I Will Always Love Whitney Houston

I can confidently say that I will never, ever forget where I was the evening the news broke about Whitney Houston’s passing. Melissa, Nancy, and I were at Powell Symphony Hall seeing the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra perform the Music of Disney. It was during intermission and I was in line for the men’s restroom when an older gentleman a few people ahead of me blurted out loudly for all to hear, “WHITNEY HOUSTON’S DEAD!” That news traveled like a shockwave through the rest of us in line and I knew I couldn’t stand there for another second. I hustled back to my seat and as soon as I got close enough to Melissa and Nancy I repeated word for word what that man said moments ago, “WHITNEY HOUSTON’S DEAD!” Melissa, Nancy, and all those around us were immediately rooted to the spot. I remember taking my seat next to Melissa and the two of us sat there and cried. We both love Whitney so, so much, so this was a terrible shock to our systems. At 48, she was most definitely gone too soon.

That was in February of 2012, now here in December of 2023, we have a brand new Whitney Houston biopic: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and let me tell you what, I absolutely loved every single second of this gut-wrenching, depressing, and poignant film. In fact, despite how damn sad I felt leaving the theater, I’m most eager to see this one again.

The movie was produced by Clive Davis (played phenomenally by Stanley Tucci in the film) who was Whitney’s longtime friend and record label boss. It also worked closely with the Whitney Houston Estate, led now by Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, so like Elvis, Rocketman, and so many other biopics before, the events we see on screen were all fleshed out in life at one time or another.

I cried nine times in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, NINE TIMES! The first time I cried was because I was so happy and so proud of her for achieving the kind of success she was, but the next eight, those were not happy cries, not happy cries at all. I felt so damn sad for her with each new tear that ran down my cheeks. The movie starts when Whitney’s a teenager in church and takes you all the way through till her untimely death. By the time I was getting around to those sixth, seventh, and eighth cries, I just felt downright depressed for Whitney. Like so many stars of her caliber, so many of the people closest to her were treating her the worst and exploiting her every chance they got. Money really is the root of all evil and we see it time and time again with these huge stars and those that are supposed to care and love for them. Worst of all though, the one person she loved more than anyone in this world she wasn’t allowed to be with, whether that refusal of love came from those around her or even herself, she was constantly denied the love she so clearly yearned for. Seeing these portrayals just broke me down and changed my perspective on some of her biggest hits.

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is one of my most favorite songs of all time. It’s just such a jam, but the lyrics have always been a little lowkey sad despite those infectious and uplifting beats. Well, let me tell you what, there’s one line in the movie where Whitney is choosing songs for her album and the reason why she selects this song is honestly sad as can be. It goes back to the forbidden love I spoke of and now knowing what the song represented for her just changes the whole outlook for me. I’m not going to spoil it and write what she says because I implore you to see the film and experience that reaction for yourself, but for me, it changed a lot. Like I said though, this is one of my most favorite songs of ALL time, so this inevitably weighed a little heavier for me, but still, we all know and love this song, so hearing this I think will be a game changer for a lot of us.

“It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay” was another moment where I felt especially sad for her. I’ve always heard Clive pleaded with Whitney to do another album after not having done a true one in eight years and while we see that conversation in the film, we learn she went back to the recording studio because her father had squandered nearly all of her money. Whitney was therefore left with no other choice but to record and perform again so she could continue to maintain the lifestyle that she – and unfortunately – everyone else around her had grown accustomed to enjoying.

2022, like basically every year, was full of many extraordinary films, but I really feel like they went and saved the best for last here. Melissa and I walked out of that theater actively crying. We went to the restrooms crying. Had an entire conversation with the Cutesville Cineplex manager, Jake, while still crying. Then proceeded to cry all the way back to our car and on the ride home. I haven’t felt so emotional like this in a long time. I felt sad as fuck in Elvis earlier this year and cried a couple times, but some of the scenes we watched in Whitney I remember hearing and reading about at that time, so for me, it just hit home, especially near the end when she overdoses in the bath the night of Clive Davis pre-Grammy party for that was the same night we were at Powell Symphony Hall celebrating other music we love.

Following the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra perform the best of Disney, Melissa, Nancy, and I went to The Cheesecake Factory and I remember debating on whether I should get a piece of cheesecake to go with the strawberry milkshake I ordered. The waitress knew that despite my sadness about Whitney, I wasn’t there to commit carbicide and I’ll never forget what she told me when I asked her if I should get both, “Well, I mean, there’s already an entire piece of cheesecake in the shake, so I don’t think you need another one.” Her honesty was a true breath of fresh air, which is exactly how I feel about Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody. It was a refreshing and honest take on the life of The Voice that educated me in ways I never expected it to. There will never, EVER be another artist like Whitney Houston and after seeing this absolutely phenomenal film, it’s very easy to see why she will forever be one of a kind.

Naturally, we all have our favorite Whitney songs and of course I’m going to share with you my five favorite here:

5. I Will Always Love You – I love me some Dolly Parton and her original composition of her jam is painstakingly beautiful, but what Whitney did for this song is just otherworldly. From the soft and subtle acapella opening to the mountain climbing heights of the bridge and final chorus, Whitney shows us why she really did earn herself the moniker, The Voice.

4. Could I Have This Kiss Forever – This Enrique Iglesias assisted duet is infused with Latin flair and turn of the millennium pop perfection. Despite her voice being incredibly more powerful than his, they blend unbelievably well, which is so much of why this song has long remained one of my favorite TRL era pop tunes for over two decades now. Believe me, this kiss will last forever in the charts of my heart.

3. Step By Step – From the soundtrack to The Preacher’s Wife, which is one of my favorite Christmas movies, this uplifting and motivational jam will get anyone out of their head and up on their feet feeling like they too can make anything happen. Sadly an underrated gem in Whitney’s discography, but I’m here to tell you, this song will get you going!

2. I’m Your Baby Tonight – The ferocity and intensity of this song just gets me so pumped! The ending when she shoots off the lyrics so lightning fast and the bass line is hitting so hard is the peak for me, it’s just so good. Even though it may sound more like a Janet Jackson number than a Whitney Houston one, it could only be done right by Whitney’s top tier vocals. This song slaps!

1. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – You genuinely cannot listen to any radio station that plays a great deal of 80’s music and not expect to hear this jam at least once per day. There’s a reason why this song was chosen as the name for Whitney’s biopic, it’s iconic and it sounds every bit as incredible today as it did upon its initial release back in 1987. Good music never goes bad and this song proves just that.

As always, THANK YOU so much for reading! I really hope you get out to the theaters this holiday season and see Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody because I promise you, you’ll love it. I just don’t see how anyone could walk away from this movie and not love what they just saw, it’s just terrific, but above all, powerful. Bring some Kleenex or grab extra napkins because if you’re anything like me and Melissa, you’re definitely going to need them! Please feel free to leave me a comment below as I love reading and responding to them, I’ll be back with a 2022 recap in early 2023, but until then, I wish you all, all the best!