By Open Book
After learning of Whitney Houston’s death this weekend. Many realized what an impression she left on the music industry with her beautiful voice and artistry. So I would like to pay a special tribute, by looking back at some of my favorite songs from her films. Enjoy!
1996- THE PREACHERS WIFE
- STEP BY STEP
- I BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME
1995- WAITING TO EXHALE
- EXHALE SHOOP SHOOP
1992- THE BODYGUARD
- I’M EVERY WOMAN (Acapella)
We would also like to know what your favorite songs are by Whitney Houston?
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
One of the many sad aspects of her fame was the public was so infatuated with he non- artistic life. At the beginning of her career the same number scoopers and leeches were running around trying to find ways to undermine her success. Sadly I think this encouraged some of her isolation and some of her interest in some of the more destructive activities that weren’t previously part of her life.
We will see, but many wanted her death to be some sort of dramatic mess that it doesn’t yet appear to have been.
I frequently liked her more subdued songs yet would need to listen to her whole to catalogue to choose one over another.
Thank you OB for posting these. What a lovely tribute.
CR,
Unfortunately these leeches will never go away. They feed and feed and never feel full. Bless those who are able to pull them off and throw them back into the pond scum they came from.
Whitney,
Thank you for the songs you gave us and the talent you shared.
She had a bunch of problems. It’s great to hear she was overcoming them yet I’m sad we won’t get a chance to hear her mature as a musician.
Any way I hope she did not die of an over dose, really complications that result from compromising your body can be difficult to predict. When Amy Winehouse died the first stories that were circulated tried to claim she died of a drug overdose and most of that was just headline bull.
I’m going to miss her too.
I agree it’s a lovely tribute! I wasn’t a massive fan but she had an amazing amount of talent and will be missed.
Thanks LB, CR & Oz!
I’m glad u enjoyed them.
OB,
Thanks for posting these. I loved all off her music and am sad that she passed. I hope that she did not die of a perscription drug overdose as is being stated. If that is the case then this should be a wake up call to all that perscription drug laws need to change.
Same goes for MJ, there is no rhyme or reason that he should have ever had propifal (sp?) in his system outside of an operating room.
Something needs to be done about this.
I hope the same thing Paris. It’s so horrible to hear these Doctor’s who are so liberal with drugs still practicing medicine. ITA perscription drug laws need to change.
LB, CR & Paris-
What are some of your favorite songs by WH?
My love is your love is my fav. I could play this song all day.
Paris,
I loooooooove this song.I love her music because it has a lot of gospel undertones to them. This one has reggae mixed with a little gospel and the lyrics are so beautiful as well. Great selection. Thanks for sharing.
Paris,
I ask you about this later on this board but what impresses me about this song is it highlights Whitney or Whitney’s management song selection. If an artist is a stylist who is not writing your own songs, than your connoisseurship of material really has to be stellar. Obviously Whitney had that taken care of also.
Again she’s so great, but if I have to choose how’s this?
“I’m your baby toniiii-ight!”
I’m still thinking of my favorite one…
CR- U are soooooooo great!! U know this is my all time favorite music video because of the costumes. This is so 90’s. Love it!! O.k. I’m singing and dancing now. “I’m not in no hurry, we can dance all night etc……..” LOL!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, but unlike the European version, I liked the original version better because her her voice stood out better; oh well.
….tick-tock….
Hi everyone.
I’m going to ask some questions I have wondered about….
LB,
Since you have been public or live musical performer, how do vocalists see themselves as artists. I’ve heard many described as “song stylists” yet some might assume they write songs as well. This isn’t my definition at all.
Whitney would seem to fit this definition for me. Would you agree?
Honestly I don’t know. I think each artist sees themselves differently.
As artists, how do singers see themselves historically? Frequently vocalists have to enter territory that has been populated successfully by artists before them. This especially occurs with Broadway vocalists. How do they avoid shrinking from the challenge?
