Whitney Houston has often been referred to as one of the ‘great’ vocalists of the past 100 years. And when you listen to some of her recordings and live performances from the past, you clearly understand why.
The iconic diva of Pop and RnB wasn’t just blessed with a powerful instrument, but she also had a great sense of musicianship, that she incorporated in her music, be it live or studio.
A rare combination of the technical finesse of a Broadway singer and the earthiness and Church-bred fire of a Soul singer, Whitney not only transcended genres but also brought out the best of all those elements.
Today we look back at some of her most monumental studio vocal performances. Recordings that showcase her once-in-a-lifetime vocal talent, covering nearly all aspects of what completed her as an artist. Ranging from, and not limited to, her – power, tonal quality, interpretative and improvisation skills (Yes! Even in the studio), the natural ‘Soul’ factor in her voice and her range and technical precision.
Here are Miss Houston’s top 10 studio vocal performances:
10) Didn’t We Almost Have It All
Her Tour De Force. She gave this performance her all in the studio, and you can totally hear it. The song features her going all-in from the beginning instead of creating a build-up first, like her other ballads – but it’s magical nevertheless. The most theatrical part of this iconic Michael Masser production is when she inches closer to the bridge and the resonating prowess of her breathtakingly powerful voice curates an incredible show-stopping finale.
9) Run To You
There are some elements of Houston’s gigantic vocals, that are nearly impossible to imitate. What she does in this particular recording each time in the chorus, when she sings the word ‘Run’ in the line – ‘I wanna run to you’, she delivers it in such operatic fashion that only she could. It is as if the size of her voice is so grand that it rises enough to move a mountain with it’s sheer power, yet it drags the full sound of her chest from the bottom, sweeping the complete floor. She eats the whole thing, basically. Just in that one word. And yet, it is the manner in which she approaches the note, starting it with an immediate vibrato, that makes her standout.
8) Unashamed
An accomplished vocal masterpiece from an era, casual musical listeners blindly gave a cold-shoulder to. Her vocals on this track, featured on her 2002-released LP – Just Whitney, put forth a flawless display of her range, power, melisma and some mind-boggling riffs and runs. But it is also the manner in which she shows a sense of conviction through her phrasing, passionately bringing out the powerful message of this song, that serves as a perfect example of her gift as a storyteller.
7) I Will Always Love You
Her most iconic song, bar none. And also one of her most difficult ones to sing – especially when you are to recreate the same degree of embellishments. Of coarse, a million vocalists have sung this Dolly Parton written tune, once Whitney Houston popularized it on a global level. But it is impossible to replicate that sheer power and strength she maintains, belting out that iconic climax, at the same level. The way she throws her full-sounding chest voice straight to money note, and then carries the same prowess as the note elongates and transitions into a vibrato, and then into a head voice, and then into her chest-vibrato again… it is truly one of the most jaw-dropping vocal experiences. She set the bar with this particular recording. And to think she recording it live, with a live-band in the studio.
6) I’m Every Woman
Chaka Khan herself branded this as the best anyone has ever sung any of her songs. And rightfully so. Featured on The Bodyguard soundtrack, the song sees her most inimitable and difficult vocals. And it’s not just that jaw-dropping bridge, but also what she does in-between, delivering so much with her voice that it would be hard for you to keep-up during the first many listens. And yet she remains deliciously musical and perfectly in-sync with the song’s flavor, exuding a joyful passion out of the lyric.
5) You’re Still My Man
An underrated gem of a song, featured on her sophomore album, released in the year 1987. For the first two verses, she maintains a youthful innocence to her voice, which perfectly captures the backdrop of a young-love, this song is about. And then when she approaches the finale and unleashes some of her most breath-taking belted notes in the studio, high up in the fifth octave, it’s game-over. She then sings it with a Gospel-like fire in her voice, exuding a passion, reminiscent of her inspiration in music – Aretha Franklin. Only more versatile.
4) I Believe In You And Me
The first half features some of her most knee-weakening, soul-melting vocals in her angelic head voice. And then as she approaches the song’s climax and scales up the octave with a long ‘forever’ note, she takes it right to church. Denzel Washington’s expression in the scene from The Preacher’s Wife, which featured Houston singing this song to him, pretty much sums-up how we all feel upon hearing her sing this, time and time again.
3) Why Does It Hurt So Bad?
Yet another song Whitney Houston famously recorded in a single take, with producer Babyface in the studio recording it with her. The perfect imperfections towards the bridge when her voice breaks in pain, reaching the pinnacle of the song with that eye-opening statement, summing-up the song’s essence, ending with a high ‘You’ in head voice – makes it one of her most magical moments captured in the studio. And would you believe it – she made it sound even better, when she sang it live at the MTV awards in the year 1996.
2) Joy To The World
A non-stop singathon, exemplary of so many aspects of the vocalist. Her range, her growls, her runs and riffs, inflections, her scales and register transitions. It is all on full display here. But what also remains a highlight is her buttery tonal quality, which has just the perfect amounts of resonance and ‘bite’ to it. With all the inspiring vocal extravaganza the song offers, its most breathtaking vocal moment perhaps comes when she ventures into an encore and adlibs with the choir and then as the band breaks down, she comes straight back to the chorus with a piercing belt. Of coarse that heavenly note in the end will leave your eyes wide-open as well.
1) I Love The Lord
This is Houston’s definitive song when it comes to capturing the greatest aspect of her overall artistry, which was – her ability to infuse passion and a sense of conviction in her vocal delivery, like she’s using every part of her body and soul to sing it. Despite all the technical gifts she was blessed with and trained into, her greatest gift to music as an artist was her way to tell a story and interpret a song, organically infuse Soul and melodrama, and then be completely lost singing it. This is exactly what happens towards the end of this song, as she sings in worship and adlibs on top of the piercing scales of the Georgia Mass Choir. This isn’t something that can ever be imitated.
Honorable mentions:
O Come O Come Emanuel
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
I Learned From The Best
I Have Nothing
Look Into Your Heart