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

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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 Pam

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God bless you, Whitney. I will always love you. I also hope and pray that she finds peace and love.

Tuesday 27 April

By DaytonaGary

The fact is in Bham more like 3/4 of the audience walked out and those that stayed had to hit the high notes for her.It was obvious by her sweating and panting she was high as usual.It was all over the BBC she was disgusting.

She use to be one of my Favs.

Now she's just like the Loser she married.A burnt out addict.

By Tirzah

She's 47 years old people! What do you expect??? Her voice will never be what it was in her 20's and 30's. Not even Barbara Streisand has a good voice anymore. Streisand can't hit the high notes and her voice tends to strain. If you want to hear her sing, listen to her early recordings. Then you will hear the GREAT voice. Also, she should not be touring because of her bad singing. She is lying to her fans. They buy the tickets, she makes bug bucks but she can't deliver. I guess she figures she will still make good money even though hundreds demand their money back. I think it's time to RETIRE Witney.

By Joann

Age has nothing to do with it my friend, male or female. When you are given a natural talent it does not weaken with age. Look at Patti Labelle(64) and Aretha Franklin(70's) just to name a couple. Whitney ruined her voice chords from extensive drug use.

By DP

voices do weaken with age i put up for evidence the same people you did, patti labelle and aretha franklin both do not sing as well as they did when they were younger. same with smokey robinson. listen to the older albums, before there was voice improving technology, and listen to a recent performance, it's EASY to see the change.

By pegasus53

It's Karma! She once said she sang it better than Dolly! Came back to kick her in the a..

By Lizzie

So sad to say....but I did not even recognize the song....at all. She truly should just stop singing that song. Some of the people close to her should really tell her to stop. Why are they letting her continue? I hold them responsible! If they are encouraging her to continue singing this song, then, they are not true friends, and don't really care about her. Unless they just want her to look bad.

By Joi

smh (shaking my head)

By OTTER

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crack was invented for black people so even the poor ones can get it .Blacks are drawn to cocaine like flies to sugar

racist douche

Wednesday 28 April

By jsloroll

Where do you live so I can pay you a visit fool. We'll then discuss the gravity of your ignorance. I bet you'll learn something.

By O

these people replying are obviously black, so sorry that the truth hurts. probably high on drugs too.

By Dennis

I don't wish her any ill will, but I will never forget the concert she gave in Orlando Florida back in the early 1990's. She played in December and the tickets were a gift to my wife. Her voice was good but she spent more time talking to the band and was about an hour late to the stage and only sung a few drawn out songs. Sometimes what you deliver is what you get back in time. You either have to really practice for the show or stop the game. Good luck Whitney

By bill-mass

No tears here for drug addicts. They know that this is all around them and what it can do to you, yet they think they can beat it.
Whitney made her own hell, and now she has to live in it. She's trash now. The best thing for a drug addict is to die, sorry there are so many people that need help and money is wasted on helping druggies. Isn't it a shame that a voice that was once a pleasure to hear, is destroyed.
BLAME HER SHE'S AN ADULT AND MADE A CHOICE!
SHE LET HER FANS DOWN

By so

Just give up the singing..you are done with singing...all those drugs dried up your vocal abilities not to mention your looks and personality. It appears that you are still on drugs and will" always be on drugs". That should be your next single entitled " I will always be on drugs" ooohooh

By Luis

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Like most colored people, she let crack ruin her life !

By bleevinmiracles

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sounds like her cousin Dionne Warwick now...maybe she should just sing her songs instead...makes me a little sad..wish her well

By Less

Hell honey, you're soprano friend O.D.d. Don't you hate it when that happens.

By Lisa

Whitney, I still Love you!!! You are a very beutiful and talented lady. Please stay off the drugs and keep singing, pray to god and hopefully you will be back to your old self again!! The good old self not the bad one. Good luck ,love ya Girl!!!