70 replies to this topic

[jersey]

In light of the upcoming Glee tribute to Whitney, it got me thinking...

Do you all think anyone would ever attempt to cover a Whitney song?

If so, who? And in your opinion, what song has the most potential to be covered?

[frisbie21]

Whitney's voice was one in a million, so no-one'd sing better, but there are some songs that'd be sung by (for example) Glee cast - My Love Is Your Love, Exhale, Could I Have This Kiss Forever or If I Told You That. But that's just only my opinion

[Accomplice]

I can tolerate things like Glee but overall I can't stand it when other people sing Whitney's songs, it just shouldn't be done EVER by anyone
period. I do however really like Gavin Creel's song "Whitney Houston" so more things like that would be cool

[Every1lovesNippy]

There are lots of arrogant singers out there who simply do not know when to take a seat, so I would not be at all surprised to see someone try to cover Whitney some day. It would be laughable to people who are exposed to both versions of the songs, but there are millions of people who buy music who are completely ignorant about music and don't know they are listening to drivel. Look at what sells today. I guaranty that if Justin Bieber sang any Whitney song, he would have a huge hit. Same with Katy Perry. We would be laughing at how badly they would compare to Whitney, but they would be laughing all the way to the bank. Kids who buy music now have no idea how bad the crap is that they are listening to.

JHud, is a good example of a singer who does not know when to sit down. I think she actually thinks she can sing like Whitney. She doesn't say it, 'cause she doesn't necessarily want to be called on it, but she sure spends a lot of time butchering Whitney's songs. I expect that someday Clive will have her do a "tribute" album to Whitney as he trys to position her in front of the pack of as his next "Whitney." She'll do it, I'm pretty sure, because I don't think she has any real understanding of all the things Whitney is doing that make her songs one-of-a-kind, and SHE thinks she can do Whitney's songs justice.

The only thing that makes singers think twice about covering Whitney is that they don't want to be laughed at by their peers. But they all think they are all that and a bag of snacks. I mean even Kim Burrell had her manager calling her the greatest living singer the week after Whitney was burried (truly weird, and I really like Kim and think she loved Whitney). These performers have huge egos which too often blind them to their true place in the grand scheme of music history. So we won't have to wait long before we will have to post threads comparing karyoke-like covers to Whitney's masterpieces. I'd be willing to bet real money on that.

[Petra]

I don't really want someone to do a cover. Tributes are one thing because they come from the heart and you can feel the love and respect an artist has for her. So even if they're not sung perfectly, and compared to Whitney none are, they're still beautiful and heartwarming. But for someone to actually record a cover and put it on an album, not so much. But I don't think anyone would wanna do it, who wants to be compared to her constantly? When Whitney did covers, she would make these songs her own the moment she opened her mouth. It wouldn't be like that if someone covered one of hers. Just my humble opinion.

[Every1lovesNippy]

frisbie21, on 20 April 2012 - 04:58 PM, said:

Whitney's voice was one in a million, so no-one'd sing better, but there are some songs that'd be sung by (for example) Glee cast - My Love Is Your Love, Exhale, Could I Have This Kiss Forever or If I Told You That. But that's just only my opinion

Glee is o.k. because it is a tribute show. They are showing Whitney respect. They should not release an album of Whitney's material, though. That would be doing Whitney and the songes an injustice. Nobody should be allowed to autotune a Whitney cover. That would shut down the whole Whitney cover industry 'cause these "artists" today can't sing without autotune.

[J1994]

The Only people I seen do Whitney Justice Are
Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson and Christina

[btr2lethingsbe]

I don't know... I really like it when this woman sings Whitney. For those of us that sing, it's a gift to attempt these...not to compare ourselves...not to do anything but pay tribute to a voice that called us to sing...a woman who inspired us to find our own voice.... Although it's an emulation at points, I really believe (through conversations with her, too) that she's doing her best to respect and honor what Whitney did. She's the only voice I know that has a similar quality to hers. Anyhow, I think this video is nice:

[btr2lethingsbe]

...and if you're not convinced, fast forward right to 2:05 and tell me that this doesn't strike a nerve. She's not Whitney...no one will be....but I would pay to hear her sing some of these songs live....

