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THIS TIME NEXT YEAR

 from SNOWFLAKES

written by David Foster & Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds

David Foster and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds are two of the world’s most talented and successful music producers. They owned the Nineties with their countless hit singles and expressed mutual admiration and respect. During those years, Foster had the chance to produce Babyface, also a skilled singer, on a couple of occasions. The two hitmakers with Linda Thompson composed the Celine Dion anthem, “The Power Of The Dream,” for the 1998 Olympic Games in Atlanta . At the end of the decade, Foster and Babyface co-wrote another beautiful ballad entitled “This Time Next Year.”

The song was originally sung by UK singer Shola Ama on her 1999 cd “In Return.” A definitive version of “This Time Next Year” was given by r&b star Toni Braxton on her 2001 Christmas release “Snowflakes.” Braxton wasn’t new to Foster’s touch. Her most important hit, “Un-Break My Heart,” was produced by the Canadian music-maker for her multi-platinum cd “Secrets” that came out in 1996 on Babyface’s LaFace label. Babyface was a mentor for the soul superstar and he would co-write and produce some of Braxton most famous hits like “You’re Makin’ Me High,” “Breathe Again” and “Another Sad Love Song.” Babyface oversaw her “Snowflakes” cd, again out on LaFace, even though he only co-produced “This Time Next Year” with collaborator Daryl Simmons. Babyface left the reminder of the album to other producers including Keri Lewis, Simmons and his LaFace partner LA Reid. “This Time Next Year” is easily one of the highlights on “Snowflakes.” Composed by two pop heavyweights like Foster and Babyface, it obviously has a killer melody with an elegant arrangement to support Braxton’s flawless vocal performance singing the bittersweet lyrics. It seems like “This Time Next Year” was originally recorded for Braxton’s “Secret” cd, but was eventually finished a few years later to be included on “Snowflakes.”

Both Foster and Babyface kept their string of hits going in the new millennium and they crossed paths on several occasions. For example, every time Foster had a high-profile charity or an important tour, you can be sure that he asked his pal Babyface to be part of the line-up. Singing Babyface’s own hits or something from the Foster files always awards stellar results.


Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/this_time_next_year.mp3|titles=This Time Next Year|artists=Toni Braxton]

Lead & Backing Vocals: Toni Braxton
Acoustic Piano: Vance Taylor
Keyboards & Percussion: Daryl Simmons
Classical Guitar: Sonny Lallerstedt
Electric Guitar: Michael Thompson
Bass: Nathan East
Drum Programming: Tony Williams
Drum Overdub: Scott Meeder
Backing Vocals: Anthony Daniels, Babyface, Chanté Moore & Heather Mitchell

String Arrangement by Jeremy Lubbock

Produced by Babyface & Daryl Simmons
Co-Produced by Toni Braxton


Lyrics

This time next year I’ll be home lighting candles
Trying to just get on with my life
And this time next year hope I’m through
with the hurting
Trying to get you out of my mind

So, don’t try to play like you’re not that concerned
And don’t try to say that your heart doesn’t burn
So, tell me

How can you say that our love isn’t special?
How can you say
That our love wasn’t true?
And how can you say
You can take it or leave it
When I’m missing you and you know
You’ll be missing me, too?

[Chorus]
This time next year I’ll be out buying presents
And something will remind me of you
And this time next year I’ll be out having dinner
And run into some friends we both knew

Oh, don’t try to play like you won’t be concerned
And don’t try to say that your heart doesn’t yearn
Oh, tell me

[Chorus]

Come early Christmas morning
I’ll be having my coffee and I’ll think of you
And the things we used to do
And you know it will be breaking my heart
Cause the holidays are special
it will always play a part
In my heart

[Chorus]