Million Dollar Bill

For the fake United States currency, see Fake denominations of United States currency#$1,000,000.

"Million Dollar Bill"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album I Look to You
Released	August 18, 2009 (2009-08-18) [1] (see release history)
Format	CD single, Digital download
Recorded	2008
Genre	Funk, soul, R&B
Length	3:23
Label	Arista
Writer(s)	Alicia Keys, Kaseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, Norman Harris
Producer	Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"I Look to You" (2009) "Million Dollar Bill" (2009) "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (2009)

"Million Dollar Bill" is a song performed by American R&B and pop recording artist Whitney Houston, from her seventh studio album^[2] titled I Look to You which samples R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger" from Holloway's 1976 debut LP. It was released as the official worldwide lead and only single (second US single) from the album on August 18, 2009 through Arista Records in the US^[1] and August 24, 2009 through RCA Records in the UK.^[3]

Background

The song was written by Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and samples R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger" from Holloway's 1976 debut LP. Keys had requested to be a part of Houston's album and Houston decided she wanted to work with Keys after hearing her perform at one of Clive Davis' parties.^[4] It was produced by hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz with an old school R&B beat. Beatz told MTV News that the process on the song started when he got a call from Clive Davis and record executive Larry Jackson. After he had produced the beat, Keys joined him in the songwriting process and the duo completed the song.^[4] Keys told Billboard about the recording session(s), "Whitney is an artist who inspired me from [the time I was] a little girl. Fast-forwarding to now and being able to work with her to help create this song that took off was fun. We had a lot of laughs; it was like being with a long-lost friend."^[4]

The song received critical acclaim at the album's three listening parties and was cited as a "big comeback record". The single entered the Hot 100 at #100, becoming her thirty-ninth chart entry on that chart. Houston performed the song live on The X Factor in the UK on Sunday, October 18 the night before the album was released in that territory.^[5]

Composition

Million Dollar Bill is an uptempo "pop dance groove" with strong disco influences.^[6] The song lasts for three minutes and twenty three seconds.^[7] Written in they key of B Minor, the song's beat is set in common time and moves at a tempo of 120 beats per minute.^[6] Houston's voice spans A₃ to the note of B₄.^[6] The song also features a sample of Loleatta Holloway's 1977 song "We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)".^[4] Swizz Beatz explained that the song "is all about the feelings new love can bring".^[4]

Critical reception

From the New York listening party Rolling Stone said "'Million Dollar Bill' is a clattering, uptempo hip-hop-inspired number. It may be the fastest ever for Houston, who keeps up nicely. It received a standing ovation setting the tone for much of the album."^[8] MTV's Shaheem Reid comments revolved around the first track 'Million Dollar Bill', saying that "Houston sings of looking for love and finding a man with potential. "If he makes you feel like a million-dollar bill, say, 'Oh, oh/ Oh, oh,' " she sings on the hook. "It's been a long time since love has come my way. I've been looking and searching for a man to touch this place." Right from the start, 'Million Dollar Bill' displays her billion-dollar voice over a club-friendly Swizz track that even got Alicia Keys up and dancing while taking video with her personal camera as the words she wrote boomed through the speakers.^[9]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy said "Written by Alicia Keys and produced by Swizz Beatz (probably best known for Beyoncé's 'Check On It' and 'Ring The Alarm'), it's a midtempo disco track with an unabashedly feelgood message. "If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill," Whitney sings on the chorus, 'Say oh-oh-oh, say oh-oh-oh'. The Voice is deeper and raspier than you might remember, but she's still capable of going for a money note. 'Million Dollar Bill' won't be storming any barns in a hurry, but it's a classy, dignified and thoroughly likeable comeback effort. Whitney, it's good to have you back."^[10] Bill Lamb of About.com gave a mixed review saying, "The good news on "Million Dollar Bill" is the performance is undeniably the Whitney Houston we all know. The down side is it's all almost too familiar. The arrangement courtesy producer Swizz Beatz is very old school R&B. Alicia Keys has written a song that fits very well with her tradition of "old soul" songs, but Whitney Houston has failed to give it a new twist that would successfully make the old stunningly new again.". He also gave the song 3.5 stars out of five.^[11]

Chart performance

"Million Dollar Bill" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number hundred, on the issue dated September 19, 2009.^[12] The song fell out of the chart the next week. "Million Dollar Bill" topped the Hot Dance Club Play charts, which became her first single to do so since 2003's Love That Man. The song entered the Canadian Chart at number seventy eight and peaked at number sixty two on the week dated September 19, 2009.^[12]

In United Kingdom, the song peaked at number five, following her performance at the X Factor, by which became her first single to reach the top five since 1998's My Love Is Your Love. The song was successful in many other countries across Europe. The song peaked inside top forty, in most countries and the second highest peak was in Ireland, where it peaked at number eight.^[12]

Music video

Houston in the music video for "Million Dollar Bill" dancing as dollar bills fall around her alluding to the theme of the song.

