Whitney Houston--Riha's Top 10 Songs

Hey all,
I don't want to write a long post here, but I felt compelled to say a little something about Whitney Houston in light of her passing.
As a Whitney fan, I've gone through my ups and downs with the diva--from utter faith in her ability to regain her stardom to extreme disappointment in her downfall. I suppose all of that seems moot now, since I'll never know what could have come her way. She meant a lot to me musically--a rare voice that couldn't be touched in its heyday. From 1985-1994 her power was undeniable. Perhaps Mariah/Celine/other divas have held onto their voices for longer, but nobody could touch Whitney in her prime. I will miss her.I was actually in the process of reworking my Top 10 Whitney songs before she died, so now finishing seems appropriate. She had a lot of great songs and I agonized over this for a while.

10. I Look to You

Her last CD, I Look to You, may not have performed to expectations, but it was a solid effort. This song was a glimmer that old Whitney could still emerge someday. Although her live performances at this point were hit or miss, this one suggested she was on the road to recovery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTSlKG2ZCq8

9. How Will I Know

Her first dance hit, of like four total dance hits (note--this is mathematically inaccurate). I'd post my favorite live performance (don't worry, this will become a trend soon), but since the music video is such a hoot I'll post that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-hY-hlhBg&ob=av3e

8. All the Man That I Need

Oddly, this song isn't regarded as one of her biggest hits, even though it's her fourth most successful song on the Billboard charts. WELL I'M BRINGING IT BACK. This video is of her rehearsing before her first ever appearance on SNL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FfG87hiKSA

7. I Have Nothing

As much as American Idol contestants try, they'll never top the original. Hell, even Natalie Cole tried to sing this at the Oscars and couldn't hold a candle to the original Here's a stuning performance at the Billboard Music Awards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A--h0o_7yzg<

6. I Believe in You and Me

Granted, this might be getting a small boost because of its lyrical content in the wake of her death...but it's still amazing. I consider this her last really great vocal before things deteriorated. This live performance shows a few signs of cracks in the republic, but she's still totally killing it circa 1997 AND sits in a chair the whole time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFa53KEUlNI

5. Saving All My Love for You

I love this song, despite its surprisingly salacious (well, salacious for Whitney) content. I'd be remiss if I didn't link to her singing this at the 1986 Grammy Awards...largely because she won a freaking Emmy for this live performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qLYy8oBzc8

4. One Moment in Time

I don't care that it's kinda cheesy because the lyrics really hit home for me. Thinking of a struggling closeted Riha years ago, this song was one I listened to and made me feel like the intense sadness I was feeling would go away. This is my favorite live performance she's ever done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYFHAvULvJ0

3. My Love is Your Love

A surprisingly low key number, but I think her death has given the lyrics new emotional weight. I wanted to pick a good vocal of this song...so I went with her Letterman appearance. Sadly, Bobbi Kristina didn't cameo, but she does so YouTube that business: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5kBWwXTZo4

2. I Will Always Love You

Classic. Powerful. Undeniable greatness. There's an embarrassment of riches with live performances of this one, so I just picked a classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hM_vSQLu_8&feature=related

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)

I love this song. Always have, always will. It's never ceased to be my favorite Whitney and I think it's how I would most like to remember her--happy, upbeat, and at the top of her vocal form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pdUvfojP7-w

And a few more live gems that aren't technically "Whitney" songs, but are worth watching...

Obviously her Star Spangled Banner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jeUINzHK9o

BUT! If you want an extra dose of patriotism, check out her Battle Hymm of the Republic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSvH4s-4sCQ

I know I posted I Have Nothing earlier, but here's a killer medley of Porgy and Bess/Dreamgirls (And I Am Telling You!!!)/The Bodyguard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eGIo_SCrN8&feature=fvst

And although this was an album cut for Whitney, in my heart this is a duet (hence it not making my list). Here's When You Believe at the Oscars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7qX3eQVnQ0

I feel like I could go on all night. But I'm going to leave it here.

Goodbye, Whitney.

Album Review: I Look to You

Requester: Riha

I started writing my review of Whitney Houston’s I Look to You three times. Each time, I was unhappy and had to start over. One time I did not think I was writing well enough. Another time I got tired of thinking about the CD and deleted my progress in frustration. Once I wished I had a stronger opinion about the album. So it goes. Each time, I was thwarted by the same realization: This album just does not inspire me. It's a bit sad, really. I find the uptempo numbers well-produced yet uninteresting. I think the ballads are well-sung but not particularly well-written. Overall, I think that I had really high expectations for Whitney’s return and I was rewarded with a serviceable album. The metaphorical crack to the cocaine of Whitney's earlier efforts.

