View source for It's Not Right but It's Okay

{{Short description|1999 single by Whitney Houston}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = It's Not Right but It's Okay
| cover         = Whitney Houston - It's Not Right But It's OK.png
| border        = yes
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Whitney Houston]]
| album         = [[My Love Is Your Love]]
| A-side        = [[Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song)|Heartbreak Hotel]]
| B-side        = Get It Back
| released      = {{start date|1999|2|15}}
| recorded      =
| studio        = Crossway (Mendham, New Jersey)<ref>My Love Is Your Love album booklet</ref>
| genre         = * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[neo soul]]
* [[house music|house]]
| length        = * 4:52 (album version)
* 4:22 (radio and video version)
| label         = [[Arista Records|Arista]]
| writer        = 
* LaShawn Daniels
* [[Rodney Jerkins]]
* [[Fred Jerkins III]]
* [[Isaac Phillips]]
* [[Toni Estes]]
| producer      = [[Rodney Jerkins|Darkchild]]
| prev_title    = [[Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song)|Heartbreak Hotel]]
| prev_year     = 1998
| next_title    = [[My Love Is Your Love (song)|My Love Is Your Love]]
| next_year     = 1999
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|6J538b-OLRU|"It's Not Right but It's Okay"}}}}
}}
"'''It's Not Right but It's Okay'''" is a song recorded by American singer [[Whitney Houston]] for her fourth studio album, ''[[My Love Is Your Love]]''. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, [[Rodney Jerkins|Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]], [[Fred Jerkins III]], [[Isaac Phillips]], [[Toni Estes]] and produced by Darkchild. The song was released as the third single from the album on February 15, 1999, by [[Arista Records]]. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" examines a woman confronting her lover about his [[infidelity]]. 

Houston won the 2000 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]] for this song. In 2003, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q Magazine]]'' ranked "It's Not Right but It's Okay" at number 638 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)}}</ref>  In 2019, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-songs-of-1999-top-99-8505742/|title=The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=April 8, 2019|accessdate=November 12, 2023}}</ref> In 2022, the [[Thunderpuss]] club mix was listed in the list of the 200  greatest dance songs of all time on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name=rsdance>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888/whitney-houston-its-not-right-but-its-ok-thunderpuss-club-mix-1999-1376951/|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 21, 2022 |accessdate=April 6, 2024}}</ref> In 2025, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' listed the song in its 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time list as well as its 100 Best LGBTQ Anthems of All Time list.<ref name="bbdancelist">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-dance-songs-all-time/ |title=The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 28, 2025 |accessdate=March 29, 2025}}</ref><ref name=bblgbtq>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/lgbtq-anthems-queer-pride-songs/whitney-houston-its-not-right-but-its-okay-thunderpuss-remix-1998|title=100 Best LGBTQ Anthems of All Time: Queer Pride Songs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 4, 2025|accessdate=June 5, 2025}}</ref> That same year, remixer and deejay [[Felix Jaehn]] put out a new official remix of the song to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original song's release.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1MTCiRbvPK93YY6LNIeEbc |title=It's Not Right But It's Okay by DJ Felix Jaehn and Whitney Houston |work=[[Spotify]] |accessdate=March 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FELIX JAEHN ENLISTS WHITNEY HOUSTON ON THEIR VERSION OF "IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY" OUT NOW – Sony Music Canada |url=https://www.sonymusic.ca/press_release/felix-jaehn-enlists-whitney-houston-on-their-version-of-its-not-right-but-its-okay-out-now |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.sonymusic.ca}}</ref> The single reached number one in Spain and the top five in Canada, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The single helped cement Houston’s [[Cultural impact of Whitney Houston|status as a pop culture icon]].

==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 (Whitney Houston album)|The Ultimate Collection]]''.

