I Learned from the Best

"I Learned from the Best" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. The ballad, written by Diane Warren, was released as the fifth and final single from Houston's fourth studio album, My Love Is Your Love (1998). When released, it peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Dance remixes of the song by Hex Hector and Junior Vasquez topped the US dance chart for three weeks. Houston gained another top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart with this song, where it peaked at number 19. The song also topped the charts in Poland and Romania.

"I Learned from the Best"
International CD single cover
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album My Love Is Your Love
B-side"You'll Never Stand Alone"
ReleasedNovember 22, 1999 (1999-11-22)
Genre
Length
  • 4:20
  • 3:56 (radio edit)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)David Foster
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"My Love Is Your Love"
(1999)		 "I Learned from the Best"
(1999)		 "Same Script, Different Cast"
(2000)
Music video
"I Learned from the Best" on YouTube

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from music critics. Nekesa Mumbi Moody from Associated Press said it "sound decent with her pipes".[1] Billboard constated that it is "a song that has most-added stamped all over it," writing further, "Written by the ultimate pop/R&B scribe of the 1990s, Diane Warren, this gorgeous ballad will take fans old and new to that sacred territory that Whitney established back in the years of classics like "Saving All My Love for You" and "All the Man That I Need". But make no mistake; the Houston of today is a fully seasoned, well-traveled diva, leaving the wannabes in scattered remains with this spine-chilling performance. You'll be throwing your hands in the air over the wisdom she's gained in this tale of the strong woman who's breaking bad with her lessons about heartbreak. Producer/arranger David Foster, meanwhile, puts forth all that he's learned in the past two decades with a forceful instrumental package that borrows from his days of commandeering the horns-heavy Chicago through its comeback in the early 1980s. The three together—Houston, Warren, and Foster—simply can't miss in this stellar effort that brings together the best of their talents".[2]

Sonia Murray from Cox News Service viewed the song as a "by-the-numbers big ballad".[3] Henrik Bæk from Danish Gaffa noted it as a "typical Whitney ballad".[4] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel described it as a "classy David Foster-produced" song, and added that Houston is "predictably stately".[5] Christopher Tkaczyk from The Michigan Daily said in his review of My Love Is Your Love, that the song a "heart-racing R&B track".[6] Sun-Sentinel picked the song as the "one truly satisfying song" on the album, noting it as "an unassuming ballad".[7]

Release and chart performance

"I Learned from the Best" became the fifth and final single to be released from the album. In the United Kingdom, it was issued on November 29, 1999,[8] while in the United States, it was released in 2000. The song debuted at number eighty-three on the Hot 100 and peaked at number twenty-seven.[9][10] It reached the number thirteen on the Hot R&B Singles & Tracks.[11] According to the Nielsen SoundScan, the single sold 500,000 units in the United States and certified Gold. Outside the US, it was not as successful as the previous singles from the album. The single reached the number three in Iceland, the number six in Finland,[12] the number eight in Spain,[13] the number ten in Hungary and the number nineteen in the United Kingdom with 95,000 copies sold.[14][15] Besides, it went to the top forty in the Netherlands,[16] Sweden,[17] and Switzerland.[18]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "I Learned from the Best", directed by Kevin Bray, features Houston giving a concert performance of the song to a small intimate audience, as a man—presumably the ex-lover referenced in the song—watches with regret. It was filmed in Cologne, Germany, Oct. 1999, during the end of Houston’s My Love Is Your Love World Tour[19] and was featured in the first season of MTV's Making the Video.

Formats and track listings

Note: The Junior Vasquez Disco mix is unique in that Houston re-recorded her vocals for this version.[20]

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States November 22, 1999
Arista [48][49]
November 23, 1999 Urban adult contemporary radio [48]
United Kingdom November 29, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
[50]
United States December 7, 1999 Urban radio Arista [51]
January 11, 2000 Rhythmic contemporary radio [52]
February 29, 2000 Contemporary hit radio [53][54]

See also

References
  1. Mumbi Moody, Nekesa (December 20, 1998). "Singer's new albumis a savvy retort". Daily News. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  2. "www.classicwhitney.com - Billboard Singles Reviews". www.classicwhitney.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. Murray, Sonia (November 22, 1998). "Whitney Houston: pleasing familiarity". The Day. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. Bæk, Henrik (September 21, 2001). "Whitney Houston: My Love Is Your Love". Gaffa (in Danish). Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. Campbell, Chuck (December 9, 1998). "Carey tops charts, but falls short with '1s'". Daily News. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. Tkaczyk, Christopher (January 12, 1999). "THERE COULD BE MIRACLES..." The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  7. "A HOUSTON MASQUERADE". Sun-Sentinel. November 18, 1998. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. "New Releases – For Week Starting 29 November, 1999: Singles". Music Week. November 27, 1999. p. 23.
  9. "Billboard Hot 100 chart listing for the week of February 19, 2000". Billboard. February 19, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  10. "Billboard Hot 100 chart listing for the week of March 25, 2000". Billboard. March 25, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  11. "Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart listing for the week of March 11, 2000". Billboard. March 11, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  12. "Whitney Houston: I Learned From The Best" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  13. ""I Learned from the Best" on the Spanish Singles Chart, Hits of the World". Billboard. January 22, 2000. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  14. "The Official UK Countdowns – Whitney Houston Official Top 20". MTV (UK and Ireland). Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  15. ""I Learned from the Best" on the UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. December 11, 1999. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  16. ""I Learned from the Best" on the Dutch Singles Chart". dutchcharts.nl. January 8, 2000. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  17. ""I Learned from the Best" on the Swedish Singles Chart". swedishcharts.com. January 13, 2000. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  18. ""I Learned from the Best" on the Swiss Singles Chart". hitparade.ch. December 26, 1999. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  19. Billboard
  20. "Whitney Phones It in for Enrique Duet, Remix of New Single". MTV.
  21. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  22. "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda - Pro týden" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on March 3, 2000. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  23. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1999. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  24. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best" (in French). Les classement single.
  25. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  26. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. January 1, 2000. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  27. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 21.1. - 27.1. 2000)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 5, 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  28. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  30. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  31. "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. February 12, 2000. p. 23. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  32. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  34. Hits of the World: Spanish AFYVE Singles Chart for "I Learned from the Best". Billboard. January 22, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  35. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best". Singles Top 100.
  36. "Whitney Houston – I Learned From The Best". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  39. "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  40. "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  41. "Whitney Houston Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  42. "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  43. "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  44. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 68. ISBN 951-1-21053-X.
  45. 2000 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. December 30, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2022. {{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)
  46. 2000 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles. December 30, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2022. {{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)
  47. "Decade End Charts – Dance/Club-Play Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  48. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1326. November 19, 1999. pp. 101, 123.
  49. "Gavin Report AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2281. November 19, 1999. p. 30.
  50. "New Releases – For Week Starting 29 November, 1999: Singles". Music Week. November 27, 1999. p. 23.
  51. "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1328. December 3, 1999. p. 56.
  52. "Gavin Report Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2286. January 7, 2000. p. 7.
  53. "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1339. February 25, 2000. p. 71.
  54. "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2293. February 25, 2000. p. 8.
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