I Look to You | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 28, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008–2009 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:29 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | ||||
Whitney Houston chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from I Look to You | ||||
|
I Look to You is the seventh and final studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was first released on August 28, 2009, through Sony Music in Europe, then August 31, 2009 with Arista Records in the United States before being released by RCA Records in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2009. The album was Houston's first non-holiday studio album since 2002's Just Whitney . It received favorable reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 66/100 from Metacritic and debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number one with sales of 305,000 beating her previous career best first-week sale of 205,137 units with Just Whitney (2002), and it was her first album to reach number one in the US since 1992's The Bodyguard . Additionally it became her fourth chart-topping album, thus extending her as the female artist with the most cumulative weeks at the number one position.
It has spawned two official and hit singles: The title song, which became a top 20 US R&B chart single, and the international single "Million Dollar Bill", which hit the top ten in several countries worldwide and also becoming a US top 20 R&B hit. Since its release, I Look to You has gone on to sell over 3 million copies worldwide, earning platinum certification in seven countries and gold certification in eight. A promotional single, "Nothin' But Love", taken from the album, was only released to UK radio stations to promote the accompanying Nothing but Love World Tour. Houston died on February 11, 2012, making this her last living studio release.
I Look to You had first been conceived in 2007 with recording and production taking place in 2008, as said Houston during her Los Angeles album listening party in 2009. [4] Rumor of Houston's return to music were first circulated at the start of 2007 and were then substantiated when record label boss and close mentor Clive Davis confirmed that he would personally be involved in the project whilst speaking on The Oprah Winfrey Show . In February 2009, Houston appeared on stage at Davis's "Pre-Grammy Gala" where she performed a four-song set comprising "I Will Always Love You", "I Believe in You and Me", "It's Not Right but It's Okay", and a rousing version of "I'm Every Woman". Onlookers included her mother Cissy Houston, musicians Paul McCartney, Jamie Foxx, and Barry Manilow as well as actors Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone. [5]
She told press in London that her latest album will reflect her emotional state and chronicle events in her personal life since her last musical release in 2002. She said "That makes it real. The changes that we go through, the transitions that we go through, the tests that we go through, being a mother, becoming a single mother. It all had its ups and its downs, but for the most part, I kept my faith and I kept my head up... I took my time. All the triumphs and the ups and downs and stuff, it's all incorporated on the album, and hopefully not only does it inspire me, but inspires a whole lot of other people." [6]
According to Davis, I Look to You did not follow current music marketing trends, but instead, stayed true to who Houston is and the impact she has made on the music industry. [7] The album's opener "Million Dollar Bill" was written and co-produced by Alicia Keys, after the singer-songwriter personally asked Davis if she could make a contribution to the album. [4] [8] Houston had previously asked Keys to write/produce a song for her. [8] The song's beat produced by Swizz Beatz surprised critics, as they felt it was more of an "old-school R&B" production and did not sound like most "Swizzy" productions, and is "not an attempt at being a hip-hop club banger." [4] [9] Shaheem Reed from MTV commented "Houston's voice [was displayed] over a club-friendly beat that blends a rough-riding thump with R&B". [10] "Nothin' But Love", produced by contemporary R&B and hip-hop producer Nathaniel "Danja" Hills, was described by Rap-Up magazine as being "uptempo [and] danceable [with a] hand-clapping beat." It was also described as being made for urban radio. [4] "Call You Tonight" is one of two songs written by Johntá Austin and was produced by Norwegian production team Stargate featuring "their trademark guitar riffs". [4] The other Austin track on the album is a mid-tempo R&B track titled, "Worth It", produced by Eric Hudson. [4]
In the Summer 2009 edition of Rap-Up , R&B singer Akon spoke about working with Houston for the then-upcoming album. In the interview he revealed that he had worked with her on two songs for the album; one of which, "Like I Never Left", was previously leaked to the internet. It had initially been tipped as a single. [11] Davis said Houston wanted an island song, so they reached out to Akon. [4] The song was likened to Janet Jackson's "My Baby", which featured Kanye West. [12] American singer R. Kelly also wrote two songs for the album. One of the songs "Salute" was described as being "militaristic [with a] marching beat" that also features Kelly on the backing vocals in the chorus. In the song Houston makes reference to LL Cool J with the lyric, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." [4] Kelly's other contribution, "I Look to You" became the album's title song, and was released as the album's debut single. When speaking of the piano ballad Houston said, "It sums up all I wanted to say." The album also contains a cover of the 1970s Leon Russell song, "A Song for You". Houston's cover begins with a slow piano intro, which picks up in the middle. [4]