The Johnny Vicious remixes were included on the domestic CD maxi-single of "[[Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song)|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 (song)|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 [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[neo soul]] song.<ref name="Publishing2000">{{cite book|title=Out|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57|date=May 2000|publisher=Here Publishing|page=57|issn=1062-7928}}</ref> 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 G<sub>3</sub> to A{{Flat}}<sub>5</sub> in the song.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Whitney Houston "It's Not Right But It's Okay" Sheet Music – Download & Print|url = http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0100950|website = www.musicnotes.com|access-date = October 3, 2015|first = Jerkins III|last = Fred|date = February 20, 2012}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
Bill Lamb from [[About.com]] noted that the song is a "hard-hitting anthem for women on the way out of relationships that sounds great on the radio and on the dance floor."<ref>{{cite web|author=Lamb, Bill|url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-songs-from-the-90s-3245307|title=The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s|publisher=[[About.com]]|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> [[J.D. Considine]] from ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' wrote, "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]]."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/11/18/talent-is-true-if-lyrics-are-not-review-whitney-houston-finds-a-gritty-funky-balance-on-my-love-but-dont-put-any-words-in-her-mouth/ |title=Talent is true, if lyrics are not Review: Whitney Houston finds a gritty, funky balance on 'My Love.' But don't put any words in her mouth. – Baltimore Sun |magazine=Articles.baltimoresun.com |date=November 18, 1998 |access-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053541/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-11-18/features/1998322040_1_whitney-houston-houston-new-album-sing-about-love |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine highlighted the song on Houston's album.<ref name="Inc.1998">{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_MAoEAAAAMBAJ|date=November 28, 1998|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_MAoEAAAAMBAJ/page/n18 19]|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> ''[[Birmingham Evening Mail]]'' commented, "Houston, we have a problem. We loved your leather-limbed performance on the [[Brit Awards|Brits]] of [[Rodney Jenkins]]' standout track from your new album 'My Love Is Your Love' and we know you should be cutting contemporary [[R&B]] - we just reckon you deserve better songs. Still, as a chart cert this'll do nicely, it's not great but it's okay."<ref>"Singles Pick of the Week". ''[[Birmingham Evening Mail]]''. February 23, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2020.</ref> [[Matt Stopera]] and Brian Galindo from ''[[BuzzFeed]]'' noted on the [[Thunderpuss]] Remix, that "aside from being a essential gay dance floor classic, this track proves how a good remix can elevate a song from good to ICONIC."<ref>{{cite web|first1= Matt |last1= Stopera |first2= Brian |last2= Galindo |title= The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s |website= [[BuzzFeed]] |date= March 11, 2017 |access-date= March 31, 2020 |url= https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/jump-to-the-rhythm-jump-jump-to-the-rhythm-jump}}</ref> ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' stated, "Soul diva Whitney sounds streetwise with her biggest single since [[I Will Always Love You]]."<ref>"Chart Slot". ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. March 26, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2020.</ref>

==Chart performance and sales==
It became the album's third single, peaking at number four on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart on July 3, 1999 and staying on the charts for 20 weeks and [[List of Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles in 1999|spent five weeks inside the top ten]].<ref>{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=whitney houston|chart=all}}</ref> 

The single also peaked at number one on ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart where it stayed for three weeks becoming her longest-running number one hit on the chart and later shared with "[[I Learned From the Best]]". 

The song peaked at number 7 on the  [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks]] chart and became her longest charting single on that chart for 30 weeks, later shared with 2009's "[[Million Dollar Bill]]". 

It was later certified [[RIAA certification|platinum]] by the RIAA. The song reached No. 3 in Canada, Iceland and the [[UK Singles Chart|United Kingdom]] — in March 1999, where it stayed in the chart for 15 weeks, becoming a hugely popular radio hit in the country, and later went [[BPI certification|2x platinum]]. In Spain, it peaked at No. 1. A hit all over Europe, it reached No. 9 on the [[Eurochart Hot 100]].

==Music video==
The [[music video]] was directed by [[Kevin Bray (director)|Kevin Bray]] and became iconic for Houston showcasing an edgier look than in previous music videos, wearing a strapless leather gown styled by [[fashion designer]] [[Gianfranco Ferré]], a sleek [[Bob (hairstyle)|bob]], a single fingerless glove, [[choker necklace]] and dark makeup. Houston is shown in the beginning sitting down around a glass dining table addressing her cheating lover directly behind a black background that sparks up. Houston is then joined by several women singing the chorus. Houston's backing dancers are also shown in various shots dresses in army outfits. Much like many of the videos from the singles off the ''My Love Is Your Love'' album, the video instantly earned heavy rotation on [[MTV]] and [[BET]] and was played constantly on MTV's countdown channel, ''[[Total Request Live]]''. Later, the remix version of the video aired on the same channel while the original was played on BET. 

It was later dramatized in the TV series, ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'', in its Houston tribute episode, "[[Dance with Somebody (Glee)|Dance with Somebody]]", with actor [[Darren Criss]]' character [[Blaine Anderson]] confronting [[Chris Colfer]]'s character [[Kurt Hummel]] due to rumors that Kurt cheated on him, as well as in the Houston biopic, ''[[Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody]]'' (2022) by actress [[Naomi Ackie]], who played Houston in the film.

On Houston's official [[YouTube]] channel, the official music video has been viewed 130 million times on the channel.