LB,
Because they do not feature a writing component: would it be true to define “American Idol”, “The Voice,” or “X factor” as song stylist competitions because they do not feature a writing component? What do you believe is a drawback to this kind of musical exhibition?
Whoa, these are some fully loaded questions…Well when it comes to these shows, tbh, at this point, I don’t watch any of them because it’s been overkill for so long. Yes, I love music. Yes, I love singers who can actually carry a tune. My problem is that I feel everything is so manufactured. Don’t get me wrong, these shows are great for someone who really has talent and would other wise have a very difficult time. On that note, I feel like I’m watching a factory assemble and make a singer. AI has given a lot of singers a great start, but many finalists haven’t had long lasting careers. True talent will stick around for decades…k, now I lost my train of thought.
Yeah, but Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are major stars. Certainly they would be no where without these shows. Do you think their examples legitimate these shows?
Oh I know and that’s why these shows are great. I think it’s when we have 400 of the same type of show that I think it’s over kill.
As for your question….mmmmyeeeooooooo. 🙂
ITA LB-AI and The Voice it’s so formulaic. I don’t watch much TV but when I have watched AI it always seemed so overkill like u said. It’s unfortunate it has become that way. I liked watching the show with Kelly Clarkson competed but after that I stopped. I wonder if that was the first show? LOL!!
OB,
What I thought was so fantastic about the show was artists in other fields don’t have such an easy and democratic way to get instant mass exposure. Visual artists, classical dancers, and writers, have a much harder time getting the review of the mass public because their work frequently isn’t seen as being as glamorous or dramatic.
Or evaluations are easier to make after seeing a volume of work or growth over time. I agree American Idol’s formula has proven dull over time. I don’t watch any of these shows either. Who knows whether Whitney would have benefitted from these shows?
Obviously, Jennifer Hudson did…
LB,
Though I’m impressed with a whole range of vocalists I think many might claim the vocalist masters both the technical and expressive components of a song? Would you agree?
ABSOLUTELY! There is something to be said about combining technique with emotion. You can sing a song beautifully note for note. However, when you take those notes and poor your heart and soul into them, the sound and lyrics become so much more powerful. There is also putting too much emotion into a song that you lose the technique. You have to find the right line.
Let me see if I can find some examples…
Ok here is the same song: written by Dolly and made famous by Whitney. I am not knocking Dolly’s version because I think she is a great artist. But there is something about Whitney’s tones and emotion that made it the song it is today. She used a lot of inflection and you really felt what she was singing.
I absolutely agree. Yet somehow it never stops being Parton’s sentiment. She seems so much more powerful for loaning the tune out. She defines a kind of artistic excellence and stature that is hard to find today.
Paris,
Because song stylists frequently rely of the material written by others, doesn’t the vocailst resemble the actor? Do you think there are other similarity’s?
i would think there are some seeing as they have to tell a story through the lyrics. For example, I watched Andrew Lloyd Weber’s birthday celebration and Glenn Close was talking about singing, she played Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Anyhow, she was saying she’s not a singer and was freaking out because everyone else had training and she didn’t really know how to express her piece properly. Finally she said something like “I imagined it as a monologue and just sang the song.”
I SAW HER!!! And I friggin’ loved her performance!!! Yes, she is not a brilliant singer, but holy crap she had me in tears. You could feel her emotions come through her notes and it was amazing.
Wow, this is better than the actor’s studio.
🙂
Paris,
You frequently talk about actor research. Do you think singers prepare the same way.
Hi! I’m here. CR, I don’t know how they would prepare. I would think some of the vocal excercises would be the same (if the actor is doing theater) other than that i would think they are different but you should ask LB as well because i don’t really know.
I think they do. I know when I was learning a song, I had to think about my motive for singing these particular words and phrases. If it’s a song about heart break, I’m going to want to channel those emotions and think about events that allow me to share those feelings through the song. Did that make sense?
