Senior Writer for Jezebel Rich Juzwiak returns to Pop Pantheon to talk The Queen of Heartbreak, Toni Braxton. DJ Louie and Rich first break down the craft of melisma, the centrality of “The Voice” in early ‘90s pop, and how Babyface’s sound helped R&B cross over in that period. They then take a journey though Toni’s emergence, the anthems of codependency on her classic debut, her singular contralto voice, her primary motifs as both the heartbroken torch singer and the sultry mid-tempo R&B chanteuse, the agony of “Unbreak My Heart” and the ecstasy of “You’re Makin Me High”, the financial troubles which derailed her career in the late ‘90s, her comeback with “He Wasn’t Man Enough”, and the ups and downs of her discography since. Finally, Louie and Rich rank Toni Braxton in the official Pop Pantheon.

Check out Louie's Playlist of Toni Braxton Essentials on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2cthF6qdsqr2BeldVZyQLP?si=8fe757c5209f4927

Join the Pop Pantheon Discord Chat w/ DJ Louie on 10/7 at 8PM ET / 5PM PT!: https://discord.gg/HxjdKSTUhf

Send your questions for next week's Minisode to [email protected]!

NYC: RSVP to See DJ Louie Play Free Afterparties for Who? Weekly's Shows at The Bellhouse 10/22 + 10/23!

LA: RSVP to See DJ Louie play the Who? Weekly X Pop Pantheon Party on 10/28!

Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djlouiexiv/

Follow DJ Louie XIV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/djlouiexiv

Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppantheonpod/

Follow Pop Pantheon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopPantheonPod

Follow Rich Juzwiak on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichJuz