Whitney Houston “Million Dollar Bill”
With early leakings “I Look To You” and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”, two lackluster adult-soul/ pop inspira-ballads that made Whitney Houston sound like she had never left the early ’90′s, it was beginning to look like the diva’s much-anticipated sixth studio effort I Look To You was going to be a major yawner.
What was going on? Had the multiple Grammy-winner forgotten all about the hip urban zest of 1998′s My Love Is Your Love and how, via the beat-making talents of Rodney Jerkins, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott, that project had largely succeeded in pumping new life (and interest from the kids) into her career?
Thankfully someone on her team had the smarts to hire on lovebirds Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, cause the production/ songwriting duo may have just helped saved the album from an embarrasing quick chart fade-out with their winning contribution “Million Dollar Bill”.
Undoubtedly Houston’s best offering in years, “Bill” instantly latches the ear with it’s (very un-Swizz-like) retro-tinged groove: an infectious, baked-in-sunshine nod to the feel-good sounds of ’70/ ’80′s-era R&B that damn near dares you to lace up those old roller-skates that’s been collecting dust in your closet for decades and cautiously give them a whirl around the block. That inviting groove lays the perfect foundation for the track’s future female anthem lyric, a beaming “love life post-divorce” script that begs the lady population to “say ‘oh’” and “put one hand in the air” if they’ve managed to come across a knight in shining armor that “makes you feel like a million dollar bill”.
Both fresh-sounding and age-appropriate, “Million Dollar Bill” plants Houston right where she needs to be in terms of achieving a noteworthy comeback. Hell, it’s so good that all the recent (thought not quite un-true) gab about Houston’s voice not being as strong as it once was won’t even cross the mind when immersed within it’s pleasant vibe.
Let’s just hope that when I Look To You arrives at the tail-end of this month, it will house more tracks of this refreshing ilk rather than the tired balladry goop that we were first presented with.
Amen! This song is on repeat, literally. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way about a song, and I’m frankly surprised that this was the song to reinvigorate those feelings/actions.
Agree wit JJS III, I have been playing this song non-stop since yesterday. It’s damn near scary how refreshing this song is to the ear because its so different but current….Whit’s voice sounds fresh!