==Live performances==
Houston gave live performances of the song on several television shows in both Europe and the United States. In Europe, Houston performed the song on the Netherlands TV show ''The Surprise Show'', the Italian TV show ''C'era Un Ragazzo'', the Spanish TV show ''Sorpresa Sorpresa'', the German TV show ''[[Wetten, dass...]]'' and the [[1999 Brit Awards]] and ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' in the UK while in the United States, she performed the show live at the [[1999 Soul Train Music Awards|13th Annual Soul Train Music Awards]], VH1's ''[[Divas Live '99]]'' and ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]''. Houston also performed the song, along with the just-released single, "[[I Learned From the Best]]", at the [[42nd Annual Grammy Awards]] in 2000. It would be her eighth and final Grammy performance. With this achievement, Houston tied with [[Aretha Franklin]] for the second most Grammy performances ever, with only  [[Bonnie Raitt]] performing more with nine.

==Cover versions and samples==
The song was covered by [[Darren Criss]] on the hit [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] TV show ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]''. Criss' character, Blaine, was confronting his own 'cheating' lover in the Whitney Houston tribute special, "[[Dance with Somebody (Glee)|Dance with Somebody]]". It was also covered on the "Lies" single and ''[[The Mother We Share]]'' EP by [[Chvrches]] as well as British soul singer [[Craig David]]. The song was heavily sampled in Mak & Pasteman's "It Ain't Right" and Shane Codd's "Rather Be Alone". According to the sample database site, [[WhoSampled]], the song was covered 28 times and sampled 54 times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whosampled.com/Whitney-Houston/It%27s-Not-Right-but-It%27s-Okay/ |title=Whitney Houston - It's Not Right but It's Okay |work=[[WhoSampled]] |accessdate=March 29, 2025}}</ref>

==Legacy and accolades==
Since its release, the song has made several best-of lists in various magazines and media outlets.

In 2003, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q Magazine]]'' ranked the song at number 638 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)}}</ref>  In 2019, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-songs-of-1999-top-99-8505742/|title=The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=April 8, 2019|accessdate=November 12, 2023}}</ref> In 2022, the [[Thunderpuss]] club mix of the song was listed in the list of the 200 greatest dance songs of all time on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name=rsdance>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888/whitney-houston-its-not-right-but-its-ok-thunderpuss-club-mix-1999-1376951/|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 21, 2022 |accessdate=April 6, 2024}}</ref> Three years later, in 2025, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' listed the song in its 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time list at number 72.<ref name="bbdancelist">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-dance-songs-all-time/ |title=The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 28, 2025 |accessdate=March 29, 2025}}</ref> That same year, the song was ranked number 45 of the Greatest LGBTQ Anthems of All Time.<ref name=bblgbtq/>

Phillip Henry of ''Billboard'' wrote in 2018 how the song was the "[[List of gay anthems|gay national anthem]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/whitney-houston-queer-icon-lgbtq-8465075/ |title=6 Reasons Whitney Houston Is an Inspiration & Icon to the LGBTQ Community |magazine=Billboard |author=Phillip Henry |date=July 11, 2018 |accessdate=April 6, 2025}}</ref> Owen Myers of ''[[The Fader]]'' called it Houston's "most iconic gay anthem".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/06/26/thunderpuss-interview-whitney-houston-its-not-right-but-its-okay-remix-chris-cox/amp |title=How Thunderpuss Turned Whitney Houston's "It's Not Right But It's Okay" Into Her Most Iconic Gay Anthem |work=[[The Fader]] |author=Owen Myers |date=June 26, 2017 |accessdate=April 6, 2025}}</ref> In its 2025 write-up on the song, ''Billboard'' stated, "With a message of empowerment and perseverance, Whitney Houston continues the legacy of [[Gloria Gaynor]]" with the song, comparing it to Gaynor's similar anthem, "[[I Will Survive]]" (1978), and while giving credit to the original Jerkins version for "redefining [[contemporary R&B|R&B]]", stated that the Thunderpuss remix "reintroduc[ed] America's greatest singer as a club queen."<ref name="bbdancelist"/> 

At the [[42nd Annual Grammy Awards]] in 2000, Houston won her sixth and final competitive Grammy for the song, her first in the [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]] category, making her the first winner of the award in the new millennium. Houston had been nominated six times for the award in the past. In winning the Grammy, she joined cousin [[Dionne Warwick]] and [[Toni Braxton]] as the third female artist to win in the [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|pop]] and R&B categories, having won three of her Grammys in the former category.

