Anniversary (Tony! Toni! Toné! song)

"Anniversary" is a song by American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!. It was released on September 14, 1993, as the second single from their studio album Sons of Soul (1993). The song was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and written by group member Raphael Wiggins and keyboardist Carl Wheeler. The bolero-like slow jam features lush strings and moody violin, and is about a mature, lasting love, with lyrics that bestow warmth and respect upon a female subject.

"Anniversary"
Single by Tony! Toni! Toné!
from the album Sons of Soul
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1993 (1993-09-14)
Recorded1993
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:57 (radio edit)
9:27 (album version)
LabelMercury, Polygram
Songwriter(s)Carl Wheeler, Raphael Wiggins
Producer(s)Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! singles chronology
"If I Had No Loot"
(1993)		 "Anniversary"
(1993)		 "(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow"
(1994)

The song became a hit for Tony! Toni! Toné!,[2] peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number two on the Hot R&B Singles chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. "Anniversary" was well received by music critics, including Robert Christgau, who named it the 13th best song of 1993. It earned the group Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1994.

Music and lyrics

"Anniversary" was recorded for the group's third album Sons of Soul, which was recorded and released in 1993.[4] It was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and written by group member Raphael Wiggins and keyboardist Carl Wheeler.[5]

The song is a romantic,[6] elegant slow jam,[7] with lush strings, lavish vocal harmonies,[6] moody violin,[8] and a long instrumental break.[9] Musically, the group wanted to create a feeling similar to Isaac Hayes' 1969 song "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".[8] Its lyrics are about mature, lasting love: "I've only made plans to hold your little hand/ It's our anniversary."[10] Molly Reed of The Times-Picayune views that the lyrics' "pure sentiment" evokes "the 'sugar pie, honey bun' days of Motown soul", citing the line "I've only made plans / to hold your little hand / It's our anniversary".[11]

Chart performance

"Anniversary" was released by Mercury and Polygram Records on September 14, 1993.[1] It received considerable radio exposure and sales in the United States.[12] In the week of September 29, it climbed from number 84 to number 44 on Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the singles with the widest radio exposure and the greatest sales gains.[12] "Anniversary" spent 20 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 10 on October 23.[13] Its music video was released in October and featured the group in attire associated with English Romanticism and dandyism, including Dolce & Gabbana velvet vests, pin-striped jackets, lace bows, and cuffed shirts.[14] On November 17, 1993, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[15]

In Canada, "Anniversary" charted for nine weeks and peaked at number 44 on January 17, 1994.[16][17] In New Zealand, it charted for eight weeks and peaked at number 16.[18] In Australia, it charted for 8 weeks[19] and peaked at number 70.[20]

Critical reception

Jonathan Bernstein of Spin called "Anniversary" "a song for all seasons."[21] Elysa Gardner of Vibe wrote that "Sons of Soul climaxes, so to speak, with [the song]".[3] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice also cited it as a highlight on the album.[22] He later ranked the song number 13 on his list of the year's best singles.[23] In 1994, "Anniversary" was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[24] However, it lost to Janet Jackson's "That's the Way Love Goes" (1993) and Sade's "No Ordinary Love" (1992), respectively, at the 36th Grammy Awards.[25]

Personnel

Credits adapted from 7-inch pressing (Wing #859566).[26]

Other versions

An instrumental version of the song was covered by jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright on his 1994 album, Smooth.[27]

Charts
Chart (1993–94) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 70
Canada (RPM)[17] 44
New Zealand (RIANZ)[18] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 20

References
  1. "Anniversary [Cassette Single] - Tony! Toni! Toné!". Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. Lazerine, Cameron; Lazerine, Devin (2008). Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B. Hachette Digital. p. 217. ISBN 0-446-17820-9.
  3. Gardner, Elysa (September 1993). "Tony Toni Toné – Sons of Soul (Mercury)". Vibe. New York. 1 (1): 125–126. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  4. Punter, Jennie (November 30, 1993). "Tony Toni Tone runs on vintage '70s rhythm R & B inspired trio opens for Janet Jackson under the 'Dome". Toronto Star. Toronto. Entertainment section, p. WO.4. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  5. Sons of Soul (CD liner). Tony! Toni! Toné!. Polygram Records. 1993. 314 514 933-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Review: Sons of Soul". The New Yorker: 25. December 20, 1993. (subscription required)
  7. Linden, Amy; Givens, Ron; Tomashoff, Craig (July 5, 1993). "Picks and Pans Main: Song". People. 40 (1). Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  8. "Trinidadian influence added to Tonies' beat". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. November 25, 1993. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  9. Pendleton, Tonya (June 26, 1998). "Extending The Legacy The Top 10 Releases Of The '90s That Carry On R&b Roots". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  10. Farley, Christopher John (July 26, 1993). "Street Scene, Summer '93". Time. New York. Retrieved April 10, 2012. (subscription required)
  11. Reed, Molly (July 5, 2009). "Raphael Saadiq channels Marvin Gaye and brings the love". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  12. Rule, Sheila (September 29, 1993). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  13. "Anniversary – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  14. Sajbel, Maureen (October 13, 1993). "Video Vogue : Bellies Need Jewelry Too". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  15. "Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  16. "Top Singles". RPM. Toronto. 58 (26). January 17, 1994. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  17. "Top Singles". RPM. Toronto. 58 (21). December 4, 1993. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  18. "Discography Tony! Toni! Toné!". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  19. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart - Week Ending 23 Jan 1994". ARIA. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  20. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart - Week Ending 30 Jan 1994". ARIA. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  21. Bernstein, Jonathan (August 1993). "Tony Toni Toné – Sons of Soul (Mercury)". Spin. New York. 9 (5): 88. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  22. Christgau, Robert (October 19, 1993). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  23. Christgau, Robert (March 1, 1994). "Pazz & Jop 1993: Dean's List". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  24. "General Categories". Los Angeles Times. January 7, 1994. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  25. "The Grammy Winners". The New York Times. March 3, 1994. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  26. Anniversary (7" vinyl). Tony! Toni! Toné!. Wing Records. 1993. 859566.CS1 maint: others (link)
  27. iTunes listing for Smooth, retrieved October 1014
  28. "Tony Toni Tone Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. "Tony Toni Tone Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  30. "Tony Toni Tone Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
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