PHOTO | ARISTA
Dino Griego
Staff Reporter
On Sept. 1, Whitney Houston busted out her new album, “I Look To You.”
While I was hesitant to purchase her merchandise, I thought the Diva deserved a chance to redeem her, “Crack is Whack” history. Let’s face it – I didn’t want to feed the addiction, but can I get a witness? She’s pretty amazing.
Well, I am not afraid to say the new CD didn’t disappoint me. I will not call this a “comeback” because as Whitney stated on Oprah, “I never left.” However, she pretty much rocks the socks off of critics everywhere.
I was moved that she stayed up with the times. Instead of sticking with classical songs like, “I Will Always Love You,” and mega hits like, “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay,” she reinvented herself.
This first song, “Million Dollar Bill,” starts off pretty bad. When I heard the beat, I kind of vomited in my heart of hearts. The music is cheesy and lacks that special something that makes a song a song, like a voice.
So, I wasn’t impressed at first, but when I got to the fourth song, everything clicked for me. I had a moment of nirvana. The song, which the album is named after, “I Look To You,” pretty much caused me to literally stop my car — mind you I was at a stoplight.
Still, I was moved that she talked about her addiction so easily. The song doesn’t explicitly say, “I did more crack than a Columbian drug lord,” but she sings about trials and tribulations she faced while suffocating in her dark hours.
“A Song For You,” delves into the complexity of relationships, which she would definitely know something about.
Have you seen Bobby Brown? He’s a walking trash bag.
“I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” talks about finding light in the center of darkness, trying to see hope in a hopeless situation.
Overall, I was deeply impressed with her veracity and her sense of ownership with her past. I recommend everybody buys this new album from an old face.