Absolutely. Whitney’s range seemed so wide. Do you believe psychological understanding is also a component of being a good vocalist.. Do you think one has to be of a certain maturity to be a powerful vocalist?
yes. And by powerful I don’t mean strong vocal ability. I have heard 7 year olds sing opera, but it doesn’t mean they are a mature vocalist.
late but here!!! Let me catch up. 🙂
LB and Paris,
I remember Etta James complaining that she did not like Beyonce’ singing her signature song for Obama’s Inauguration….
From democraticunderground.com….
“The 71-year-old pioneer, who rose to fame in 1950s, recently made it clear that she was not a fan of the self-proclaimed diva whose third solo album I Am…Sasha Fierce is the #3 album in the country. Before performing “At Last” at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre last Wednesday, James complained about Beyonce singing the song for President Obama and wife Michelle’s first dance at the Neighborhood Ball.”
Whitney, who was a lot more popular at the peak of her career, made “I’m every woman” far more popular than Chaka Khan (who wrote the song) did. How do you feel about this trend?
Oh man…I can see from the original artist’s POV how having your “baby” could be something you don’t appreciate. Personally there are songs that should never be touched. “At Last” is such an example. No one will ever make it come close to Etta’s version.
I think it’s different for each artist. I often wonder why singers remake a song. I’m not opposed to it as long as it is good.
What do you think CR?
Like you, I think it is a really touchy and or risky issue.
I know Chaka and Whitney are very close. Chaka said so herself. So for Whitney to remake Chaka’s song i don’t think it was a problem for her. Etta james on the other hand, i remember thinking, Beyonce did a great job. She could have said something like “That’s a great rendition, i’m proud to be able to share my music with younger generations.” but she sounded conceited to me. Like “That’s my song and no one can sing it!”
You know that’s all I keep hearing. She seemed to be really supportive of her mentors, contemporaries and those who came after her.
Touchy: I think Whitney’s is a case of severe homage to the original artist. She even appears with Chaka in the video. She doesn’t appear like she’s trying to steal anything.
Paris I agree.
Risky: Still you can look like a jerk, if it isn’t handled well. As what happened when Beyonce’ sang Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love”.
Risky: Or you can look less talented than the original artist even if people think well of the rendition. As what happened when Pink, Mya, Lil’ kim, and Christina Aguilara, sang Patti Labelle’s Lady Marmalade.
What do you think makes an artist timeless?
Personally I love Judy Garland’s “Under the rainbow” but love other’s foray into the same territory/material.
Ultimately, I think it’s a combination of talent, artistry, class, and frequently modesty.
Hi all! I am here just my internet is still being extremely slow so it may take me a long time to reply again. 🙂
Ozzieeeeee!!!!!! *hugs*
Hi Ozzie!
Everyone,
I’m going for the evening. I’ll talk to you later.
Bye Paris.
Ok, everyone, I’m out for the evening but I will be back. 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Talk to you later LB
Ozzie, LB, and Paris,
Going back to a topic we discussed last week, when singers work as actors what allowances should they be given or should they be given any?
Oops, maybe it would better to respond the this one instead.
Going back to a topic we discussed last week, when singers work as actors what allowances should they be given or should they be given any?
Personally, I think they should be given time to learn and adapt to their new craft. Justin Timberlake has been acting for a few years now and when he first started his performances were slated. It’s only this last year he has started to get alot of credit to his performances. If I remember correctly Will Smith did alot of comedies before he moved to more serious roles giving himself time to grow.
Thanks everyone for coming.
Speaking of the Sparkle interview, I wanted everyone to remember we still have at least on more performance from Whitney to look forward to.
Bye everyone.
Happy Valentines day, OB!!!!!
I’m so sorry I missed the discussion tonight. A lot of great great questions and comments going on. I will definately come back tomorrow and get in on the discussion.
LB & Ozzie- What is your favorite WH song?
Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!