[Every1lovesNippy]

J1994, on 20 April 2012 - 06:21 PM, said:

The Only people I seen do Whitney Justice Are
Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson and Christina

Depends on what you mean by doing justice. I think folks who try to copy another artists' work are weak. It's like paying Picaso tribute by doing a pain-by-numbers of Guernica, or something. I like the way Whitney took songs and made them her own, like how she took I'm Every Woman and did her own amazing version, and acknowledged Chaka in the process. Of course, Whitney was extremely musical and was confident in her musical vision and voice. So Whitney probably wasn't worried that her version would not stack up to Chaka's, and she could graciously acknowledge how great Chaka's song was. I haven't seen anything like that from any of these women. They are among the best of the singers we are being force fed today, but they are not in the same league as Whitney or Chaka and they have not displayed the confidence to do use their own musical vision to tribute Whitney and her music.

Honestly, the best tribute any singer today could do would be to stand and say straight up (or write on their web page or whatever): "Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I ever heard; she is the reason why I sing. Here are my 10 essential Whitney Houston songs that I think every music lover must have in their collection. Listen to these and you will know why I am a fan" That would be a tribute, to introduce a new generation to the greatest singer who ever lived. All the rest of these covers are just vanity.

[tms78]

it's already been done. Shirley Murdoch recorded "I Will Always Love You" right after Whitney did.http://www.dailymoti...ways-love_music

Lakisha Jones covered "You Give Good Love" in 2009

[salute88]

btr2lethingsbe, on 20 April 2012 - 07:57 PM, said:

...and if you're not convinced, fast forward right to 2:05 and tell me that this doesn't strike a nerve. She's not Whitney...no one will be....but I would pay to hear her sing some of these songs live....

No shade intended but, my nerve remains un-struck. She has a nice voice. I actually think that there are singers who TECHNICALLY can sing as good, if not better than Whitney. The problem is that they may sing good or better but they will NEVER sound as good or better because Whitney's definitive characteristic to her voice wasn't the range, technique, etc. It was the TONE. That tone could tell some tales! Thats why even after the voice could no longer soar as high and the technicalities of the song began to fade...no one could sing any of her songs like her. That tone would hit that mic and you felt what she was singing. Hearing this woman at 2:05 is a perfect example of that. She sounds good and technically she is on point but her tone is not and will never be Whitney's. JMO.

[Every1lovesNippy]

salute88, on 20 April 2012 - 09:50 PM, said:

btr2lethingsbe, on 20 April 2012 - 07:57 PM, said:

...and if you're not convinced, fast forward right to 2:05 and tell me that this doesn't strike a nerve. She's not Whitney...no one will be....but I would pay to hear her sing some of these songs live....

No shade intended but, my nerve remains un-struck. She has a nice voice. I actually think that there are singers who TECHNICALLY can sing as good, if not better than Whitney. The problem is that they may sing good or better but they will NEVER sound as good or better because Whitney's definitive characteristic to her voice wasn't the range, technique, etc. It was the TONE. That tone could tell some tales! Thats why even after the voice could no longer soar as high and the technicalities of the song began to fade...no one could sing any of her songs like her. That tone would hit that mic and you felt what she was singing. Hearing this woman at 2:05 is a perfect example of that. She sounds good and technically she is on point but her tone is not and will never be Whitney's. JMO.

Salute, you are very kind. I don't see how anyone with ears could think of comparing this woman with Whitney. She's pitchy in her lower register, cannot hold the note at all, and just loud, with no texture or emotion at the climax. Made my head ache. It's a nice tribute from a nice amature whose heart is in the right place.

[jersey]

tms78, on 20 April 2012 - 09:27 PM, said:

it's already been done. Shirley Murdoch recorded "I Will Always Love You" right after Whitney did.http://www.dailymoti...ways-love_music

Lakisha Jones covered "You Give Good Love" in 2009

Maybe I should have been more clear. By "anyone" I meant a major recording artist. I never even heard of a Lakisha Jones. And by "cover" I meant as in releasing it as a new song, not a televised performance mimicking Whitney's recording.

[Every1lovesNippy]

Who's going to try to cover Run to You? Or All the Man That I Need? Or I'm Your Baby Tonight? Or I Learned From The Best? That would be comedy gold.