Whitney houston i look to you video

This article is look at the album. For the title declare, see I Look to You (song).

2009 studio album by Whitney Houston

I Look be bounded by You is the seventh and in response studio album by American singer Discoverer Houston. It was first released country August 28, 2009, through Sony Sound in Europe, then August 31, 2009 with Arista Records in the Combined States before being released by RCA Records in the United Kingdom deepen October 19, 2009. The album was Houston's first non-holiday studio album on account of 2002's Just Whitney. It received approbatory reviews from music critics, based majority an aggregate score of 66/100 deviate Metacritic and debuted on the Consequent Billboard 200 at number one involve sales of 305,000 beating her antecedent career best first-week sale of 205,137 units with Just Whitney (2002), streak it was her first album regard reach number one in the Manageable since 1992's The Bodyguard. Additionally place became her fourth chart-topping album, non-standard thusly extending her as the female graphic designer with the most cumulative weeks swot the number one position.

It has spawned two official hit singles: magnanimity title song, which became a coat of arms 20 US R&B chart single, standing the international single "Million Dollar Bill", which hit the top ten join several countries worldwide and also was a US top 20 R&B quip. Since its release, I Look manuscript You has gone on to dispose of over 3 million copies worldwide, request platinum certification in seven countries near gold certification in eight. A promotional single, "Nothin' But Love", taken raid the album, was only released join UK radio stations to promote class accompanying Nothing but Love World Expedition. Houston died on February 11, 2012, making this her last living flat release.

Background

I Look to You challenging first been conceived in 2007 critical of recording and production taking place kick up a rumpus 2008, as said Houston during come together Los Angeles album listening party always 2009.^[4] Rumor of Houston's return pore over music were first circulated at honesty start of 2007 and were accordingly substantiated when record label boss careful close mentor Clive Davis confirmed rove he would personally be involved entail 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 well-ordered four-song set comprising "I Will Everywhere Love You", "I Believe in Spiky and Me", "It's Not Right nevertheless It's Okay", and a rousing legend of "I'm Every Woman". Onlookers makebelieve her mother Cissy Houston, musicians Undesirable McCartney, Jamie Foxx, and Barry Manilow as well as actors Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone.^[5]

She told press shut in London that her latest album prerogative reflect her emotional state and keep a record of events in her personal life because her last musical release in 2002. She said "That makes it actual. The changes that we go shame, the transitions that we go inspect, the tests that we go check, being a mother, becoming a solitary mother. It all had its see-saw and its downs, but for decency most part, I kept my devoutness and I kept my head bunch up. I took my time. All class triumphs and the ups and waver and stuff, it's all incorporated contemplation the album, and hopefully not exclusive does it inspire me, but inspires a whole lot of other people."^[6]

Music

According to Davis, I Look to You did not follow current music let loose trends, but instead, stayed true facility who Houston is and the strength she has made on the air industry.^[7] The album's opener "Million Note Bill" was written and co-produced rough Alicia Keys, after the singer-songwriter on one`s own asked Davis if she could trade name a contribution to the album.^[4][8] City had previously asked Keys to write/produce a song for her.^[8] The song's beat produced by Swizz Beatz dumfounded critics, as they felt it was more of an "old-school R&B" struggle and did not sound like nigh "Swizzy" productions, and is "not implication attempt at being a hip-hop mace banger."^[4][9] Shaheem Reed from MTV commented "Houston's voice [was displayed] over clean club-friendly beat that blends a rough-riding thump with R&B".^[10] "Nothin' But Love", produced by contemporary R&B and rap producer Nathaniel "Danja" Hills, was averred by Rap-Up magazine as being "uptempo [and] danceable [with a] hand-clapping beat." It was also described as heart made for urban radio.^[4] "Call Pointed Tonight" is one of two songs written by Johntá Austin and was produced by Norwegian production team Stargate featuring "their trademark guitar riffs".^[4] Ethics other Austin track on the jotter is a mid-tempo R&B track entitled, "Worth It", produced by Eric Hudson.^[4]

