The world watched her reach dizzying heights and stunning lows. In admiration, the public saw Whitney Houston morph from a church girl from Newark, N.J. into an otherworldly Pop deity beloved by massive throngs of fans and peers alike. That audience soon balked at the slightest indication of Houston’s imperfections, fiercely rebuking her overly-documented history with ex-husband Bobby Brown, her long-rumored queerness, and admitted issues with substance use disorder. The public, abetted by the constant intrusion of the press, callously mocked her struggles, claiming in one breath to be concerned for her well-being while simultaneously waiting for her next misstep.

When the protagonist of this Greek tragedy perished at just 48 years old, the public mourned, though they did not attempt to hide their disdain for choices made in her private life. Though she retains the record for the most consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard charts, is the third best-selling recording artist of all time, and is one of the most highly decorated artists of all time, her legacy serves as more of a cautionary tale than that of the musical titan she rightfully was, and remains.

It’s time for the narrative to change.

Whitney Houston’s death is not the end of her story, nor is it the embodiment of her life. The unshakable truth is that Houston was one of the greatest entertainers that ever graced the earth. With joyful noise, the instrument that emanated from her very being was indeed an act of the divine. An expression of love that came from the higher power she so deeply loved. While in use, that instrument brought you closer to HIM. Whitney Houston’s talent was not of this world, which is the true culmination of who she was and is. The following is a deeper look into Whitney Houston’s greatest live performances, curated by her fans in loving memory.

Whitney Houston’s Greatest Live Performances

“I Loves You Porgy”/, “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)”/“I Have Nothing” at the 21st Annual American Music Awards, 1994

Performed on the same night Houston took home a record eight awards (a feat only matched by Michael Jackson), this performance is the closest to perfection that anyone on this Earth will ever come. To sing one of these songs (well) individually is a task that challenges even the most experienced vocalists. Houston seamlessly weaves all three songs together without breaking a sweat (albeit her signature bead of slight perspiration on her upper lip. Stage lights are hot!). During each of these songs, Houston uses her supreme skills to accurately pull off each transition vocally, while simultaneously portraying the emotional differences within each of them, physically.

Starting with “I Loves You Porgy,” a standout penned by Gershwin & Gershwin for the opera Porgy & Bess, she entices her captive audience into a lusty seduction absent from her earlier stage work. It is the perfect foil to Houston’s fiery rendition of “And I Am Telling You, (I’m Not Going),” an iconic tune from the 1981 Broadway hit production “Dreamgirls,” which is my preference between the first two selections of this set. The song, synonymously associated with vocal giant Jennifer Holliday, would undoubtedly be intimidating for most singers; however, Houston devours the piece with a ferocity that illustrates her innate vocal superiority and technique. This may be a hot take, but I prefer Houston’s version to Ms. Holliday’s.

One of the nuances of Houston’s set is that each selection is an iconic love ballad. Watching her masterfully breeze through these above songs as she approaches the final act of this performance, Houston’s Olympian-like stamina had the audience in a trance. For the finale, she performed her 1992 hit, “I Have Nothing,” from the mega-blockbuster film, “The Bodyguard,” wherein, just like her movie counterpart Rachel Marron, Houston becomes the fully realized Pop empress, with the audience merely being her adoring subjects. With them in the palm of her hands, she transitions from lightly caressing her vocals and phrasing during particular parts of the ballad to plummeting to the guttural parts of her lower register, only to just as quickly ascend to the highest peaks of her memorable falsetto. Two years removed from the single’s initial release, Houston not only solidified this song’s place among the best in her catalog of hits but of any recorded in the 20th century. Houston was as confident as she was elegant throughout, and using “Nothing” as the set’s closer further cemented the track’s impact. Ultimately, we are left with nearly 10 minutes of superb, uninterrupted, anointed singing. The enormity of this triumphant performance was indicative of Houston’s astronomical success at that time. It was Whitney’s world; we were all just living in it.

“The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV, 1991

Set at the height of America’s involvement in the Persian Gulf War, Houston performed this song at Tampa Stadium with approximately 73,813 in attendance and an additional 73 million people watching globally. According to longtime musical director Ricky Minor, Houston intended for her rendition of the song to be of similar impact to Marvin Gaye’s soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. While Minor has since confirmed that the music was pre-recorded (a precaution used to avoid audio issues during the live broadcast), Houston’s effort has become the most well-known cover of The National Anthem and one of the most memorable moments in television history.

