BLACK MUSIC MONTH (OLD SCHOOL): Whitney Houston

There was time when Whitney Houston was flawless. Sure, most memories of this are hazy. They've been overpowered by bizarre behavior on pilgrimages to Israel, television appearances when her frame was practically skeletal, and ever-too-quotable declarations to Diane Sawyer. But before all of that, Whitney was perfection.

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BLACK MUSIC MONTH (OLD SCHOOL): Whitney Houston

POSTED: Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Music | Blast from the Past

Black Music Month rolls on. All June long, Critical Mass will be featuring videos of some of our favorite artists from now and then.

There was time when Whitney Houston was flawless. Sure, most memories of this are hazy. They’ve been overpowered by bizarre behavior on pilgrimages to Israel, television appearances when her frame was practically skeletal, and ever-too-quotable declarations to Diane Sawyer. But before all of that, Whitney was perfection.

In the late ’80s, Whitney gave practically faultless vocal performances on television like it was nothing. It’s not coincidental that during this period she broke The Beatles’ record in releasing seven consecutive number one hits, a feat that hasn’t been matched since. “Saving All My Love for You” was the first number one in that record-breaking run, her first number one ever.

There are singers who take easy songs and perform them really well. That wasn't Whitney's style. Her hits were extremely difficult to sing and she belted the hell out of them. Of course, she can’t sing at this level anymore. It seems that Whitney has smoked more than anyone with her larynx ever should have. However, you’ll be hard pressed to think of anyone who can sing like this today.

This is my favorite of her live performances. One of my best friends thinks it’s her greatest TV performance of them all, and I agree. But, this is totally arguable. This video, this video and this video are all in the same realm of stunning. Whitney just had it like that.

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Posted by Cassie Owens @ 3:00 PM Permalink | 1 comment

Comments (1)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:54 PM, 06/14/2011

God, I love Whitney.

— molls to the wall

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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