Following the popularity of the dance remix B-sides appearing on the UK CD release of "Million Dollar Bill", a number of remix EPs were released. "I Look to You – The Remixes" was released on November 6, 2009, in the US [13] and UK, [14] featuring 12 dance remixes of the first single "I Look to You". Also released in the UK [15] and US. [16] on November 6, 2009, was "The Remixes", featuring remixes of "I Look to You", "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", and "Million Dollar Bill". This was followed by the final remix EP being released on November 6, 2009, called "I Didn't Know My Own Strength Remixes", which was released in the US [17] and UK. [18]
On July 14, 2009, Houston travelled to Knightsbridge in London, England, for an official album listening party. The evening was hosted at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel by Sony Music chief creative executive Clive Davis. [7] In total nine songs were premiered including "Million Dollar Bill", "Nothin' But Love", "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", "Like I Never Left" (featuring Akon), "For the Lovers", "I Look to You", "Worth It", and a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You". [7] "Call You Tonight" (produced by Johntá Austin) was also played and cited as a likely lead single. Davis pointed out that, "We didn't try to fit Whitney into the market." [7] On July 21, 2009, Houston hosted a listening party with Davis in New York City. Amongst those in attendance were Alicia Keys, Diane Sawyer, Martha Stewart and Vivica A. Fox. [19] The album preview triggered a standing ovation, and the song Million Dollar Bill was among those that received critical acclaim. [19] [20] Finally on July 23, 2009, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the final star-studded listening party took place that was attended by musical and Hollywood elites. Some of the attendees included Halle Berry, Jane Fonda, Stevie Wonder, Magic Johnson, Jackie Collins, Barry Manilow, Beverly Johnson, Diane Warren, Penny Marshall, Brian McKnight, and David Foster amongst others. Again the album was played almost in its entirety, receiving a standing ovation. [4]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Billboard | favorable [22] |
Entertainment Weekly | B− [1] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
New York Times | favorable [25] |
Now | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Critical response to I Look to You was generally positive with aggregated reviews on Metacritic awarding the album, 66/100. [29] Most reviews praised the selection of songs and Houston's delivery. Digital Spy noted Houston's voice has changed, becoming deeper and huskier. [30] Ann Powers in her LA Times review said, "Certain voices stand like monuments upon the landscape of 20th century pop, defining the architecture of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the climbing careers of countless imitators. Whitney Houston owns one of those voices." [31] People magazine gave it three out of four stars, saying "Come Grammy night, Houston will leave just as she came." [32] Slant Magazine critic Sal Cinquemani also wrote I Look to You finds Whitney struggling to hit notes and deliver phrases that should come effortlessly to such a seasoned vocalist; her vocal cords are plagued by edema, her voice reedy and lacking the crystalline clarity it once possessed on classics like "I Will Always Love You" and "I Have Nothing". [27]
Although critical of Houston's voice, Cinquemani also noted how her vocal change benefited the album: "[Houston] sounds alive, and seemingly happy to be. [...] The New Voice lives more contently in the midtempo numbers that allow her to sink into the grooves. [...] For the most part, I Look to You manages to sound completely contemporary without the use of guest rappers, dumbed-down lyrics, or slang." [27] Likewise, Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly , who gave the album a torn B− rating, felt that Houston's huskier vocals lent an emotional intensity to the album: “Houston’s famous voice, which now sounds husky and glottal, as if her vocal cords were sent through a washer-dryer cycle with a handful of small rocks, brings a gravity that the album’s often generically worded ballads lack.” However, the critic criticized the album for its lack of insight on her struggles of the past years, writing "listeners may feel shut out of the fight. Whatever hardship she's endured, the battles within remain a mystery." [1]
AllMusic gave I Look to You three stars (out of five) commenting about Houston's problems in the past, her voice and her talent: "I Look to You attempts to wash this all away with something of a return to roots—a celebration of Houston's deep disco beginnings, tempered with a few skyscraping ballads designed to showcase her soaring voice. Houston's rocky decade isn't ignored, but it isn't explored, either: songs allude to Whitney's strength, her willpower as a survivor struggling through some unnamed struggle — enough for listeners to fill in the blanks, either with their own experience or their imaginings of Houston's life. [...] at the very least, Whitney can still sing, knowing when to wring emotion out of a phrase, knowing when not to push for the glory notes that she can no longer hit. [...] What she undoubtedly is, is a pro – she sells these subdued glitzy productions, she makes boring songs interesting, she remains a forceful, tangible presence." [21]
Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and said, "Thanks to contributions from a clutch of au courant R&B producers, it does sound contemporary...her voice may not be as technically impressive as it was, but its new, more weathered tones have character, making an optimistic song like Million Dollar Bill really quite touching and a defiant one like 'For The Lovers' more dramatic. If a little too steady to be called a classic, I Look To You is certainly an accomplished, enjoyable return—don't call it a comeback—from an artist who sounds keen again, a lioness who's rediscovered her pride." [30]
I Look to You debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 305,000 copies, [33] easily beating pre-release expectations of 250,000 to 270,000 [34] and representing Houston's best opening week sales during the Nielsen SoundScan era. [35] The album is Houston's fourth number one album overall – her first number one album since The Bodyguard (1992) [36] and her first number one debut since Whitney (1987). [37] The album also debuted at number one on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the US Digital Albums chart.
Sales spiked with Houston's high-profile appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 14–15, 2009, returning the album to the number two position in its third week of release with 156,000 copies sold. [38] I Look to You spent a total of 39 weeks on the US Billboard 200, including four weeks in the top ten. [39] On December 1, 2009, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipping one million copies, [40] finishing the year as the 29th biggest selling album of 2009 in the United States [41] and ranking Houston among the top ten female artists in the US Billboard 200. [42] Additionally, I Look to You was the 9th best selling US R&B/Hip-Hop album of 2009, having spent 11 weeks in the top ten for the R&B chart. [42]
Internationally, I Look to You debuted at number one in Canada (30,000 copies), Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland, [36] and at number three in the UK (51,632 copies), [43] France (19,000 copies), [44] and Spain. In Korea the album reached number one on the monthly chart and sold 12,429 copies. [45] According to Houston's official website, the album and singles combined have sold a total of 500,000 copies in the UK and Ireland. [46] The 2.5 million copies sold worldwide for I Look to You made it the 19th biggest selling album globally in 2009, outperforming other high-profile albums released that year, such as Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana movie soundtrack (2.46 million), Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 (2.4 million), John Mayer's Battle Studies (2.28 million), and Madonna's compilation album Celebration (2.26 million). [47]
The album was preceded by the release of the title song, "I Look to You" which was written by R. Kelly and produced by Tricky Stewart, Harvey Mason Jr., and Emanuel Kiriakou. The song was serviced in the US as the lead single and later as the second international single. It peaked in the top 20 of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 30 of the Gospel chart. [48] Internationally the song had mixed success, peaking as high as number 16 in Switzerland and as low as 115 in the United Kingdom. [49]
The album's second US single (first single internationally) was "Million Dollar Bill", written and produced by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. It peaked at 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in the top 20 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. [50] Additionally it topped the Hot Dance Club Songs and the Adult R&B Songs charts. Internationally the single experienced some success, including in the United Kingdom where promotion of the Freemasons remix enabled it to peak at number five, her first top 5 hit in a decade. [51]
The ballad, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, peaked at number 17 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart after a remix was released as a bonus track on the US iTunes version of the album. Later, following Houston's performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, it appeared at number 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [52] Internationally the song peaked at number 38 and number 44 in Ireland [53] and the United Kingdom [54] respectively following its performance by Danyl Johnson, one of the finalists on the sixth series of The X Factor . [55] It also charted on the Japan Hot 100 at number 16. [56]
Another song, "Nothin' But Love" was sent to UK radio stations as a promotional single to coincide with the Nothing But Love World Tour. It reached the A-list on BBC Radio 2. [57] Digital Spy gave the song a positive review and awarded it 5/5. and called it a "modern Whitney classic". [58] Meanwhile, "Worth It" debuted on the Korean International Singles Chart at number 182 before eventually peaking at number 56 [59] and number 61 on US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. [60]
