Recorded 1998 Label Arista | Genre R&B, reggae fusion | |
Released July 3, 1999
(See release history) Format CD single, DVD, video single Length 4:20 (album version)
4:03 (radio edit) | ||
"My Love Is Your Love" is a 1999 song by American R&B singer Whitney Houston. Released as the fourth single from Houston's album of the same name, it peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 2 on the US R&B chart, and number 2 in the UK. It was later certified double platinum by the RIAA.
Contents
Along with the original mid-tempo reggae-influenced version that was produced by Wyclef Jean, a dance remixed version by Jonathan Peters was also released.
The single was extremely successful worldwide, hitting the Top Ten in nearly two dozen international markets and becoming a signature song for Houston.
A live version was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.
Duke Dumont sampled the song in his song "I Got U".
Critical reception
Entertainment Weekly editor Mark Bautz praised the song: "Wyclef Jean's gorgeous reggae-tinged title song and three funky cuts by Rodney Jerkins showcase the 35-year-old Whitney Houston in all her creative, soulful maturity." Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield praised the song as a one with some "creative juice"; "on the excellent title track, Wyclef gives Houston the sexiest Bob Marley rip-off he's ever written." USA Today editor Rachel D. called this track "a spiritual, reggae-tinged jam from Wyclef Jean."
Chart performance
"My Love Is Your Love" was the fourth single from Houston's 1998 album, My Love Is Your Love. It was a massive hit worldwide, becoming another one of Houston's signature songs. The single was released in each country of Europe from June 1999, prior to the United States. Upon release, the song was popular immediately across Europe and became a bigger hit during her European leg of My Love Is Your Love World Tour. On June 27, 1999, the single went straight to its peak position, number two, in the United Kingdom for the week ending date of July 3, 1999. According to The Official Charts Company, it has sold 525,000 copies there, becoming Britain's 22nd best-selling single of 1999. In Germany, it was also very successful. The single entered Media Control Top 100 Singles Chart at number 39, the week dated June 14, 1999, and three weeks later reached a peak of two, spending consecutive 15 weeks within the top 10 on the chart. It was certified Platinum by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for shipments of 500,000 copies of the single. The song also reached the number two in countries such as Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. It went to top five in Belgium (Flandres), Denmark, and Norway, and reached the top ten on the singles charts in Belgium, Canada, and France. Eventually, the single topped the European Hot 100 Singles Chart for a week, becoming her fourth number one single on the chart and was positioned at number six in the Europe's Top Singles list of 1999. In New Zealand, it peaked at number one for a week, making it Houston's third number-one single in the country after 1987's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and 1992's "I Will Always Love You."
Likewise, "My Love Is Your Love" was a big hit in the United States. The song debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the issue dated September 4, 1999, without a retail release. With its official single in two weeks, it shot up on the chart and reached the top ten in the next three weeks, the issue date of October 9, 1999, becoming her 22nd Hot 100 top ten hit. On January 1, 2000, the single peaked at number four, making her the first artist to have a top ten hit in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, staying within the top ten of the chart for 17 weeks. It also reached the number two position on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (formerly "Hot R&B Singles & Tracks"), the issue date of September 25, 1999, spending a total of 29 weeks on the chart, and topped Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play, making it Houston's eighth number-one song of the chart. The single was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 2,000,000 copies on December 14, 1999. According to Nielsen SoundScan, it has sold 1,900,000 copies in the US alone.
Cover versions
In 2016, the song was covered by country singer Trisha Yearwood for the US version of the musical The Passion.The song was also covered on the TV series Glee, during the 17th episode of the third season. The episode was entitled "Dance with Somebody" and was itself a tribute episode to Whitney Houston.