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02/09/2009
Whitney Houston's Pre-Comeback Comeback
In a preface to the long-rumored "comeback," Whitney Houston performed "I Will Always Love You" and "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party on Saturday night.
Watch the very shaky video, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 8:38 AM EST by Andy Towle in News, Whitney Houston | Permalink
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When she was speaking on the Grammy show itself, she looked totally drugged out. Very sad.
Posted by: ChicagoR | Feb 9, 2009 9:06:45 AM
I thought the same thing, ChicagoR. Although I'm not sure if that's just the way she is now after all the years of being a druggie.
Posted by: Al | Feb 9, 2009 9:37:11 AM
ugh. please tell me we won't have to go through an entire "judy & liza" cycle with this one. can't we direct our att'n to someone a bit dfferent and affirming -- perhaps M.I.A.?
Posted by: resurrect | Feb 9, 2009 10:12:26 AM
MIA will never be able to sing like Whitney. It's sad to see her go thru these problems.
Posted by: busytimmy | Feb 9, 2009 10:41:04 AM
I thought she seemed fucked up on the Grammys too.
If that is just residual fucked-upedness from the years of drugging, then she's done.
It seemed really odd to me that her "comeback" has taken several years to even get started.
So pitiful. Mediocre pop stars go on and on and someone so talented destroys what she has.
Posted by: paul c | Feb 9, 2009 10:58:57 AM
her grammy appearance was odd. HOWEVER, this youtube video is interesting. her styling sounds weird, ie not typical whitney--and the crappy quality of the recording doesnt help BUT i have hope because what little you can hear, her voice sounds like whitney!
Posted by: jash | Feb 9, 2009 11:03:19 AM
I got chills listening to this. She is one of the most phenomenal and amazing vocal talents of the last century. I hope she takes all the time she needs in recovery from what came close to a life ended far too early by drugs. I once long ago waited all night to get tickets for one of her concerts. Hearing her live was worth every minute.
As highly as I anticipate her next album, I'd rather her take it slow, and not get swept into a whirlwind that might make temptations harder to resist.
Posted by: sparks | Feb 9, 2009 11:44:53 AM
Paul: I agree with you. Hearing this as I was getting ready for work this morning was so disappointing. I was hoping that maybe she'd been in vocal rehab and she'd sound like she did before.
Unfortunately, her voice doesn't seem to have improved. Whitney didn't need to sing runs before because she could belt.
Even if she returns to the top of the charts (doubtful), that wonderful instrument, that amazing voice appears to be gone forever.
Sigh . . . .
Posted by: Brandon | Feb 9, 2009 11:51:57 AM
I didn't see the Grammys, so I can't comment on that, but from this performance it does seem that the uppermost register is gone for good. A shame, but worse was that godawful 70s Vegas arrangement of "It's Not Right..."
Posted by: Jay | Feb 9, 2009 12:05:50 PM
It's a shame. She looked stoned last night at the Grammys.
Posted by: Maverick69 | Feb 9, 2009 12:34:20 PM
Sorry to sound like a 7th grader, but "pre-comeback" sounds kinda dirty! :P
Posted by: Aman Chaudhary | Feb 9, 2009 1:05:06 PM
She didn't look stoned our on drugs at all. She seemed FUCT up from years of drug abuse. That crack head will NEVER make a come back. She's through.... finished!
Posted by: zeke | Feb 9, 2009 1:08:35 PM
Once you go crack ... you can't go back.
I've never seen a crack addict ever fully recover - they always find a way.
Prove me wrong Whitney -- say it ain't so.
Posted by: chapeau | Feb 9, 2009 1:32:57 PM
Too soon to tell...
Posted by: David T | Feb 9, 2009 1:42:43 PM
I really don't see the issue here. I know she's had problems and I haven't heard her in years. I have to say that her voice seemed to be powerful and supple, and heard her hit some high notes at the outset of what is obviously not a very good recording.
While on the subject, and maybe it's because I generally prefer jazz, but people make it hard for pop/rock artists to be ARTISTS. They complain when they don't do something new and different yet they want them to sound the same and sing the same way they sang in the studio. There is an absurd emphasis on vocal power and pyrotechnics, in my view. Singing isn't about that. Ella Fitzgerald had a small range, Billie Holiday's was even smaller. But they could sing the hell out of a song because they were also musicians as well as interpreters.
If she can make it, Whitney's experiences will certainly come out in her music and she'll be a better artist for it.
Posted by: Will | Feb 9, 2009 2:46:42 PM
Given how amazing her career was, how hard she fell and the public thirst for drama and righteousness it took a great deal of personal courage for her to overcome scumbag Bobby, drugs, public perception, gossip, and raise a child all the while facing personal demons. She looked great, and thank God she can still sing. She'll get the confidence and styling back with time. Here's someone trying to pull it together. I support her and welcome her home and look forward to her next step...
Posted by: milan | Feb 9, 2009 2:59:28 PM
Given how amazing her career was, how hard she fell and the public thirst for drama and righteousness it took a great deal of personal courage for her to overcome scumbag Bobby, drugs, public perception, gossip, and raise a child all the while facing personal demons. She looked great, and thank God she can still sing. She'll get the confidence and styling back with time. Here's someone trying to pull it together. I support her and welcome her home and look forward to her next step...
Posted by: milan | Feb 9, 2009 3:00:21 PM
She sounded very strong at the Pre Grammy party! I think that it is clear that she has been working hard on her recovery. I support anyone who wants to get back on track!
Posted by: Johnnie | Feb 9, 2009 3:04:06 PM
Plus, she looked like a million bucks!
Posted by: Johnnie | Feb 9, 2009 3:06:24 PM
Sadly all the years of drugging have ruined her voice... she cannot do a tenth of what she used to be able to... no supple flights from note to note like she used to, now much of it is half spoken half sung songs. If she carves out a specific niche with a totally new style, lower registers and less vocal gymnastics, she could have a career again, but right now she can't do the stuff she used to.
And wow, was she ever soooooo stoned/drunk when she presented the award. It's very sad (as someone earlier in the posts noted), that someone as amazingly talented as Whitney has spiraled down to where she is, and the hordes of limited-talent wannabees still have careers.
Whitney in full, great (previous) voice was incredible. believe me, if she CAN get it back together, I will be really happy, cos I love hearing her when she is great, but I don't hear that in the pre-grammy performance... she still has a way to go!
Keep at it though, Whitney, would love to have you back on form!
Posted by: CK | Feb 9, 2009 6:45:06 PM
that crack-job used to be able to crack teeth with her phony doses of sugary schmaltz... can't sell that "act" now.
she might've had a star-search quality of voice, but she never had decent material... takes more than a voice to make dynamic music.
Posted by: costner | Feb 9, 2009 7:48:24 PM
Zeke/Costner
Really?
I'm jes sayin'.
Be nice bitches.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Feb 10, 2009 1:14:54 AM
Why is people hating on Whitney as if you get some pleasure thinking she going to fail, I thought she sounded great and look wonderful. Take it for what is, and stop all the whining.
Posted by: AD | Feb 10, 2009 9:43:16 AM
Why is people hating on Whitney as if you get some pleasure thinking she going to fail, I thought she sounded great and look wonderful. Take it for what is, and stop all the whining.
Posted by: AD | Feb 10, 2009 9:44:46 AM