WHITNEY HOUSTON
A Thoroughbred
Through & Through
Where does one start to describe this remarkable talent. Well, to
describe her in a Thoroughbred race horse metaphor, she has the pedigree (Gospel singing mother, Cissy Houston, and
Auntie Dionne Warwick), conformation, (cover model on Seventeen and model in Glamour magazines) and an incredible
"set of pipes" that catalyzed all her assets into the performance chart of an exceptional champion.
Let's start on June 1, 1985 when she charted her first hit, "You
Give Good Love" which reached #3, stayed on the Top 40 for 13 weeks and achieved GOLD. This filly broke from the
gate cleanly... AND she didn't stop running. In fact, typical of a great champion, she was not satisfied with the #3
Show position. In her next outing, she galloped for #1 and did she ever achieve it. In fact, her next 7 records
were all #1 hits, of which 1 was PLATINUM, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," and 4 were GOLD, "Saving
All My Love For You," "How Will I Know," "Greatest Love Of All," and "So Emotional." Her "Where
Do Broken Hearts Go," rose to #1, but did not go GOLD.
With tongue-n-cheek, I'll say that Whitney then went back to the shedrow
for about 2 years for a few prep races where she placed #9 with "Love Will Save The Day," and #5 with the
always popular "One Moment In Time," which one would think to be a GOLD RECORD.
Rested, Whitney came back with three more GOLDs in a row, of which two
were #1s, "I'm Your Baby Tonight," and "All The Man That I Need," plus her famous "Star
Sangled Banner" which she sang live at Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991 (Yes, it is disturbing to think
that this many years have already passed since this event.). The National Anthem only reached #20, despite the GOLD sales.
Then, once again, Whitney went back to the shedrow for a respite from wearing
all of the GOLD and PLATINUM. In fact, in 8/91 she recorded "My Name Is Not Susan," which only achieved
a #20 position after her recording of "Miracle" at #9. Normally at this point, one concludes that "the run"
is over. But this was far from the truth with this filly.
The truth is that all of Whitney's previous achievements would pale next
to her next outing which charted on 11/14/92 with "I Will Always Love You"... a gigantic hit achieving
quadruple PLATINUM, #1 position for 14 weeks, and Top 40 for 24. It was also #1 in sales, airplay, adult contempory
and R&B. And, it was THE song from the movie, Bodyguard, starring Kevin Costner and Whitney. HOWEVER,
IT WAS NOT THE ONLY SONG FROM BODYGUARD. Her next two records were also from the soundtrack, "I'm Every Woman,"
and "I Have Nothing," each reached #4, and each went GOLD. Another cut from the soundtrack
"Run To You" surprisingly only achieved a #31 position. This all happend from November 1992 to July 1993!
Then, in November of 1995, Whitney achieved another #1, PLATINUM Hit, "Exhale"
(or Shoop Shoop)" from the soundtrack of the movie Waiting To Exhale. There was one more #1 Hit which
followed, "Heartbreak Hotel" w/ Faith Evans and Kelly Price.
In all, the following songs reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 or
Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart.
1985: "Saving All My Love for You"
1986: "How Will I Know"
1986:
"Greatest Love of All"
1987: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
1987: "Didn't We Almost Have It All"
1988:
"So Emotional"
1988: "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
1990: "I'm Your Baby Tonight"
1991: "All the Man That I Need"
1992: "I Will Always Love You"
1995: "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
1999: "Heartbreak Hotel" w/ Faith Evans and Kelly
Price
The song playing in the background, "Step By Step" is
from her Preacher's Wife Album, and other compilations, including The Ultimate Dance Party 1998. It was a 1997
hit which charted #15. It's words are somewhat prophetic to Whitney's career, especially hers of recent.
And yet, despite what has been reported by the media, and in fact
witnessed on TV, I believe that Whitney Houston will remain a vital force in music. As her chart performance shows, she
cycles into GOLDS and PLATINUMS. So, I'm predicting that she will cycle again, if allowed by life and
business circumstances. True champions are PUT to pasture... THEY
DON'T GO THERE WILLINGLY. And Whitney is a true champion.
Johnny
Fotenote: Since the creative of the above text, Whitney has died... in Whitney fashion...
by tragically drowning in her bathtub. Her passing leaves of with two truths: 1) Fame, fortune, and beauty
does not assure a happy life. 2) Her talent lives on, for she is still the standard by which others, who dare
sing her songs or song-types, are compared.
