How Will I Know

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"How Will I Know"
A woman is sitting, with a smile on her face. She is looking forward and her head is resting on her left arm. She is wearing bracelets on her right wrist. Next to her the word "Whitney" is written in medium purple capital letters. The words "How Will I Know" are written near her head.
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Whitney Houston
B-side
ReleasedNovember 22, 1985 (1985-11-22)
Genre
Length4:30
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"Thinking About You"
(1985)
"How Will I Know"
(1985)
"Greatest Love of All"
(1986)
Music video
"How Will I Know" on YouTube

"How Will I Know" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her self-titled debut studio album. The song was released on November 22, 1985, by Arista Records as the album's third single. Originally written and composed by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, the song was originally intended for R&B singer Janet Jackson, but she passed on it. Houston then recorded the song with altered lyrics and production from Narada Michael Walden. The lyrics speak about the protagonist trying to discern if a boy she likes will ever like her back.

"How Will I Know" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. It became Houston's second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1986, spending two weeks atop the chart and also became her first chart topper on the Canadian RPM Top 100 Singles chart. It also reached top 10 positions in Australia, Sweden, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, and top 20 positions in the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.

The accompanying music video for "How Will I Know" features scenes of Houston dancing in a setting of video screens and colored partitions. The music video gave Houston exposure to the teenagers and MTV. It received two nominations at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards; Best Female Video and Best New Artist, winning the former category. The song was performed on many of her tours including Greatest Love Tour (1986) and her 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 single version is featured on The Ultimate Collection (2007) and I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston (2012).

Background and recording[edit]

Initially, songwriters George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam had written the song's demo in 1984 for R&B singer 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 his 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 album at the time, felt the song perfectly matched her sound. He soon contacted Andrews and the song's two writers and prompted that they should give up 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 for Aretha Franklin, material for her album Who's Zoomin' Who?, at the time.[1] After getting in touch with Walden, Griffith frantically prompted him to produce the song, describing how important the song would be for Houston's upcoming 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. Distracted by his request, Merrill and Rubicam denied him the right to their song.[1] After a lot of 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 in late 1984. Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother, joined her daughter to perform the song's background vocals. Griffith stated:

"I asked Whitney to sing on 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]

The tenor saxophone is played by Premik Russell Tubbs.[2]

Composition[edit]

"How Will I Know" is a synth-funk[3] and dance-pop[4][5] song composed in a 1980s dance beat.[6] According to Kyle Anderson of MTV, the song found Houston hitting an "incredible groove".[7] It is written in the key of G flat major.[6] The beat is set the time signature of common time and moves at a fast tempo of 120 beats per minute.[6] The song also has the sequence of G-Bm7-G/C-D-Em-D as its chord progression.[6] Houston's vocals in the song span from the note of D4 to the high note of G5.[6] Lyrically, the song speaks about the lead woman trying to discern whether a man she likes will ever like her back.[8] She is also hesitant, because her friends tell her "love can be deceiving", and she is so shy that she cannot call him.[8] Later, she feels that it might be a dream, but realizes that "there's no mistaking", and that what she feels is really love.[8]

Critical reception[edit]

"How Will I Know" mainly garnered positive reviews from music critics, with some noting it as a standout on the album.[9] 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."[10] 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'."[9] While reviewing the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of the album, Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly commented on the a cappella 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."[11] 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."[12] Dave Rimmer of Smash Hits considered that "this dreary bit of disco isn't anywhere near as good" as "Saving All My Love for You", adding that it "sounds positively snoozeworthy, in fact".[13] The song was voted number 12 in VH1's List of Greatest Songs of the 1980s.[14][15]

Commercial performance[edit]

"How Will I Know" debuted at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100, on the December 7, 1985, issue.[16] Nine weeks later, it peaked at number one on the issue dated February 15, 1986, becoming Houston's second number-one single on that chart.[1] It displaced Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick's "That's What Friends Are For", and was displaced by Mr. Mister's "Kyrie".[1] It stayed on the peak for two weeks.[1] The single also debuted on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart at number 60 and later peaked at number one, a peak it maintained for one week.[16] On the issue dated January 25, 1986, "How Will I Know" entered the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart at number 30 and later peaked at number three on the February 22, 1986, issue.[16] It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[16] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single Gold on December 6, 1985, for shipments of 500,000 copies or more, and later Double Platinum, for an equivalent sales of 2,000,000 units.[17] It ranked at number six on the Billboard year-end chart. In Canada, the single debuted at number 80 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart on the issue dated December 14, 1985.[18] It later peaked at number one on the week dated March 1, 1986, becoming Houston's first number-one single in Canada.[19] It was later certified Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) on May 1, 1986, for shipments of 200,000 copies or more.[20]

The single performed well in other countries. In United Kingdom, it debuted at number 36, during the week of January 25, 1986, and later peaked at a position of number five.[21] It was also certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[22] According to MTV UK and Ireland, the single has sold about 280,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[23] In New Zealand, the single debuted at number 35 and later peaked at number 19.[24] In Austria, the single reached a peak position of number 28,[24] while reaching a peak of number 12 in the Netherlands.[24] It also reached number two in Norway and Sweden, while charting at number 11 in Switzerland.[24] According to AllMusic, "How Will I Know" has sold about 1.5 million copies worldwide.[25]

