It's Not Right but It's Okay

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"It's Not Right but It's Okay"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album My Love Is Your Love
A-side"Heartbreak Hotel"
B-side"Get It Back"
ReleasedFebruary 15, 1999 (1999-02-15)[1]
RecordedAugust 1998
Genre
Length
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 4:22 (radio and video version)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Darkchild
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"Heartbreak Hotel"
(1998) 		"It's Not Right but It's Okay"
(1999) 		"My Love Is Your Love"
(1999)
Music video
"It's Not Right but It's Okay" on YouTube

"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 Houston,[2] 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".[3] In 2019, Billboard listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999.[4] In 2022, the Thunderpuss club mix was listed in the list of the 200 greatest dance songs of all time on Rolling Stone.[5] The single reached number one in Spain and the top five in Canada, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Release[edit]

The original Rodney Jerkins production was released, but mainstream radio airplay and sales were given for the Thunderpuss Remix. The remixed version was released on Houston's 2000 Whitney: The Greatest Hits collection, and the original album version appears on 2007's The Ultimate Collection.

The Johnny Vicious remixes were included on the domestic CD maxi-single of "Heartbreak Hotel" as well as the on the import single and are currently available as iTunes downloads. The KCC remix was included on the US version of the "My Love Is Your Love" maxi-single and is also available as an iTunes download. Rodney Jerkins' remixes are the closest to the album version; Club 69 (Peter Rauhofer) also remixed the track for play in the UK. In the US, when it was released as a stand-alone single, the versions that appear are the Rodney Jerkins, Thunderpuss, and Club 69 remixes. There is also a ballad version, entitled "Smooth Mix".

Composition[edit]

"It's Not Right but It's Okay" is a R&B and neo soul song.[6] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, it is written in the key of C minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. Houston's vocals span from G3 to A♭5 in the song.[7]

Critical reception[edit]

Bill Lamb from About.com noted that the song is a "hard-hitting anthem for women on the way out of relationships that sounds great on the radio and on the dance floor."[8] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun wrote, "So when we hear her telling her abusive, less-than-faithful lover off in 'It's Not Right But It's Okay', we're not to imagine the lyrics have anything to do with the rumored infidelity of her real-life husband, Bobby Brown."[9] Billboard magazine highlighted the song on Houston's album.[10] Birmingham Evening Mail commented, "Houston, we have a problem. We loved your leather-limbed performance on the Brits of Rodney Jenkins' standout track from your new album 'My Love Is Your Love' and we know you should be cutting contemporary R&B - we just reckon you deserve better songs. Still, as a chart cert this'll do nicely, it's not great but it's okay."[11] Matt Stopera and Brian Galindo from BuzzFeed noted on the Thunderpuss Remix, that "aside from being a essential gay dance floor classic, this track proves how a good remix can elevate a song from good to ICONIC."[12] Daily Record stated, "Soul diva Whitney sounds streetwise with her biggest single since I Will Always Love You."[13]

Chart performance[edit]

It became the album's third single, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on July 3, 1999.[14] The single also peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, No. 7 on the top 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The song reached No. 3 in Canada, Iceland and the United Kingdom — in March 1999, where it stayed in the chart for 15 weeks, becoming a hugely popular radio hit in the country. And in Spain it peaked at No. 1.

Music video[edit]

The music video was directed by Kevin Bray.

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
Sweden "It's Not Right but It's Okay" February 15, 1999 CD
[1]
United Kingdom February 22, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [58]
Japan "Heartbreak Hotel" / "It's Not Right but It's Okay" February 24, 1999 CD Arista [59]
United States "It's Not Right but It's Okay" April 19, 1999
[60][61]
May 25, 1999
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [57]

Cover versions[edit]

The song was covered by Darren Criss on the hit Fox TV show Glee. Criss' character, Blaine, was confronting his own 'cheating' lover in the Whitney Houston tribute special, "Dance with Somebody". It was also covered on the "Lies" single and The Mother We Share EP by CHVRCHES. The song was heavily sampled in Mak & Pasteman's "It Ain't Right" and Shane Codd's "Rather Be Alone".

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Whitney Houston: It's Not Right but It's OK". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on January 10, 2003. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "It's Not Right but It's Okay". Spotify. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  4. ^ "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999". Billboard. April 8, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. July 21, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Out. Here Publishing. May 2000. p. 57. ISSN 1062-7928.
  7. ^ Fred, Jerkins III (February 20, 2012). "Whitney Houston "It's Not Right But It's Okay" Sheet Music – Download & Print". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  8. ^ Lamb, Bill (August 7, 2019). "The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s". About.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Talent is true, if lyrics are not Review: Whitney Houston finds a gritty, funky balance on 'My Love.' But don't put any words in her mouth. – Baltimore Sun". Articles.baltimoresun.com. November 18, 1998. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  10. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 28, 1998. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510.
  11. ^ "Singles Pick of the Week". Birmingham Evening Mail. February 23, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  12. ^ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (March 11, 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  13. ^ "Chart Slot". Daily Record. March 26, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  14. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/whitney-houston/chart-history/
  15. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  16. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  17. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  18. ^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 32. August 7, 1999. p. 52. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 11. March 13, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ^ "Houston, Whitney – It's Not Right but It's Okay" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  22. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 324 Vikuna 20.5. – 27.5. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 21, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Not Right but It's OK". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 16" (in Italian). Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  25. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
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  28. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. May 22, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  30. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay". Singles Top 100.
  32. ^ "Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay". Swiss Singles Chart.
  33. ^ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  34. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  35. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  37. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  38. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  40. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  41. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  43. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  44. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl - Jaaroverzichten - Single 1999" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  45. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  46. ^ "Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 1999" [Table 16. Top Selling CD-Singles in 1999] (in Spanish). AFYVE. p. 206. Retrieved November 11, 2021. Click on Música grabada.
  47. ^ "Sök alla listor > Årslistor > Välj år 1999 > Visa!" (in Swedish). Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  48. ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  49. ^ "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  50. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. December 25, 1999. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  51. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. pp. YE-60. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  52. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. December 25, 1999. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  53. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  54. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. pp. YE-61. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  55. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 53. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  57. ^ a b "American single certifications – Whitney Houston – It's Not Right but It's Okay". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  58. ^ "Whitney Houston: The Campaign" (PDF). Music Week. February 20, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  59. ^ "ハートブレイク・ホテル | ホイットニー・ヒューストン" [Heartbreak Hotel | Whitney Houston] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  60. ^ "Crossover Nation: New Releases – Going For Adds 4/19" (PDF). Hits. Vol. 13, no. 638. April 9, 1999. p. 62. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  61. ^ "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1295. April 16, 1999. p. 62.

External links[edit]

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