z Extended) – 5:37
4. "So Many Ways" (Tamar's Mix Extended) – 4:57
5. "So Many Ways" (Instrumental) – 5:17
6. "So Many Ways" (L.P. Version) – 5:14

• US cassette single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways Cassette at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/release/7124520|website=Discogs|date=1996 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. A1"So Many Ways" (Album Version) – 3:55
2. A2"So Many Ways" (Instrumental) – 5:17
3. B1"So Many Ways" (Album Version) – 3:55
4. B2"So Many Ways" (Instrumental) – 5:17

• Europe vinyl single{{cite web|title=The Braxtons - So Many Ways Europe (Vinyl) at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Braxtons-So-Many-Ways/release/542062|website=Discogs|date=1996 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}

1. A1"So Many Ways" (Album Version) – 3:55
2. A2"So Many Ways" (Instrumental) – 5:17
3. B1"So Many Ways" (Trina's Mix Extended) – 5:20
4. B2"So Many Ways" (Feat. Jay-Z Extended) – 5:37
5. B3"So Many Ways" (Tamar's Mix Extended) – 4:57

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{{The Braxtons}}

Category:1996 songs

Category:1996 singles

Category:American contemporary R&B songs

Category:Songs written by Jermaine Dupri

Category:Atlantic Records singles