Whatchulookinat

Last updated
"Whatchulookinat"
Whatchulookinat.jpg
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Just Whitney
B-side "Love to Infinity Megamix"
ReleasedAugust 5, 2002 (2002-08-05) [1]
Recorded2002
Genre
Length3:35
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"The Star Spangled Banner"
(2001)		"Whatchulookinat"
(2002)		"One of Those Days"
(2002)
Music video
"Whatchulookinat" on YouTube

"Whatchulookinat" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. One of the few songs she co-wrote, co-writers include Michael Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris, and Jerry Muhammad. The track was produced by Houston's husband Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G. Lyrically the song was aimed at critics that were attacking her image at the time. [2] It was serviced to radio on August 5, 2002, via Arista Records, as the lead single to her fifth studio album Just Whitney (2002). Multiple remixes were also made from producers such as Thunderpuss, Full Intention, and Junior Vasquez.

Contents

The track received mostly negative reviews from music critics and was an underwhelming success, only hitting number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 while cracking the top ten in five countries.

Composition

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Whatchulookinat"
The lead single "Whatchulookinat"'s lyrics were Houston's reply to media for its negative attraction to her personal life.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Whatchulookinat" was produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G and written by Whitney Houston, Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris, Jerry Muhammad.

The song was Houston's response to what she felt was intense and sometimes unfair and inaccurate media criticism at the time. "My following is real strong/ Try so hard to show the whole world what I do/ Now I'm turnin' the cameras back on you/ Same spotlights that once gave me fame/ Tryin' to dirty up Whitney's name," Houston sings. [3] She then laments about people who've been "messing with [her] reputation" and "concentration" and don't "even have no education" on the chorus, singing, "I feel your eyes on me/ You been telling lies on me". [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment Weekly F [4]

"Whatchulookinat" received generally negative reviews. Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine said, "This song co-produced by Bobby Brown and co-authored by Houston herself - comes across like a poor little rich girl whining. That's just boring.." [5] Rolling Stone said that the song was "creaky and unconvincing." [6] The Guardian wrote that on the song Houston "puts on in a bravura performance" while "sounding feisty". [7] Gerrick Kennedy, author of the book Didn't We Almost Have it All: In Defense of Whitney Houston, called the track a "grossly miscalculated" move as it opened more criticism to her personal life. [8] Vladimir Bogdanov of the book All Music Guide to Soul called out Houston for "playing the victim" and saying the track sounded like "she had something to hide." [9]

Chart performance

The single became a moderate success worldwide, peaking inside the top forty in most countries. The single performed strongly in some international markets; reaching number 3 in Canada, number 6 in both Belgium and Spain, number 7 in Italy and number 13 in the United Kingdom. In the US, it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper. [10] The single debuted and peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her lowest debut since her first chart entry "Hold Me". [11] It is also her lowest-peaking lead single to date.

Music video

The corresponding music video directed by Kevin Bray was also considered as Houston's answer to the media for getting too deep into her personal life. During the introduction, actor/comedian Mike Epps plays an overzealous paparazzi photographers/fan who harasses Whitney as she exits the studio with Faith Evans. The inside of Epps' camera served as the fictional location of the video. The video showed a white set with cameras all over, following Houston's every move. The set was also full with old movie cameras and people dressed as reporters and photographers. Houston is shown dancing in front of them. Future Migos member Offset appears as a background dancer. [12]

Track listings and formats

Personnel

Charts

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Just Whitney</i> 2002 studio album by Whitney Houston

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Always Love You</span> 1974 single by Dolly Parton

"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, the country single was released in 1974. The song was a commercial success for Parton, twice reaching the top spot of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: first in June 1974, then again in October 1982, with a re-recording for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhale (Shoop Shoop)</span> 1995 single by Whitney Houston

