“You’re Makin’ Me High” by Toni Braxton
Emma Valentine
Published Apr 16, 2026
by Sabrina Chitty· Published · Updated
Being brought up in a very religious family, Braxton wasn’t too keen on singing a song about sex as the last thing she wanted to do was offending someone. However, with much persuasion from Babyface, she finally gave in. Thanks to that, Braxton became known as a sex symbol when “You’re Makin’ Me High” was released.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();For example, in the first verse, she sings about imagining someone touching her private parts. This is beyond doubt concrete proof that she is fantasizing about having sex with someone.
This said person happens to be someone Braxton knows and probably spends a great deal of time with. Just being around the addressee turns Braxton on to the point where she finds it hard keeping her thoughts PG. In fact, all she wants is to unleash the fantasies she’s been having on the addressee.
Braxton Sheds Light on the Bridge
In a 2019 interview, Braxton confessed that the bridge was composed when she was high on weed for the first time. So the part where you hear her singing the following lines simply refers to her “smoking a joint”:
Release Date
Braxton released “You’re Makin’ Me High” alongside “Let It Flow” on 21st May, 1996 as the first single from her sophomore album, “Secrets”. The album was later officially launched on 18th June, 1996 by both LaFace and Arista Records.
Did Toni Braxton write “You’re Makin’ Me High”?
No. Legendary American musician and record producer, Babyface is credited as one of the writers of this song. The other credited writer is fellow American music producer and actor, Bryce Wilson. It is worth noting that Wilson also appears on the song’s official music video.
Chart Success
“You’re Makin’ Me High” received massive airplay across the globe and scored a #1 in both Canada and United States. In doing so, this song became the singer’s first-ever #1 song on the Hot 100
Furthermore, it also achieved top-5 hit status in the United Kingdom and three other countries. This song currently has a Platinum certification in the United States. This is for selling more than 1.5 million copies in this country alone.
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();| Countries | Position |
| Australia | #2 |
| New Zealand | #5 |
| Spain | #5 |
| United Kingdom | #2 |
It should be stated that the song (“Let It Flow”) that was released along with “You’re Makin’ Me High” also topped the Billboard 100.
Toni’s Iconic “Secrets” Album
On June 18 of 1996 American R&B singer Toni Braxton dropped “Secrets” as a follow-up to her debut self-named studio album.
This project was officially made public through the earlier mentioned renowned record labels (Arista and LaFace).
“Secrets” was accompanied by six singles, with the first single, “You’re Makin’ Me High”, dropping a few days before the official launch of the album. The other singles were:
“Un-Break My Heart” was equally successful, peaking at #1 on the main singles charts of several nations including the US.
“Secrets” was a commercial success worldwide, peaking at enviable positions on the official albums charts in various countries. Domestically, it reached #2 on the Billboard 200. Internationally, this project topped the charts in Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Denmark.
This record has been certified 8-times Platinum in the US and 7-times Platinum in Canada. It has been certified double-Platinum in several other regions including the UK, Switzerland, and Australia.
In 1997 “Secrets” was one of four albums shortlisted for the award of “Best Pop Album” at the Grammys. At the end of the day, Celine Dion’s “Falling into You” emerged winner of the said award. Tracy Chapman’s “New Beginning” and Sting’s “Mercury Falling” were the other nominees for this award.
