Track Listing

1. Million Dollar Bill
2. Nothin' But Love
3. Call You Tonight
4. I Look To You
5. Like I Never Left Feat. Akon
6. A Song For You
7. I Didn't Know My Own Strength
8. Worth It
9. For The Lovers
10. I Got You
11. Salute

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111 in Music
• Released on: 2009-10-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
The long-awaited seventh album from international R&B superstar Whitney Houston, entitled 'I Look To You', comes as a bold statement from this most influential of artists. Houston's voice is as ethereal and virtuosic as ever, but the songsthemselves take on something of a new persona - gutsy, impassioned and sassy. The writing talents of R. Kelly and the ubiquitous Akon give the record a distinct modernity for an artist whose back-catalogue is so associated with the past, and the result is a truly updated Whitney.

Customer Reviews

This Is Personal
The the world can be a cold and unforgiving place sometimes.

Ms Houston has had her fair share of glory's glare but has
doubtless also stared into the darkness of the abyss.
That her instincts have not always been a reliable guide is
evident in a career which has, to my ears and eyes, never
seen her quite comfortable in her own skin.

Slave to the 80's dancing-disco-diva-machine; the
tight squeeze of Hollywood in the 90's; the lacklustre
last two albums 'My Love Is Your Love' and 'Just Whitney'.

One of the great voices of our time needed a whole
lot more nurture than both the industry and her
more fickle devotees were prepared to give her.

Finally that voice has found a home.
'I Look To You' is a revelation.
It is the recording she was born to make.

It is crucial, if you have not yet heard the album,
that you disregard observations that her voice is no
longer a worthy instrument. That she reaches for those
stratospherically high notes less often is eminently
sensible for a singer approaching her autumnal years
with dignity. The tone has deepened; the middle and
lower registers now carry the weight of both dynamic
power and expression. It is gloriously unforced.

She has chosen some great songs for her renaissance.

Two of the finest torch-songs of her late-flowering
are here. Mr Kelly's marvellous 'I Look To You' and
Diane Warren's 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength' are
both given blisteringly heart-felt emotional performances.
Hard but beautiful truths.

Up-tempo energy isn't lacking either : Mr Russell's
'A Song For You' is given a treatment every bit as
good as her account of Ms Lennox's 'Step By Step'.
It is a stomping and storming highlight.
So too the wonderfully funky gospel energy of 'For The Lovers'.

That Ms Houston is back is good reason to celebrate.
Nothing to apologise for and certainly nothing to forgive.
After all these years this is the real deal.

Essential.

The time has arrived....
It's finally here, Whitney's first studio album in nearly 7 years and thankfully it's a very solid album. They said they were going to keep the music true to Whitney and not to conform to todays music gimmicks and for the most part, they have achieved this. The album is very 'Whitney' but obviously has an up-to-date sound, probably achieved mostly through the use of the best producers of the moment. These include Swizz Beats, Danja, R.Kelly, David Foster, The Underdogs, C 'Tricky' Stewart, Dianne Warren, Stargate and Akon.

Overall the album is very balanced and well rounded with a good mix of up-tempos, mid-tempos and ballads. The first single 'Million Dollar Bill' is an up-tempo feel good track and is not a bad way to start of the album but it is far from the best song. The best ballad on the album is without a doubt 'I Look To You'. There is a real sincerity in Whitney's voice and the track is very moving. The Danja produced up-tempo cuts 'Nothin' But Love' and 'For Lovers' are really very good, especially 'For The Lovers' which builds up to a highly energetic chorus. Great stuff. Other stand out tracks include the Stargate produced 'Call You Tonight' which is a fantastic mid-tempo similar in style to Jennifer Hudson's 'Spotlight' only better. 'Salute' is a ballad with bite, dealing with the breakdown of a relationship.

Overall, the album is very positive, tasteful and of a high quality. Whitney's voice has changed since we last heard her but it is still undeniably Whitney. The album is Whitney from start to finish and there aren't really any tracks that should have been left out. It's definately a must have for Whitney fans, shes finally back and in a better place than she has been for years. Its also worth buying if you haven't previously bought any Whitney records as it is contemporary enough to be appreciated for that reason. The music is much better than what anyone else is putting out at the moment. A great musical effort (",)

So worth the wait!!! This is going to be an album and a half...
So Folks... I now have the album in my CD player and you know what? I am so excited Whitney is back!!