Like Gaye’s interpretation, Minor modified the song’s original 6/8 time signature into 4/4, commonly used in more African-American-derived music. In doing so, Minor afforded Houston enough room to utilize the full extent of her wide vocal range while also allowing her to infuse the song with a Gospel element that’d never been heard before. Ironically Houston, who had not listened to the provided modified instrumental of the track before its recording, nailed Minor’s arrangement in just a singular take.

Three years after her infamous appearance at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards, in which the majority black audience booed her after claims of “selling out” (I’m talking to you, Al Sharpton) to white audiences, Houston had successfully reclaimed her blackness throughout her creative output and overall public persona. What is most telling about this point is that one of Whitney Houston’s greatest live performances finds her in her most natural state. Eschewing the evening gown suggested by her team in favor of her famous red, white, and blue tracksuit, Houston looks as patriotic as she does relatable, a fact that I hope the audience that once so venomously booed her at Soul Train appreciated. She was always that girl from Newark, and nothing could change that. Her showing was as joyful as it was yearning; joy in the expression of this black woman’s gifts while longing for freedom that has never been fully allowed for so many black people past and present. It’s hard for me to speak positively on the song’s supposed theme of freedom, as divisiveness and inequality continue to attack the moral fabric of this country. However, watching this always transports me to where I can at least hope things will improve. Most importantly, a black woman did that. KNOW THIS!

“The Greatest Love of All” from Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston, 1991

This could very well be sacrilegious, but “The Greatest Love of All” has not always been a favorite Whitney tune of mine. Growing up in a household where the 1988 film Coming To America was in consistent rotation, my primary association with the song was tied to Eddie Murphy’s hilarious version sung in the movie. My immature brain wrote the original off as corny and unsuited for my more soulful musical preferences. I later learned of the song’s origin, and my views began to soften.

Initially written in 1977 for the Muhammad Ali biopic “The Greatest,” songwriters Martin Masser and Linda Creed crafted the song during Creed’s terminal fight with breast cancer, one that she’d lose nine years later. A proper coping mechanism during her illness, Creed hoped the lyrics would inspire others to thrive in adversity, specifically children. Still, I held on to that opinion until I watched this stunning 1991 rendition.

In a benefit concert staged to welcome home over 3,000 servicemen and women from The Gulf War, Houston’s voice had fully matured by this period of her career, and she’d begun to take more risks with her onstage vocal delivery. Gone were the restrictive days of mimicking herself to sound like she did on wax, and she takes several artistic liberties with the song that makes it far superior to the original release. Houston’s chilling ad-libs and vocal control are put to work here, an impressive feat given that it was the penultimate song on the vocally acrobatic setlist she’d performed that night. The most notable moment of the performance is when Houston brings an adorable young fan on the stage to serenade him in the spirit of Linda Creed’s aspirations for the song’s impact. Wherever that young man is, I hope he made something of himself because Whitney and Linda told him to!

“All The Man That I Need” from Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston, 1991

I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched this one, for it is easily one of the most outstanding examples of Houston’s extraordinary falsetto and immense vocal power. The album version was exceptional, a standout from her 1992 career-changing album “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” However, this live performance, along with many other iterations of it sung during this era, eclipses Houston’s studio recording and the original incarnation of the track, released in 1981 by Linda Clifford.

This performance, along with the famous “Love Medley” (also included in this list) that preceded it, is possibly the highlight of a supremely high-quality concert and finds Houston as she reaches her vocal peak mid-performance. The dramatic incantation of Houston’s repetition of the phrase “I need,” punctuated by a nearly operatic tone and pitch, lend themselves to the reverent nature of the song’s lyrical theme.

While Houston was known for her expansive vocal tricks, none felt too showy or out of place. I’ve often wondered if Houston’s well-known religious beliefs played a role in her passionate delivery of this track; instead of Houston singing to a romantic partner, the song’s recipient is her creator. Her creator brought her there, and that creator was the only man Houston would ever need. This performance and the entire show’s production gave audiences a brief glimpse into the historical commercial success that Houston, and by proxy, the world, would experience in just one year.

“This Day,” from “Whitney Houston: This is My Life” TV special, 1992

As previously discussed, Houston’s relationship with the church was a significant facet of her life and career, even at their low points. Her devotion to her higher power and commitment to her professional pursuits were inextricably bound together, yet somehow at odds. Every musical note that ever left her body expressed the complexity of this internal struggle and Houston’s intense desire to live her life as a scripture-abiding Christian woman; despite her flaws.

