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So how does Whitney fare in the bootylicious age of Beyonce?
I Look to You is every inch the prodigal bad daughter makes good. It's carefully crafted to pull all the right strings. From the fetching album cover portrait* of Whitney in an off- the-shoulder white dress that echoes the cover of her Whitney Houston debut (1985) and the polished mix of pop kissed with gospel overtones to VIP cameos for the singer producer of the moment, Akon. Their duet "Like I Never Left" reveals the true invocation of her 'comeback': "I want you to love me, like I never left".
Though things start off well with the Alicia Keys produced "Million Dollar Bill", followed by the catchy "Nothing But Love", you'll soon wonder just how much her husky voice has been processed. Maybe you'll fidget with your earphones, or turn the volume up. Not to worry she does get stronger. But it's still not 'The Voice' you remember. That voice could leave a heap of pop tarts gasping to hit the high notes. That voice could take on Beyonce.
"Nothing But Love" wipes the slate clean with lyrical admissions like "I ain't blaming nobody if I ain't got my stuff worked out". "Salute" with its lilting reggae feel, great background piano solo and comeback confessional "I'm a soldier girl, in my world, I took the fall, now I stand tall, I made it though" is also bad girl gone good.
Elsewhere soulful prayers like the title track's "Heaven hear me now, I’m lost without a home..." and higher powered ballad "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" remind us that The Preacher’s Wife (1996) is still the highest grossing gospel album to date and that Whitney's God-love ballads sell big time. But you'll also find a glimmer of the old romantic Whitney in, "Call You tonight", "Worth It" and "For the Lovers" which are all, in true Whitney style, about restrained sexiness.
So how does Whitney fare in the bootylicious age of Beyonce? Well, the album lacks the sass of her previous work. It's dignified, and yes, she's definitely back, but true fans will wonder: where's the bang?
*Urgh…Hate the album cover. Doesn't she look like a Dynasty wax figure? What happened to that legendary sense of style and cheeky youthfulness?
*My favourite Whitney albums are The Bodyguard (1992) and My Love Is Your Love (1998).
What's your favourite Whitney album?
