It's Not Right but It's Okay

Release

The original Rodney Jerkins production was released, but mainstream radio airplay and sales were given for the Thunderpuss Remix. The remixed version was released on Houston's 2000 Whitney: The Greatest Hits collection, and the original album version appears on 2007's The Ultimate Collection.

The Johnny Vicious remixes were included on the domestic CD maxi-single of "Heartbreak Hotel" as well as the on the import single and are currently available as iTunes downloads. The KCC remix was included on the US version of the "My Love Is Your Love" maxi-single and is also available as an iTunes download. Rodney Jerkins' remixes are the closest to the album version; Club 69 (Peter Rauhofer) also remixed the track for play in the UK. In the US, when it was released as a stand-alone single, the versions that appear are the Rodney Jerkins, Thunderpuss and Club 69 remixes. There is also a ballad version, entitled "Smooth Mix".

Composition

"It's Not Right but It's Okay" is a neo-R&B song. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, it is written in the key of C minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. Houston's vocals span from G₃ to A♭₅ in the song.

Critical reception

Billboard highlighted this song on Houston's album. The Baltimore Sun's J. D. Consodine wrote about the song: "So when we hear her telling her abusive, less-than-faithful lover off in "It's Not Right But It's Okay," we're not to imagine the lyrics have anything to do with the rumored infidelity of her real-life husband, Bobby Brown."

Chart performance

It became the album's third single and peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on July 3, 1999. The single also peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, No. 7 on the top 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The song reached No. 3 in Canada and the United Kingdom — in March 1999, where it stayed in the chart for 15 weeks, becoming a hugely popular radio hit in the country.

Track listing

1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Mix) – 4:30
2. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Instrumental) – 4:30
3. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) – 4:18
4. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 9:12
5. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Dub) – 8:22
6. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Beats) – 4:40
7. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Radio Mix) – 4:21
8. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Future Club Mix) – 8:05
9. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Future Dub) – 7:52
10. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Radio Mix) – 4:25
11. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Momentous Mix) – 13:07
12. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Dub) – 8:33

Special bonus cut:

"I Will Always Love You" (Hex Hector Club Mix) – 9:50

Certifications

Note: A^ In New Zealand, "Heartbreak Hotel" was released as a double A-side single with "It's Not Right But It's Okay"

Cover versions

The song was covered by Darren Criss on the hit Fox TV show Glee. Criss' character, Blaine, was confronting his own 'cheating' lover in the Whitney Houston tribute special, "Dance with Somebody". It was also covered on the "Lies" single and The Mother We Share EP by CHVRCHES. The song was heavily sampled in Mak & Pasteman's "It Ain't Right".