One of Those Days

2002 single by Whitney Houston

"One of Those Days" is a song by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her fifth studio album Just Whitney (2002). Written by Whitney Houston herself, 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 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 Houston's vocals and 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. It peaked at number six in Hungary, and also made the singles charts at in Australia, the Netherlands, 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.

"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). 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. following the under performance and lackluster response to the lead single "Whatchulookinat". In the US, it was sent to urban, rhythmic and mainstream radios A CD single was released the next day. In Australia, a double A side CD single containing "One of Those Days" and "Whatchulookinat" was released on November 25, 2002. Arista released CD and CD maxi singles in Belgium on December 11, 2002. The remix featuring Nelly and its instrumental were issued as a CD single in the US.

"One of Those Days" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Sean Daly of The Washington Post commented that the song was "likably bouncy". Craig Seymour of The Atlanta Journal Constitution called the song a "breezy girls' night out" cut. 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". Ernest Hardy of LA Weekly had different opinions of the song. Although he deemed it an "underrated single" at first and wrote that it "leaps beyond its work sucks the rent's late I need a date griping into the realm of existential letting",

Keysha Davis of BBC Music called the sampling of "Between the Sheets" as "clever". Writing for The Boston Globe, Joan Anderman called it a "breezy" track with a "disturbingly trite" theme. Jimmy Draper of San Francisco Bay Guardian noted that "the song seems so anticlimactic in comparison to the real life pot". Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone called the track "creaky and unconvincing". 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". 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".