The music video for 'Million Dollar Bill' was directed by Melina Matsoukas (who directed the music video for Houston's previous sing "I Look to You"), known for working with artists such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Ciara.^[13] It premiered on Houston's official website on September 16, 2009.^[14]

The video features Whitney Houston entering a dry cleaners and making her way through a kitchen wearing a fur coat. On exiting the kitchen, the music begins, and she walks into a night club with her then removing her coat and singing on a small stage. Throughout the video Whitney is seen in a metallic dress and knee high boots, and as the video progresses she is then seen in a pink dress with cuts to girls in the bathroom touching up their make-up. Just over half the way through the video she is seen in a full-length silver dress supporting a straightened bob. The video ends with Whitney walking away in the silver dress with dollar bills blowing around.

Rap-Up.Com said Houston is looking a million bucks in the high priced music video for "Million Dollar Bill".^[13]

Track listing

German double A-side single[15] "I Look to You" — 4:25 "Million Dollar Bill" — 3:24 U.S./UK album remixes (EP 1)[16] "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Radio Mix) — 3:49 "Million Dollar Bill" (Frankie Knuckles Radio Mix) — 3:15 "I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Radio Mix) — 4:08 "I Look to You" (Johnny Vicious Club Radio Mix) — 3:52 "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Peter Rauhofer Radio Edit) — 3:04 "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (Daddy's Groove Magic Island Radio Mix) — 3:11 "I Look to You" (Christian Dio Radio Mix) — 4:01 "I Look to You" (Giuseppe D. Tune Adiks Radio Edit) — 3:47 Australia CD-single "Million Dollar Bill" (Album Version) — 3:24 "Million Dollar Bill" (Instrumental) — 3:20 "Million Dollar Bill" (Call Out Hook) — 0:10

AUS/UK CD single "Million Dollar Bill" — 3:24 "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Radio Edit) — 3:49 UK and US single remixes (EP 2)[17] "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Radio Mix) — 3:49 "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Club Mix) — 8:10 "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Mixshow) — 5:00 "Million Dollar Bill" (Frankie Knuckles Radio Mix) — 3:15 "Million Dollar Bill" (Frankie Knuckles Club Mix) — 7:08 "Million Dollar Bill" (Frankie Knuckles Dub Mix) — 6:59

Personnel

Credits Mixed by – Tony Maserati Assistant engineers and mixers – Christian Baker, Miki Tsutsumi, Val Brathwaite Producer – Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz Vocal producer and arrangement – Alicia Keys Programmed by – Swizz Beatz Recording engineer – Ann Mincieli Written by – Alicia Keys, Kasseem Dean, Norman Harris

Source adapted from Discogs.[18] Sample "We're Getting Stronger" by Loleatta Holloway Sample writers – Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ronald Tyson Recording and mixing Recorded and engineered in New York City at the Oven Studios and Germano Studios Mixed for Two Chord Music Inc. at Oven Studios, New York City.

Charts

On the UK Singles Chart, the song was a success, debuting at #12 already given her a new highest peak since "If I Told You That" (2000),^[19] and her performance on The X Factor was watched by 13.89 million viewers giving her enough exposure to push the song up to a new peak of 5.^[20] It has been in the UK top 40 for 9 weeks as of December 6, 2009. It became Houston's 13th #1 on Billboard's Dance Charts, and also topped the Billboard urban adult contemporary chart; her first #1 single in several years. The song has currently peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming her 32nd top twenty hit on that chart, and making I Look to You her first album since My Love Is Your Love to produce two or more top twenty hits.

Chart positions Chart (2009) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[21] 6 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[22] 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 62 Czech Republic (IFPI)[24] 57 Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[25] 58 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 18 Germany (Media Control AG)[27] Double a-side with, "I Look to You" 41 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 8 Italy (FIMI)[29] 15 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[30] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 22 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 40 UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[33] 5 UK R&B (The Official Charts Company)[34] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[35] 100 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] 16 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[37] 1

End-of-year charts Chart (2009) Position Italian Singles Chart[38] 70 Japanese Singles Chart[39] 97 U.K Singles Chart[40] 90 U.S. Dance Club Play[41] 25 Chart (2010) Position U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[42] 81

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "Release Me" by Agnes

U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs number-one single November 7, 2009

Succeeded by "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States[1]	August 18, 2009 (2009-08-18)	Airplay, Digital download[43]	Arista Records
Germany[44]		Digital download	Sony Music Entertainment
United Kingdom[3]			RCA Records, Arista
Germany[45]	October 2, 2009	Double A-side Single	Sony Music Entertainment
United Kingdom	October 5, 2009 (2009-10-05)[10]	CD Single, iTunes download	RCA Records, Arista
UK & US	November 6, 2009[16]	Album remixes (Digital, EP 1)	RCA / Arista Records
	November 10, 2009[46]	Single remixes (Digital, EP 2)

References

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