Rewinding the clock to the “Bodyguard” era, “This Day” showcases Houston returning to the familiar well of her early childhood experiences from within the church. Flanked by the robust support of three backing vocalists and her band, one could be forgiven for assuming that her accompaniment was on a much larger scale for this cover of the Edwin Hawkins classic. In this instance, Houston starts the song softly, then gradually intensifies as she directs the band to the track’s climax. A staple in her live stage concerts at this point of her career, what I love most about this particular performance is her role as a choral mistress, guiding the arrangement in a manner similar to that of her mother, Cissy Houston. Her demeanor at the song’s conclusion was that of genuine adoration and praise, and it transports the listener back to Houston’s pre-showbiz days of singing at her church home, New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

“I Love The Lord/“Joy To The World” at Ebony 50th Anniversary Celebration, 1996

Moving along to 1996, this performance of “I Love The Lord” and “Joy To The World,” from Houston’s soundtrack album, “The Preacher’s Wife,” may not be the most technically sound performance of her career, but the shining point is her genuine happiness during its latter section. Accompanied by The Georgia Mass Choir, Houston produces a deeper-toned, coarser take on the song than its album counterpart. The most enjoyable aspect of this is that, done intentionally or not, Houston’s delivery is that of one who has genuinely experienced hardship yet is still grateful for the blessings imparted to her, something that I relate to. Not every moment in our lives will find you at your best, but faith in whatever personal doctrine you ascribe to will drive you out of whatever obstacle is thrown your way. Let the church say Amen!

Remembering Nippy at 60, with 60

I’m unable to quantify the enormity of Whitney Houston’s contributions to the entertainment world. She was a businesswoman, humanitarian, and pioneer in the modern landscape of popular music. Nippy was for the girls, always striving to lift as she climbed and never dimming anyone else’s shine to bolster hers. Like every other living person on this planet, Whitney was imperfect. She was not above criticism, and she made questionable judgments in her life. But it was HER life. And it is that life and the many gifts that it left that should be revered, not the tragic ending she suffered. On this day, the 60th anniversary of the birth of this majestic creature, it is my sincere hope that we remember her with love, compassion, and appreciation.

Today, we celebrate… with 60 of Whitney Houston’s greatest live performances.

In further celebration of her 60th birthday, three of Whitney’s most iconic albums have been newly re-issued on vinyl:

