Throwback Thursday: Whitney Houston
Good afternoon, Musicheads! For those of you who are too young to remember otherwise, and think that Beyonce is the “end-all, be-all” of Pop/R&B artists, allow this article to be your official education. If there was any doubt about Whitney being the G.O.A.T. in terms of female artists over the last 40 years, this tune here will end all debate on the matter.
The year was 1985. This was the first real official introduction that we had to Ms. Whitney Houston, as well as her first big hit. Who cares that it’s a remake? Most people don’t even realize that fact. That’s because Whitney took the song, and truly made it her own. She sang every phrase with all the grace, power, and conviction of someone well beyond her years. Keep in mind, she was all of 21 when this tune was recorded…..Just barely old enough to drink, but yet could convey this type of complex emotion through song? There’s not a lot of artists who are up to that kind of task anymore, especially at that age. I love that you can hear all of the youth and vulnerability in her voice; as she is singing about her role as the “other woman,” clearly in an affair with a married man. Even though this wasn’t something that she herself, had probably never experienced, her vocals made you believe that she had.....and in turn, that you had too....
Enjoy this trip back to 1985.
