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"How Will I Know"
Song
B-side"Someone for Me"
"Saving All My Love for You"

"How Will I Know" is a song recorded by American recording artist Whitney Houston for her debut album, entitled Whitney Houston, which was released in February 1985. It was released by Arista Records in November that year, as the album's third single. Composed by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, the song was originally intended for Janet Jackson, but she passed on it. Houston then recorded the song with altered lyrics and production from Narada Michael Walden. An up-tempo dance song, the lyrics speak about the protagonist trying to discern if a boy she likes will ever like her back.

"How Will I Know" received mainly positive reviews. The song became Houston's second number one single on the United States Billboard Hot 100. It spent two weeks atop the chart and also became Houston's first chart topper on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. In other regions, the song was successful, reaching the top 10 in in Sweden, Norway, and United Kingdom and the top 20 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

The song's music video features scenes of Houston dancing in a strikingly designed setting of video screens and colored partitions. The music video gave Houston exposure to the teens and MTV, a feat which the black artists had traditionally found tough to achieve. It also received nominations at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards in the categories of Best Female Video and Best New Artist in a Video, winning the former category. The song has been performed on many of her tours including Greatest Love Tour (1986) and her recent Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–10). "How Will I Know" is also featured as a remix on Houston's compilation album, Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000), whereas the original version is featured on The Ultimate Collection (2007).

Background and recording

Originally, songwriters George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam had written the song's demo for Janet Jackson, employed by A&M Records executive, John McClain.[1] However, after hearing the song, Jackson's management passed on the song, feeling it was too weak in comparison to her other material. In an interview with Fred Bronson, Merrill expressed her feelings after learning of Jackson's decision. "We were pretty upset because we thought it was perfect for her at the time. We had written it with her completely in mind."[1] During this period, Brenda Andrews, at Almo-Irving Music, Merrill and Rubicam's publisher, played the song for Gerry Griffith, the director for R&B music at A&M and Arista Records. Griffith, who was compiling material for Houston's debut at the time, felt the song perfectly matched her sound. He soon contacted Andrews and the song's two writers and implored that they should relinquish the song to him for Houston's debut album.[1] Griffith described his discovery of the song, and what he and Clive Davis thought of it:

"We had a lot of R&B-based tunes, we had a few ballads, but we didn't have a pop crossover song. So when I heard 'How Will I Know,' I said this is absolutely perfect. I played it for Clive [and] he fell in love with it. I wasn't very familiar with her family background, I didn't realize that even at that time there was a pretty big industry buzz about her future."[1]

After getting permission to use the song from Merrill, Griffith quickly turned to Narada Michael Walden, who was producing Aretha Franklin's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", for her album Who's Zoomin' Who?, at the time.[1] After getting in touch with Walden, Griffith frantically implored him to produce the song, describing how important the song would be for Houston's future album. After hearing the song's demo, Walden agreed to fly down to San Rafael, California to arrange it. He was not much impressed with the demo and requested permission to change some of the song's lyrics and chord progression. Flustered by his request, Merrill and Rubicam denied him the right to their song.[1] After countless back-and-forth with Griffith, they compromised and allowed Walden to de-construct the song and change the key and tempo. After completing the song, Houston came into the studio to record her vocals. Originally, Cissy Houston, the singers's mother, was intended to perform the song's background vocals. Houston had wanted to introduce her mother's vocals on the track, insisting on their inclusion.[1] However, after hearing the finished result, Davis felt Houston's voice itself fit the song's arrangement, and implored her to sing the backup section on her own. While reluctant at first, Houston agreed and re-recorded the background vocals to the praise of both Griffith and Davis.[1] Griffith explained:

"I asked Whitney to sing the background session. She was reluctant because she wanted to enjoy hearing her mother sing. I said, 'No, get out there and sing,' so she did. The background sounded incredible...Clive Davis heard the mix and immediately gave it a 10, which is outrageous for him, because he doesn't like anything!"[1]