==Track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''UK CD1'''
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Original Radio Mix) – 4:15
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" ([[Peter Rauhofer|Club 69]] Club Mix) – 7:58
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" ([[Johnny Vicious]] Radio Mix) – 4:14

* '''UK CD2'''
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Original Radio Mix) – 4:15
# "Step by Step" – 4:12
# "I'm Every Woman" – 4:47

* '''European maxi-single (The Dance Mixes)'''
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Original Radio Mix) – 4:15
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Radio Mix) – 4:18
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Radio Mix) – 4:25
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss 2000 Club Mix) – 9:14

* '''12-inch vinyl'''
:A1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (KCC's Release The Love Groove Mix) – 7:05
:B1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Future Mix) – 8:02
:B2. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Mix) – 4:26

* '''12-inch vinyl (Thunderpuss 2000 Remixes)'''
:A1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club Mix) – 9:15
:A2. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Radio Mix) – 4:16
:B1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Dub) – 8:19
:B2. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Beats) – 4:22
{{col-2}}
* '''US CD single'''
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Original Radio Mix) – 4:15
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Mix) – 4:15
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" ([[Thunderpuss]] Mix) – 4:11

* '''US maxi-CD single'''
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Mix) – 4:30
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Rodney Jerkins Smooth Instrumental) – 4:30
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) – 4:18
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Radio Mix) – 4:21
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 9:12
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Future Club Mix) – 8:05
# "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Club 69 Future Dub) – 7:52
# "I Will Always Love You" ([[Hex Hector]] Club Mix) – 9:50 {{small|('''Special bonus cut''')}}

* '''12-inch vinyl (Johnny Vicious Remixes)'''
:A1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Momentous Mix) – 13:03
:B1. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Johnny Vicious Momentous Dub) – 8:31
:B2. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Radio Mix) – 4:11
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
'''Original version'''
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>
|88
|-
{{single chart|Austria|20|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|40|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52|title=Hits of the World: Canada|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|issue=32|page=52|date=August 7, 1999|access-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref>
|3
|-
!scope="row"|Canada CHR ([[Nielsen BDS]])<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 1999|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 13, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center"|17
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-03-13.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=11|page=14|date=March 13, 1999|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>
|9
|-
{{single chart|France|21|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|14|artist=Houston, Whitney|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|songid=3875|rowheader=true|access-date=April 30, 2020}}
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2984695#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 324 Vikuna 20.5. – 27.5. 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=May 21, 1999|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>
|3	
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|21|song=It's Not Right but It's OK|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"| Italy ([[FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/1/1999/16
|title=Classifica settimanale WK 16|language=it|access-date=April 2, 2022}}</ref>
|9
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|10|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|12|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|33|artist=Whitney Houston feat. Faith Evans & Kelly Price|song=Heartbreak Hotel / It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2020|note=with "Heartbreak Hotel"}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|8|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2020|date=19990306}}
|-
{{single chart|Spain|1|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|12|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|18|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=22775|3|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|1|artist=Whitney Houston|song=It's Not Right but It's Okay|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2020|date=19990306}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|2|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true|access-date=July 16, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|7|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|23|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|15|artist=Whitney Houston|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2017}}
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2012)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|UK|61|artist=Whitney Houston|date=20120225|rowheader=true}}
|}

