Whitney Houston: A Progression

Whitney’s latest album, I Look To You, has got her once powerful voice sounding a bit different. I thought it might be interesting to listen to a few tracks of hers from her, very interesting, career. Have a listen. Sing along. Weigh-in on the transformation of her vocals…

Album Cover

Song: You Give Good Love
Album: Whitney Houston
Released: 1985
 
 
 
 
 
 

I found out what I’ve been missing
Always on the run
I’ve been looking for someone

Now you’re here like you’ve been before
And you know just what I need
It took some time for me to see
That you give good love to me baby
So good, take this heart mine into your hands
You give good love to me
Never too much
Baby you give good love

Never stopping, I was always searching
For that perfect love
The kind that girls like me dream of

Now I, I can’t stop looking around
It’s not, what this loves all about
Our love is here to stay, stay

Album Cover

Song: Just The Lonely Talking Again
Album: Whitney
Released: 1987
 
 
 
 
 
 

It’s the second time around
For you and I, boy
And believe me it’s confusing me
I’m afraid to say “let’s make up” and, “all’s forgiven,”
But somethin’ tells me I’m headed for heartbreak
So darlin’, please, I’m prayin’ that
This time it will be different
That you and I can share this dream that I visualize

Tell me are you really ready for love, boy
Or is it just the lonely talking again
Are you really ready for love, boy
Or is it the lonely talking again

Now, the time before
When we got together
You promised you’d be forever true to me
But all I got from you
Was lots and lots of talking
Lonely nights filled with misery

So baby, please, please tell me now
That when I fulfill your needs
You won’t up and leave me,
Even though you know I’ll let you come back
Tell me

Album Cover

Song: All The Man That I Need
Album: I’m Your Baby Tonight
Released: 1990
 
 
 
 
 
 

I used to cry myself to sleep at night
But that was all before he came
I thought love had to hurt to turn out right
But now he’s here
It’s not the same, it’s not the same

He fills me up
He gives me love
More love than I’ve ever seen
Hes all I’ve got,
Hes all I’ve got in this world
But he’s all the man that I need

And in the morning when I kiss his eyes
He takes me down and rocks me slow
And in the evening when the moon is high
He holds me close and won’t let go
He won’t let go

Album Cover

Song: You’ll Never Stand Alone
Album: My Love Is Your Love
Released: 1998
 
 
 
 
 
 

If there’s a time when the tears should fill your eyes
And you can’t see past the shadows
To the sun on the other side
Don’t despair, because there always will be someone there
Don’t lose faith, love won’t let you lose your way because

You, you’ll never stand alone
I’ll be standing by
I’ll keep you from the cold
I’ll hold you when you cry
I’ll be there to be strong
When you can’t find the strength inside
And you, you’ll always have a home
In these arms of mine
You’ll never stand alone
Love is standing by

If there’s a day when the rain should find your heart
And you’re cold and tired and lonely
And this world has you in the dark
Don’t be scared, you can just reach for me and I’ll be there
Don’t lose hope, love will see you through you know because

You, you’ll never stand alone
I’ll be standing by
I’ll keep you from the cold
I’ll hold you when you cry
I’ll be there to be strong
When you can’t find the strength inside
And you, you’ll always have a home
In these arms of mine
You’ll never stand alone
Love is standing by

Standing by to lift you above all the hurt and pain
Standing by to carry you through all the tears and rain
Reach for me, I’ll be with you
Reach for me, I’ll see you through

I’ll be the one to hold you
The one to show you that
You, you’ll never stand alone
I’ll be standing by

I’ll keep you from the cold
I’ll hold you when you cry
I’ll be there to be strong
When you can’t find the strength inside
And you, you’ll always have a home
In these arms of mine
You’ll never stand alone
Love is standing by

Album Cover

Song: One Of Those Days
Album: Just Whitney
Released: 2002
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kick off my shoes and relax my feet
Hit the kitchen grab a bite to eat
It’s been one of those crazy weeks
And I gotta do something special for me

See, hit the salon get a mani and a pedi
Have a massage, get a sip and then I’m ready
Gotta take time out
And my real ladies know what I’m talking about

Sing. Oooooooh, baby baby
You don’t know what I’ve been going through
Sing it again now. Oooooooh, baby baby
It’s obvious to see exactly what I need

One of those days
When the sun is shining bright
And my life is going right
And the simple things are not wasted

One of those days
When you’re cruising in your car
And you’re out to see the stars
And it’s warm outside and beautiful

Tonight, it’s all about me
Just wanna set my body free
Never mind the TV
Tonight I’ll just let a little TV watch me
Light the candles, aroma therapy
Hot tub bubbles surrounding me
Mr. BIG is in the background
The Isley brothers gonna hold it down… sing

Singing hello… hello…
I need one of those days
You don’t know what
Warm and beautiful

Album Cover

Song: Call You Tonight
Album: I Look To You
Released: 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 

The stars must be aligned tonight
I believe this has to have a meaning
Lightening had to strike tonight
‘Cause the two of us are finally meeting

In this place at this time
I feel safe when I look in your eyes
I feel like I know you from another life
And it makes me wish I wasn’t so pressed for time

I can’t catch my breath ’cause you take it away
The best writer in town could not find words to say
How there’s so many things I wanna get to know
I wish that I could stay but I gotta go

So I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get time alone
I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get home

That’s the way it goes in life
You get busy when you just don’t wanna
There’s never enough time day or night
You have to make it so baby,

I’m gonna make a way to connect
‘Cause your face is one I can’t forget
I feel like I know you from another life
And it makes me wish I wasn’t so pressed for time

I can’t catch my breath ’cause you take it away
The best writer in town could not find words to say
How there’s so many things I wanna get to know
I wish that I could stay but I gotta go

So I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get time alone
I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get home

Destiny, I believe in it
Meant to be, don’t you see it’s possible
That with this kind of magic anything can happen
And if you wanna know then stay by the phone
You’ll stay by the phone

I can’t catch my breath ’cause you take it away
The best writer in town could not find words to say
How there’s so many things I wanna get to know
I wish that I could stay but I gotta go

So I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get time alone
I’mma call you tonight
I will baby, just as soon as I get home