Whitney Houston is back. I Look To You, the long awaited CD from the legendary vocalist Whitney Houston is welcomed and refreshing in a music world filled with on-the-job training “vocalists” who believe that they can sing because they have a string of hit records. The CD is a reminder of true talent and a tribute to all women who have survived personal trauma. I Look To You is uplifting and Houston is operating from that spiritual place of strength and determination to stand tall after being wounded and bruised. Lady Houston gives voice to her doubts, conflicting emotions, faith and determination in songs such as I Never Knew My Strength, I Got You and Like I Never Left.
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The album is destined to be a collectible to music connoisseurs who hunger for good songs with quality lyrics and music that does not smother the vocals. It is exciting to know that Lady Houston kept her sound contemporary without selling herself cheap. There is no moaning, groaning or senseless rhymes meant to shock or sell records. She uses the best writers and producers of today which include R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and Akon. The lyrics are well thought out and tell Houston’s story with taste and style. The title song, I Look To You, encapsulates the beauty of her voice. She can still mesmerize the listener and place one in awe of her ability to use her voice as an illustrious instrument.

There is no one song that is remarkable. What is remarkable is Lady Houston’s versatility. She offers classic Pop. But, Houston uses this CD to give her fans access to her roots in R&B and Soul. Throughout the CD, she graces the listeners with her soulful roots which she carefully guarded and used sparingly in the 80s and 90s. Songs such as A Song ToYou and Nothin’ But Love are soulful and refreshing, combining Pop, Soul and dance music. Stay By The Phone makes the CD calming while confronting the stress of today’s busy lifestyle.

Some like to say that Whitney Houston has trashed her voice and she is not the vocalist that she was years ago. Yet, this CD proves that she still has a rich and powerful voice; one that is incomparable. Houston raised the bar. She has sold over one hundred and seventy million records and videos; had number one hits and multi- platinum records; won enough awards to be placed in the Guinness Book of World Recordss; sung songs that music historians will discuss generations from now; and created a music and film legacy that cannot be extinguished. She may have temporarily been away from the music scene to deal with her demons. But, she left while she was still having hit records and after almost twenty five years in the business, Houston continues to have fans and critics anxiously anticipating her latest release. Not many artists, past or present, can make that claim.

It has never been the number of hit songs that makes a great artist. It is not even the longevity of an artist that defines her worth; it is the quality and level of artistry that creates true greatness. This CD shows that Houston continues to distinguish herself by producing the work of a master artist and has an undeniably great voice; a voice that is in a league of its own. She is not a public relations creation, using her beauty or sexuality to sell records. The daughter of one of the greatest gospel voices of our time: Cissy Houston; the cousin of one of the most successful and unique Pop vocalist of the twentieth century: Dionne Warwick; a family member of the Drinkard Gospel singers; Whitney Houston is umbilically linked to the greats. She draws upon that foundation and smiles, singing and telling the haters that she has “Nothin’ But Love” for them.

Houston is aware that she is being judged and she knows that she has no true competition. Lady Houston has proven that she is still the best; dancing with her voice where other singers only dream of going. Critics can always find fault. But, Houston needs to go back into the studio and keep crafting those classics like I Got You and the new passionately sung women’s anthem: Salute. Decades after we are all gone, The Voice will still be calibrating on the airwaves giving future generations goose bumps.

Glenda R. Taylor is a distinguished cultural historian who has written many articles and music reviews. She is the author of books such as Truth Beyond Illusion: African American Women 1860s -1950s and The Secrets of Success.