Whitney Houston, “How Will I Know” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 48^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 48^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “How Will I Know”, performed by 🎙 Whitney Houston. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“There’s a boy I know, he’s the one I dream of /… When I wake from dreaming, tell me, is it really love?” ‘Boy, oh, boy’ did 🎙 Janet Jackson pass up an awesome record! No problem as Jackson has a slew of no. 1 hits and another icon, 🎙 Whitney Houston, would earn her own no. 1 with 🎵 “How Will I Know”.  “How Will I Know,” written by 🎼 ✍ George Merrill, 🎼 ✍ Shannon Rubicam, and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Narada Michael Walden (who also produces) is the quintessential 1980s record.  It successfully straddles pop and R&B, a place where Houston would often find tremendous success.  That said, her crossover appeal was also an identity crisis, sadly.

“Said there’s no mistakin’

What I feel is really love
Ooh, tell me

How will I know?”

This innocent record appears as the sixth track on Houston’s 1985 debut album,💿Whitney Houston.  There is plenty of gloriousness to experience as “How Will I Know” runs four-and-a-half minutes in duration.  It commences with an electrifying groove – you can’t resist getting on the dancefloor, even if you can’t dance worth sugar honey iced tea! Bright and exuberant, this major key joint never grows old, even as it’s pushing 40 years of age! The chorus is incredibly memorable, including Whitney’s own background vocals:

“How will I know if he really loves me?

I say a prayer with every heartbeat

I fall in love whenever we meet

I’m asking you what you know about these things

How will I know if he’s thinking of me?

I try to phone, but I’m too shy (Can’t speak)

Falling in love is so bittersweet

This love is strong, why do I feel weak?”

Whitney Houston sings like an angel, owning this hella memorable gem from the start. Also, like so many of the 80s songs, “How Will I Know” gives us a modulation – aka a key change.  Yeah, that’s not done enough these days! Two more things.  Number one, what about that music video 🎶📼 – #ICONIC!!! Furthermore, shout out 🎙 Sam Smith for covering the Houston classic on the expanded edition of their debut album, In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition) (2015).

Final Thoughts 💭

What more is there to be said? 🎙 Whitney Houston #slayed on 🎵 “How Will I Know”, beginning and cementing one of the greatest, most successful music careers of all time. Sure, this song was intended for Janet Jackson, but we all know it landed in the right hands.

🎙 Whitney Houston • 💿 Whitney Houston • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1985

Whitney Houston, “How Will I Know”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 48 (2022) [📷: Arista, Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]