"Million Dollar Bill" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston from her seventh and final studio album, I Look to You (2009). The song was written by Alicia Keys, her husband Kaseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and Norman Harris. It was produced by Keys and Beatz. The song was released as the official worldwide lead (second in the US) single from the album on August 18, 2009, through Arista Records in the US and August 24, 2009, through RCA Records in the UK. It is Houston's final single from a studio album and the last single released in her lifetime before her death in 2012. The song uses a part of R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's song "We're Getting Stronger," which was written by Norman Harris.
When it was released, the song had some success in the United States, becoming Houston's second entry from I Look to You on the Billboard Hot 100 and her last entry before her death. It reached the top 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and topped the Hot Dance Club Songs and Adult R&B Songs charts. In Europe, the song helped Houston return to popularity, reaching number five in the United Kingdom and number eight in Ireland. It also appeared on charts in ten other European countries and reached the top 20 of the Eurochart Hot 100. Many people believe it is one of Houston's best songs from her later years, as noted in multiple lists and compilations.
Background and composition
The song "Million Dollar Bill" was written by singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. It uses a part of R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's 1977 song "We're Getting Stronger" from her album Loleatta. Houston told MTV News:
The song was produced by Keys, with Swizz Beatz, a hip-hop producer and her husband, creating an old school R&B beat. Beatz said the process began when he received a call from Clive Davis and record executive Larry Jackson.
The song was praised during listening parties for her album I Look to You and was described as a "big comeback record." Houston performed the song live on The X Factor in the UK on Sunday, October 18, the night before the album was released there.
"Million Dollar Bill" has an upbeat "pop dance groove" with strong disco influences. The song is three minutes and twenty-four seconds long. It is written in the key of B Minor, uses common time, and has a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Houston's vocal range spans from A3 to B4. The song also includes a sample of Loleatta Holloway's 1977 track "We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)."
Critical reception
From the New York listening party, Rolling Stone described the song as a fast-paced, hip-hop-inspired track. It may be the fastest Houston has ever performed, and she kept up well. The song received a standing ovation, which set the tone for much of the album. Dean Piper of The Daily Mirror called it a "summer track" similar to Janet Jackson's song "The Best Things in Life Are Free."
Nick Levine of Digital Spy said the song is a moderate-pace disco track with a positive, happy message. He called it a "classy and likeable comeback" and noted that Houston's voice is deeper and more raspy than before, but she can still sing powerful high notes. Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song 3.5 stars out of 5 in a mixed review. He said the performance shows the real Whitney Houston and that Alicia Keys wrote a song that fits with her style of "old soul" music. However, he noted that the "very old school R&B" style from Beatz made the song feel too familiar, and Houston did not add a fresh twist to make it feel new.
Gail Mitchell of Billboard wrote that the song is a club-friendly track that seems ready for a remix. Produced by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, it includes a catchy hook where Houston sings, "If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill, say it."
Chart performance
The success of "Million Dollar Bill" in the United States was described as "modest." The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 100 on September 19, 2009, and left the chart the next week. This happened because the song was released at the same time as another track that reached a higher peak of number 70. This was Houston's lowest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 in her career. The song performed better on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it stayed for 30 weeks. It reached a peak of number 16 on December 19, 2009. This was Houston's longest time on that chart since her 1999 single "It's Not Right but It's Okay." It was also her highest peak since "Same Script, Different Cast," released in 2000. The song topped the Adult R&B Songs chart for two weeks, on December 19 and December 26, 2009. It appeared on the year-end lists for the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 81 and the Hot Adult R&B Songs chart at number 20. The song lasted 12 weeks on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart, reaching number one on November 7, 2009. This brought Houston's total number of number-one hits on that chart to 13. It was her longest run and highest peak on that chart since 2003's "Love That Man." "Million Dollar Bill" was Houston's final No. 1 hit, as she passed away in February 2012. In Canada, the song spent five weeks on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 62 on September 19, 2009.
