Coarse, raspy, and vulnerable are not words typically used to describe Whitney Houston’s vocals. However, after a decade of reality television, drug abuse, and divorce, Houston has transformed her once perfect voice into an instrument damaged from neglect. Prior to her tabloid infamy, critics and fans adored her superhuman ability to emit feelings no one else could express. But when Miss Houston began her downward spiral much of the public rejected the diva, viewing the tarnishing of her voice as the selfish behavior of an ungrateful diva pampered for way too long.
Ironically, on I Look to You, her “comeback album,” Whitney may no longer hit high notes but for the first time in her career sounds oddly sympathetic and human. Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime mentor and executive producer, has crafted the album as a hip-hop boxing match balanced between up-tempo modern disco and sappy ballads. On the first five tracks, produced by hit makers Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, Akon, and Danja, Houston clearly struggles to belt the catchy refrain of girl power anthems like “Million Dollar Bill.” Throughout these feel good jams, Whitney attempts to convince us that she’s still the curly haired girl who stole our hearts with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” “I want you to love me/like I never left,” she begs us; and for the first half of the album it seems like the old Whitney has left us forever, leaving us with an unconfident diva battling for survival in a radio ready boxing match against the trends of the new Millennium.
But as her mentor Clive Davis said, it only takes one great song to return to the top of charts, and with “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” Whitney stands a chance at reclaiming her legacy. On this gorgeous hymn penned by Dianne Warren, Houston feels no need to attempt to sang in 1990, but instead allows her emotions to come thru in a simple hymn expressing her ability to survive her greatest challenges. “I was not built to break,” she claims and on the next few tracks on her album she returns to her confidant glory.
On the club ready “Worth It” and break up jam “Salute,” Whitney accepts her raspy voice and flows with R. Kelly’s rhythms, clearly having a good time in the sound booth. Whitney may struggle to hit the notes and her voice might sound more Amy Winehouse than Chaka Khan, but between her raw honesty and the slight schadenfreude, Whitney Houston delivers a solid hit worthy record, which may not reclaim her thrown, but reinvents her as a tragic figure rising from her challenges as a new and different Whitney Houston.
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