Yes her voice has changed from a few years back but we all evolve and change. This to me is not a problem. Whitney still has it. She can belt out a tune and still evoke the feelings that she first did back in 1985. Whitney is a true star. And I'm so glad she is back.
My thoughts of the tracks so far are:

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** Million Dollar Bill **
Upbeat and thumping track. The first single of the album and I can feel this and hear this in the clubs and I am not even a clubber or a fan of clubs. It's got me moving. Such a funky beat and Whitney's strong vocals are going to have people dancing to this. Infectious and happy. Look out for some hot remixes of this popping up. I have heard a couple already and they are good. This track puts me in a good mood. That is what music to me is all about evoking feelings and Whitney does this.

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** Nothin' But Love **
Biographical mid tempo track full of attitude. Very soulful and punchy.

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** Call You Tonight **
Written by singer songwriter Johnta Austin and produced by Stargate. I heard Johnta's demo version and it's great. Whitney's version is fab. Another mid tempo foot tapping tune with a slightly chilled element. Has a romantic slant and one of my favs so far.

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** I look to you**
Well... This is utterly beautiful. A stunning beginning with a simple piano key and Whitney building up to those famous crescendos and strong strong vocals we all know and grew up with. This song is uplifting and inspirational. Something haunting about it especially knowing Whitney's troubled past. Whitney is certainly holding her notes and the runs are beautiful. This seems like a difficult song to sing and she pulls it off. Written by R Kelly who is a professional in his own right.

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***Like I never left***
I heard this over a year ago on a London Radio station and hated it. I thought it was weak and I don't hate any of Whitney's music normally but since I have heard the final track finished I have to say it has grown on me and has a summer feel to it. This was described by Clive Davis & Whitney as an island song and I can see what they mean. Mid tempo and happy. The track compliments the rest of the songs that have made the album. Certainly grew on me and quite like it now. It's also like she is singing to Clive and her fans that she is back where she needs to be and where she belongs....ruling the charts. Like she never left!

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** A song for you **
This makes you want to move. Starts off slow with a simple piano and Whitney's distinctive vocals and then BAM.... The beats kick in and Whitney lets go. Her only cover track on the album and she has also covered this track on many concerts back in the day but certainly not like this. On the first play of this I loved it. It was so unexpected and a nice surprise. Upbeat, uplifting and a sure hit for the Whitney fans out there. You can still hear the passion and power in Whitney's voice. For this track alone I would buy the album. She is definitely back!!

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** I didn't know my own strength **
A true Whitney ballad with a gentle soft start and nice piano intro, then her vocal starts to soar and lift you up along with it. I have to say I didn't like it the first couple of listens but it's such a grower. Sit back and let the lyrics and music lift you. Fantastic song and simple. Less is really more.

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** Worth it **
A modern and soulful R&B song. Contemporary but classic Whitney. I suggest you turn the lights low and put this on with your other half and just chill. Very nice....

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** For the lovers **
Another mid / up tempo foot tapping beat. Possibly the weakest track on the album for me and more like filler than a single but it's a grower.

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** I got you **
A slow but defining beat and again makes you want to move. Another strong vocal from Whitney and likable track. Reminds me of I bow out. Liking it very much.

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** Salute **
Written by R Kelly. Quite a military sounding beat and another favourite of mine. She sings: "Don't call it a come back, I have been here for years.... Through all the drama and the pain and all the tears..." Very positive lyrics with an infectious hook and a modern up to date track giving all the new artists a run for their money. Excellent track.

There seems to be an excellent mixture of mid / up tempo and ballads we have come to love and expect from Whitney's past albums and the songs all have a feel good vibe, so something for everyone. It's modern and contemporary yet has all the classic hallmarks from old Whitney there. The album is strong, Whitney's voice is strong and Whitney has not deviated with fancy and heavy productions. Her passion in the vocals comes through. Clive and Whitney have certainly put loads of time and effort into this and she is defiantly back.

I have read interviews where it took 3 years to complete this album. Whitney quoted saying "a labor of love" she said: "I hope that these songs stay with you for a lifetime."
Clive said "You won't forget it after you hear it," Davis said, calling the album a labor of love for all involved. "There is a song on this album which is called 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength' and it really speaks for Whitney. She tumbled but she didn't crumble."

The only downside I can think of is there are only 11 songs. Wish there were more. I hope Arista release a deluxe version with more tracks.

Welcome back Whitney!! You were missed!

:)