Attention, shoppers! Yes, you — get your paws off that Marie Osmond Baby Boo doll and focus: Miss Whitney Houston is waiting for you on (digital) aisle 5.
The long-absent diva, who returns next week with I Look to You, her first album in seven years, is now streaming the full record via the famous shopping channel’s online marketplace to advertise a pre-order deal (all 11 tracks are also streaming on her official website, though QVC holds the retail exclusive).
Listen and tell us what you think, Whitney-ites, before the full review runs in EW’s print mag this Friday. Below, a YouTube grab of the song we personally think is the strongest; the Alicia Keys collaboration “Million Dollar Bill”:
I will buy this album for sure. I listened to it at http://www.whitneyhouston.com and I have to say, it’s great! Standouts for me are Call You Tonight, Salute, Worth It, Million Dollar Bill which I just purchased on itunes. HOT! Nice to hear Whitney in a sea of over-produced girls!
Ms. Houston’s album is AMAZING. I can’t stop listening to it. There isn’t a bad song on it.
My favs and grades:
Salute: A++++
Worth It: A+++
Call You Tonight: A
Nothin But Love: A+
I Look To You: A
Welcome back, Whitney. You’ve been missed!!
This is the best thing on the CD? The best? That does not portend well for the CD. It’s an OK song, but it is also clear that her vocal power and control has shrunk. A lot.
Comeback what comeback album – I could barely sit through it all – I cringed at the quality of her voice and how it has deteriorated over the years. If she sang the songs on this album with the voice she once used to have, it would surely be worth listening to – not some old woman with a shaky, broken voice – and that’s what it sounds like in the studio. I can’t imagine her singing live anymore. All the songs are luke warm at best; revolve around a man, her past mistakes, and if she could change her past. YAWN. Cry me a river Whitney. After such a long wait and so much talent to work with – she comes up with material that we’ve all heard before. I don’t think the album will be charting for long and will be soon forgotten. Frankly, these days people are more interested in hearing about her druggy lifestyle with Bobby Brown than hearing her sing.
This album is certainly not one of her best vocal efforts. She’ll just be riding on how sorry people feel for her in order to sell records. After that, there ain’t much more to it.
Whitney, (and yeah we know you’re a legend) you’ve had your days in the sun and now it’s time for singers (that have truly amazing voices) like Leona Lewis to pick up where you sadly left off.
Clive Davis (Whitney’s producer / babysitter) also produced Leona Lewis’ Spirit album. After producing something incredible like Spirit, it’s not like him to have produced such mediocracy unless Whitney dramarama-ed him into letting her have her way and record songs she “felt comfortable” singing (cause you and I know she just can’t hit those high notes anymore).
That said, I guess he can’t really push what isn’t there anymore.
Fine albums like Spirit are reasons why we need producers who pull the strings Whitney – not singers who can’t belt it out anymore.
If you think Leona is better than whitney even when Whitney is currently not in her vocal peek, then you need your ears testing imo. Sure Whitney isn’t like she was 20 years ago, but who is???? Whitney is WHITNEY, THE VOICE, and her album is amazing and shows that she is back in a very positive way. And as much as I love Spirit, it is quite clear that Clive has put more into Whitney’s album and that it is a stronger album overall.
You said it — not in her vocal peek
I rest my case.
Patti LaBelle sounds better than she did 20 years ago and so does Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper — should I go on? Their vocal abilites have not diminished but improved with age and they can all still hit the high notes.
Whitney’s voice has this new raw quality to it. It makes her almost more accessible. I think she sounds amazing.
You talk about Whitney not hitting high notes but you obviously didn’t listen to the album. Yes her voice is lower. Yes, its not as good as it once was, but its still VERY CAPABLE. Just listen to that 17 second note at the end of A Song For You, or the high notes at the end of Like I Never Left. Who CARES that she’s not at the same level she was 17 years ago? You’re an idiot for even expecting that. The fact that her voice is still so amazing after all this time is fine by me!
Anybody who starts a sentence or review with Pffft has to full of unpleasant gas.
I’m sure, even if Whitney was to record an album entirely of “toots”, I’m sure there be many buyers – like you for instance.
Madonna could never hit high notes. The woman has no singing talent at all. Tina Turner was never a vocalist in the caliber of Whitney. She could sing, yes, but Whitney was far above her. Patti is a screamer. And what are you talking about? Tina’s voice has DECLINED! It’s much more raspy and she avoids most of her high notes now. Barbra’s voice has also declined. Cyndi Lauper belts high. That’s it. She’s not a good singer. The fact that you even put MADONNA in this group of ladies just makes you lose credibility.
I am talking about improvement. All the talents I have mentioned – their voices have gotten richer with age regardless of whether they you feel they are a screamer, raspy or whatever else you might term. Say what you will but yes, even Madonna’s vocal abilities have improved over the last 20 years. Not credible because I have mentioned Madonna? Madge sounds great in concert, in the studio, and can even belt it out live.
You’re right, Celine’s voice has improved over the last decade. IMPROVED is the key word.
In comparison, I feel Whitney’s voice has become frail with age – it’s lost confidence, has become shaky, lost it’s shine, and has gone soft. And who gives a crap about her impeccable diction? Hmmmmmm, so why doesn’t Sissy sing anymore (except at a local tea party or in church) and why do you think Dionne turned to the Psychic Network?