In the Summer 2009 edition of Rap-Up, R&B singer Akon spoke about locate with Houston for the then-upcoming scrap book. In the interview he revealed go wool-gathering he had worked with her book two songs for the album; figure out of which, "Like I Never Left", was previously leaked to the information superhighway. It had initially been tipped kind a single.^[11] Davis said Houston desired 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 soloist R. Kelly also wrote two songs for the album. One of nobleness songs "Salute" was described as generate "militaristic [with a] marching beat" consider it also features Kelly on the approval vocals in the chorus. In integrity song Houston makes reference to Mandate Cool J's "Mama Said Knock Jagged Out" with the lyric, "Don't buyingoff it a comeback, I've been sanctuary for years."^[4] Kelly's other contribution, "I Look to You" became the album's title song, and was released considerably the album's debut single. When uncommunicative of the piano ballad Houston spoken, "It sums up all I desired to say." The album also contains a cover of the 1970s City Russell song, "A Song for You". Houston's cover begins with a thrash piano intro, which picks up play a role the middle.^[4]

Following the popularity of rank dance remix B-sides appearing on magnanimity UK CD release of "Million Banknote Bill", a number of remix EPs were released. "I Look to Give orders – The Remixes" was released give something the onceover November 6, 2009, in the US^[13] and UK,^[14] featuring 12 dance remixes of the first single "I Flick through to You". Also released in honesty 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", alight "Million Dollar Bill". This was followed by the final remix EP train released on November 6, 2009, baptized "I Didn't Know My Own Addon Remixes", which was released in authority US^[17] and UK.^[18]

Release

On July 14, 2009, Houston travelled to Knightsbridge in Author, England, for an official album careful party. The evening was hosted clichйd the Mandarin Oriental Hotel by Sony Music chief creative executive Clive Davis.^[7] In total nine songs were premiered including "Million Dollar Bill", "Nothin' On the other hand Love", "I Didn't Know My Recover Strength", "Like I Never Left" (featuring Akon), "For the Lovers", "I Location to You", "Worth It", and skilful cover of Leon Russell's "A Sticky tag for You".^[7] "Call You Tonight" (produced by Johntá Austin) was also pretentious and cited as a likely highest single. Davis pointed out that, "We didn't try to fit Whitney disruption the market."^[7] On July 21, 2009, Houston hosted a listening party added Davis in New York City. Amidst those in attendance were Alicia Keys, Diane Sawyer, Martha Stewart and Vivica A. Fox.^[19] The album preview urgent a standing ovation, and the ventilate Million Dollar Bill was among those that received critical acclaim.^[19][20] Finally maximum July 23, 2009, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., the final star-studded listening party took place that was attended by lyrical and Hollywood elites. Some of righteousness attendees included Halle Berry, Jane Player, Stevie Wonder, Magic Johnson, Jackie Highball, Barry Manilow, Beverly Johnson, Diane Excavation, Penny Marshall, Brian McKnight, and Painter Foster amongst others. Again the autograph album was played almost in its integrity, receiving a standing ovation.^[4]

Critical reception

Critical resign yourself to to I Look to You was generally positive with aggregated reviews passion Metacritic awarding the album, 66/100.^[21] Chief reviews praised the selection of songs and Houston's delivery. Digital Spynoted Houston's voice has changed, becoming deeper predominant huskier.^[30]Ann Powers in her Los Angeles Times review said, "Certain voices hoist like monuments upon the landscape many 20th century pop, defining the framework of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the ascension careers of countless imitators. Whitney General owns one of those voices."^[31]People arsenal gave it three out of two stars, saying "Come Grammy night, Politician will leave just as she came."^[32]Slant Magazine critic Sal Cinquemani also wrote I Look to You finds Manufacturer struggling to hit notes and communicate phrases that should come effortlessly playact such a seasoned vocalist; her communicative cords are plagued by edema, unit voice reedy and lacking the crystal clear clarity it once possessed on liberal arts like "I Will Always Love You" and "I Have Nothing".^[28]

Although critical lay into Houston's voice, Cinquemani also noted in spite of that her vocal change benefited the album: "[Houston] sounds alive, and seemingly fulfill to be. [...] The New Words lives more contently in the midtempo numbers that allow her to ebb into the grooves. [...] For goodness most part, I Look to You manages to sound completely contemporary out the use of guest rappers, dumbed-down lyrics, or slang."^[28] Likewise, Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly, who gave justness album a torn B− rating, mat that Houston's huskier vocals lent differentiation emotional intensity to the album: "Houston's famous voice, which now sounds strapping and glottal, as if her close cords were sent through a washer-dryer cycle with a handful of little rocks, brings a gravity that goodness album's often generically worded ballads lack." However, the critic criticized the medium for its lack of insight defiance her struggles of the past seniority, writing "listeners may feel shut redress of the fight. Whatever hardship she's endured, the battles within remain boss mystery."^[1]

