From SECRETS
Written by Diane Warren
“Un-Break My Heart” is one of the biggest hits of David Foster’s amazing career. It is just one of several songs written by Diane Warren as well as arranged and produced by Foster that skyrocketed to the top of the charts during the nineties. Right after its release in 1996 as the second single from Toni Braxton’s hit album, “Secrets”, “Un-Break My Heart” reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 and kept that position for 11 weeks. It was also # 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for 14 weeks, # 2 on the Hot r&b/hip-hop chart, plus a dance remix topped the dance charts. It was quickly certified platinum and earned Braxton a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. This slick pop/r&b ballad had a truly irresistible commercial appeal. Braxton cut her vocals using her lower register and Foster has stated he thought it was probably too low to be good. After some uncertainty, he followed fellow producer Babyface’s suggestion and kept it in that key. That final decision gave the song a good part of its magic and put on tape Braxton’s most sensual, effective performance ever. Another important factor to the song’s success is Foster’s brilliant production. He matched the singer’s gorgeous vocals with rich, multi-layered synthesizers plus a well-measured use of programmed percussions. He also enlisted Dean Parks to play the acoustic guitar. The veteran session master becomes the true co-star here; playing his tender phrases as a counterpart to Braxton’s vocals. R&B singer Shanice Wilson also appears on the track singing the background vocals.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/un_break_my_heart.mp3|titles=Un break my heart|artists=Toni Braxton]
Lead Vocals: Toni Braxton
Keyboard Programming: David Foster
Synclavier Programming: Simon Franglen
Acoustic Guitar: Dean Parks
Electric Guitar: Michael Thompson
Background Vocals: Shanice Wilson
Background Vocals Arrangement by L.A. Reid & Tim Thomas
Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Lyrics
Don’t leave me in all this pain
Don’t leave me out in the rain
Come back and bring back my smile
Come and take these tears away
I need your arms to hold me now
The nights are so unkind
Bring back those nights when I held you beside me
1-Un-break my heart
Say you’ll love me again
Un-do this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked outta my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my heart, my heartTake back that sad word good-bye
Bring back the joy to my life
Don’t leave me here with these tears
Come and kiss this pain away
I can’t forget the day you left
Time is so unkind
And life is so cruel without you here beside me
(repeat 1)Ohh, oh
Don’t leave me in all this pain
Don’t leave me out in the rain
Bring back the nights when I held you beside me
(rpt 1)
Un-break my
Un-break my heart, oh baby
Come back and say you love me
Un-break my heart
Sweet darlin’
Without you I just can’t go on
Can’t go on