Whitney Houston's Worst Enemy? Her Biggest Hit

By Marc Schneider Posted Apr 26th 2010 05:55PM

It's been a rough two weeks for Whitney Houston, as she and her depleted voice battle through a British tour that has been dominated by poor performances, unmerciful reviews and bummed-out fans. The multi-Grammy winner even acknowledged her shortcomings to concert-goers Sunday night in London after an off-key rendition of her biggest song, 'I Will Always Love You.'

"She don't want to come, my soprano friend," Houston, 46, said of her instrument after croaking her way through the soaring section of the hit.

She added: "Sometimes the old girl sings, but not tonight. I want to do it, but she doesn't want to ... She's getting a little ... temperamental, even."

London, 4/26

Birmingham, 4/13

It's been that song, written by Dolly Parton and perfected by Houston in 'The Bodyguard,' that has dogged the singer throughout this tour. On night one, in Birmingham, Houston physically struggled to get through the ballad, and reviewers took note of her lack of stamina.

Even the normally prim BBC got in on the act, saying the singer was "panting more than John Prescott running for the bus," referencing a well-known (and chubby) politician from Wales.

'I Will Always Love You' will forever be Houston's signature song, having sold over 15 million copies worldwide and spending a then-record 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts when the song was released in 1992. The recorded version was perfection, and live performances throughout the 1990s were legendary for how effortless she made it all look.

'I Will Always Love You,' 1999:

But on Sunday, a sweat-soaked Houston repeatedly paused during songs to catch her breath and could be heard panting in between verses. She skipped a verse of 'Greatest Love of All,' and her backup singers routinely carried the songs while Houston peppered them with occasional vocal flourishes.

According to reports, several hundred fans walked out of the comeback concert.

While the reviews for the Birmingham show were mixed, the news out of London was nearly all bad.

The London Evening Standard:
"Where once she soared, now she wheezes and croaks, bludgeoning her perfect pop single 'I Wanna Dance (With Somebody Who Loves Me)' into karaoke submission; stripping the moving 'My Love Is Your Love' of all emotion and inflicting grisly carnage on 'I Will Always Love You' (if she is late-period Judy Garland, this is her 'Over The Rainbow')."

The Independent:
"Her voice, seemingly about an octave deeper than the Whitney who sang the hits, is ragged and raw ... Between songs, wheezing and panting and occasionally breaking into a scary Wicked Witch of the West cackle, she plays for time, breaking off to sign autographs."

The Telegraph:
"When she then tried to perform a medley of her early songs, even her infinitely patient audience began to revolt. Houston placated them, as she repeatedly did, by acting like a spoilt girl -- giggling, begging forgiveness, stamping her feet and then being momentarily brilliant again."

The notoriously cheeky tabloid The Sun noted, "Time and substances haven't been kind to her once astonishing voice." Indeed, the string of poor performances have kick-started another round of rumors and reports that she has picked up old habits again.

She has long admitted to being hooked on cocaine for much of the 1990s and 2000s, but in a recent PEOPLE interview Houston called reports of a relapse "ridiculous."

"At this point, I just don't respond. I don't even read it," she said of the reports.

Houston's European tour has been beset with problems from the get-go. She did not show up to her first three concerts, blaming respiratory problems that landed her in a Paris hospital.

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Whitney Houston Snapshots

Whitney Houston performs on stage at O2 Arena in London on April 25 during her European tour. Click for More Whitney Live Pics >>>

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Whitney Houston Snapshots

Whitney Houston arrives at Fountain studios on October 18, 2009 in London, England. Celebrity Sightings In London - October 18, 2009 London, England United Kingdom October 18, 2009 Photo by Sam Snap/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58676261), contact FilmMagic.com

Sam Snap/FilmMagic.com

Singer Whitney Houston performs during the German game show "Wetten Dass...?" (Bet it...?) in Freiburg, southwestern Germany, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. "Wetten Dass...?" is one of the most popular Saturday night programmes in Germany. (AP Photo/Johannes Eisele, Pool)

US singer Whitney Houston talks with TV host Thomas Gottschalk during the 183rd edition of the TV show presented by "Wetten, dass..?" (Let's Make a Bet) on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, southern Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/ JOERG KOCH GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

US singer Whitney Houston performs on stage during the 183rd edition of the TV show presented by "Wetten, dass..?" (Let's Make a Bet) on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, southern Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/ JOERG KOCH GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Singer Whitney Houston performs during the Wetten dass...? show at the Messe Freiburg on October 3, 2009 in Freiburg, Germany. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Whitney Houston

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Comments

(283)

Monday 26 April

By OhLori

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Proof positive that drugs will fry your brain and clearly your voice. Time to retire and spend some quality time with your daughter and stay off the drugs they have already done enough damage. Crack is whack

Tuesday 27 April

By mulelips

She should do like the Britneys and the rest and lip synch

By bazel

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Why doesn't she just sing new songs that fit her voice now??? If she's getting in trouble singing the old stuff, then hang that up and get new more voice fitting material. All of the songs she's singing are crap. Second, get a coach to work with her just before performing to calm her down so her vocal cords don't tighten up. She's obviously wigging and making everything worse. She's still got a good voice (not the same mind you) and she still knows how to perform. So... change the program. Duh.