Houston's performance on Good Morning America's 'Fall Concerts' series on the American television broadcast network ABC aired on September 2, 2009. She performed songs from the album, including single "Million Dollar Bill" and title song "I Look to You", as well as previous hits "I'm Every Woman" and "My Love Is Your Love". [61] It was also announced at the start of September that Houston would be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for the new season of The Oprah Winfrey Show and perform "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" as personally requested by Winfrey. The Winfrey interview turned into two one-hour specials featuring the most in-depth and personal interviews of both Houston's and Winfrey's careers and were screened on September 14 and 15 featuring the promised live performance of "I Didn't Know My Own Strength". Winfrey called it the best interview she has ever done. [62]
On October 3, 2009, Houston appeared on German television show, Wetten Dass, [63] and later she was on Le Grand Journal in France to perform "Million Dollar Bill". [64] On October 18, Houston performed the same song live on The X Factor , marking her first UK performance in over a decade. [65] She also performed the single live on The X Factor in Italy. [66] On November 22, 2009, Houston performed "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" at the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, which gave her a standing ovation. [67]
It was announced via Houston's official website on October 12, 2009, that the singer would embark on her first world tour in 11 years in promotion of her latest album I Look to You. "This is my first full tour since the My Love Is Your Love tour and I am so excited to be performing for my fans around the world after all this time. I am putting together a great show and cannot wait to perform the songs from my new album I Look To You along with some of your favourites." [68] The tour began on December 9, 2009, in Russia [69] with further dates including Germany, [70] Switzerland, [71] Austria, [72] Belgium, [73] Italy, [71] and Australia. [74]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Million Dollar Bill" |
|
| 3:24 |
2. | "Nothin' But Love" |
| 3:35 | |
3. | "Call You Tonight" | Stargate | 4:08 | |
4. | "I Look to You" | R. Kelly |
| 4:25 |
5. | "Like I Never Left" (featuring Akon) |
| 3:49 | |
6. | "A Song for You" | Leon Russell |
| 4:11 |
7. | "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" | David Foster | 3:40 | |
8. | "Worth It" |
|
| 4:39 |
9. | "For the Lovers" |
|
| 4:14 |
10. | "I Got You" |
| 4:12 | |
11. | "Salute" | R. Kelly |
| 4:10 |
Total length: | 44:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
12. | "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Club Remix) |
| Peter Rauhofer | 7:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
12. | "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Daddy's Groove Magic Island Radio Mix) |
|
| 3:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Radio Mix) | 3:48 |
2. | "Million Dollar Bill" (Frankie Knuckles Radio Mix) | 3:15 |
3. | "I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Radio Mix) | 4:07 |
4. | "I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Club Radio Mix) | 3:52 |
5. | "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Peter Rauhofer Radio Edit) | 3:04 |
6. | "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Daddy's Groove Magic Island Radio Mix) | 3:15 |
7. | "I Look to You" (Christian Dio Radio Mix) | 4:00 |
8. | "I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Radio Mix) | 3:50 |
Notes
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria) [128] | Gold | 10,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [129] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
France (SNEP) [130] | Gold | 50,000* |
GCC (IFPI Middle East) [131] | Gold | 3,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [132] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Hungary (MAHASZ) [133] | Gold | 3,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA) [134] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [135] | Gold | 35,000* |
Poland (ZPAV) [136] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Russia (NFPF) [137] | Gold | 10,000* |
Sweden (GLF) [138] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [139] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [140] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [40] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 3,000,000 [141] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Whitney Houston (herself) | International Artist Award [142] | Won |
The 'International Artist Award' was given "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, radio airplay in countries all over the world, live performances that span the globe, and popularity that knows no borders or boundaries." [142]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Whitney Houston (herself) | Best R&B/Soul Artist — Female [143] | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Whitney Houston (herself) | The BET Honor for Entertainment [144] | Won |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Whitney Houston (herself) | Outstanding Female Artist | Nominated |
"I Look to You" | Outstanding Music Video [145] | Won | |
2013 | "I Look to You" | Outstanding Best Song | Won |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Whitney Houston (herself) | Künstlerin International Rock/Pop (Best International Rock/Pop Artist ― Female) [146] [147] | Nominated |
