Berichte zum “I Look To You” Album (engl.)
16.Juli 2009 | UK | Sky News
Whitney Houston Will Always Love London
Although she didn’t perform, the singer looked in good shape at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
The 45-year-old gushed: “I love London, it’s one of my favourite places to come, you guys are always so enthusiastic and you’ve always given me much love.”
Best known for her 1992 hit, I Will Always Love You, Whitney has battled addictions.
However, she has reportedly been making an effort to get her life back on track since her divorce from R&B singer Bobby Brown in 2007.
Clive Davis, the man who discovered Whitney, was there to introduce each song from the record, which is still a work in progress.
He said: “You’re going to hear music recorded two or three days ago.
“This is the first time it has been heard by anyone outside the company… We did not try to fit Whitney into today’s marketplace.”
Whitney’s 7th studio album includes a mix of power ballads and club-friendly collaborations with Alicia Keys and R Kelly.
After the tracks were showcased to a crowd of selected press, she received a standing ovation as she took to the stage.
She explained that the new material is about: “Making the songs last in the hearts of the people.
“If you want to cry you cry, if you want to laugh you can laugh, if you want to dance you can dance because that’s what it’s all about.”
Now speculation is growing over whether live shows could follow its release on 31 August.
Quelle: Sky News
16.Juli 2009 | UK | Daily Star | Autor: Kim Dawson with James Cabooter
Houston, We Don’t Have A Problem
Whitney Houston dusted herself down to record again after fans bom-barded her with requests to hear that famous voice one more time.
After a period of personal adversity, when the legendary diva battled addictions and saw her marriage to Bobby Brown, 40, break down, Whitney is looking and sounding better than ever.
Premiering tracks from her new album I Look To You at London’s decadent Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the 45-year-old was back to her best.
Clive Davis, chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment Worldwide, introduced each song from the album, which is still a work in progress.
He said: “You’re going to hear music recorded two or three days ago. This is the first time it has been heard by anyone outside the company. And we did not try to fit Whitney into today’s marketplace.”
Afterwards Whitney took to the stage to mass applause and a standing ovation from the VIP press crowd, including me.
Whitney revealed: “The day Clive called me I was going through adversity. He was like: ‘So are you ready?’
I said: ‘I’m ready to ride home, me and my daughter, have our strawberry food stand.’’
“It’s so kind of people wanting to hear me sing again.”
Whitney, whose hits include the classic I Will Always Love You, admitted 77-year-old Clive pulled her through the dark times to get back on track.
She said: “It was a labour of love for Clive and I – he took me through it. At one point he told me: ‘You’re impossible.’
I thought that was an honour.”
I predict live shows to follow the album, which will be released in September.
Posing with me for a snap, Whitney added: “I’m so glad you like the album.”
I won’t be the only one, lady.
MY WHITNEY VERDICT:
Million Dollar Bill: Written by Alicia Keys, this opens with trademark Whitney hollers then moves to a bass-heavy 70s vibe. “If he don’t make you feel like a million dollar bill say uh oh oh,” declares our gal. Too right. 4/5
Nutin’ But Love: Slammin’ synth-laden R&B with a Kanye-esque rap makes Whitney sound thoroughly Noughties but unlike anything else around. Potential huge club record. My choice for first single. 5/5
Call You Tonight: Produced by Stargate this is a safe mid-tempo R&B number planned to be the fi rst release. I’d like to see them be more adventurous. 3/5
I Didn’t Know My Own Strength: Strings? Check. Emotive lyrics? Check. Key change? Check. Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh would wrestle each other to nab this Diane Warren-penned power ballad for Leona/Westlife. 5/5
Like I Never Left: Writer and duet partner Akon infuses a Caribbean feel. Grab a daiquiri and soak in a sunshine vibe. 3/5
For The Lovers: Hotter than petrol chucked on an open flame, this is another banger that shows Whitney can rival Rihanna and all the young pretenders to her throne. 5/5
I Look To You: Who knew R Kelly could write a classy slowie without the need to make it saucy? 4/5
Worth It: Generic R&B filler. 2/5
A Song For You: A remake of The Carpenters’ tune with a Stargate sparkle that’ll send camp discos into a tizzy. 3/5
Quelle: Daily Star
15. Juli 2009 | US | Variety | Autor: Liz Smith
Whitney Houston look to ‘You’
FINALLY, AFTER heaven only knows how many years, Whitney Houston’s new album, “I Look at You,” arrives in September from Arista Records. This disc was slowly completed under the guidance of Whitney’s discoverer/mentor, the legendary Clive Davis. Clive has never given up on Whitney, no matter the rumors whispered, the tabloids screamed and her own infamous reality show with ex-hubby Bobby Brown. So, on July 21, at the Allen Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the maestro Clive is putting on a cocktail reception and then an exclusive listening party. A select group will get to hear what Whitney can still deliver. I am betting this album goes over like gangbusters. I first interviewed Whitney when she was just a young girl, fresh and dewy and untouched by the vagaries of fortune. What a doll she was then. And the last time I saw Whitney perform was two years ago in Los Angeles at a tribute to Clive. She looked glorious and sounded even better. Everybody was screaming — “Come back!” But then our Whitney sort of fell off the map again. Well, she is back now! She is really serious about re-activating one of the great musical careers of all time.
Quelle: Variety
25. Juni 2009 | US | Rap-Up
Akon On Whitney “She’s Straight Hood”
She may have sold over 170 million albums, singles, and videos worldwide, but Whitney Houston hasn’t lost her roots, according to Akon. “That’s my girl right there,” the “Beautiful” singer tells Rap-Up in the Summer 2009 issue. “She’s straight ’hood, but at the same time she can switch it up.” He expressed his admiration for the 45-year-old singer. “I love Whitney, man. She’s really down-to-earth. That I can say. She hasn’t lost her roots.”
Akon recorded two songs with the diva, but it’s unknown if any will make her new album. One of those songs, “Like I Never Left,” leaked to the Internet last year. “After that song leaked, they pulled that back. That was officially supposed to be a single for her as well. But we’ll see what happens.”
Find out if Akon’s contributions made the cut when Whitney Houston releases her seventh studio album, I Look to You, on Sept 1.
Akon talks about working with another musical legend, Michael Jackson, in the Summer 2009 issue of Rap-Up, on sale now.
Quelle: Rap-Up.com
05.Juni 2009 | US | Showbiz411 | Autor: Roger Friedman
Whitney’s New Album Features Alicia Keys, Akon
Here’s a little more info on Whitney Houston’s still untitled new comeback album.
I told you earlier this week that Whitney’s album was done, and would be released by the Grammy deadline cut off of August 31, 2009.
Well, yesterday Arista Records confirmed it. There’s one weird hitch: the album will go on September 1st, one day after the deadline. I know, it doesn’t make any sense. Maybe it’s a shipping thing, and the Grammys will allow a 24 hour grace period.
More importantly, here’s some news: Alicia Keys wrote and produced a track on the album for Whitney. Houston has been “working” Alicia for a couple of years, and it finally happened. The track is also produced by Alicia’s reported current love interest, the producer Swizz Beatz. (His real name is Kasseem Dean, by the way.)
There are tracks on Whitney’s album from Diane Warren, Stargate, and other top producers of the day. But the first single is set to be a David Foster production.
And yes, the track that was leaked last year with Akon, “Like I Never Left,” will be included in its finished form.
I am told, also, that the album is a combination of big, sweeping ballads and 80s dance music like Houston’s trademark hit, “How Will I Know” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
So it looks like we will have new albums from Whitney and Mariah at the same time after all. It’s a flashback battle of the divas, circa 1994. Bring it on!