"Million Dollar Bill" first appeared on the UK Singles Chart in the week of October 17, 2009, at number 12. A remix by The Freemasons was promoted. By its third week, on October 31, 2009, the song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart while peaking at number 2 on the R&B chart. This was Houston's highest position on the UK Singles Chart in over ten years, since "My Love Is Your Love" reached number 2 in 1999. The song remained on the UK Singles Chart for 14 consecutive weeks. It re-entered the chart at number 95 on January 23, 2010, but left the next week. This 15-week chart run was Houston's longest since 1999's "It's Not Right but It's Okay," which also lasted 15 weeks. The song re-entered the UK Singles Chart in February 2012, after Houston's death, and reached number 62. It entered the UK Top 40 R&B Singles chart at number 7 on October 17, 2009, and stayed for 20 weeks, with its last entry on February 27, 2010, at number 32.
The single charted in other European countries. In Ireland, "Million Dollar Bill" entered the Irish Singles Chart on October 8, 2009, at number 45. After four weeks, it peaked at number 8 and stayed on the chart for ten weeks. In Germany, it was released as a double A-side with "I Look to You" and spent eight weeks on the singles chart, peaking at number 41. This was Houston's longest run in Germany since 1999's "I Learned from the Best" and her highest position since 1993's "I Have Nothing." In the Netherlands, the song spent five weeks on the Dutch Single Top 100, peaking at number 58 on September 12, 2009. This was Houston's longest run in the Netherlands since 2003's "One of Those Days" and her highest position since 2002's "Whatchulookinat." In Switzerland, the song debuted at number 40 on the Singles Top 75 and stayed for two weeks. In Sweden, it entered the Singles Top 60 at number 22, and was Houston's highest position there since 2000's "Could I Have This Kiss Forever." The song also charted in Belgium, where it peaked at number 6 on Ultratip Flanders and number 3 on Ultratip Wallonia. It spent one week in Finland, peaking at number 18, and two weeks in Italy, peaking at number 15. Its European success led to Houston returning to the Eurochart Hot 100 for the first time since 2002, where it reached number 15. This was Houston's 30th and final entry on the chart before her death and her best result since "Could I Have This Kiss Forever."
The track also appeared on "end-of-year" charts. In the United Kingdom, the song finished 2009 on the year-end singles chart at number 90. In the United States, "Million Dollar Bill" placed at number 25 on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart for 2009 and at number 81 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 2010.
Music video
The music video for "Million Dollar Bill" was directed by Melina Matsoukas, who also directed Houston's earlier song "I Look to You." Matsoukas has worked with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Ciara. The video was ranked at the bottom of BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009.
It first appeared on Houston's official website on September 16, 2009. The video also had its world premiere on BET, VH1, and MTV2 shortly after Houston's interview with Oprah Winfrey aired.
In the video, Houston enters a dry cleaners and walks through a kitchen while wearing a fur coat. After leaving the kitchen, the music begins, and she enters a nightclub, removes her coat, and sings on a small stage.
Throughout the video, Houston wears several outfits, including a metallic dress with knee-high boots, a pink dress, and a full-length silver dress. The video ends with Houston walking away in the silver dress, while dollar bills blow around her.
This video was the last music video Houston created before her death.
Legacy and retrospective accolades
The song was first performed by former American Idol singer Frenchie Davis in 2010. Later, other artists, including Wyles, Alan Benn, Block & Crown, and Kevin McKay, also performed their own versions. In 2023, the song was performed by Beyond Chicago with Majestic and Alex Mills as guest performers. Their version became a top 75 hit in the United Kingdom when it was released that year. Additionally, several artists, such as Genius of Time, Sweater Beats, Crowd Control, X3, and Bright Light Bright Light, used parts of the song in their music. These artists combined the song with Wham!'s 1984 hit, "Last Christmas," in a musical mix.
After Houston's death, the song appeared on lists that highlight her work. In 2024, Forbes included the song in a list of Houston's 20 greatest songs, stating that it "showed the nostalgic and lively disco style from the 1980s" and that "it showed that the singer truly enjoyed her craft, even in the later stages of her career." Entertainment Weekly ranked the song 17th in a list of the 25 best Houston songs, describing it as "a fun and lively celebration of feeling confident and desirable in a relationship." BET placed the song 32nd in a list of Houston's 40 best songs, noting that it "showed her return to her young, energetic early years."
Beyond Chicago, Majestic and Alex Mills version
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 No. 67 on the UK singles chart.