“I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” is the closest it looks like this album will come at recapturing the Whitney that gives us chills. Diane Warren penned this touching reflection especially for Whitney and with the exception of a traditional chorus to hold on to, it’s all here. David Foster’s surprisingly (perhaps forcably) restrained production places Whitney’s vocals exactly where they belong in this only-slightly-bombastic arrangement. The ever-cherished and desired vocal dramatics are still rushed and short, but…we get what we’re given. Hold on to what you can. And don’t sleep on Peter Rauhofer’s motivational take on this redemption song. Actually, that’d be impossible as it’ll have you bouncing around the room and busting speakers. Leave it to the Master of House to enable Whitney to reach glorious heights.
“Worth It” – This song (and the next) is for the lovers. Miss Houston knows that “somebody’s gonna make love to this song tonight” and it’s smooth enough for that to possibly be true, but this song’s somehow got so much Mariah woven through it that I was distracted the entire time. (Speaking of MC, which happens a lot around here, this week you can get your hands, eyes and ears on the DVD of her movie Tennessee since it had very limited screenings. That’s all…for now.)
“For The Lovers” – Whitney ain’t jokin. “Throw your hands up. For the next three minutes it’s about the lovers.” Some industrial-synth-rhythm-and-blues. Percolating beats and timbaland-style synths. Sounds like we won’t be fully freed of those types of attacks for a while. Instead of long soaring belts from Whitney, we get quick and speedy vocal trills. Better than nothing? There are some moments in this song that could argue ‘yes.’ I’m on the fence. At least this one will get you movin.
“I Got You” – The slow grind, lighters-in-the-air type song for the summer. Mid-range. Mid-tempo. That is definitely the range and pace of this album. Most likely, this song would have wound up as a b-side to the album we were all hoping for.
The closing track of “Whitney’s Comeback” is also R. Kelly’s second contribution: “Salute,” a slow-grinding street jam that probably would’ve made more sense in 2000. Technically, I don’t know if it’s ultra-effected Nippy or background-singers-as-lead, but everytime the chorus hits to this song I find myself wondering ‘who is that singing? Is that supposed to be Whitney?” Now that’s trickier than most vocal emergencies. It’s another droopy pre-chorus of smoky vocals that is best left to Toni Braxton.
I must say that I often felt like I was hearing demos for what Peter Rauhofer could turn them into. Possibly even demos for the Old Whitney. (As opposed to New Whitney. Don’t get it twisted.)
31. August 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thanks for the brilliant breakdown, Pork! I think I’m properly prepared to dive in now.
31. August 2009 at 5:52 pm
An eloquent and evocative portrait of a lady. =] thank you pork for break[n]down the breakdown. [AS ALWAYS] i look forward to {reading} your review[s] and {listening} to what [U] have to say! thank you always xo xo :eee:
1. September 2009 at 3:40 pm
Love that you broke this down so extensively. Thank you.
But I have to disagree on one point. I thought “My Love Is Your Love” (which I think was from the early 2000s) was a really cool album–and on it, she felt to me almost like a new artist. The “you were making a fool of meeeee” at the end of “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” was rough and sleek at the same time, reminding us that Whitney is (was) indeed a fierce singe. But the production on that song was fresh enough that I didn’t think once of 80s Whitney.
My feeling (not that you asked) is that the pristine Whitney from the 80s is gone. For most of her musical career, she has presented herself as this immaculately polished superwoman. But ever since Being Bobby Brown aired, we know that image was just an image. Now that we’ve seen behind the curtain, I think it’s silly to expect us to act like we haven’t seen HER. “Million Dollar Bill” is for me the one glimpse into the new Whitney that I love. “Fine” and “I Was Made To Love Him” (from a couple years back) fit into this category as well. It’s (almost) gritty, funky and it feels like a woman in her 40s throwing down. Since the “doodie bubble” conversation on reality TV, why not let her just put her stank (ha!) on some funky tracks and let her have some fun. Trying to shove her into songs Old Whitney would have SLAYED (in the good way) is insulting to all of us.
All that said, I’m glad she’s back and looking healthy.
1. September 2009 at 4:00 pm
hey darklight
thanks for the comment.
i am also a fan of My Love Is Your Love, but it was released over a decade ago. (1998. Yep, times flies.) I did enjoy the Hex Hector productions and lived for many of the remixes that followed from that album. I am not even hearing the Whitney of 11 years ago so much on I Look To You, let alone Glory Days Whitney.
Upon further reflection, I think I was actually being quite kind in my review of this album.
I appreciate your comment though.
-Pork
2. September 2009 at 12:28 pm
Yes, you were being very kind. (Thank you.) And MLIYL was 1998? Jesus, I am ancient.
5. September 2009 at 6:45 pm
no matter how people try to disparage whitney, she’ll not kneel down. If predictions were true she’ll debut Number 1 next week. in fact she’s number one in Itunes in US and major european countries. also she’s been number in amazon as well. I do not understand why people have to be so negative about someone they don’t know nothing about. Whitney proved herself already. And she’s back not to please everyone especially haters but to bring back great music.
7. September 2009 at 12:12 pm
Hello Phres,
Thanks for writing. I agree with you that Whitney Houston is one tough cookie. She’s not one to take a back seat and that strength and power is what made us all initially fall in love with her…well, that plus the voice.
You are right about her numbers being strong enough to place her at No. 1 at the end of this week in Billboard. One would hope that this would be the case since it’s been nearly 7 years since she’s released an album and that it’s being released in a week where the other releases were dismal. That is not to detract from Whitney’s power at all. She’s a force to be reckoned with as can be seen by all of the attention she gets so easily .
The true test of this album will be whether or not it develops legs to carry it past the holiday season. A true Whitney album would launch singles strongly into next summer, but I don’t know if that will happen.
You mentioned that she is looking to ‘bring back great music’ and I’m afraid she fell very short of that on this album. True Whitney fans are understandably in denial since they don’t get much to hold on to these days and this is THE shot at a comeback.
If she has indeed brough back “great music” then it should show in the album’s long-term acceptance and sales.
Let’s check back here in 6 months and reconvene.
:]
10. September 2009 at 3:14 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/arts/music/10arts-WHITNEYHOUST_BRF.html
It’s official…Whitney’s @ No. 1.
305,000 albums sold. Let’s see what happens this week. Does Jay-Z’s 3rd Blueprint call for knocking a diva out of the top spot? I’m thinking so.
11. September 2009 at 1:19 am
Personally I don’t like it at all…her voice sounds flat as hell…all those years of abusing her voice and drug usage have accelerated the obvious change evident in her voice….