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Million Dollar Bill

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For other uses, seeMillion dollar bill (disambiguation).

"Million Dollar Bill"
SinglebyWhitney Houston
from the albumI Look to You
A-side"I Look to You"
ReleasedAugust 18, 2009(2009-08-18)[1]
Genre
Length3:23
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Alicia Keys
Whitney Houstonsingles chronology
"I Look to You"
(2009) 		"Million Dollar Bill"
(2009) 		"Celebrate"
(2012)
Music video
"Million Dollar Bill"onYouTube

"Million Dollar Bill"is a song performed by American recording artistWhitney Houstonfrom her seventh and final studio album,I Look to You(2009). The song was written byAlicia Keys,her husbandKaseem "Swizz Beatz" DeanandNorman Harris,and produced by Keys and Beatz. It was released as the official worldwide lead (second in the US) single from the album on August 18, 2009, throughArista Recordsin the US[1]and August 24, 2009, throughRCA Recordsin the UK.[2]It is Houston's final single from a studio album, and the last song released in her lifetime before her death in 2012. The song samples R&B singerLoleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger", co-written by Harris.

Background

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"Million Dollar Bill" was written by singer-songwriterAlicia KeysandSwizz Beatzand samples R&B singerLoleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger" from Holloway's 1977 'Loleatta' LP. Houston said toMTV News:

“When [Keys] performed at one of [Clive's] parties the year before last, I kind of looked at her, and it was when she had [the 'No One'] record out, and it was the only record that came on the radio that inspired me... “I walked over to her, and off the cuff said, ‘Hey, do you think you could produce me?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I think I can’. Then I performed a year after, and she came up with the song 'Million Dollar Bill,' and I said, 'Wow, incredible'", Houston explained.[3]

The song was produced by Keys with hip-hop producer and husband Swizz Beatz producing an old schoolR&Bbeat. Beatz told MTV News that the process on the song started when he got a call fromClive Davisand record executive Larry Jackson.[4][5]

The song received praise at the album's listening parties and was cited as a "big comeback record". Houston performed the song live onThe X Factorin the UK on Sunday, October 18 the night before the album was released in that territory.[citation needed]

Composition

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Whitney Houston "Million Dollar Bill" (2009)
21 second sample from Whitney Houston's "Million Dollar Bill". The song is an old school disco song with production from Swizz Beatz. The lyrics talk about love.
Problems playing this file? Seemedia help.

Million Dollar Bill has an uptempo "pop dance groove" with strong disco influences.[6][better source needed]The song lasts for three minutes and twenty four seconds.[7]Written in the key ofB Minor,the song's beat is set incommon timeand moves at a tempo of 120beats per minute.[6]Houston's voice spans A3to the note of B4.[6]The song also features a sample ofLoleatta Holloway's 1977 song "We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)".[7]

Critical reception

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From the New York listening party,Rolling Stonesaid the song "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]Dean Piper of theDaily Mirrorconsidered it a "summer track" reminiscent ofJanet Jackson's "The Best Things in Life Are Free."[9]

Nick Levine ofDigital Spysaid the song is a "midtempo disco track with an unabashedly feelgood message" and a "classy, dignified and thoroughly likeable comeback effort", while Houston's voice "is deeper and raspier than you might remember, but she's still capable of going for a money note".[10]Bill Lamb ofAbout.comrated the song 3.5 stars out of five in a mixed review, saying that "the performance is undeniably the Whitney Houston we all know" and Keys "has written a song that fits very well with her tradition of 'old soul' songs", but with the "very old school R&B" approach from Beatz it is "all almost too familiar" and "Houston failed to give it a new twist that would successfully make the old stunningly new again."[11]Gail Mitchell ofBillboardwrote: "this club jam practically screams remix. Produced by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, it's accented by a catchy hook on which Houston emphatically notes," If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill, say it. "[7]

Chart performance

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The success of "Million Dollar Bill" in the United States was described as "modest".[12] The song entered theBillboardHot 100at number 100 on the issue date September 19, 2009, dropping out of the chart the following week.[13] The single marked Houston's lowest peak on the chart in her career.[14] It fared better on theR&B/Hip-Hop Songschart. "Million Dollar Bill" spent 30 weeks there, peaking at number 16 on the issue date December 19, 2009.[15] This was Houston's longest run on the chart since her 1999 single "It's Not Right but It's Okay".It was also Houston's highest peak since"Same Script, Different Cast",which was released in 2000.[16] The song topped theAdult R&B Songschart for two weeks on December 19, 2009, and December 26, 2009.[17][18]The song appeared at the year-end lists of both the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Adult R&B Songs lists at numbers 81 and 20 respectively.[19]It lasted 12 weeks on theDance/Club Play Songschart, topping the chart on November 7, 2009. It brought her total of number-ones on the chart to 13. It is also her longest run and her highest peak on the chart since 2003's "Love That Man".[20]In addition to the US, "Million Dollar Bill" also spent five weeks on theBillboardCanadian Hot 100,peaking at 62 on September 19, 2009.[21]

"Million Dollar Bill" first appeared on theUK Singles Chart,in the week of October 17, 2009, placing at number 12. The Freemasons remix was promoted.[22] Going into its third week on October 31, 2009, the song reached number 5 in the same week it peaked at number 2 on the R&B chart.[23] This made the single Houston's highest position on the chart in over ten years ( "My Love Is Your Love",number-two, July 3, 1999).[24] It remained on the chart for 14 consecutive weeks. On January 23, 2010, it re-entered the chart at #95, then dropped out the next week.[25] This 15-week chart run was Houston's longest run since 1999's "It's Not Right but It's Okay", also 15 weeks.[26] The song re-entered on the week of February 25, 2012, following Houston's death. It charted at number 62.[25] "Million Dollar Bill" entered theUK Top 40 R&B Singleschart at number-seven on October 17, 2009.[27] It went on to last 20 weeks, its last entry dated February 27, 2010 (number 32).[28]

