"I Look to You" is a pop-soul song performed by American recording artist

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

, from her seventh studio album of the same name. It was released as a worldwide promotional singleBillboard I Look To You Review
and as the first US single from the album on July 23, 2009 on US radio following highly favorable reviews at pre-release album listening parties. The single is one of two songs written by

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwid ...

which appear on the album and was produced by

Emanuel Kiriakou Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou (born August 16, 1966) is an American songwriter, producer, record executive, music publisher and multi-instrumentalist, based in Los Angeles. He recently co-wrote and produced " Take You Dancing" by Jason Derulo, and has ...

Tricky Stewart Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart (born January 4, 1974) is an American record producer, record executive, songwriter, and music publisher. In a career spanning over 30 years, Stewart has won 5 Grammys and is responsible for over 50 million rec ...

and

Harvey Mason Jr. Harvey Jay Mason Jr. (born June 3, 1968) is an American record producer, songwriter, movie producer and current CEO of The Recording Academy. He has written and produced songs for artists including Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Deniece Wil ...

Following its preview on US radio the single was released fully for airplay on July 27, 2009. On July 30, just one week after its premiere (and 3 days after its promotional release) the song reached number 19 on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, becoming her 30th top 20 hit. The song has since become her highest charting single in the United States in nine years, charting at #70. On February 18, 2012, R. Kelly (who wrote "I Look to You") performed the song at Houston's homegoing at New Hope Baptist Church in

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. The service was broadcast and streamed live to a worldwide audience.

Background

Initially ''

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'' magazine reported that another song titled " I Didn't Know My Own Strength" penned by

Diane Warren Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award. Wa ...

and produced by

David Foster David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...

would be released as the lead single. However, on July 14, 21 and 23 Houston held 3 pre-release album listening parties in which 9 of the 11 songs where previewed, "Call You Tonight" was described as a possible lead single by mentor

Clive Davis Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1 ...

Swizz Beatz Kasseem Daoud Dean (born September 13, 1978), known professionally as Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, rapper, disc jockey (DJ) and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, Dean embarked on his musical career as a DJ. At the ag ...

producer of the song "Million Dollar Bill" (written by

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...

) said that his record was definitely a potential comeback record and with critical acclaim at all three parties it was widely expected that the song would succeed the others as the lead single. However both ''

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'' and Houston's official website confirmed the title song would be the first US single whilst "Million Dollar Bill" was released as the worldwide lead single (second US single, almost simultaneously with first single). "I Look to You" was the second single from the album in the United Kingdom, where it was released on December 14, 2009.

Music video

The video for "I Look to You" premiered on September 10, 2009 on Whitney Houston's official website and on ''

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''. The video, also directed by

Melina Matsoukas Melina Matsoukas (born January 14, 1981) is an American music video, film, commercial and television director. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner and four-time MTV Video Music Awards winner for her "We Found Love" and "Formation" music video ...

, features the singer in front of a plain beige and gray backdrop with different angles of her. She is sitting on an applebox with a spotlight focused on her. Toward the end of the video, a shower of flowers are shown falling all around her. Houston is wearing a white dress in mood of the beige and grey background. The significance of the number was her humbleness to the Lord.

Promotion

* Houston performed this song at ''

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'' on September 1, 2009. The show aired the following day. * Houston sang "I Look To You" at German television '' Wetten, dass..?'' where she performed this song with great reviews. * "I Look To You" was performed at 2nd annual

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Celebration of Gospel gala by Houston together with

Kim Burrell Kimberly Jean Burrell (born August 27, 1972) is an American, Grammy–nominated, gospel singer-songwriter, producer, and pastor from Houston, Texas, United States. Biography Early life Born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 27, 1972 in Houston, Te ...

and gospel choir. The performance was acclaimed as the best performance of the night.

Critical reception

Houston said that the powerful piano ballad sums up the album and was all she wanted to say at that stage of her life. From the album parties ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' said that with the two tracks from

(the chippy kiss-off "Salute" and the steely title track produced by

and

) Houston seemed to be aiming for a younger audience and the radio. ''

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'' magazine's Mark Surtherland wrote "The overall feel of the album was notably contemporary, while retaining Houston's trademark vocal flourishes. Clive Davis praised Houston by saying that on songs like "I Look to You" it is not difficult to say she is 'the premium balladeer of our time'. ''

s Monica Herrera gave the song a positive review, writing that Houston is "both vulnerable and in control". She adds that "the minimalist production, which features a lone, sullen piano and soft synths, exists purely to cushion Houston's moving vocal performance". Lastly, she stated that it "stands firmly in the tradition of her most emotive hits ("Greatest Love of All," "I Will Always Love You") and signals the long-awaited return of a true diva".

Cover versions

* The song was covered on the television show ''

Glee Glee means delight, a form of happiness. Glee may also refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 30 ...