The Preacher’s Wife

I’m Your Baby Tonight

My Love Is Your Love

Watch Whitney Houston’s Greatest Live Performances

1. “I Loves You Porgy”/“And I Am Telling You”/“I Have Nothing”  (American Music Awards, 1994)
2. “I Will Always Love You” (GRAMMY Awards, 1994)
3. “Saving All My Love For You” (GRAMMY Awards, 1986)
4. “A Song For You” (Welcome Home Heroes, 1991)
5. “All At Once” (American Music Awards, 1987)
6. “I Am Changing” (Arista 10th Anniversary, 1984)
7. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (Top of the Pops, 1987)
8. “One Moment In Time” (Atlanta, 1992)
9. “How Will I Know” (MTV, 1986)
10. “I’m Every Woman” (Concert for a New South Africa, 1994)
11. “I Say A Little Prayer” (with Natalie Cole, 1990)
12. “The Star Spangled Banner” (Super Bowl, 1992)
13. “The Greatest Love of All” (Welcome Home Heroes, 1991)
14. “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (Arsenio Hall Show, 1991)
15. “It Hurts Like Hell” (Poland, 1991)
16. “Home” (Merv Griffin Show, 1983)
17. “When You Believe” (with Mariah Carey, Academy Awards, 1999)
18. “For The Love Of You” (California, 1987)
19. “So Emotional” (Japan, 1991)
20. “I Belong To You” (London, 1991)
21. Love Medley: “Didn’t We Almost Have it All”/“A House Is Not A Home”/“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” (Welcome Home Heroes, 1991)
22. “You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman)” (Brazil, 1994)
23. “The Battle Hymn of The Republic” (Welcome Home Heroes, 1991)
24. “Revelation is Here” (Brazil, 1994)
25. “All The Man I Need” (Welcome Home Heroes, 1991)
26. “This Day” (1992)
27. “Queen of The Night” (Brunei, 1996)
28. “Anymore” (Japan, 1991)
29. Waiting to Exhale Medley (GRAMMY Awards, 1997)
30. “Higher Love” (Japan, 1990)
31. “In Return” (Japan, 1990)
32. “I Learned From The Best” (Germany, 1999)
33. “Heartbreak Hotel” (with Kelly Price & Faith Evans, Rosie O’Donnell Show, 1998)
34. “Jesus Loves Me” (Rio de Janeiro, 1994)
35. “Ain’t No Way” (with Mary J. Blige, VH1 Diva’s Live, 1999)
36. “You Give Good Love” (Soul Train Awards, 1987)
37. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (with Natalie Cole)
38. “A Quiet Place” (1987)
39. “I Love The Lord”/“Joy To The World” (ft. The Georgia Mass Choir, Ebony 50th Anniversary, 1996)
40. “That’s What Friends Are For” (with Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, & Dionne Warwick, Soul Train Awards, 1987) 
41. “We Didn’t Know” (with Stevie Wonder, Arsenio Hall, 1990) 
42. “Lover for Life” (Brunei, 1995)
43. “Something in Common” (duet with Bobby Brown, Soul Train Awards, 1994)
44. “Just The Lonely Talking Again” (California, 1987)
45. “Hold Up The Light” (with Bebe & Cece Winans, NAACP Image Awards, 1989)
46. “Hold Me” (1987 rehearsal)
47. “My Love is Your Love” (with Bobbi Kristina Brown, Germany, 1999)
48. “Step By Step” (Italy, 1998)
49. “I Look To You” (with Kim Burrell, BET Celebration of Gospel, 2011)
50. “I Was Made To Love Him” (with Stevie Wonder, Diva’s Duets 2003)
51. “Don’t Cry For Me” (Commitment For Life AIDS Benefit, 1994)
52. “There’s Music In You” (Rosie O’Donnell, 1998)
53. “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” (Germany, 1999)
54. “One of Those Days” (Good Morning America, 2002)
55. “Love Will Find A Way” (Texas, 1985)
56. “Who Do You Love?” (Japan, 1991)
57. “If Told You That” (Poland, 1999)
58. “You’re a Friend of Mine” (with Dionne Warwick, Solid Gold, 1985)
59. “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” (American Music Awards, 1999)
60. “So Amazing” (Soul Train Awards, 1999)

Watch Whitney Houston’s Greatest Live Performances

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1. Rainbow (Interlude)

The “Rainbow (Interlude)” was placed toward the end of Mariah’s 1999 album of the same title, but here, it kicks off the playlist with a hopeful message before launching into another Rainbow track, remixed.

“I know there is a rainbow
For me to follow
To get beyond my sorrow
Thunder precedes the sunlight
So I’ll be alright
If I can find that
Rainbow’s end

I will be alright
If I can find that
Rainbow’s end”

2. “Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme),” Morales Revival Triumphant Mix

This dance mix is just under 11 minutes and is an anthemic celebration of “the light that shines inside” of us all. Despite all the darkness in the world right now, let this track revive your spirits.

“They can’t take that way from me
No… they can’t take this
Precious love I’ll always have inside me
And certainly the Lord
Will guide me where I need to go”

3. “Triumphant,” (Vintage Throwback Mix)

Written in 2012, inspired by Mariah’s former husband Nick’s health battles at the time, “Triumphant” is and was literally an anthem of survival in the face of life’s challenges. During these uncertain times, “Triumphant” serves as an anthem to fight, and survive, against this pandemic.

“Even when clouds surround you
And everyone seems to doubt you
Baby, still know who you are
So you got to keep on climbing
In spite of the chains that bind you
You can see the mountain top
It’s not too far”

4. “There’s Got to Be a Way”

Written in the late 1980s for Mariah’s debut album, “There’s Got to Be a Way” is an inspiring and hopeful (albeit, dated) bop about uniting as a people against adversity.

“There’s got to be a way
To connect this world today
Come together to relieve the pain
There’s got to be a way
To unite this human race
And together we’ll bring on a change”

5. “Anytime You Need a Friend” (C&C Club Version)

This gospel-tinged club mix delivers a message of love and friendship, one that is especially appropriate as we are all feel so far apart. It’s always good to know that you have friends and family who love you, no matter how far away they may be.

“Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You’ll never be alone again
So don’t you fear
Even if you’re miles away
I’m by your side
So don’t you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright”

6. “Fly Like a Bird”

Another gospel song, this ballad, from her 2005 comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi, is yet another reflection on the state of the world, but this time, she asks for God’s support to make it through.

