
Peak
100
Weeks
1
Score
27
Chart Year
2009
The music video for 'Million Dollar Bill' was directed by Melina Matsoukas (who directed the music video for Houston's previous song "I Look to You"), known for working with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Ciara.[43] It premiered on Houston's official website on September 16, 2009.[44] 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.
This joyful, uptempo track about love was released as the official worldwide lead single from Whitney Houston's seventh studio album I Look to You. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and producer Swizz Beatz wrote this song especially for Whitney. Houston recalled to MTV News that she wanted to work with Keys after hearing her perform at one of record executive Clive Davis' parties. Said Whitney: "When she 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. It made me feel good and happy, and I thought, 'God, she's on the label with Daddy [Clive Davis] here.' I thought, 'I got to get to know her. I got to have a camaraderie with some of the people that were on the label where I came back home to.' 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.' " Swizz Beatz, whose résumé includes "Ring the Alarm" and "Check On It" for Beyoncé, told MTV News that the process on the song started when he got a call from Clive Davis and record executive Larry Jackson. They said that they were working with Whitney and asked the songwriter/producer what material he had. Swizz explained: "I went to the office and vibed with Larry. I was like, 'She really sounds good. She's on her A-game.'" Swizz added: "At the time I was working on some stuff with Alicia. I was like, 'We need to bring Whitney back. We need to do some stuff to support Whitney.' Then Alicia was like, 'I love Whitney, she's an icon. I would love to be a part of that.' I started vibing on different things. I didn't want to come with anything that would make her sound too old or too young. That's when I got the vibe to do something that had, like, a disco feel, but still with the hard drums on it - still musical but moving. I wanted to do something that was instant when it came on." "Then I played the idea for Alicia to make sure I wasn't bugging out,2 he continued. "'Am I going too far with this?' She was like, 'Nah. That can be a big smash.'" The duo then sat down and came up with lyrics. Swizz explained that the song "is all about the feelings new love can bring." This old skool R&B/disco jam features a sample of American soul singer Loleatta Holloway's 1977 cut "We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)." Alicia Keys told Billboard magazine about writing for Houston: "Whitney is an artist who inspired me from [the time I was] a little girl. Fast-forwarding to now and being able to work with her to help create this song that took off was fun. We had a lot of laughs; it was like being with a long-lost friend."
Oh oh oh yeah Oh oh oh oh oh Came in the door Checked in my coat And who I'm looking for Is staring in my face They played our song We hit the floor He held me strong And we danced the night away I can see the way that he is making feel This way about his love I've been looking for something like this I'm saying ooh oh oh oh ooh oh oh! If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill Say oh oh oh, say oh oh oh! If you go left right up down Make you spinning round and round Say ooh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! It's been a long long time Since I fell, fell Love has found my way oh oh oh I've been looking (looking) I've been searching (searching) For the man to touch this place, oh ooh oh yeah Can't deny the way that he is making feel This way about his love I've been searching for something like this I'm saying oh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill Say oh oh oh, say oh oh oh! Makes you go left right up down Makes you spinning round and round Say oh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill Say oh oh oh, say oh oh oh! Makes you go left right up down Makes you spinning round and round Say oh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! If you feel good If you're feeling good Put one hand in the air, say yeah If you feel good If you're feeling good It's 'cause love is in the air Love is in the air If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill Say oh oh oh, say oh oh oh! Makes you go left right up down Makes you spinning round and round Say ooh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! If he makes you feel like a million dollar bill Say oh oh oh, say oh oh oh! Makes you go left right up down Makes you spinning round and round Say ooh oh oh oh, say ooh oh oh oh! Come on and say... Come on and say...
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 19, 2009 | 100 | 26 |