"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 6, 1995, by Arista Records. The song was written and produced by Babyface. A mid-tempo R&B and soul ballad, composed in the key of D-flat major, the song's lyrics speak about growing up and learning to let go. The song garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom noted Houston's vocal maturity in the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was released as the lead single from the album on April 28, 1987, by Arista Records. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, of the band Boy Meets Girl, who had previously collaborated with Houston on "How Will I Know". At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, marking Houston's second win in the category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didn't We Almost Have It All</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"Didn't We Almost Have It All" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). The song was written by Michael Masser and Will Jennings and produced by Masser. Initially, Houston's cover version of the Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" was intended to be released as the second single from the album. However, the record label decided to release "Didn't We Almost Have It All", believing all Houston's material should be original. The song was released in July 1987 by Arista Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Emotional</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"So Emotional" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released as the third single from her second studio album Whitney (1987) on October 12, 1987 by Arista Records. The song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and produced by Narada Michael Walden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Save the Day</span> 1988 single by Whitney Houston

"Love Will Save the Day" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston from her second multi-platinum studio album Whitney (1987). The song was released in May 1988 by Arista Records as the album's fifth single. The song did not have a music video but was still successful, climbing into the US top ten. Written by Toni C and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez, it is one of the uptempo singles on the album that also includes "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "So Emotional".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)</span> 1990 single by Whitney Houston

"I'm Your Baby Tonight" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston from her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990). Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, in Australia and most European countries it was released as the album's lead single by Arista Records on September 28, 1990; in the United States, the release date was October 2. Following the release of her second studio album Whitney (1987), Houston became the first woman ever to debut atop the Billboard 200; despite this, critics deemed it safe and formulaic. Additionally, she was booed at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards and accused of being "not black enough"; Houston decided she needed to change her sound if she wanted to recapture black audiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Name Is Not Susan</span> 1991 single by Whitney Houston

"My Name Is Not Susan" is a song by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released as the fourth single from her third album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990). The song was released on June 24, 1991, by Arista Records. It was produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, and written by Eric Foster White. The song is an uptempo new jack swing number in which Houston harshly tells off a lover who has mistakenly called her by his ex-girlfriend's name "Susan". She lets him know that if he cannot get over Susan, then their relationship is over. The music video for the song was directed by Lionel C. Martin and inspired by the 1958 film Vertigo. A remix featuring British rapper Monie Love was also released, becoming one of the first times a pop/R&B artist had included a rapper in a remix, following Janet Jackson's "Alright", which remix featured Heavy D the year previous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something in Common</span> 1993 single by Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston

"Something in Common" is a song by American singers Bobby Brown and then-wife Whitney Houston, that was featured on Brown's third album, Bobby (1992). The single version was re-recorded and released in December 1993 by MCA, and was also available on Brown's 1993 compilation album Remixes in the Key of B. It was written by Brown and Houston with Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Mark Middleton and Alfred Rosemond, while Riley and L.A. Reid produced it. The song stands as the couple's first musical collaboration and the only song released as a single. It examines two unlikely people coming together as they find "something in common." Its music video was directed by Andy Morahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Every Woman</span> 1978 single by Chaka Khan

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Not Right but It's Okay</span> 1999 single by Whitney Houston

"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.

"I Believe in You and Me" is a song written by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert in 1982. The song was first recorded and released by the R&B group The Four Tops, who released it as a single from their album One More Mountain (1982). While it failed to reach the US Top 40, it became a moderate hit for the group on the US Billboard R&B chart, peaking at number 40 in early 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love Is Your Love (song)</span> 1999 single by Whitney Houston

"My Love Is Your Love" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. It was written and produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis for Houston's fourth studio album of the same name (1998). Released on May 31, 1999, as the album's fourth single, it received positive reviews and was successful worldwide, hitting the top 10 in 23 international markets. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in the United Kingdom, and number one in New Zealand and Poland. It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One of Those Days</span> 2002 single by Whitney Houston

