What happened to Whitney?

Posted by Justin on February 4th, 2010 | 4 Comments

Whitney Houston was supposed to make the career comeback of this millennium. But it stalled. Why? How? I mean, the album -- I Look to You, entered the Billboard charts at #1, selling 305K albums in the first week. The title track was selected as the album’s first single which was probably a misstep to lead with a ballad, but I understand the reasoning -- to prove that the voice was still there. Plus, the song is nearly perfect in its construction. However, after disastrous live performances during her promo tour, word spread that THE voice, this voice, was gone. Drugs, drinking, a shoddy marriage -- it all had taken it’s toll.

Thankfully they released a second single, an Alicia Keys written and produced song entitled Million Dollar Bill, which was exactly what everyone was wanting -- a hit. The Freemasons remixed the shit out of the track and Whitney had not only returned to the charts, but also to the dancefloor. Even as of December 2009, she had sold one million records in the US. So where the hell is Whitney?

After some European promo that also went down badly in the media, Whitney announced her I Look To You tour. However, she’s only visiting Asia, Europe and Australia during the trek. What gives Whit? My thought is maybe she’s really getting her sea legs back before hitting the US and touring here, where the media would just devour her imperfect voice.

It’s another case of the record company not providing proper support, but as much as a once revered performer coming back not as great as before, leaving fans feeling that the whole thing is a bit sad. But I’ll say this. The album is a solid, if not welcome, return to music for Whitney.

As I said before, the songs are so well-crafted in terms of songwriting and production, it’d be hard for anyone to sound bad on this record. But I can’t imagine anyone else doing these songs. I’m also not sure why the collabos or uptempo songs aren’t pushed or remixed to keep her in the charts or relevant.

Two of my favorites, which show the spectrum of daybreak after the storm, and the joy of going back into the night:

I Didn’t Know My Own Strength

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For the Lovers

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And let me just say that I loved this song back in the day, and still do. I give you, possibly, the gayest moment in pop music. Ps: I want a coat made out of that black with green tip fur:

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