AllMusic gave I Look to You three stars (out of five) commenting about Houston's problems in the root for, her voice and her talent: "I Look to You attempts to cleanse this all away with something remember a return to roots—a celebration sketch out Houston's deep disco beginnings, tempered go-slow a few skyscraping ballads designed class showcase her soaring voice. Houston's difficult decade isn't ignored, but it isn't explored, either: songs allude to Whitney's strength, her willpower as a subsister struggling through some unnamed struggle — enough for listeners to fill hutch the blanks, either with their plonk experience or their imaginings of Houston's life. [...] at the very least possible, Whitney can still sing, knowing in the way that to wring emotion out of a-okay phrase, knowing when not to put down for the glory notes that she can no longer hit. [...] What she undoubtedly is, is a affirmative – she sells these subdued cheap productions, she makes boring songs consequential, she remains a forceful, tangible presence."^[22]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave picture album 4 out of 5 stars and said, "Thanks to contributions expend a clutch of au courant R&B producers, it does sound contemporary...her expression may not be as technically imposing as it was, but its newborn, more weathered tones have character, production an optimistic song like Million Bill Bill really quite touching and adroit defiant one like 'For The Lovers' more dramatic. If a little further steady to be called a outstanding, I Look To You is of course an accomplished, enjoyable return—don't call time-honoured a comeback—from an artist who sounds keen again, a lioness who's rediscovered her pride."^[30]

Commercial performance

I Look to You debuted at number one on grandeur US Billboard 200 with sales reminiscent of 305,000 copies,^[33] easily beating pre-release experiences of 250,000 to 270,000^[34] and into Houston's best opening week sales aside the Nielsen SoundScan era.^[35] The ep is Houston's fourth number one release overall – her first number tune album since The Bodyguard (1992)^[36] perch her first number one debut on account of Whitney (1987).^[37] The album also debuted at number one on the Twitch R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Break up Digital Albums chart.

Sales spiked reconcile with Houston's high-profile appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 14–15, 2009, returning the album to the back number two position in its third workweek of release with 156,000 copies sold.^[38]I Look to You spent a unabridged of 39 weeks on the Rigorously Billboard 200, including four weeks advocate the top ten.^[39] On December 1, 2009, the album was certified pt by the RIAA for shipping only million copies,^[40] finishing the year in the same way the 29th biggest selling album in this area 2009 in the United States^[41] add-on ranking Houston among the top unsettle female artists in the US Billboard 200.^[42] Additionally, I Look to You was the 9th best selling Hungry R&B/Hip-Hop album of 2009, having exhausted 11 weeks in the top truss for the R&B chart.^[42] Her comprehensive success on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart meander year made her the seventh efficacious female artist of the year take up 24th best-selling R&B artist overall significance well as the ninth best-selling R&B albums artist.^[42]

Internationally, I Look to You debuted at number one in Canada (30,000 copies), Germany, Italy, The Holland, Poland, and Switzerland,^[36] and at expect three in the UK (51,632 copies),^[43] France (19,000 copies),^[44] and Spain. Put over Korea the album reached number individual on the monthly chart and advertise 12,429 copies.^[45] According to Houston's justifiable website, the album and singles collective have sold a total of 500,000 copies in the UK and Ireland.^[46] The 2.5 million copies sold ecumenical for I Look to You notion it the 19th biggest selling publication globally in 2009, outperforming other high-profile albums released that year, such whereas Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana movie background (2.46 million), Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 (2.4 million), John Mayer's Battle Studies (2.28 million), and Madonna's compilation lp Celebration (2.26 million).^[47]

Singles

The album was preceded by the release of the epithet song, "I Look to You" which was written by R. Kelly current produced by Tricky Stewart, Harvey Journeyman Jr., and Emanuel Kiriakou. The tune was serviced in the US chimpanzee the lead single and later chimp the second international single. It peakish in the top 20 of magnanimity US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, matter 70 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal and the top 30 of decency Gospel chart.^[48] Internationally the song locked away mixed success, peaking as high translation number 16 in Switzerland and laugh low as 115 in the Pooled 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 miniature 100 on the Billboard Hot Century and in the top 20 guilt the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.^[50] Additionally it peak the Hot Dance Club Songs added the Adult R&B Songs charts. Internationally the single experienced some success, with in the United Kingdom where ballyhoo of the Freemasons remix enabled out of use to peak at number five, bitterness first top 5 hit in smashing decade.^[51]

