Whitney Houston wows 'em

Date: September 20, 1986
By Divina Infusino, Arts Writer

From The San Diego Union-Tribune
Submitted by: Larry A.


The story goes that one day, while still a young girl, Whitney Houston announced to her mother: "Mama, I want to sing." As it turned out, that was no idle remark or a young girl's temporary fancy -- Whitney Houston knew her calling at an early age.

For if there was ever a natural-born singer, someone with not only the talent but also the need to sing, it is this 23-year-old performer. And sing she did -- to become one of the major stars of the '80s, to chart three No. 1 singles, to sell 10 million copies of her debut album, to win the Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal, and finally -- in a week jammed with major concerts -- to attract 11,000 people to the Sports Arena for her third San Diego show in just over a year. Legs astride, arms flung out, dazzling in a purple-and-blue sequined suit, Houston wowed 'em Thursday night.

At times, her voice -- swooping, swirling, growling, sustaining notes until they turned into a cry, quieting down only to rise to the big finish -- literally took your breath away.

Her performance was the kind of powerhouse merger of ability, enthusiasm, energy and soul typical of the greatest singers. Her show has come a long way since she played Humphrey's last summer on a small, sparse stage with a modest little combo behind her.

Thursday night the Sports Arena was decked out like a pastel disco: all pink and peach and powder blue, fringed with gold tinsel, lit up and pulsing like a gigantic juke box. The combo has been traded for a versatile six-piece band and four backup singers including her brother Gary Garland.

They provided Houston with unobstrusive but sympathetic, solid support throughout the evening. The audience, which was appreciative at Humphrey's, was downright smitten at the Sports Arena.

At times, cheers and applause erupted in midsong. Three notes of Houston's first hit, "You Give Good Love," and screams of recognition traveled throughout the arena. Houston, a beautiful and vivacious stage personality, didn't have to earn this audience's love.

But she did anyway. Her voice demonstrated all the qualities it should: power, range, versatility, phrasing ability.

She gave this remarkable instrument over to her inner cues -- "soul," it's called. Sometimes, you could almost watch her reach inside as she worked her way through a song.

When she tapped her deepest feelings, as in "You Give Good Love," "Greatest Love of All" and a song from her forthcoming January 1987 album, "Loving You Makes Life Worth Living," Houston was just plain stunning.

Throughout she sang her heart out.

Sometimes, however, it didn't seem to matter what song she was singing.

That contradiction posed Houston's biggest failing: her choice of material. She needs to feel more at one with her songs.

While she milked every bit of drama out of "Saving All My Love for You," she somehow seemed distanced from its lyrics. So it wasn't surprising that her best vocal of the evening was on the gospel number, "I Believe," when her voice floated beautifully into her upper register.

Houston, a Christian, obviously believed the lyrics of this song, which her mother taught her when Houston was a child. Now, her mother, Cissy Houston, a singer in her own right, should ask her daughter: "Yes, you can sing, but what do you want to say?"

If Houston can answer that question as she matures, San Diego may have witnessed a performance by one of pop music's best singers.