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 Julie

Vote down Vote up Report this

Two words: Has been!

By hdstyle1957

She is a has been. She should get her a job at KFC.

By sherrie

God bless her .... know when to walk away!

By angeleyedboidan

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You have to remember that - yes she did drugs and messed up her voice BUT - she hasn't sung in almost 10 years in concert and she is out doing a lot of shows and her voice isn't used to this, maybe she should slow down and let her voice build back up and not push herself so hard.
Everyone deserves a chance and I pray she makes it and prooves everyone wrong in the end! God Bless you Whitney!

By gigi

I will never give up on you . I will keep my mind focused on your healing from this disease. I know once you stop , your voice will return and be beautiful.
I share your pain and your journey
Dont give up on yourself EVER. Each minute is a new one and God is with us all and ready to heal and restore.
Much love , dont listen to the ignorant haters, we singers have strength that is limitless and an emotional gift to give to the world.
God Blesses You Dear Whitney --Gigi

By TOLL094

Anyone who is too young to known about Billie Holiday,I will advise,to read about her, or see the movie about her. Only then,one can refflect on Whitney Houston,today. See what drugs can do to your mind,your soul,your voice,and to yourself.

By Joe

She is a human being who lost her way and is paying the price for it. Just because someone has fame doesn't give them thick skin their still people with feelings, I mourn the loss of her incredible gift and she is more aware of it than us. I hope she finds peace and love.

Tuesday 27 April

By Rick

Stupid phuck! You probably can't read and your double wide leaks when it rains.

Going off key didn't bother me as much as her pausing in between verses. Extremely aggravating!

By LadyAvra

She's washed up and it's over. I sure be demanding my money back from this pathetic concert.

By Angela

Whitney should work with a vocal coach to retrain her voice. She needs to make sure she builds up the muscles and regain the strength she once had after mistreating it for so long.

By Gary

Debra Wilson from MADTV does a better job playing her than she does herself. Maybe SHE should finish her tour for her. She would do a better job. Aries Spears could make a guest appearence as Bobby Brown!

By judejaded

whitneys' post-junkie tour is just too painful to contemplate. her voice, further, hurt my bleedin' ears even during the awful 80s, and that infernal song 'i will always love you' was the worst offender.

By Jennifer

I would have been really upset if I paid BIG money to watch Whitney sing and pause and pause and pause and pause....either sing it or forget it.

By Michael Hinton

Brian Brake

By jenny

Maybe she should just stop. Ya think?

By jan

You should click onto connie talbot and listen to her sing I will always love you. When she sang it she was 6 and my gosh is it good. She is 9 now.

By Jalapeno

She came nowhere close to perfecting an already perfectly sung song. Dolly cannot be replaced. Only poorly imitated.

By kimmy52

crack has ruined her voice!!!!!

By Dee

I think she is a legend, and will always be known for her songs, but it might be time for her to "Hang up the sheet music" Time takes it's toll, on everyone, and if you can't cut it anymore, that's the breaks... You have your memories, and at least that's more than other people have. Be thankful.

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