"How Will I Know" is the third single from Whitney Houston's self-titled first album. The single was released in November 1985. It was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of Boy Meets Girl fame. The song was originally meant to be for Janet Jackson. The song is an electric dance tune about Houston trying to decide if a boy she likes will ever like her. The song introduced Houston to the MTV generation after her first two singles were R&B ballads.