One of Those Days

For the EP by Joy Williams, see One of Those Days (EP).

"One of Those Days"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Just Whitney...
Released October 29, 2002
Format
Recorded February 2002;
at Atlanta Premier Recordings
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre R&B
Length 3:56
Label Arista
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Kevin Briggs
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"Whatchulookinat"
(2002)		 "One of Those Days"
(2002)		 "Try It on My Own"
(2003)
Music video
"One of Those Days" on YouTube

"One of Those Days" is a song by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her fifth studio album Just Whitney... (2002). Written by Kevin Briggs, Dwight Renolds, Patrice Stewart, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, Christopher Jasper, Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, and Rudolph Isley, and produced by Briggs, the song was released as the second single from the album, following the under-performance of the lead single "Whatchulookinat", on October 29, 2002 through Arista Records. A mid-tempo R&B track, "One of Those Days" samples The Isley Brothers' song "Between the Sheets" (1983), and its lyrics speak about getting away from the stress of daily life.

The song received generally positive feedback from music critics, who commended the song's production and music; the Isley Brothers sampling received favorable comments from most critics. It peaked at number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Elsewhere, it peaked at number six in Hungary, number 48 in Australia, and number 80 in the Netherlands. It also charted in Belgium and Switzerland. The single's accompanying music video, directed by Kevin Bray, portrays Houston and her girlfriends taking some time out and spending time at a spa and a club. Houston performed "One of Those Days" live on a concert organized at Lincoln Center Plaza, in December 2002. The concert was featured on an episode of Good Morning America.

Background

"One of Those Days" was written by Kevin Briggs, Dwight Reynolds and Patrice Stewart for Whitney Houston's fifth studio album Just Whitney (2002). The Isley Brothers are also credited as writers as the song features a sample of their song "Between the Sheets" (1983).[1] In an interview with TMHEntertainment, Reynolds said that the song was not intentionally written for Houston. One day, while Reynolds was at Shek'speare's studio, The Music House, Houston and her husband Bobby Brown visited them. At that time, Shek'speare had a few instrumental tracks put up, and according to Reynolds, "the vibe was set" immediately.[2] Shek'speare and Reynolds started discussing the ideas for the songs; Houston also contributed her views and ideas, and rejected the ones that she felt did not suit her.[2] Shek'speare and Reynolds penned three songs that day, two of which are featured on the album, "One of Those Days" and "Dear John Letter".[2] The song was produced by Briggs and was recorded at Atlanta Premier Recordings, Atlanta, by Ben Briggs III, and was mixed by Kevin "KD" Davis.[1]

Release

The song was released as the second single from the album in many countries, except the United Kingdom,[3] following the under-performance and lackluster response to the lead single "Whatchulookinat".[4] In the US, it was sent to urban, rhythmic and mainstream radios[4] on October 28, 2002.[5] A CD single was released on the next day.[6] In Australia, an double A-side CD single containing "One of Those Days" and "Whatchulookinat" was released on November 25, 2002.[7] The remix featuring Nelly and its instrumental were issued as a CD single in the US.[8] Another remix by Almighty Records, titled "One of Those Days (Almighty Remix)", was made available through the compilation Almighty Downunder, Volume 2.[9]

Composition
"One of Those Days" (2002)
A 25-second sample of "One of Those Days" illustrating the "Between the Sheets" melody sampling. Many critics appreciated the sample's incorporation in the song.[10][11][12]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"One of Those Days" is a mid-tempo R&B song[10] with a "slight retro feel" to it.[12] Chuck Taylor of Billboard classified the song as a "groovy, hip-swaying composition".[11] The song's hook samples the melody from The Isley Brothers' 1983 song "Between the Sheets".[13] As Houston begins the first verse, she declares her stress: "This is just for me [...] Got to take time out [...] You don't know what I'm going through."[14] She then sings about getting away from it,[15][16] by indulging in activities like a manicure, pedicure[17] and by having a "late-night snack, a bubble bathe and a massage".[18] Throughout the song, she sings over a "warm bed of beats and horns".[19] Writing for Entertainment Tonight, Tim Jaramillo commented that the song is a "smoky track with a feel-good, chilled-out vibe".[20] Dan LeRoy of NJ Star Ledger observed that the song sounded like an outtake from Brandy Norwood's debut album,[21] while New York Daily News compared it to Houston's 1999 song "It's Not Right but It's Okay".[14] An official remix of the song features rapped verses from Nelly, which according to MTV News staffs has a reggae feel.[22]