'' during the second-season episode '' Grilled Cheesus''. With

Amber Riley Amber Patrice Riley (born February 15, 1986), sometimes known mononymously as RILEY, is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series ''Glee'' (2009–2015). For her perform ...

on lead vocals, the song debuted and peaked at #74 on the

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...

during the week of October 23, 2010. * On February 18, 2012, singer/songwriter

(who wrote "I Look to You") performed the song at Houston's funeral at New Hope Baptist Church in

. The service was broadcast and streamed live to a worldwide audience. *The song is covered by

Selah (; hbo, סֶלָה, selā) is a word used 74 times in the Hebrew Bible. Its etymology and precise meaning are unknown, though various interpretations are given. It is probably either a liturgical-musical mark or an instruction on the reading ...

on their fourth album,

Hope of the Broken World ''Hope of the Broken World'' is the name of Selah's eighth studio album. The album was released August 23, 2011 by Curb. Critical reception James Christopher Monger of AllMusic writes, "Dove award-winning, contemporary gospel trio Selah have ma ...

, which was released in 2011. *The song was also covered by English singer-songwriter

Joe McElderry Joseph McElderry (; born 16 June 1991) is an English singer and songwriter. He won the sixth series of the ITV show ''The X Factor'' in 2009. His first single " The Climb" reached number one on both the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Single ...

featuring

London Community Gospel Choir The London Community Gospel Choir is Britain's first renowned contemporary "performance touring, inspirational gospel choir band", fusing gospel with multi-genres of music, including pop, soul, jazz, R&B, and classical. It was founded in 198 ...

on his fourth studio album ''

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''. *The song was covered on the NBC television show ''

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist ''Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'' is an American musical comedy-drama television series created by Austin Winsberg that premiered on January 7, 2020, on NBC. The series stars Jane Levy as Zoey Clarke, a software developer who discovers she has t ...

'', Season 2 Episode 10: Zoey's Extraordinary Girls' Night performed by

Alex Newell Alex Eugene Newell (born August 20, 1992) is an American actor and singer. They are known for their role as Unique Adams on the Fox musical series ''Glee'' and Mo on ''Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist''. Newell also starred as Asaka in the Broadway ...

. The episode aired on April 18, 2021.

Track listing

;Digital download #"I Look to You" – 4:25 ;German double A-side single #"I Look to You" – 4:25 #"

Million Dollar Bill "Million Dollar Bill" is a song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston from her seventh studio album, '' I Look to You'' (2009). It was released as the official worldwide lead (second in the US) single from the album on August 1 ...

" – 3:24 ;UK digital single #"I Look to You" – 4:25 #"I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Club Mix) – 7:39 #"I Look to You" (

Johnny Vicious Johnny Vicious (born John Coles) is an American house DJ, producer and remixer. He DJed in New York City clubs Mars and Paladium in the 1980s, and in the early 1990s started his own label, Vicious Muzik Records, with Jeffrey Rodman. Vicious b ...

Warehouse Club Mix) – 8:52 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Club Mix) – 9:08 #"I Look to You" (Christian Dio Club Mix) – 7:53 ;UK digital remix EP #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Radio Mix) – 4:08 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Club Mix) – 8:52 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Mixshow) – 5:50 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Radio Mix) – 3:52 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Mixshow) – 6:06 #"I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Club Mix) – 9:08 #"I Look to You" (Christian Dio Radio Mix) – 4:01 #"I Look to You" (Christian Dio Mixshow) – 5:51 #"I Look to You" (Christian Dio Club Mix) – 7:53 #"I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Radio Edit) – 3:47 #"I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Club Mix) – 7:39 #"I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Mixshow) – 5:52 ;Other versions * 7th Heaven Club Mix - 7:55 * 7th Heaven Radio Edit – 4:10

Commercial performance

The song debuted at No. 86 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and two weeks later peaked at No. 70. The song also did well on the

Adult R&B Songs The Adult R&B Songs chart (formerly called Adult R&B Airplay) is an airplay chart that is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on urban adult contemporary radio stations, whose playl ...

chart peaking at No. 2 the week of October 3, 2009. It spent six weeks on the

and as of May 2012 had sold nearly 298,000 copies in the US. The song sold more than 550,000 copies worldwide and has been certified platinum by the RIAA, Houston's first single of the 2000s to do so.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Accolades

Duet version with R. Kelly

The song was later re-recorded as a duet between Houston and

and was released as a single on September 25, 2012, seven months after Houston's death. This version marks Houston's final single, and third posthumous release. One day before the release, a sneak peek of this version debuted on

Ryan Seacrest Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an American media personality and producer. He is the co-host of ''Live with Kelly and Ryan'', as well as the host of multiple media shows including ''American Idol'', ''American Top 40'', and '' ...

's website. Ryan Seacrest - SNEAK PEEK: Whitney Houston's New Duet With R. Kelly 'I Look to You' [AUDIO] - Ryan Seacrest
/ref> The duet version of the song was released from and to promote Houston's posthumous compilation album ''I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston''. The song was released as the first and only single from the compilation by RCA Records.

Track listing

;Digital download #"I Look to You" (Whitney Houston and R. Kelly) — 3:39

Chart performance

Release history

Accolades

External links

I Look To You (Acharts)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:I Look To You (Song) 2000s ballads 2009 singles 2012 singles Whitney Houston songs Songs written by R. Kelly Song recordings produced by Tricky Stewart Contemporary R&B ballads Pop ballads Soul ballads Music videos directed by Melina Matsoukas 2009 songs Arista Records singles RCA Records singles Gospel songs Number-one singles in Brazil