The single charted in other European countries. "Million Dollar Bill" entered theIrish Singles Charton October 8, 2009, at number 45.[29] After four weeks on the chart, it peaked at number-eight.[30] It spent ten weeks on the Irish charts.[31] Released as adouble A-sidein Germany with "I Look to You",[32] It spent eight weeks ontheir singles chart(October 19 – December 13, 2009). It peaked at 41. It's her longest run in Germany since 1999's "I Learned from the Best"and her highest position since 1993's"I Have Nothing".[33] It also spent five weeks on the DutchSingle Top 100,peaking on September 12, 2009, at number 58. It's her longest run in the Netherlands since 2003's "One of Those Days"and her highest position since 2002's"Whatchulookinat".[34] "Million Dollar Bill" debuted on theSwiss Singles Top 75at number 40 and remained in the chart for two weeks after (September 13–27, 2009).[35] In Sweden, it entered theSingles Top 60at number 22. It steadily fell for the next four weeks. It was Houston's highest position there since 2000's "Could I Have This Kiss Forever".[36] The single placed on Belgium's charts as well. It lasted onUltratip Flandersfor five weeks, peaking at number-six; additionally, it lasted onUltratip Walloniafor seven weeks, peaking at number-three.[37][38] "Million Dollar Bill" lasted one week and two weeks inFinland(peaked at number 18) andItaly(peaked at number 15) respectively.[39][40]

The track also made appearances on "end-of-year" charts as well. In the United Kingdom, the song finished 2009 on the year-end singles chart at number 90.[41] In America, "Million Dollar Bill" placed in two charts from two different years. It landed at number 25 for theDance/Club Play Songsin 2009.[42] A year later, it placed at 81 for theR&B/Hip-Hop Songschart.[43]

Music video

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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 byMelina Matsoukas(who directed the music video for Houston's previous song "I Look to You"), known for working with artists such asKylie Minogue,Beyoncé,Lady GagaandCiara.[44]It premiered onHouston's official website on September 16, 2009.[45]

The video featured 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, Houston is seen in several different outfits, including a metallic dress and knee high boots, and, as the video progresses, a pink dress and a full-length silver dress. The video concludes as Houston is walking away in the silver dress, with dollar bills blowing around.

Track listings and formats

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Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Platinum 600,000‡
United States — 300,000[67]

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s)
United States[1] August 18, 2009(2009-08-18) Airplay,digital download[68] Arista Records
Germany[69] Digital download Sony Music Entertainment
United Kingdom[2] RCA Records,Arista
Germany[70] 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[49] Album remixes(Digital,EP1) RCA / Arista Records
November 10, 2009[71] Single remixes(Digital, EP 2)

Beyond Chicago x Majestic x Alex Mills version

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"Million Dollar Bill"
Singleby Beyond Chicago x Majestic x Alex Mills
ReleasedJune 2023(2023-06)
GenreDance
Length2:56
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Beyond Chicago
  • Majestic

In June 2023, British producers Beyond Chicago, producer Majestic and singer Alex Mills released a dance cover version of "Million Dollar Bill". The song peaked at 67 in theUK singles chart.[72]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^abc"Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!".FMQB. Archived fromthe originalon August 28, 2009.RetrievedAugust 17,2009.
  2. ^ab"Million Dollar Bill: Whitney Houston: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads".Amazon.co.uk.RetrievedAugust 17,2009.
  3. ^"WHITNEY HOUSTON TALKS HOOKING UP WITH AKON, ALICIA KEYS".MTV.July 27, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2014.RetrievedAugust 9,2018.
  4. ^"SWIZZ BEATZ 'SO EXCITED' TO WORK WITH WHITNEY HOUSTON, ALICIA KEYS".MTV.July 22, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2014.RetrievedAugust 9,2018.
  5. ^"WHITNEY HOUSTON DEBUTS I LOOK TO YOU AT NYC LISTENING PARTY".MTV.July 21, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2014.RetrievedAugust 9,2018.
  6. ^abc"Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill Sheet Music (Digital Download)".Musicnotes.com.Alfred Music Publishing.May 24, 2010.RetrievedOctober 8,2010.
  7. ^abcMitchell, Gail (August 24, 2009)."Whitney Houston's 'I Look To You': First Listen".Billboard.RetrievedAugust 10,2018.
  8. ^"Whitney Houston Returns: Diva Debuts" I Look to You "in New York".Rollingstone Magazine.March 7, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2009.
  9. ^Piper, Dean (July 19, 2009)."My preview of the new Whitney Houston album".Daily Mirror.Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2009.RetrievedAugust 10,2018.
  10. ^ab"Music - The Sound - So, this new Whitney Houston single..."Digital Spy.August 17, 2009.RetrievedAugust 17,2009.
  11. ^"Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill - Review - About.com".Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2011.RetrievedOctober 8,2010.
  12. ^Jones, Steve; Gundersen, Edna; della Cava, Marco; Gardner, Elysa (February 11, 2012)."Whitney Houston, musical superstar, dies".USA Today.Gannett Company.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2012.RetrievedMarch 24,2012.
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  72. ^"Million Dollar Bill by Beyond Chicago/Majestic Mills/Alex Mills".Official Charts.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
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