By Simzee

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

OhLori. What did you say about drugs? Well, considering YOU are an "alcoholic", YOU should not be saying anything. Don't lie. We all know the truth.

By Sportzgy

This just makes me really sad more than anything else. She was a bright star at her peak and life has taken its toll on her. The gift she had is gone. This could just be age, but based on what we know about her life with Bobby, it appears that the choices she made contributed to what is now a poignant reminder of just how good she used to be.

By sandbox

Many years ago, I remember when Whitney sang the national anthem at a ballgame. It was absolutely beautiful! The way she sang it gave me goose bumps. Since then, I have not heard a randition of our national anthem sung the same way. I only wish her the best.

By Melindannah

Here here

By Sandra

I think Whitney Houston really needs to take voice theropy and take it slow,by her using drugs it really took a toll on her voice and did some damage to her vocal cords.

By JAXnVilleGAL

She still gives me chills ! And she's still an outstanding beautiful woman ! And it is true that a woman's voice does get lower with age.

Brovo Whitney ! Keep on puttin' yourself out there - there's a lot of us who love your beautiful voice - just the way it is !

By christy

Very well put and I could not agree with you more it so sad to have such a god given blessing and not treat it as such!!!! We so take these things for granted!!!!

By dethburger

To Sandbox...

Its been long since confirmed that Whitney lip sinced The Star Spangled Banner.

Yes it sounded great...

but it was prerecorded.

By chuckie

Dummy, who do you think sang it in the studio? They all pre-record and lip synch at these events and have done so forever. Just a part of corporate, Disney-esque entertainment.

By smartcookey4444

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Believe me. Whitney will sing again. She is a Christian. She messed up. But let me ask you all, Which one of you can (cast the first stone?) Which one? We are our greatest miracles. and like you and I when we messed up (and some of us are still messing up) Whitney will recover greater than ever. She just have some things to work out with God. And she will. Stop with the doom and start up the much needed encouragement for a fallen Sister in Christ. You are going to be alright and so is Whitney. I guarantee you. Because I Prayed. And when I pray God answers. I have been a fallen sister and one of the beautiful things about the God we love is that He does not take away your gift. He loves us unconditionally. And we have to love one another the same way.
Loving You Always,
SmartCooKey4444

By shel

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I agree plus look at her age time, drugs, smoking it takes it's toll on ANY singer..she just needs not to try and reach those notes any more people expect too much

By William Schultz

Houston had it all...ALL. She was beatiful, Young and the Voice of an angel and from her first record the well deserved sucess.
Maybe it was Too easy, maybe when you have it "ALL" what is there? Something made her think crack was a good choice, but it never is.

By Ms. Landry

I think it's sad that friens, family, even producers didn't stop this. Whitney can still make it she just can't tour. If she remains a studio artist she can still have a reasonable amount of fame. We make and keep everyone else famous. My GOD look at Kate and Jon we choose our celebs. Whitney annot sing like she use to how could she. She is still beautiful, and full of life.
Don't give up Whitney just learn your limitations.

By lifeisagift

This is so true!

By mysticals4u2

AMEN TO THAT

By salluvsya

That's what I was thinking too! Where are her family members who always have her back? And what about Clive Davis? Have they advised her to stay in the studio and not tour and she just isn't listening? "I Will Always Love Her" but I don't want to see her humiliated either. It makes Me want to cry, and I don't even know her personally. These people need to step up and be honest with her. If these concerts continue to be like this, she may just slip back into the darkness, with or without Bobby. We certainly don't want that to happen. God Help Her...Seriously!

By JJ

I think that those are kind words but WH is known for vocals. She made that the front runner of her act. Not interpretation, not beauty (she does have both). If she was Spears then she doesn't have to sing, but this is an artist known for vocals. The only one that got near Streisand's legendary status. She lost her voice soon after The Body Guard, it was just well hidden. Today is just what you would have seen 12 years ago. I still remember her grammy performance of Count on Me when Cece just had to hold back cuz WH couldn't sing anymore. After that she switched to "rapid gospel phrasing". Practically speaking her songs live. That is fine but we remember her for her sustained notes. To me the culprit is genetics. Her mom lost her voice very quickly as well as Dionne her cousin.

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