Synopsis

Whitney Houston performs "Step By Step" on a dark center stage, beginning alone in a brown raincoat before being joined by dancers as the song gathers momentum. The performance footage is intercut with scenes of young people restoring a youth center damaged by fire. The combination of Houston's commanding stage presence, choreographed movement, and the rebuilding project gives the video a determined, communal feel, reflecting the song's message of persistence and progress through small, steady efforts.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Step By Step" was originally written and recorded by Annie Lennox in 1992. Houston's version was reshaped into an R&B/pop arrangement, included new lyrics, and omitted part of the bridge. Lennox also contributed backing vocals.

• The song appeared on the soundtrack to the 1996 film *The Preacher's Wife* and was issued as a US single on February 24, 1997. It reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 12 on Adult Contemporary, and No. 29 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

• The video premiered on *Entertainment Tonight* on December 11, 1996, followed by premieres on MTV, VH1, and BET the next day.

• Houston's official channel later released an HD presentation of the video on YouTube on October 25, 2009, introducing the clip to a new online audience.