Composition

"How Will I Know" (1985)
A sample of the song's chorus where Houston sings "How Will I Know, if he really loves me?". It also makes use of drums.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"How Will I Know" is a dance-pop that is composed in an "80's dance beat."[2] Rolling Stone described the song as a "perky synth-funk".[3] According to Kyle Anderson of MTV, the song found Houston hitting an "incredible groove."[4] It is written in the key of G major.[2] The beat is set the time signature of common time and moves at a fast tempo of 120 beats per minute.[2] The song also has the sequence of G-Bm7-C7-D-Em as its chord progression.[2] Houston's vocals in the song span from the note of E♭4 to the high note of G♯5.[2] Lyrically, the song speaks about the protagonist trying to discern if a boy she likes will ever like her back.[5] She is also hesitant, because her friends tell her "love can be deceiving", and she is shy that she cannot phone him.[5] Later, she feels that it might be a dream, but realizes that "there's no mistaking", and what she feels is really love.[5]

Reception

Critical reception

The song mainly garnered positive reviews from critics, with some noting it as a standout on the album.[6] Don Shewey of Rolling Stone commented "Although it's awfully reminiscent of the Pointer Sisters' 'He's So Shy', 'How Will I Know' is still irresistibly danceable."[7] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote "...what really impresses some 20-plus years on are the lighter tracks, particularly the breakthrough single 'How Will I Know'."[6] While listing Houston's top five songs of 1980s, Steve Peake of About.com gave the song a positive review, writing, "Houston's boppy, peppy numbers tend to suffer from a particularly dated sound compared to her ballads, but this song still works remarkably well because of its lush melody throughout the verse, bridge and chorus." "[t]his track helps Houston prove that she knows how to interpret, with great skill, tunes that display solid craftsmanship," he added.[8] While reviewing the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of the album, Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly commented on the A capella version of the song noting, "a cappella mix of 'How Will I Know' [that] displays the singer's precision long before the advent of Auto-Tune."[9] While reviewing The Ultimate Collection, Nick Levine of Digital Spy added, "Houston's floor-fillers have aged a little more gracefully, although their clunky, thudding drum sounds are as unmistakably eighties as Joan Collins' Dynasty wardrobe.... 'How Will I Know' is so steeped in melody that its verse."[10] The song was voted number twelve in VH1's List of Greatest Songs of the 1980s.[11][12]

Chart performance

"How Will I Know" was released by Arista Records in November 1985 as the third single from Houston's self-titled debut. It debuted at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100, on the December 7, 1985 issue.[13] Nine weeks later, it peaked at number one on the issue dated February 15, 1986, becoming Houston's second number one single in the US.[1] It displaced Dionne Warwick's "That's What Friends Are For", and was displaced by "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister.[1] It stayed on the peak for two weeks.[1] The song also debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs at number 60 and later peaked at number one, a peak it maintained for one week.[13] On the issue dated January 25, 1986, "How Will I Know" entered the Hot Dance Club Play charts at number 30 and later peaked at number three on the February 22, 1986 issue.[13] It also peaked at number one on the Adult Contemporary charts.[13] Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single Gold on December 6, 1995, for shipments of 500,000 copies or more.[14] It ranked number six on the Billboard Year-End charts. In Canada, the song debuted at number 80 on the RPM Singles chart on the issue dated December 14, 1985.[15] It later peaked at number one on the week dated March 1, 1986, becoming Houston's first number one single in Canada.[16] It was later certified Gold by Canadian Recording Industry Association on May 1, 1986, for shipments of 200,000 copies or more.[17]

The song performed well in other countries. In United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 36, on the week dated January 25, 1986, and later peaked at a position of number five.[18] It was also certified Silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[19] According to MTV UK and Ireland, the single has sold about 280,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[20] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 35 on the Singles chart and later peaked at number 19.[21] In Austria, the song reached a peak position of number 28,[21] while reaching a peak of number 12 in the Netherlands.[21] The song also reached number two in Norway and Sweden, while charting at number 11 in Switzerland.[21] According to Allmusic, "How Will I Know" has sold about one million copies worldwide.[22]