FAILED ATTEMPT: I think they think if they keep saying it’s good, people will believe it. Whitney to me, was the best singer out their and that is proven gone with this album, can’t wait to see her on OPRAH, because she wasn’t at the legends/youngn’s ball OPRAH threw., Just say you F’d up Whitney, to the world, She was so POMPAS and now look at her, so uncomfortable to even do an interview., She use to boss the media around, hahaha, this all was much deserved in my opinion, lets see if she will be able to handle this FLOP !!, Lets see if CLIVE will do another album with her, I don’t think so, he’s not out to help her, he’s in the business to make $$ in My opinion
You MAME, are a nasty hater. Try and put all that anger from your childhood aside, and pump your brake. You represent a small minority of people in the world who experience life with little joy. I’m sorry for you. Whitney is absolutely amazing, and I Look to You is a true gem.
I don’t believe I have a problem. Now listen up Zach and everyone else who want to put people down because they have an opinion to voice that doesn’t quite mesh with their own. The last time I checked it was a free world. Like you, I am entitled to MY opinion without having to be called an idiot, a hater, or a loser. It is the only reason I bother retaliating. And whether I retaliate or not shouldn’t bother you at all if you were to take your own advice and move on.
Hey you….Of course Clive`s business is making money, that`s why he work 3 years to collect the best songs and producers for whitney….for sure you re a hater, the album sounds great and will be a hit….
The entire album is like one song, and when you are done you get the chills and relisten…. go make an album and see who buys it. If you dont like it dont buy it, but allow others to generate their own opinion. generally people use their quiet time to comment on things they like and places thay have been, some people are my god haters. Find someone you like more and go write happy thoughts about their style of music and talents, dont spoil mine. give me my time , i been waiting 7 years for this. A lot of you were the same ones saying she would never record again, its not nice having to eat your words now, im sure if she does well in sales , youd be the same one saying, she cant act any more, so she shouldnt do movies, always so negaitive
I love this album. I’m so glad she is singing again, with MJ gone, I’m glad we didn’t lose another living legend: Whitney Houston
Poor thing, no one told me she had a sticky case of Drugular Vocalitis.
Go, Go Whitney!! We miss you Whitney..
It’s sad how haters sound like utter morans on here! WTFhave you listened to the radio! I love the production and like her relatives Dionne and Cissy her voice has changed big deal. I mean are you going to tell me “What you so Obsessed with me” is a good production? So much so the studio is called MC back to rework the album, remember the last time she did that- Glitter and it was because she accused JLO of stealing a sample. The album is fine stop hating and run along like good kids!
Really miss Whitney!! Welcome Back Whitney!!
qaf72 – to each his own which is why it’s called a review of one’s opinion – an expression.
Like it or not – deal with it moron.
And we’re allowed to have an opinion of your opinion. And it stinks.
Rolled eyes lacks vision and has trouble seeing things clearly.
LOL at you people hating on Ms. Houston. Good try BUT next time try not to be so obvious! LOL. LOSERS!!!!
Rolling Stone gave this the best rating of any Whitney Houston. There has not been a bad review yet. Do a little google search people..
Yeah, Leo Google & Rolling Stone are supposed to tell me what I like
Get real! LMAO
Comeback Album? WHAT A COMEBACK ALBUM! I could barely sit still and contain my excitement! I was amazed by her voice, which still is capable of sounding stunning. With some of the high notes here, I can’t even imagine how good she’l sound live. ALL the songs are hot, seriously, very little filler here. Thank you for finding the time to give us another album of music. It’s been far too long Miss Houston.
Seriously, Whitney’s back. And I couldn’t be happier.
Why do people bitching about her voice? Voices CHANGE! If you guys are looking for The Bodyguard vocals, you are wasting YOUR TIME! That was 17 years ago! Whitney is 46 now, not 30! That is so unrealistic. Why were you not expecting Bodyguard vocals in 1998 when My Love Is Your Love came out or in 2000 or 2002? Whitney’s in MUCH better voice on this album than she was on Just Whitney. She belted an effortless E5 on Call You Tonight with no sign of strain. For someone who smoked since she was 16, was overworked, experience vocal nodules, had hormonal changes due to her pregnancy and miscarriages, and did drugs, she is still SANGIN’! And the majority of singers out there have also experienced vocal change and decline. Does Mariah sound like she did in 1993 or 1996? No. Does that mean Mariah can’t sing? No! Celine’s voice has changed, Aretha, Barbra, everyone. Whitney is not the only one. Whitney’s high notes are not what make her a great singer. It is her interpretive ability and her unique phrasing, her beautiful timbre and her impeccable diction. Not to mention those flawless vocal runs. And Leona Lewis, for all her saccharine nonsense and under-pitch singing, as well as her squeezed belting, can never pick up where Whitney left off. Only Whitney can. And Whitney’s voice has been getting better. From her December 2007 concert in Malaysia to Morocco 2008 to the Pre-Grammy Party 2009 to now, she has improved in leaps and bounds. And she is performing on Good Morning America September 2! And I KNOW she’s gonna kill it. The Voice is back! Recognize it! Take her or leave her, but know that you’re missing out if you leave her.
Your review of Leona Lewis… quite sad really.
Now who should one believe – you or Clive Davis the multi million dollar music mogul? Tough decision. LOL
So how did Lewis manage to become Clive’s new protege? I guess I should ask you since you know so much about pitch and squeezed belting.
What’s your problem? You’re clearly a hater. Someone who didn’t like the album would leave a comment and move on. But you keep coming back responding over and over and over and over and over, like you have some kind of agenda to push. If you don’t like it, find something you do like and go comment on that!