BASSETERRE, St. Kitts- Whitney Houston, one of many people’s all-time favourite singer, is back and hotter than ever.
Fans are raving about her new album, which is currently in stores. The 11-track album titled ‘I Look to You’ was released in the United States yesterday, August 31. It was released earlier in Germany.
Houston’s ‘I Look to You’ will be released today in Spain and at later dates in Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Her album includes the title track ‘I Look to You’ and other songs like ‘Million Dollar Bill’, ‘A Song For You’, ‘Worth It’, ‘Salute’ and ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’.
Houston’s single ‘Million Dollar Bill’ was released to US radio stations on August 18. A worldwide release for the song is expected shortly along with a music video.
The US release date for the album was moved to August 31, one day ahead of its intended September 1 release date. This shift in release date was made so that Houston’s album would be eligible for the 2009-2010 Grammy nominations because the cut-off date for entries was yesterday, August 31.
The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will take place on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles. The ceremony date was moved up to January from the usual February, which explains why Grammy eligibility was shortened by one month. The eligibility period was from October 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009.
Houston already has six Grammy Awards, as well as two Emmy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 American Music Awards. According to Houston’s website, the Guinness Book of World Records lists her as music’s “most awarded female artist of all time” with an amazing tally of 411 awards (as of 2006).
It is no wonder then that Houston has no problem lining up top-notch talent to collaborate with her such as Alicia Keys, R-Kelly and Diane Warren who all wrote songs on her new album, as well as Swizz Beatz, Akon and Star Gate who all did some producing. R-Kelly also has a producing credit on Houston’s new album. Houston also received a writing credit for the album.
During her Los Angeles album listening party, Houston said that her latest album has been in production for about three and a half years.
Speaking about why the album shares the name of the song ‘I Look to You’, Houston told the London press that, "The last several years spiritually, this song says all I wanted to say.
There are times in life when we go through certain situations - some not so good. You have to reach for a higher strength. You have to reach deep inside yourself, spend time with yourself to make some corrections that go beyond your own understanding and lean on a higher understanding. For me, this song puts it all in check. If I did not have my faith, I wouldn't be as strong today.”
She also said that her latest album will reflect her emotional state and chronicle events in her personal life since her last musical release in 2002.
Houston, who began her career in the 1970s, is known for hit songs such as ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘My Love is Your Love’, ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘Saving All My Love For You’ and ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, among many others.