Critical reception

"One of Those Days" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Sean Daly of The Washington Post commented that the song was "likably [sic] bouncy".[23] Craig Seymour of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the song a "breezy girls'-night-out" cut.[24] Writer for Blues & Soul wrote that the song "is an excellent slice of soulful mid-beat head nod R&B". They also commended the sampling of "Between the Sheets", noting that it is "effective".[10] Ernest Hardy of LA Weekly had different opinions of the song. Although he deemed it an "underrated single" at first[25] and wrote that it "leaps beyond its work-sucks-the-rent's-late-I-need-a-date griping into the realm of existential letting",[25] he later commented that the song is "grounded in retort".[25] Chuck Taylor of Billboard remarked that the song marks a "triumphant return of one of the great singers, who delivers the goods in glorious voice."[11] He further commented that the production of the song would be able to convince her "pop fans", and also praised the Isley Brothers sampling.[11] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that the song could have been titled "How Whitney Got Her Groove Back". He noted that the "smooth" track allows Houston to offer a restrained delivery of her vocals.[19] Keysha Davis of BBC Music called the sampling of "Between the Sheets" as "clever".[12] Nakesa Mumbi Moody, of the Associated Press, wrote it was "sexy" and "dreamy".[13] Writing for The Boston Globe, Joan Anderman called it a "breezy" track with a "disturbingly trite" theme.[17] The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, in their review for "One of Those Days" called the song "schmaltzy" and wrote that it could have been done in the 1980s.[26] Jimmy Draper of San Francisco Bay Guardian noted that "the song seems so anticlimactic in comparison to the real-life pot".[27] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone called the track "creaky and unconvincing".[28] Entertainment Weekly gave the remix single a D rating and commented negatively that "this chaotic mess isn't likely to find an enthusiastic audience" as the producer "laid a random Nelly verse and some whistle beats on top of Houston's vocals. It's as if someone opened the door between two rooms and cranked warring stereos".[29] Following Houston's death in 2012, Entertainment Weekly published a list of Houston's 25 best songs and ranked "One of Those Days" at number 19; they noted that it was "an underrated single off an underrated album". They further commented that "Whitney gave women of the world an instruction manual for pampering themselves in the Sex and the City era".[30]

Chart performance

In the United States, "One of Those Days" debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100, the issue dated November 16, 2002.[31] In its sixteenth week on the chart, it peaked at number 72 with a greatest gainer mark[32][33] The song stayed on the charts for a total of 19 weeks.[34] On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song debuted at number 74,[35] the issue dated November 9, 2002 and peaked at number 29.[33] The song finished at number 99 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles year-end chart.[36] However, the song topped the US Adult R&B Airplay chart.[37] In the Netherlands, the song entered the Mega Single Top 100 chart at number 87, the week dated January 4, 2003. Two weeks later, the song reached number 80, its peak position.[38] The song stayed on the charts for a total of five weeks.[38] In Australia, the double A-side single charted and peaked at number 48,[39] and stayed on the chart for eight weeks.[40] Elsewhere, "One of Those Days" peaked at number 94 in Switzerland, number 11 on the Belgian Flanders Ultratip chart, number seven on the Wallonia Tip chart and number six on the Hungarian Single Top 10.[41][42][43][44]

Music video

The music video for "One of Those Days" was directed by Kevin Bray and was shot on October 18 and 19, 2002.[15] The video was shot in Midtown, Atlanta and the club featured in the video is the Nomenclature Museum in Atlanta. According to Arista, "The music video is about Whitney rescuing her girlfriends whom are having a bad day."[45] The video shows Houston enjoying a day out and hanging out with her friends at the club, and having a massage at a sauna. The girls end their day out at the club, where Ronald Isley himself makes a cameo appearance.[15]