Country | Date | Label(s) | Format | Catalogue |
---|---|---|---|---|
Germany [148] | August 28, 2009 | Sony Music Entertainment | CD, digital download | 88697580202 |
Italy [149] | ||||
Denmark [150] | ||||
Finland [151] | ||||
Sweden [152] | ||||
Ireland | 88697100332 | |||
United States | August 31, 2009 | Arista Records | 886971003321 | |
Canada [153] | Sony Music Entertainment | |||
Hong Kong [154] | 88697100332 | |||
France [155] | 88697580202 | |||
Greece [156] | ||||
Netherlands [157] | September 1, 2009 | |||
South Korea [158] | 88697100332 | |||
Australia [159] | September 4, 2009 | 88697580202 | ||
Taiwan [160] | September 11, 2009 | 88697100332 | ||
Spain [161] | September 15, 2009 | 88697580202 | ||
Japan [162] | September 16, 2009 | Sony Music Japan | BVCP-40096 | |
Brazil [163] | September 29, 2009 | Sony Music Entertainment | 886971003321 | |
United Kingdom | October 19, 2009 [164] | RCA Records | 88697100332 | |
November 6, 2009 [15] | Remix album [165] [166] (Digital download) |
Whitney Houston is the debut studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on February 14, 1985, by Arista Records. Whitney Houston initially had a slow commercial response, but began getting more popular in mid-1985. It eventually topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks in 1986, generating three number-one singles—"Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All"—on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it both the first debut album and the first album by a solo female artist to produce three number-one singles.
Whitney is the second studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on June 2, 1987, by Arista Records as the follow-up to her debut album. Whitney is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide. The album features five top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, which also became international hits. The album's first four singles—"I Wanna Dance with Somebody ", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"—all peaked at number one on the US Hot 100, making her the first female act to achieve four number-one hits from one album.
I'm Your Baby Tonight is the third studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on November 6, 1990, by Arista Records. The album has been certified quadruple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Love Is Your Love is the fourth studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released worldwide on November 17, 1998. It was Houston's first studio album in eight years, following I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990) although she had participated on three movie soundtracks during that period. My Love Is Your Love is composed of mid-tempo R&B, hip hop soul, pop and dance music, produced by musicians such as Whitney Houston herself, Rodney Jerkins, Soulshock & Karlin, Missy Elliott, Wyclef Jean, David Foster, Lauryn Hill, and Babyface.
Just Whitney is the fifth studio album by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on November 27, 2002, by Arista Records. It was her first studio album to be released after her greatest hits compilation, Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000), and the follow-up to her multi-platinum fourth studio album, My Love is Your Love (1998). Just Whitney was also Houston's first to be released after re-signing her contract with Arista in 2001 for $100 million - the largest recording contract for a female artist at the time.
The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album is a soundtrack album from the film of the same name, released on November 17, 1992, by Arista Records. The album's first side features songs recorded by American singer Whitney Houston, who starred in the film, while side two features the work of various artists. Houston and Clive Davis were co-executive producers of the record.
Whitney: The Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on May 5, 2000, by Arista Records. Anticipation over a greatest hits album from Houston arose as far as 1995, when Billboard first announced the album's release. However, it was continuously postponed as Houston focused on film projects, before deciding to record several new tracks for the belated collection in 1998. The effort was quickly expanded into her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love, released in November 1998 to widespread success, which effectively postponed Whitney: The Greatest Hits again.
American singer, actress, producer and entertainer Whitney Houston, who is known as “The Voice”, released seven studio albums, eight compilations, three soundtrack albums, five box sets, six extended plays, and 57 singles. She has sold over 220 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling music artists in history. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Houston is the best-selling female R&B artist of the 20th century, and has sold 100 million certified records in the United States. She is also the fourth best-selling female album artist in the US with 61 million certified album sales. In addition, until the launch of the RIAA's digital certification program in 2004, she had sold 16.5 million physical singles—more than any other female solo artist in history. According to the Official Charts Company in October 2012, Houston is the fourth-biggest-selling female singles artists of all-time list with a sales total of 8.5 million singles in that country.