In Australia, "How Will I Know" was released as the first single from the album in March 1985.[26] It spent a single week in the Kent Music Report chart at number 97 in July 1985,[27] before re-entering the chart in February 1986, eventually peaking at number two.[28]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for "How Will I Know", directed by British director Brian Grant and choreographed by Arlene Phillips,[29] was filmed before the release of the single and album.[30] Unlike her past music videos, Houston was given the opportunity to move beyond the staged performance settings to demonstrate straightforward dance moves.[30] The music video is set against a strikingly designed, vividly colored setting of video screens and partitions.[30] Houston's hair is dyed honey blonde and is worn by a dazzling colored hairbow.[30] She is also seen underlined by a form-fitting silver dress made of metal mesh, reaching almost to her knees, adorned with matching fingerless gloves.[30][31] Houston is also seen reaching out with backup dancers, in black outfits and wearing French-style makeup.[31] The music video also has a scene of splattering of paint and drizzling down the screen.[31] Houston's labelmate and family friend Aretha Franklin also makes a black-and-white cameo appearance in the otherwise colorful music video.[31] In 2011, Kyle Anderson of MTV wrote that the video was "eye-opening to watch her cut loose in a fun environment", since her past songs were ballads.[7]

The music video was her first to receive heavy rotation on MTV.[32][33] Also, the music video was nominated for two awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Video, winning the latter.[34]

Live performances[edit]

Houston performing on her Nothing but Love World Tour during a Milan show

Houston performed the song on her Greatest Love Tour (1986), Moment of Truth World Tour (1987–88), Feels So Right Japan Tour (1990), I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour (1991), The Bodyguard World Tour (1993–1994), My Love Is Your Love World Tour (1999) and Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–2010). Apart from the concert tour performances, Houston has performed the song on many other occasions like the third annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1986, where she sang "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All",[34][35][36] 13th annual American Music Awards (1986),[37] and 1987 BRIT Awards.[38] The latter performance is included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.[39] 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 1986 released songs, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go".[40] On April 29, 1985, she appeared on The Merv Griffin Show, taped in New York City, and performed "How Will I Know".[41][42] 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 U.S. 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.[43][44] The concert was taped and later released as a VHS on May 14, 1991.[43] She also performed the song on The Concert for a New South Africa, three concerts in 1994 to honor President Nelson Mandela. Houston later performed the song on the closing ceremonies of the 1994 World Cup along with five of her other songs.[45] In 2000, she performed the song on Arista's 25th Anniversary, along with "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[46]

Formats and track listings[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[85] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[86] Gold 45,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[87]
Digital single
Platinum 600,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[88]
Physical single
Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[17] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Sam Smith version[edit]

British singer Sam Smith released a cover of "How Will I Know" in June 2014, taking a slower tempo[89] and a snippet of that version was used in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.[90] It was later included on Smith's 2015 In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition), a re-release of their debut album.[91]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "How Will I Know"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[92] Gold 35,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[93] Gold 45,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[94] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[95] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

David Guetta, MistaJam and John Newman version[edit]

"If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)"
Single by David Guetta, MistaJam and John Newman
ReleasedJuly 2, 2021 (2021-07-02)[96][97]
Length3:04
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
  • George Merrill
  • Shannon Rubicam
  • Narada Michael Walden
  • David Guetta
  • Franklin
  • John Newman
  • Peter Dalton
  • Ollie Green[98]
Producer(s)
David Guetta singles chronology
"Remember"
(2021)
"If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)"
(2021)
"Get Together"
(2021)
MistaJam singles chronology
"Make You Better"
(2021)
"If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)"
(2021)
"The Recipe"
(2021)
John Newman singles chronology
"High on You"
(2020)
"If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)"
(2021)
"Waiting For a Lifetime"
(2022)
Music video
"(If You Really Love Me) How Will I Know" on YouTube

In 2021, French DJ and producer David Guetta teamed up with British DJ and producer MistaJam and singer John Newman to release a dance track based on an interpolation of "How Will I Know".[100] Now called "If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)", the song charted in the UK, reaching No. 66 in the Top 75 (for the week ending August 5, 2021) after amassing a sales total of 7,018 units.[101][102] The song became the fourth entry on that week's chart for Guetta (though the only single out of the four chart hits where he took lead artist credit) and the first chart credit for Newman since "Give Me Your Love" with Sigala and Nile Rodgers in 2016.

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (2021–2022) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[103] 20
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[104] 13
Hungary (Single Top 40)[105] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[106] 30
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[107] 33
UK Singles (OCC)[108] 27
UK Dance (OCC)[109] 8
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[110] 19

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2021) Position
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[111] 89
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[112] 86

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[113] Gold 400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Whitney × Clean Bandit version[edit]

"How Will I Know (Whitney × Clean Bandit)"
Single by Whitney Houston and Clean Bandit
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)[114]
Length3:33
Songwriter(s)
  • George Merrill
  • Shannon Rubicam
  • Narada Michael Walden
Producer(s)
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"Higher Love"
(2019)
"How Will I Know (Whitney × Clean Bandit)"
(2021)
"He Can Use Me"
(2023)
Clean Bandit singles chronology
"Drive"
(2021)
"How Will I Know (Whitney × Clean Bandit)"
(2021)
"Everything but You"
(2022)
Music video
"How Will I Know (Whitney Houston × Clean Bandit)" on YouTube

In September 2021, British electronic music group Clean Bandit released a remix of the track.[115]

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "How Will I Know"
Chart (2021–2022) Peak
position
Canada AC (Billboard)[116] 12
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[117] 48
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[118] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[119] 26
South Africa Radio (RISA)[120] 55
UK Singles (OCC)[121] 92
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[122] 23

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[123] Gold 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[124] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other covers and samples[edit]

In January 2004, British dance group LMC and Irish rock band U2 released the song "Take Me to the Clouds Above", which interpolates the first four lines of "How Will I Know".[125]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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Bibliography[edit]