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The Houston Belt Way

By Esther Iverem
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 4, 1997; Page H01
The Washington Post

With more than 100 million records sold worldwide, five Grammy Awards and an acting career taking flight, Whitney Houston may well be heir to the diva mantle passed down by the likes of Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross.

So perhaps it is only fitting that Houston wrapped herself in this legacy for "Classic Whitney: Live From Washington, D.C." -- performed last night at DAR Constitution Hall and to be repeated tomorrow for live broadcast on HBO at 9 p.m. She paid tribute to Ross and Franklin, as well as to her cousin Dionne Warwick. She sang songs by Billie Holiday and George Gershwin. She mentioned Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horne. As the crowd applauded, she mentioned that Marian Anderson was refused a date at the hall about 60 years ago because she was African American.

A quick fashion assessment would put Houston in the tradition of Ross, with her model-thin figure, glamour-girl style and a certain plasticity. In terms of her tributes, Houston was most at home with Ross's solo classics. But in this concert and as she matures, she exhibits the influence of Warwick as well. Her singing was strained as she battled a cold, and at her request there was no air conditioning in the building, which began to swelter. Houston, who perspires easily, dabbed herself with a ready hankie all night.

This concert was in contrast to her previous two HBO specials, "Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston," the 1991 homecoming concert for Desert Storm troops, and 1994's "Concert for a New South Africa," celebrating the end of apartheid. This weekend's concerts are about Whitney. They offer millions of viewers the chance to perhaps get a little closer to the distant diva, and offer a kinder, gentler picture of the 34-year-old singer more often associated lately with bizarre stories about her rocky marriage to singer Bobby Brown. Throughout last night's show she was more animated, waving a towel, exhorting people to rise and press their palms to the air. By the end, the entire 32-piece orchestra backing her was on its feet, rocking as it played.

She talked about her youth spent in church choirs and in a family of singers in Newark, and a cute video montage of childhood images was splayed across oversize screens. Early on, she sang a duet with her mother. Sitting opposite her famous daughter, the veteran Cissy Houston looked careworn, a bit weary but filled with mother love. Their song, "I Know Him So Well," appeared aptly chosen. It seemed to offer the elder Houston a chance to offer her daughter public advice: "Remember no one is in your life constantly," "No one is completely at your side." Whitney also sang a duet with her brother Gary Houston. To top it off, Houston and her husband offered a vision of unity to the crowd. Wearing an open lime-green silk shirt and a white hat, Bobby Brown danced with fluidity and energy as Houston sang "Mr. Bojangles." He also popped up toward the end of the show, dancing in a red silk shirt as she declared, "I love you, Mr. Brown."

Her singing cannot really be said to clone any of her inspirations. With a wide range and undeniable vocal power, she added a little more soul to Warwick's pop renditions of "Walk On By," "A House Is Not a Home," "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Alfie." Although Houston did sing Ross's '80s-era pop hits "Endless Love" and "The Boss" and paid tribute to the soul era, none of Ross's classic songs with the Supremes was included last night. Nor did she attempt to go toe-to-toe with Franklin's foot-stomping soul anthems, preferring to tackle the mellower tunes "Baby, I Love You," "Since You've Been Gone" and "Ain't No Way." With these selections, Houston showed that she is a diva for the minimalist '80s and '90s, not the more emotion-laden and free-form '60s and '70s.

She can obviously belt out a song. But something happens in its delivery. Even if she allows herself to step outside her diva mask and posture she is still, somehow, far away from us. Sure, millions would disagree but, as the lingo goes, there are others out here who just aren't feeling her. The show also asked just what is "classic" Whitney. She gave a nod to her church roots with some gospel. Many of her hits -- "I Will Always Love You," "Missing You," "Exhale (Shoop, Shoop,)" "The Greatest Love of All" -- were sprinkled throughout.

Perhaps tellingly, she ends with her 1993 hit "I'm Every Woman." She can't really be every woman, of course. But it's amazing to see an energetic Houston try to be.