Whatchulookinat

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"Whatchulookinat"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Just Whitney
B-side"Love to Infinity Megamix"
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2002 (2002-09-17)
Recorded2002
Genre
Length3:35
LabelArista
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 2002 single released by American R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston. The song serves as the initial single from Houston's fifth studio album, Just Whitney (2002). It was written by herself, Michael Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris and Jerry Muhammad, and produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2. The song was released on September 17, 2002 by Arista Records. "Whatchulookinat" has several remixes from Thunderpuss, Full Intention, Junior Vasquez, Peter Rauhofer, Razor 'N Guido and P. Diddy.

The song was seen as an attack on the media for the negative attention it gave to her life at the time.[1]

Composition[edit]

"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.[2] 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".[2]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment WeeklyF[3]

The criticism was generally negative. 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.."[4] Rolling Stone said that the song was "creaky and unconvincing."[5] The Guardian wrote that on the song Houston "puts on in a bravura performance" while "sounding feisty".[6]

Chart performance[edit]

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 Belgium, number 7 in Italy and number 13 in the United Kingdom. In the US, it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper.[7] The single peaked at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music video[edit]

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 young background dancer (he’s the only dancer in grey).

Track listings and formats[edit]

Personnel[edit]

  • Written by Whitney Houston, Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris and Jerry Muhammad
  • Produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G
  • Mixed by Kevin "KD" Davis at Zac Digital, Atlanta, GA
  • Lead vocals by Whitney Houston
  • Background vocals by Whitney Houston & Gary Houston
  • Vocal arrangement by Whitney Houston

Charts[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Billboard Magazine 10 August 2002. Billboard. 2002. p. 21. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Shaheem Reid, Curtis Waller (July 11, 2002). "Whitney Houston 'Back To Goose-Bump Time' On New LP". MTV News. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  3. ^ Seymour, Craig (August 9, 2002). "Music Review: Whatchulookinat". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "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)
  5. ^ Rolling Stone. "Just Whitney by Whitney Houston". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  6. ^ Petridis, Alexis (22 November 2002). "Whitney Houston: Just Whitney (Arista)". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  7. ^ Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart listing for the week ending October 12, 2002. Billboard. October 12, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  8. ^ "Issue 672" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Austriancharts.at - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  11. ^ "Whitney Houston Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "Single Chartverfolgung - Whitney Houston" (in German). Musicline.de. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  13. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Romanian Top 100 - arhiva". www.rt100.ro. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. October 19, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  19. ^ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  25. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2002" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  26. ^ 2002 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 28, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2011. {{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)

External links[edit]

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