'''Felix Jaehn Remix'''
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2025)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Croatia International Airplay ([[Top lista]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/airplay-radio-chart-top100-07-travnja-2025/|title=Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 07. travnja 2025.|date=April 7, 2025|publisher=[[Hrvatska radiotelevizija]]|access-date=April 7, 2025|lang=hr}}</ref>
|44
|-
{{single chart|Czech Republic|3|year=2025|week=25|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2025}}
|-
! scope="row"| Estonia Airplay ([[TopHit]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: May 29, 2025 |url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ee/weekly/20250523-20250529 |access-date=May 31, 2025 |date=May 30, 2025 |language=ru, en|publisher=[[TopHit]]}}</ref>
| 29
|-
! scope="row"| Israel International Airplay ([[Media Forest]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#!#menu2|title=מדיה פורסט {{ndash}} המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי {{ndash}} Week 13 {{ndash}} 23/03 {{ndash}} 29/03/2025|trans-title=Media Forest {{ndash}} International Weekly Chart {{ndash}} Week 13 {{ndash}} 23/03 {{ndash}} 29/03/2025|publisher=[[Media Forest]]|access-date=May 28, 2025|date=March 30, 2025|language=he|type=Select the year 2025 and the option "13 23-03-25 29-03-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.}}</ref>
| 11
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1999)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1999|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999|language=de|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>
|83
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1999|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>
|90
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dutchcharts.nl - Jaaroverzichten - Single 1999  |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=s |language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref>
|85
|-
!scope="row"|Romania ([[Romanian Top 100]])<ref name="rt100">{{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|title=Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999|language=ro|publisher=[[Romanian Top 100]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|archive-date=January 22, 2005}}</ref>
|34
|-
!scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anuariossgae.com/anuario2000/frames.html|title=Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 1999|trans-title=Table 16. Top Selling CD-Singles in 1999|publisher=[[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]]|language=es|page=206|access-date=November 11, 2021}} ''Click on'' Música grabada.</ref>
|17
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Hitlistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1999&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1999|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|language=sv|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
|83
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf|title=Yearly Best Selling Singles|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924031612/http://bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf|archive-date=September 24, 2010|access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref>
|25
|-
!scope="row"|UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|title=Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=January 22, 2000|access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>
|23
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA48 |title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date =December 25, 1999 |access-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>
|44
|-
!scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA60 |title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|issue=52|pages=YE-60 | date =December 25, 1999 |access-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>
|11
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA57|title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date =December 25, 1999 |access-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>
|37
|-
!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=[[Airplay Monitor]]|volume=7|issue=52|page=54|date=December 24, 1999|access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125051300/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|61
|-
!scope="row"|US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=SL680-PA61 |title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=111|issue=52|pages=YE-61 | date =December 25, 1999 |access-date=February 3, 2024}}</ref>
|11
|-
!scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=[[Airplay Monitor]]|volume=7|issue=52|page=53|date=December 24, 1999|access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125051300/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|56
|}
'''Felix Jaehn Remix'''
===Monthly charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
! scope="col"| Chart (2025)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Estonia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ee/monthly/202505|title=Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: May 2025|publisher=[[TopHit]]|access-date=June 6, 2025|date=June 6, 2025|language=ru, en}}</ref>
| 34
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=It's Not Right but It's Okay|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=January 13, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=It's Not Right but It's Okay|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|id=14244-2739-1|access-date=August 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=It's Not Right but It's Okay|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2019|access-date=November 6, 2021|refname="riaa"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Version
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden
|rowspan="2"|"It's Not Right but It's Okay"
|February 15, 1999
|CD
|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|[[Arista Records|Arista]]|[[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]}}
|align="center"|<ref name="swerel">{{cite web|url=http://www.click2music.se/product.asp?prd=231&art=1|title=Whitney Houston: It's Not Right but It's OK|website=click2music.se|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030110204250/http://www.click2music.se/product.asp?prd=231&art=1|archive-date=January 10, 2003|access-date=November 29, 2023}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|February 22, 1999
|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-02-20.pdf|title=Whitney Houston: The Campaign|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=9|date=February 20, 1999|access-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|Japan
|"Heartbreak Hotel" / "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
|February 24, 1999
|CD
|rowspan="3"|Arista
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/153329/products/51520/1/|title=ハートブレイク・ホテル {{!}} ホイットニー・ヒューストン|trans-title=Heartbreak Hotel {{!}} Whitney Houston|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|United States
|rowspan="2"|"It's Not Right but It's Okay"
|April 19, 1999
|{{hlist|[[Rhythmic contemporary]] radio|[[Urban contemporary music|urban contemporary]] radio}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/90s/1999/Hits-1999-04-09.pdf|title=Crossover Nation: New Releases – Going For Adds 4/19|magazine=[[Hits (magazine)|Hits]]|via=World Radio History|volume=13|issue=638|page=62|date=April 9, 1999|access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=AddVance Notice|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1295|page=62|date=April 16, 1999}}</ref>
|-
|May 25, 1999
|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|align="center"|<ref name="riaa"/>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of number-one singles of 1999 (Spain)]]
* [[List of number-one dance singles of 1999 (U.S.)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-Its-Not-Right-But-Its-Okay/master/51753 It's Not Right but It's Okay] at [[Discogs]]

{{Whitney Houston}}
{{Whitney Houston Singles}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:It's Not Right But It's Okay}}
[[Category:1998 songs]]
[[Category:1999 singles]]
[[Category:Whitney Houston songs]]
[[Category:Arista Records singles]]
[[Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles]]
[[Category:Neo soul songs]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Rodney Jerkins]]
[[Category:Songs about infidelity]]
[[Category:Songs written by Fred Jerkins III]]
[[Category:Songs written by LaShawn Daniels]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rodney Jerkins]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related songs]]