“If we loved each other
We would find victory
But in this harsh reality
Sometimes I’m so despondent that I feel the need to

Fly like a bird, take to the sky
I need you now Lord, carry me high
Don’t let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of you by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray you’ll come and carry me home”

7. “Through the Rain” Remix, featuring Joe & Kelly Price

The remix to her 2002 single “Through the Rain” is a more mellow, R&B take on the power ballad original version. While sonically different, the message remains the same: strength and survival are guaranteed, if you just have faith.

“I’ll make it through the rain
I’ll stand up once again
On my own and I know
That I’m strong and in time
I can mend
When I’m afraid
I hold tighter to my faith
Live another day longer
And I make it through the rain”

8. “Whenever You Call”

While technically a love song, this ballad from 1997’s Butterfly still provides a powerful promise of love. A lot of us are suffering through pain and loss, whether its a job or a loved one. Now more than ever, we need to love one another. This song has just the message. While the video version features Brian McKnight, I personally recommend the solo version.

“And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away,
You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I am inside”

9. “I’ll Be There,” (Live from MTV Unplugged) featuring Trey Lorenz

A cover of the Jackson 5 classic, Mariah’s live rendition with her friend and background singer Trey Lorenz became a #1 hit in its own right. Its message of mutual support, both in its lyrics and the fact that it was sung by Mariah and one of her best friends, is one that is very much needed in these tough times.

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, well that’s all I’m after
Whenever you need me, I’ll be there
I’ll be there to protect you,
With an unselfish love I respect you
Just call my name and I’ll be there

10. “One Sweet Day,” duet with Boyz II Men

For anyone who may have lost a loved one during these times, Mariah’s 1995 duet with Boyz II Men has become a comforting classic for those in mourning. On this occasion, some of us may unfortunately need to turn to it yet again.

“Although the sun will never shine the same again
I’ll always look to a brighter day
Lord, I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray”

11. “When You Believe,” duet with Whitney Houston

From the 1998 Prince of Egypt soundtrack, “When You Believe” is a moving ballad that was written to inspire. It urges us all to have hope, and faith, that miracles can indeed be achieved.

“They don’t always happen when you ask
And it’s easy to give in to your fears
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way clear through the rain
A small but still resilient voice says, ‘Help is very near!'”

12. “Hero”

One of Mariah’s signature songs, “Hero” has been an anthem and inspiration for people worldwide since its release in 1993. Ever since, in times of crisis and times of joy, the world has turned to Mariah Carey’s “Hero” to be uplifted. Whether it be the tragedy of 9/11, the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Mariah was there, with “Hero.”  In the context of this pandemic, we dedicate “Hero” to all of the healthcare and “essential” workers who are keeping the world moving.

“And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you”

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Today is Mariah Carey’s birthday, or as she prefers to call it, her “anniversary.” Since we are huge Mariah fans, it’s only natural for us to honor and celebrate her today with a special Anniversary playlist.

The Dance Diva

When people think of Mariah Carey, likely their first thoughts include her voice and her ballads. However, our playlist explores another side of her catalogue: her festive upbeat moments and stone-groove-smash-hit-wonder club mixes. Not enough people are familiar with her club mixes.

However, in the 90’s and into the 2000’s Mariah was one of the few pop divas who took the time to actually work with remix producers. She would re-record her vocals over new house, dance, and hip hop beats to craft a second incarnation (or in some cases, third and fourth) of her biggest hits.

Take songs like “Heartbreaker” and “Fantasy”. Of course we know these originals versions of these classic Mariah Carey songs. But have you ever heard the completely reimagined and rerecorded dance and hip hop remixes? Each song essentially has at least 3 versions.

We’ve included those remixes as well as our favorite up-tempos from her albums. Press play on this festive Mariah anniversary playlist, We hope it makes you feel like you too are a diva as fabulous as the legendary Mariah Carey.

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Frank was everything. He was a God to me growing up. The day he died, my grandmother wouldn’t speak to me on the phone she was so distraught. I’ve grown to appreciate the music more as I’ve grown up. He is unparalleled. “Fly Me To The Moon” is forever my favorite. The melody, the vocal, the arrangement; it’s the epitome of perfection. I love that I live blocks away from his birthplace. I even drank with his touring manager once. It’s all come full circle for me. A nice Italian boy from New Jersey… me and Frank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhZ2X9znPxM

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