Music video

The music video for "How Will I Know", directed by Brian Grant,[23] was filmed prior to the release of the single and album.[24] Unlike her previous music videos, Houston was given the opportunity to move beyond the staged performance settings to demonstrate elementary dance moves.[24] The video is set against a strikingly designed, vividly colored setting of video screens and partitions.[24] Houston's hair is dyed a honey color, and is held up by a dazzling colored bow.[24] She is also seen accented by a tight, sleeveless gray dress made of metal mesh, reaching almost to her knees, accessorized with matching arm-bracelets.[24][25] Houston is also seen interacting with animated dancers, in black outfits and wearing French-style makeup.[25] The video also has a scene of splattering of paint and it's dripping down the screen.[25] Houston's godmother and her family's close friend, Aretha Franklin, also makes a cameo on the music video.[25] In 2011, Kyle Anderson of MTV wrote that the video was "eye-opening to watch her cut loose in a fun environment," since her previous songs were ballads.[4]

The music video received heavy rotation in music channels like MTV[26] and gave Houston exposure to a wider audience, something which the African-Americans had found difficult to achieve.[27] Also, the video was nominated for two awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, in the categories of Best New Artist in a Video and Best Female Video, winning the latter.[28]

Live performances

Houston performing on her "Nothing but Love World Tour", in Milan, Italy.

Houston performed the song throughout the entire run of her Greatest Love Tour (1986), Moment of Truth World Tour (1987–1988), Feels So Right Japan Tour (1990), I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour (1991), The Bodyguard World Tour (1993–1994), and My Love Is Your Love World Tour (1999). She also recently performed the song on her Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–2010). Apart from the concert tour performances, Houston has performed the song on various other occasions like the Third MTV Video Music Awards (1986), where she sang "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All",[28][29][30] Thirteenth Annual American Music Awards (1986),[31] and 1987 BRIT Awards.[32] On May 15, 1987, during her European promotion for then-new album, Whitney, Houston sang the song at the Montreux Golden Rose Rock Festival: IM&MC Gala with two other songs, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go."[33] She appeared on The Mike Douglas Show, taped in Philadelphia, and performed "How Will I Know".[34] On her Moment of Truth World Tour, she participated in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert and performed the song with other seven songs. She also performed the song on "Welcome Home Heroes", a concert dedicated to the US troops, their families, and military and government dignitaries in honor of those returning from the Gulf War, which aired on HBO on March 31, 1991.[35][36] The concert was taped and later released as a VHS on May 14, 1991.[35] She also performed the song on The Concert for a New South Africa, three concerts to honor President Nelson Mandela, in 1994. Houston later performed the song on the closing ceremonies of the 1994 World Cup along with five of her other songs.[37] In 2000, she performed the song on Arista's 25th Anniversay, along with "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[38]

Cover versions

The song has been covered by various other artists. Martika and Renee Sands covered the song for Kids Incorporated, in 1986.[39] Hit the Lights covered the song for the extended iTunes release of their 2008 album, Skip School Start Fights.[40] New Zealand Idol contestant Camillia Temple, covered the song for the "top three" night of the show's first season.[41] It was later covered by The X Factor contestant Lucie Jones in October 2009 for the show's sixth season.[42] Apart from the covers, the first stanza of the song was sampled in LMC vs. U2's dance song, "Take Me to the Clouds Above".[43]

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Charts and certifications

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by Canadian RPM Singles Chart number-one single
March 1, 1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
February 15, 1986 – February 22, 1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Black Singles number-one single
March 8, 1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks number-one single
February 15, 1986 		Succeeded by

