Whatchulookinat

Composition

"Whatchulookinat" was produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G and written by Whitney Houston, Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris, Jerry Muhammad.

The song was Houston's response to what she felt was intense and sometimes unfair and inaccurate media criticism at the time. "My following is real strong/ Try so hard to show the whole world what I do/ Now I'm turnin' the cameras back on you/ Same spotlights that once gave me fame/ Tryin' to dirty up Whitney's name," Houston sings. She then laments about people who've been "messing with [her] reputation" and "concentration" and don't "even have no education" on the chorus, singing, "I feel your eyes on me/ You been telling lies on me".

Critical reception

"Whatchulookinat" was panned by the reviews. Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine said, "This song co-produced by Bobby Brown and co-authored by Houston herself - comes across like a poor little rich girl whining. That's just boring.." Rolling Stone said that the song was "creaky and unconvincing." The Guardian wrote that on the song Houston "puts on in a bravura performance" while "sounding feisty". Gerrick Kennedy, author of the book Didn't We Almost Have it All: In Defense of Whitney Houston, called the track a "grossly miscalculated" move as it opened more criticism to her personal life. Vladimir Bogdanov of the book All Music Guide to Soul called out Houston for "playing the victim" and saying the track sounded like "she had something to hide."

Chart performance

The single became a moderate success worldwide, peaking inside the top forty in most countries. The single performed strongly in some international markets; reaching number 3 in Canada, number 6 in both Belgium and Spain, number 7 in Italy and number 13 in the United Kingdom. In the US, it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper. The single debuted and peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her lowest debut since her first chart entry "Hold Me". It is also her lowest-peaking lead single to date.

Music video

The corresponding music video directed by Kevin Bray was also considered as Houston's answer to the media for getting too deep into her personal life. During the introduction, actor/comedian Mike Epps plays an overzealous paparazzi photographers/fan who harasses Whitney as she exits the studio with Faith Evans. The inside of Epps' camera served as the fictional location of the video. The video showed a white set with cameras all over, following Houston's every move. The set was also full with old movie cameras and people dressed as reporters and photographers. Houston is shown dancing in front of them. Future rapper and Migos member Offset appears as a background dancer.

Retrospectives

In February 2017, on the fifth anniversary of her death, Vibe included the song in their list of her "10 Slept-On Songs", writing that despite the initial mixed reviews, the song was "one of the more honest tracks Whitney had put out during her tumultuous years in the spotlight in the early 2000s" and that it served as an "early clapback to the media for what Whitney believed was constant and unfair scrutiny."

Track listings and formats

;US promo CD

1. "Whatchulookinat" (album version) – 3:35
2. "Whatchulookinat" (instrumental) – 3:33

;US vinyl 12"

• A1 "Whatchulookinat" (album version) – 3:35
• A2 "Whatchulookinat" (instrumental) – 3:33
• B1 "Whatchulookinat" (album version) – 3:35
• B2 "Whatchulookinat" (a cappella) – 3:33

;US 2×12" promo (Thunderpuss Remixes)

• A "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Anthem) – 11:53
• B "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 7:42
• C "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Dub) – 8:43
• D1 "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella) – 6:36
• D2 "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Drums) – 5:24

;US 2x12"

• A "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 7:42
• B "Whatchulookinat" (Full Intention Club Mix) – 7:00
• C "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Dub) – 8:43
• D1 "Whatchulookinat" (Full Intention Dub) – 6:51
• D2 "Whatchulookinat" (Full Intention Old School R&B) – 3:33

;European CD single

1. "Whatchulookinat" (radio mix) – 3:35
2. "Whatchulookinat" (P. Diddy Radio Mix) – 4:08

;Europe Maxi-CD

1. "Whatchulookinat" (radio mix) – 3:35
2. "Whatchulookinat" (P. Diddy Radio Mix) – 4:08
3. "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 7:42
4. "Whatchulookinat" (Full Intention Club Mix) –7:02

;UK CD 1

1. "Whatchulookinat" (radio mix) – 3:35
2. "Whatchulookinat" (P. Diddy Radio Mix) – 4:08
3. "Whatchulookinat" (Full Intention Club Mix) – 7:02

;UK CD 2 (special edition)

1. "Whatchulookinat" (radio edit) – 3:35
2. "Love to Infinity Megamix" (Contains "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "So Emotional", "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "I'm Every Woman" and "It's Not Right But It's Okay") – 9:22

Personnel

• Written by Whitney Houston, Andre Lewis, Tammie Harris and Jerry Muhammad
• Produced by Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G
• Mixed by Kevin "KD" Davis at Zac Digital, Atlanta, GA
• Lead vocals by Whitney Houston
• Background vocals by Whitney Houston & Gary Houston
• Vocal arrangement by Whitney Houston

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

References

1. (August 2, 2002). "Going for Adds".
2. Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2
3. (2002). "Billboard Magazine 10 August 2002". Billboard.
4. Shaheem Reid, Curtis Waller. (July 11, 2002). "Whitney Houston 'Back To Goose-Bump Time' On New LP". [[MTV News]].
5. (August 9, 2002). "Music Review: ''Whatchulookinat''".
6. (August 10, 2002). "Billboard Magazine - Reviews & Previews - p.21". [[Nielsen Company.
7. Rolling Stone. "Just Whitney by Whitney Houston".
8. Petridis, Alexis. (22 November 2002). "Whitney Houston: Just Whitney (Arista)". The Guardian.
9. Kennedy, Gerrick. (May 3, 2022). "Didn't We Almost Have it All: In Defense of Whitney Houston". [[Abrams Books]].
10. Bogdanov, Vladimir. (2003). "All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul". [[Backbeat Books]].
11. (October 12, 2002). "Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart listing for the week ending October 12, 2002". [[Billboard (magazine).
12. Bronson, Fred. (August 24, 2002). "Chart Beat: What, Indeed". [[Nielsen Business Media]].
13. Saponara, Michael. (8 March 2024). "Offset Recalls Meeting 'Nice, Sweet Soul' Whitney Houston & Dancing in One of Her Videos".
14. J'Na Jefferson. (February 11, 2017). "The Voice Lives On: 10 Slept-On Songs By Whitney Houston".
15. "Austriancharts.at - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat". Hung Medien.
16. "Ultratop.be - Whitney Houston - Whatchulookinat". Hung Medien.
17. "Whitney Houston ''Billboard'' Singles". [[AllMusic]].
18. (November 16, 2002). "European Hot 100 Singles".
19. "Single Chartverfolgung - Whitney Houston". Musicline.de.
20. (October 19, 2002). "Top National Sellers". Music & Media.
21. "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 2002". [[Dutch Top 40]].
22. (October 19, 2002). "Top National Sellers". Music & Media.
23. (12 July 1997). "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec". [[Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
24. "Romanian Top 100 - arhiva".
25. (October 19, 2002). "Top National Sellers". Music & Media.
26. (August 30, 2002). "R&R CHR/Pop Top 50".
27. (August 30, 2002). "R&R CHR/Rhythmic Top 50".
28. (January 14, 2003). "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". [[Jam!]].
29. (January 18, 2003). "Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2002".
30. (December 28, 2002). "2002 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". [[Nielsen Company.