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)

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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)

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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 Kerr Avon

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To get through I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, she should perform it with the same arangement that Dolly used and avoid all those attempts at long, soaring notes. It would add a new twist on the same old song and give her a chance to bring some real emotion to it.

By steffenjobbs

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"I Will Always Love You" is now just an ode to a lonely crack pipe. Whitney can still have a long life ahead of her. She must be getting plenty of royalties from all those records she sold. Why is everyone feeling sorry for her. It's not like she's dying or anything. She merely lost her singing voice. She could always take to lip-syncing her vocals. If the audience closed their eyes, she'd be the Whitney from pre-crack times. That's how I picture her.

By steve

You know what, Whitney sounds better then i expected!! She was so beautiful & talented at once! Must stop Singing, I will always Love you! To Scratchy sounding!! Smoke up!!

By cecejoe

when she did a concert in england a few years back.she said she was bigger than the beatles everyone got up and walked out.she's been finished for quite sometime now.

By Olivia

She said the same thing when we saw her in concert! It pissed my dad off big time(huge Beatles fan). He said he wouldn't even waste time spitting on her now. Arrogant.

By Berni

I loved Whitneys music. It is so sad to see and hear how using drugs ruined her voice. She was given a beautiful voice and now it is gone.

Tuesday 27 April

By elysummers

It doesn't belong to her. Dolly Parton wrote the song and recorded it years before Whitney did the song.

By Adriana

Whit...that soprano friend of yours is gone for now. Only you can get her back. And ya know it's going to take some time and care. Why not give it a rest for now and stop disappointing those fans who have paid good, hard-earned money? If you're not in a good place with good people, GET THERE.

By nell

I know how easy it is for some to judge others when they never experienced the terrible effects of drugs, but when you've been thru it, you look at things from a different perspective. yes, drugs wreak havoc, but it doesn't mean u can't get it together! Whitney, i wish you the best. You're a mom, and what REALLY MATTERS is family! after all, when everyone else fails & judges, loved ones support conquers mountains! God Bless U!
WHEN ALL THE FAME IS GONE, GOD NEVER FAILS!!!

The pipe ruined her pipes. Kind of like a plumber's nightmare that even an electric snake won't unclog.

By Ebbie

She should leave Dolly's song to Dolly.

By Sharron

Whitney still has more talent than most female vocalists today! She may not be perfect or even to the level she once was, but she still tops todays "talent". Whitneys still of music demands true vocal talent and a trained, and disiplined voice. Today most artists can't even sing a live show successfully period! You hear their song on the radio and its good, but live...omg! Look at Taylor Swift for Gods sake! Give Whitney a little credit she is still heads above the rest.

By Julie

Have you heard her? Her voice is shot! It will never go back to the way it used to be. Sad as hell, but true.

By JR

Sorry to all Whitney fans but I still think Dolly did the BEST rendition of "I Will Always Love You"...full of emotion.

By gsicomput

She should just do Johnny Mathis songs.

By Yvette

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO God please don't let the devil take this angel.

By Peter

It is a shame to see such a superstar fall from grace. However, this is what using cocaine will do to you. I think that she should go "on tour" discussing the harmful effects that cocaine can do to one's body. She is living proof!

By Marsha

I'm inclined to believe that she has a medical problem. Perhaps a sinus issue or bad allergies. I've experienced the same issues when I try to talk or sing because of my allergies. I have to stop and clear my throat and spit out the mucus or swallow it. It's gross I know, but for a singer it's a killer. These things can also make you winded or out of breath. Yes we all know that she has abused drugs, however look at Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler or any other rockers/singers who used drugs heavily back in the day. They don't have a problem belting out their songs. And I get that people's bodies may respond differently. I know it's very convienent to blame the drugs, however there is a chance that they are not her problem.

By gary

I know one thing for sure whitney houston will never be a tina turner in her best day she couldnt hold a candle to tina not to mention what did she think was gonna happen after doing all the cocane she did that will fry your lungs in a ny minute and she loks like she's getting on the chubby side and her looks have also faltered she should just quit and go some place and hide or she's gonna suffer the wrath of the fans goodbye whitney sad to see you go but go please.

By coise

Her lack of stamina and getting so winded should concern her. She should get her heart checked. Sounds like some damage may have been done with all those years of abusing her body so intensely.

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