Live performances

Houston performed "One of Those Days" in a mini-concert at Lincoln Center Plaza, along with "Tell Me No" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on December 9, 2002.[46] Donning a "jeans, a cream-colored turtleneck, full-length shearling coat and sunglasses", Houston performed the song as the opening number of the concert to a crowd of about 4,000 people.[47] Fox News commented that "Houston still [sings] like an angel", but noted that she was "very loose" on stage.[48] The performance aired on Good Morning America the next day.[46]

Formats and track listings

  • Australian CD maxi[49]
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "Whatchulookinat" (Radio edit) – 3:34
  3. "Whatchulookinat" (Thunderpuss club mix) – 7:42
  • European Enhanced CD single[50]
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "One of Those Days" (Extended mix) – 5:42
  3. "Love That Man" (Pound Boys R 'n' B remix) – 3:47
  4. "One of Those Days" (music video)
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "One of Those Days" (Instrumental) – 4:19
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "One of Those Days" (Extended mix) – 5:42
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "One of Those Days" (Instrumental) – 4:19
  3. "One of Those Days" (Album version) – 4:17
  4. "One of Those Days" (a cappella) – 4:03
  1. "One of Those Days" (Radio edit) – 3:56
  2. "My Love" (featuring Bobby Brown) – 3:28
  • US remix CD single[8]
  1. "One of Those Days (Remix)" (featuring Nelly) – 3:47
  2. "One of Those Days (Remix)" (Instrumental) – 4:37

Credits and personnel

Credits for "One of Those Days" are adapted from Just Whitney liner notes.[1]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–03) Peak
position
scope="row" Australia (ARIA)[40] 48
scope="row" Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[42] 11
scope="row" Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[43] 7
scope="row" Hungary (Single Top 40)[44] 6
scope="row" Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 80
scope="row" Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 94
scope="row" US Billboard Hot 100[55] 72
scope="row" US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[56] 29

Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Singles[36] 99

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Just Whitney (CD album). Whitney Houston. Arista. 2002. 07822-14747-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Interview > Dwight "Lil' Skrapp" Reynolds". TMHEntertainment. Archived from the original on 2003-02-05. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  3. ↑ Halstead, Craig - Whitney Houston: For the Record, pp 95-96. Authors Online. Bedfordshire, England. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7552-1278-1.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mitchell, Gail (2002-12-14). "Arista Aims New Houston Album at 'Core Urban' Fans". Billboard 114 (51): 64. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  5. ↑ Johnson Jr., Billy (2002-10-29). "Whitney Houston Having 'One of Those Days". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  6. ↑ "One of Those Days – Whitney Houston". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  7. ↑ "One of Those Days / Whatchulookinat". Click2music.com.au. Sony Music Australia. Archived from the original on 2003-03-06. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 One of Those Days (US remix CD single liner notes). Whitney Houston. United States: Arista. 2002. ARPCD-5324.
  9. ↑ "Almighty Downunder, Vol. 2 – Various Artists". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Whitney Houston – Just Whitney...". Blues & Soul (Blues & Soul Limited): 50. November 19 – December 2, 2002. ISSN 0959-6550. OCLC 11328022.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Taylor, Chuck (2002-11-02). "Reviews & Previews: Spotlights". Billboard 114 (44): 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Davis, Keysha (2002-12-12). "Review of Whitney Houston – Just Whitney". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mumbi Moody, Nekesa (2002-12-15). "Sound Bites: Audio Reviews". The Telegraph-Herald (Woodward Communications, Inc.). Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Farber, Jim (2002-12-08). "Whitney Wows: If Houston has a problem, it's not music". New York Daily News.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Reid, Shaheem (2002-10-22). "Whitney Houston has 'One of Those Days' with her girls, Mr. Biggs". MTV. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  16. ↑ Jones, Steve (2002-12-10). "Just Bad Vibes". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Anderman, Joan (2002-12-10). "Comeback Bid? Houston We Still Have a Problem". The Boston Globe. p. D.1. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  18. ↑ "CD Spotlight: Whitney Houston's 'Just Whitney'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Journal Communications). 2002-12-12.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Whitney Houston: Just Whitney". Slant Magazine. 2002-12-04. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  20. ↑ Jaramillo, Tim (2002-12-11). "Whitney Houston, Just Whitney...". Entertainment Tonight. Paramount Television.
  21. ↑ LeRoy, Dan (2002-12-06). "Whitney Houston – Just Whitney...". The Star-Ledger.
  22. ↑ "For The Record: Quick News On Snoop Dogg, Nas, Nelly, Mariah Carey, Godsmack, Whitesnake & More". MTV News. MTV Networks (Vicaom). 2002-12-16. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  23. ↑ Daly, Sean (2002-12-11). "Whitney Houston's Crackerjack Comeback". The Washington Post. p. C.01. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  24. ↑ Seymour, Craig (2002-12-10). "Whitney 'Just' gets better with time". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. C1. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Hardy, Ernest (2003-01-23). "The Diva in Ms. Houston". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  26. ↑ Niasseri, Sassan (2002-11-24). "In höchsten Tönen". Der Tagesspiegel (in German) (Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH).
  27. ↑ Draper, Jimmy (2002-11-27). "Pop Is Hell". San Francisco Bay Guardian (Bruce Brugmann). Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  28. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (2002-12-30). "Just Whitney – Album Reviews". Rolling Stone LLC. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  29. ↑ Serpick, Evan (Jan 3, 2003). "One of Those Days (Remix) Whitney Houston". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  30. ↑ Anderson, Kyle; Goldblatt, Henry; Greenblatt, Leah; Rahman, Ray (17 February 2012). "Whitney Houston: Her 25 Best Songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  31. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2002-11-06). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard 114 (46): 117. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  32. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2003-02-01). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard 115 (5): 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Just Whitney – Whitney Houston > Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  34. ↑ "One of Those Days – Whitney Houston". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  35. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2002-11-09). "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard 114 (45): 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "2003 Year-end Charts – Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  37. ↑ Trust, Gray (2009-09-14). "Chart Beat Thursday: 'Glee' Cast, Colbie Caillat, Sade". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 "Dutchcharts.nl – Whitney Houston – One of Those Days" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  39. ↑ "The ARIA Report! Issue #666" (PDF). ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "The ARIA Report! Issue #675" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Swisscharts.com – Whitney Houston – One of Those Days". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Ultratop.be – Whitney Houston – One of Those Days" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Ultratop.be – Whitney Houston – One of Those Days" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  45. ↑ Eldredge, Richard L. (2002-10-22). "Houston filming video in Midtown". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. E2. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Silverman, Stephen M. (2002-12-09). "Whitney Delivers 'Flawless' Performance". People. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  47. ↑ Kahn, Robert (2002-12-09). "Whitney Houston 'Holds Her Own' At Lincoln Center". Newsday (Cablevision). p. A.08. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  48. ↑ "Whitney's Wacky Outdoor Show". Fox News. News Corporation. 2002-12-09. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  49. ↑ One of Those Days/Whatchulookinat (AUS CD maxi liner notes). Whitney Houston. Australia: Arista. 2002. 74321 98158 2.
  50. ↑ One of Those Days (EU Enhanced CD single liner notes). Whitney Houston. Europe: Arista. 2002. 74321 983782 0.
  51. ↑ One of Those Days (US CD single liner notes). Whitney Houston. United States: Arista. 2002. ARPCD-5197.
  52. ↑ One of Those Days (US CD single liner notes). Whitney Houston. United States: Arista. 2002. 74321 98379 2.
  53. ↑ One of Those Days (US 12" vinyl single liner notes). Whitney Houston. United States: Arista. 2002. 07822-15197-1.
  54. ↑ One of Those Days (US 7" vinyl single liner notes). Whitney Houston. United States: Arista. 2002. 82876-50978-7.
  55. ↑ "Whitney Houston Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  56. ↑ "Whitney Houston Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Whitney Houston. Retrieved 2011-11-06.

External links