Sure, Whitney isn’t an album artist. Almost all of her CDs are stuffed with filler and three to four amazing singles. Perhaps I Look To You has less filler, but it also lacks any surefire radio jams. The album’s opener, Million Dollar Bill, is the song most likely to tear up the radio waves. Nevertheless, I find myself skeptical that it will really take off. As a good friend described it, “it sounds like an Alicia Key’s reject—which it is.” My friend is pretty wise when it comes to music, and I find myself agreeing with him. The song is objectively catchy, but to revive a career after a seven-year hiatus, you’d think it would need to hit a bit harder.

Another Whitney staple is the bombastic ballad. Here there are two: I Look to You and I Didn’t Know My Own Strength. I’ve already made my thoughts clear on I Didn’t Know My Own Strength in an earlier review. I Look to You isn’t much better. I find I Look to You to be more melodic, but it doesn’t solve any of the problems presented by I Didn’t Know My Own Strength. The lyrics are horribly vague and Whitney’s voice isn’t what it used to be. In some cases on the CD, it works to her benefit, adding grit and soul to an otherwise pedestrian track. However, when she reaches the bridge on both of these songs, it’s painfully clear she can’t sing like she used to.

Yet, through all of my frustration with this CD, there are a few gems that show promise for Ms. Houston. The best of the lot is Salute, the album’s final number. With the ballads, Whitney basically hits us over the head saying how difficult things have been these past few years. The self-referencing is obvious, yet the emotional substance is lacking. With Salute, it seems like she’s just recording a song about a love gone wrong. Somehow, though, it hits harder that she might have intended. Clearly Bobby B is the one she’s saluting. Also, I Got You is a surprisingly enjoyable song because it has a unique reggae vibe that suits Houston pretty well.

As I mentioned earlier, there really isn’t filler on this album. Each track has some value, even the ballads. To that end, the material here is better than a typical Whitney album. However, without huge singles and her pristine voice, this just doesn't feel like Whitney. How uninspiring.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars.

Savage Songs: Salute, I Got You, Million Dollar Bill

Single Review: Million Dollar Bill

Requester: The all powerful and generally idiotic Clive Davis. AKA nobody. Just this guy again.

Well, Whitney has an official single once again. Apparently I Didn’t Know My Own Strength is not the lead single from her upcoming release, I Look to You. THANK GOD! The good news here is that her official single, Million Dollar Bill, is considerably better than that strength cliché song. It has the potential to succeed on the radio. Also, restores my once shattered faith in her next CD. The bad news is that it’s not nearly as perfect as I would have hoped. I think expectations were dauntingly high, but with a seven year hiatus, one would think that something a little more substantial would come out of the Houston hits factory.

I think the best part is that her voice, albeit not as technically stunning as it used to be, finally has something she originally lacked: soul. Her singing is full of grit and character and I feel much more connected to her voice than I ever have before. Granted, she can’t hold notes quite as long, nor is her tone as strikingly pristine as it used to be, but I think the pros outweigh the cons. Furthermore, she’s still one of the best singers in popular music.

The flip side is that the song is sort of ordinary. I do think the chorus is incredibly catchy, but the verses and the bridge are unmemorable. Also, the song feels very short. Perhaps it’s a compliment to say it felt like it ended too soon, but in this case I feel like the writer’s just got lazy.

Overall, I recommend the song. It’s fun, upbeat, and is unmistakably Whitney. However, with seven years to work, she could have really knocked it out of the park.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Single Review: I Didn't Know My Own Strength

Well, Whitney Houston is off the crack-pipe and back in business. On September 1st, the pop diva will release I Look to You, her first full-length studio album in six years. This definitely one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent history, so the pressure is on for the former Mrs. Bobby Brown.

The good news: Her voice, albeit raspy, sounds strong and soulful on I Didn't Know My Own Strength, the first single from her upcoming release.

The bad news: The song is bland and weighed downed by pop cliches. Diane Warren has penned an underwhelming debut for Ms. Houston and I cannot imagine this song taking her to the top of the charts, pending an promotional overhaul from her record label and Clive Davis. The most disappointing aspect of the track is the weakness of the chorus. Give the song a listen, wait fifteen minutes, and call me on the phone. I'll ask you to sing the chorus. You'll struggle. It's that simple.

The track could be really spectacular if it delved into the dark times Whitney has gone through with some specificity. Instead of just saying, "I got through all the pain," "survived my darkest hour," etc., which are vague descriptions at best, she could really let loose regarding her failed marriage or drug problems. Unfortunately, pandering to pop radio restricts those themes, which is a shame.

I'm pulling for you, Whitney. I want your album to be a hit. However, if this is the best you can come up with, then perhaps your "darkest hour" is still on the horizon.

Rating: 2/5 stars, based solely on her voice