The R. Kelly-penned title track from Whitney Houston’s comeback effort I Look To You has been offered up as a download from the big-voiced singer’s official site, for the price of an e-mail address. Also coming along with the track is the news that the album will now be out a day earlier than originally planned: It’s coming out on Monday, Aug. 31, just in time for it to be eligible for next year’s Grammys. (Recall that they’re now closing their eligibility period for next February’s ceremony on that absurdly early date.) Here’s the song, for those of you who can’t wait to get your e-mail from whitneyhouston@arista.com:





Whitney’s voice definitely is there, but there’s something… sort of off about it. It’s brassier, for sure, and some of the enunciation on her lower notes sounds kind of… mouth-twisting? I can definitely hear the R. Kelly influence on her phrasing, too. And on that “he-eey” right before the song’s end! More importantly, is there any way that this album won’t receive at least five nods for the Grammy ceremony? The combination of a redemption story that way trumps Amy Winehouse’s and the possibility of reliving an era where music sold, and kept people like Clive Davis in pre-party place cards, just seems like too good of an opportunity for the music-biz lifers to pass up.


Whitney Houston [Official site]
Whitney Houston – I Look To You [YouTube]