"One of Those Days" is a song by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her fifth studio album Just Whitney (2002). Written by Whitney Houston herself, Kevin Briggs, Dwight Renolds, Patrice Stewart, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, Christopher Jasper, Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, and Rudolph Isley, and produced by Briggs, the song was released as the second single from the album, following the lead single "Whatchulookinat", on October 29, 2002 through Arista Records. A mid-tempo R&B track, "One of Those Days" samples The Isley Brothers' song "Between the Sheets" (1983), and its lyrics speak about getting away from the stress of daily life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song)</span> 1998 single by Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price

"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. Originally written for inclusion on TLC's third studio album FanMail, it was later recorded by Houston after TLC rejected the song. The song was written by Carsten Schack, Kenneth Karlin and Tamara Savage, and produced by Soulshock & Karlin. It was released on December 15, 1998, by Arista Records, as the second single from Houston's 1998 album My Love Is Your Love. The song prominently features R&B singers Faith Evans and Kelly Price during the choruses and bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step by Step (Annie Lennox song)</span> Annie Lennox song

"Step by Step" is a song recorded by Whitney Houston, originally written and recorded by Annie Lennox. The song appeared on the B-side to Lennox's 1992 single "Precious". Whitney Houston released a reworked crossover R&B/pop cover version in 1996 on the soundtrack to the film The Preacher's Wife. Houston's version replaces Lennox's verses with new lyrics and omits portions of the bridge. Annie Lennox provides backing vocals for Houston's rendition. The accompanying music video was directed by Paul Hunter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Million Dollar Bill</span> 2009 single by Whitney Houston

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Greatest Love of All</span> Popular song by Michael Masser and Linda Creed

"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser, who composed the music, and Linda Creed, who wrote the lyrics. It was originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson, who made the song a substantial hit, peaking at number two on the US Hot Soul Singles chart that year, the first R&B chart top-ten hit for Arista Records. The song was written and recorded to be the main theme of the 1977 film The Greatest, a biopic of the boxer Muhammad Ali, and is performed during the opening credits.

References

  1. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1464. August 2, 2002. p. 31.
  2. ↑ Billboard Magazine 10 August 2002. Billboard. 2002. p. 21. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Shaheem Reid, Curtis Waller (July 11, 2002). "Whitney Houston 'Back To Goose-Bump Time' On New LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ Seymour, Craig (August 9, 2002). "Music Review: Whatchulookinat". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Billboard Magazine - Reviews & Previews - p.21". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 10, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2011. (Transcription of original review at Classic Whitney.com)
  6. ↑ Rolling Stone. "Just Whitney by Whitney Houston". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (22 November 2002). "Whitney Houston: Just Whitney (Arista)". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick (May 3, 2022). Didn't We Almost Have it All: In Defense of Whitney Houston. Abrams Books. ISBN   9781647000479.
  9. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. Backbeat Books. p. 323. ISBN   9780879307448.
  10. ↑ Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart listing for the week ending October 12, 2002. Billboard. October 12, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  11. ↑ Bronson, Fred (August 24, 2002). "Chart Beat: What, Indeed". Billboard . Vol. 114, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media. p. 8. ISSN   0006-2510.
  12. ↑ Saponara, Michael (8 March 2024). "Offset Recalls Meeting 'Nice, Sweet Soul' Whitney Houston & Dancing in One of Her Videos". Billboard . Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Issue 672" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Austriancharts.at - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Whitney Houston Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Single Chartverfolgung - Whitney Houston" (in German). Musicline.de. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 2002". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Whitney Houston – dorobek wykonawcy na LP3" (in Polish). LP3 . Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Romanian Top 100 - arhiva". www.rt100.ro. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  27. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  30. ↑ "R&R CHR/Pop Top 50". Radio & Records . No. 1468. August 30, 2002. p. 31.
  31. ↑ "R&R CHR/Rhythmic Top 50". Radio & Records . No. 1468. August 30, 2002. p. 37.
  32. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam! . January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2002" (PDF). Music Week . January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  34. ↑ "2002 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 28, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.