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bronson 2003, p. 628
  2. ^ a b c d e "Whitney Houston – How Will I Know Sheet music (Digital Download)". Music Notes. Alfred Music Publishing. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ "500 Greates Albums: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  4. ^ a b "Whitney Houston Knows Hot To Get To Number One: Wake-Up Video". MTV Newsroom. MTV Networks (Viacom). 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2011-02-16. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Whitney Houston (Media notes). United States: Arista. 1985. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |publisherid=, |coauthors=, and |notestitle= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ Shewey, Don. "Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  8. ^ Peake, Steve. "'80s Whitney Houston Songs". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  9. ^ Wood, Mikael (2010-01-20). "Whitney Houston: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  10. ^ Levine, Nick. "Whitney Houston: 'The Ultimate Collection'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 2010-10-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  11. ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's". Rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  12. ^ "100 Greatest Songs of The '80s". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
  13. ^ a b c d "Whitney Houston Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  14. ^ a b "RIAA Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  15. ^ "RPM Archives". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  16. ^ a b "RPM Archives". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  17. ^ a b "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  18. ^ "Chart Stats – Whitney Houston – How Will I Know". Chartstats.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  19. ^ a b "BPI Searchable Database". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  20. ^ "Whitney Houston > Official Top 20". MTV UK. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ a b c d "Whitney Houston > How Will I Know". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ Hogan, Ed. "How Will I Know". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ "Whitney Video Countdown – Part 4". WhitneyHouston.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  24. ^ a b c d e Bowman 1995, p. 106
  25. ^ a b c d Whitney Houston (2000-05-16). Greatest Hits. Sony Music Entertainment. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  26. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American women. Gale. p. 305. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite book}}: More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  27. ^ Corlis, Richard; Bland, Elizabeth L.; Dutka, Elaine (1987-07-13). "Show Business: The Prom Queen of Soul". TIME. Time Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  28. ^ a b "MTV Video Music Awards". MTV. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1986 (TV 1986)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  30. ^ Hunt, Dennis (1986-09-08). "MTV'S Awards Show Hits Casual Note". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  31. ^ "Whitney Houston's Historic AMA Wins and Performances". Reanrnbradio.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  32. ^ "The BRITs 1987". Brit Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ Eur (2002). International who's who in popular music. Routledge. p. 656.
  34. ^ Parish, p. 10
  35. ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Live in Concert". Yahoo Movies. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  36. ^ "Whitney Houston welcomes Home US Troops in Live HBO TV Special on Easter". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  37. ^ Rosen, Craig. "World Cup scores major Musical acts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  38. ^ "'25 Years of #1 Hits: Arista Records' Anniversary Celebration' Set To Air As NBC-TV Special on May 15th". PR Newswire. United Business Media. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  39. ^ "Kids Incorporated". Kidscorporated.us. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  40. ^ "Skip School, Start Fights by Hit the Lights". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  41. ^ "Camillia's NZ Idol dream ends". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. 2004-05-03. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  42. ^ "X Factor: Lucie Jones sings How Will I Know". Unrealityshout.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  43. ^ "LMC vs U2 – Take Me to the Clouds Above". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  44. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ "Whitney Houston – How Will I Know" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  48. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  49. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
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  51. ^ "Whitney Houston – How Will I Know". VG-lista. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
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  53. ^ "Whitney Houston – How Will I Know". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  54. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
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  57. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  58. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  59. ^ "Whitney Houston – How Will I Know" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  60. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/song/whitney-houston/greatest-love-of-all/1211277
  61. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 40. ISBN 951-1-21053-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  62. ^ "Year-end Charts – Top Black Singles of 1986". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  63. ^ "Year-end Charts – Top Dance/Club-Play Singles of 1986". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  64. ^ "Year-end Charts – Top Pop Singles of 1986". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.

Bibliography

  • Parish, James Robert (2003), Whitney Houston: The Unauthorized Biography, Aurum Press, ISBN 185410919 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  • Bowman, Jeffery (1995), Diva: The Totally Unauthorized Biography of Whitney Houston, Harper Collins Publishers, ISBN 0061008532
  • Bronson, Fred (2003), The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, Billboard Books, ISBN 0823076776
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