Whatchulookinat

"Whatchulookinat"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Just Whitney
Released September 17, 2002 (US)
September 27, 2002 (UK)
November 1, 2002 (JP)
Format 12", CD Maxi, 2 x 12"
Genre R&B, pop, hip hop, dance
Length 3:35
Label Arista
Writer(s) Whitney Houston, Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris, Jerry Muhammad
Producer(s) Bobby Brown, Muhammad 2G
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. "Whatchulookinat" has several remixes from Thunderpuss, Full Intention, Junior Vasquez, Peter Rauhofer, Razor 'N Guido and P. Diddy.

The song received mixed to unfavorable reviews from critics. It was seen as an attack on the media for the negative attention it gave to her life.[1]

Composition
"Whatchulookinat"
The lead single "Whatchulookinat"'s lyrics were Houston's reply to media for its negative attraction to her personal life.
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"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 scoffs on the track.[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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Entertainment Weekly (F)[3]

Released as the lead single of the album, the song failed to capture critics' favorable reviews. Billboard magazine gave a negative comment on the song saying, "This song co-produced by Bobby Brown and co-authorised 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

The single became a moderate success worldwide, peaking inside the top forty in most countries. The single performed strongly in some international markets; reaching #3 in Canada, #6 in Belgium, #17 in Italy and #13 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper.[7] The single peaked at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

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. 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. Actor and comedian Mike Epps makes an appearance as one of the overzealous paparazzi photographers.

Track listings and formats

US Promo CD
  1. Whatchulookinat [Album Version] 3:35
  2. Whatchulookinat [Instrumental] 3:33
US Vinyl 12"
  • A1 Whatchulookinat [Album Version] 3:35
  • A2 Whatchulookinat [Instrumental] 3:33
  • B1 Whatchulookinat [Album Version] 3:35
  • B2 Whatchulookinat [Acappella] 3:33
US 2x12" Promo (Thunderpuss Remixes)
  • A Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Anthem] 11:53
  • B Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Club Mix] 7:42
  • C Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Dub] 8:43
  • D1 Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella] 6:36
  • D2 Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Drums] 5:24
US 2x12"
  • A Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Club Mix] 7:42
  • B Whatchulookinat [Full Intention Club Mix] 7:00
  • C Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Dub] 8:43
  • D1 Whatchulookinat [Full Intention Dub] 6:51
  • D2 Whatchulookinat [Full Intention Old School R&B] 3:33
European CD Single
  1. Whatchulookinat [Radio Mix] 3:35
  2. Whatchulookinat [P. Diddy Radio Mix] 4:08
Europe Maxi-CD
  1. Whatchulookinat [Radio Mix] 3:35
  2. Whatchulookinat [P. Diddy Radio Mix] 4:08
  3. Whatchulookinat [Thunderpuss Club Mix] 7:42
  4. Whatchulookinat [Full Intention Club Mix] 7:02
UK CD: 1
  1. Whatchulookinat [Radio Mix] 3:35
  2. Whatchulookinat [P. Diddy Radio Mix] 4:08
  3. Whatchulookinat [Full Intention Club Mix] 7:02
UK CD: 2 (Special Edition)
  1. Whatchulookinat [Radio Edit] 3:35
  2. Love To Infinity Megamix [Contains I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), So Emotional, I'm Your Baby Tonight, I'm Every Woman and It's Not Right But It's Okay] 9:22

Personnel

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 53
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 6
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10][11][12] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8] 12
France (SNEP)[8] 65
Germany (Media Control Charts)[13] 47
Italy (FIMI)[8] 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 29
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[14] 89
Spain (AFYVE)[15] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8] 29
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] 22
UK (The Official Charts Company)[16] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 96
US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[17] 75
US Dance/Club-Play Singles[18] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2002) Position
U.S. Dance/Club-Play Singles[19] 20

See also

References

  1. ↑ Billboard Magazine 10 August 2002. Billboard. 2002. p. 21. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  2. 1 2 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). "Whatchulookinat" Review. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  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. 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Austriancharts.at - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  10. ↑ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com. 2002-10-19. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  11. ↑ Second week
  12. ↑ Third week
  13. ↑ "Single Chartverfolgung - Whitney Houston" (in German). Musicline.de. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  14. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20050216164449/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10037.html
  15. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 1034. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  16. ↑ "Whitney Houston | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  17. 1 2 "Whatchulookinat - Whitney Houston". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Charts - Dance/Club-Play Songs - October 12, 2002". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  19. ↑ "2002 Year-end Charts - Billboard Hot Dance/Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 28, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
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