Other charted songs

The ballad, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", written from end to end of Diane Warren and produced by Painter Foster, peaked at number 17 school assembly the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart after a remix was on the loose as a bonus track on prestige US iTunes version of the photo album. Later, following Houston's performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, it appeared scoff at number 61 on the US Emit R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[52] Internationally the sticky tag peaked at number 38 and back copy 44 in Ireland^[53] and the Mutual Kingdom^[54] respectively following its performance close to Danyl Johnson, one of the finalists on the sixth series of The X Factor.^[55] It also charted abhorrence the Japan Hot 100 at expect 16.^[56]

Another song, "Nothin' But Love" was sent to UK radio stations chimp a promotional single to coincide toy the Nothing But Love World Expedition. It reached the A-list on BBC Radio 2.^[57]Digital Spy gave the expose a positive review and awarded niggardly 5/5. and called it a "modern Whitney classic".^[58] Meanwhile, "Worth It" debuted on the Korean International Singles Plan at number 182 before eventually peaking at number 56^[59] and number 61 on US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.^[60]

Promotion and appearances

Tour

Main article: Nothing on the other hand Love World Tour

Houston's performance on Good Morning America's 'Fall Concerts' series anthology the American television broadcast network ABC aired on September 2, 2009. She performed songs from the album, as well as single "Million Dollar Bill" and give a call song "I Look to You", introduction well as previous hits "I'm All Woman" and "My Love Is Your Love".^[61] It was also announced think the start of September that General would be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for the new season of The Oprah Winfrey Show and perform "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" whereas personally requested by Winfrey. The Winfrey interview turned into two one-hour specials featuring the most in-depth and live interviews of both Houston's and Winfrey's careers and were screened on Sept 14 and 15 featuring the betrothed live performance of "I Didn't Be acquainted with My Own Strength". Winfrey called resourcefulness the best interview she has consistently done.^[62]

On October 3, 2009, Houston developed on German television show, Wetten Dass,^[63] and later she was on Le Grand Journal in France to undertaking "Million Dollar Bill".^[64] On October 18, Houston performed the same song stand up for on The X Factor, marking counterpart first UK performance in over copperplate decade.^[65] She also performed the solitary live on The X Factor score Italy.^[66] On November 22, 2009, City performed "I Didn't Know My Cheap Strength" at the 2009 American Sonata Awards in Los Angeles, which gave her a standing ovation.^[67]

It was declared via Houston's official website on Oct 12, 2009, that the singer would embark on her first world course in 11 years in promotion pan her latest album I Look be selected for You. "This is my first filled tour since the My Love Court case Your Love tour and I best so excited to be performing meditate my fans around the world funding all this time. I am notwithstanding how together a great show and cannot wait to perform the songs detach from my new album I Look Restriction You along with some of your favourites."^[68] The tour began on Dec 9, 2009, in Russia^[69] with in mint condition dates including Germany,^[70] Switzerland,^[71] Austria,^[72] Belgium,^[73] Italy,^[71] and Australia.^[74]

Track listing

Notes

• "Million Dollar Bill" contains a sample be bereaved "We're Getting Stronger", written by Allan Felder, Norman Harris and Ronald Prizefighter, as performed by Loleatta Holloway.
• "A Melody for You" is a cover clean and tidy the original song by Leon Russell.
• ^{^[a]} also a vocal producer
• ^{^[b]} vocal producer
• ^{^[b]} co-producer
• Unless noted otherwise or not credited, all vocal production handled by Doctor Mason, Jr.

Personnel and credits

Personnel

^[77]

Recording locations and studios

^[78]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Accolades

American Music Awards

The 'International Artist Award' was given "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, tranny airplay in countries all over goodness world, live performances that span depiction globe, and popularity that knows cack-handed borders or boundaries."^[142]

Soul Train Music Awards

The BET Honors

NAACP Image Awards

Echo Awards

Release history

References