"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan, released in September 1978 by Warner Bros. as her debut solo single from her first album, Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album, Masterjam, was released in late 1979.
Music of the Sun is the debut studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on August 29, 2005, by Def Jam Recordings. Prior to signing with Def Jam, Rihanna was discovered by record producer Evan Rogers in Barbados, who helped Rihanna record demo tapes to send out to several record labels. Jay-Z, the former chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Def Jam, was given Rihanna's demo by Jay Brown, his A&R at Def Jam, and invited her to audition for the label after hearing the song that would become her first single, "Pon de Replay". She auditioned for Jay-Z and L.A. Reid, the former CEO and president of record label group The Island Def Jam Music Group, and was signed on the spot to prevent her from signing with another record label.
"It's Not Right but It's Okay" is the third single from American singer Whitney Houston's fourth studio album, My Love Is Your Love. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Isaac Phillips, Toni Estes and produced by Rodney Jerkins, who went by the nickname Darkchild. The song examines a woman confronting her lover about his infidelity. Houston won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for this song. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "It's Not Right but It's Okay" at number 638 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever". In 2019, Billboard listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999. In 2022, the Thunderpuss club mix was listed in the list of the 200 greatest dance songs of all time on Rolling Stone. The single reached number one in Spain and the top five in Canada, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album is the soundtrack to the 1996 film of the same name and features songs performed and produced by American singer Whitney Houston, who also stars in the film. The soundtrack was released on November 26, 1996, by Arista Records and BMG Entertainment. With sales of 6 million copies worldwide, it is the best-selling gospel album of all time.
"Whatchulookinat" is a 2002 single released by American R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston. The song serves as the initial single from Houston's fifth studio album, Just Whitney (2002). It was written by herself, Michael Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris and Jerry Muhammad, and produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2. The song was released on September 17, 2002 by Arista Records. "Whatchulookinat" has several remixes from Thunderpuss, Full Intention, Junior Vasquez, Peter Rauhofer, Razor 'N Guido and P. Diddy.
Through the Storm is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on April 25, 1989, by Arista Records.
"I Didn't Know My Own Strength" is a song performed by American singer Whitney Houston, taken from her seventh studio album I Look to You (2009).
"I Look to You" is a pop-soul song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her seventh and final studio album of the same name. It was released as a worldwide promotional single and as the first US single from the album on July 23, 2009 on US radio following highly favorable reviews at pre-release album listening parties.
"Million Dollar Bill" is a song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston from her seventh and final studio album, I Look to You (2009). The song was written by Alicia Keys, her husband Kaseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean and Norman Harris, and produced by Keys and Beatz. It was released as the official worldwide lead single from the album on August 18, 2009, through Arista Records in the US and August 24, 2009, through RCA Records in the UK. It is Houston's final single from a studio album, and the last song released in her lifetime before her death in 2012. The song samples R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger", co-written by Harris.
Dance Again... the Hits is the first greatest hits album of American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on July 20, 2012, by Epic Records, to coincide with the launch of her first world tour, the Dance Again World Tour. Lopez previously conceived plans for a greatest hits album in 2009, but instead opted to use the material recorded for her seventh studio album, Love? (2011), which was released by Island Records in May 2011 after her departure from Epic Records in 2010. As Lopez owed the label one last album to fulfill her contract, she began work on a new greatest hits album in November 2011. She later became unsure whether she wanted to go along with plans to release a greatest hits album or a new studio album, eventually deciding on the former.
I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston is a posthumous greatest hits album by American recording artist Whitney Houston. The album was released on November 13, 2012 via RCA Records.
American singer Whitney Houston, known as "The Voice", released 57 singles as a leading artist and 4 as a featured artist. Houston is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. In the United States, Houston amassed 11 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, all of whom have been certified either gold, platinum, multi-platinum or diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America and was one of a selected group of artists to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in four different decades. She is currently ranked in seventh place of the artists with the most number one singles in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to the introduction of digital singles, Houston sold 16.5 million physical singles in the country, the most ever by a female recording artist. In October 2012, the Official Charts Company claimed Houston was the fourth biggest-selling female singles artist of all time with a sales total of 8.5 million singles in that country.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)