Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
MEN Arena
June 16, 2010
Her voice is coarser and she can no longer consistently hit the top notes – but Whitney Houston's fans still love her.
It took a stretch of the imagination to recall how 23 years ago this month she was on top of the UK charts. The song I Want To Dance With Somebody fizzed with late 80s euphoria and she strutted her stuff on the video.
Fast forward to Manchester, aged 46, and even the most devoted fan could not help but conclude that the years have not been kind.
The big hair has survived but despatches from earlier performances on this current tour had suggested her once polished and powerful voice had not.
The build-up signs were not good last night with thousands of empty seats covered with black curtains. But when Whitney finally came on just after 9pm it was to wild rapturous applause.
She launched into For The Lovers from her new album. It was a smart choice to start - a thumping anthem complete with a Hold Your Hands Up chorus. Nothing But Love followed and it veered between gallant stabs at the soaring notes and a bit rough. She then rambled for five minutes telling us: “It feels good in the house. Tonight you are going to enjoy yourself.”
Two songs in and she was breathless and beginning to glow profusely needing a napkin to dab away the sweat.
The big power ballad I Look To You was then delivered in stops and starts sustained by good backing vocals.
But still the crowd willed her to succeed and to her credit she responded wearing a ludicrous trench coat. She then performed My Love Is Your Love from the excellent 1998 album.
After a 10 minute disappearance from the stage which left many wondering if she was fit to take to the stage at all, she re-emerged and dazzled the crowd with a powerful rendition of Song For You dedicated to Michael Jackson. Then the candy coated ode to adultery Saving All My Love was performed well but cut short.
Then, towards the end, came the moment the crowd had been waiting for - her greatest hit I Will Always Love You, followed by I Wanna Dance With Somebody. All the earlier doubts dropped away and for her legion of fans, it was just like the old times.
Even as a faded diva, Whitney Houston has the power to enchant and dazzle.
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Whitney did indeed look unwell and her once wonderful, soulful voice has largely deserted her now for most of th…
i went to see whitney with open views on what to expect knowing that she had inevitably changed in the past 25 years. I was not dissapointed at all.
My Hat goes off to her, to come back fighting after all the unnessassery bad press sh…