Concert date: 7/18/99 University Park, PA, USA.
Reviewed by MARK PARFITT
Collegian Staff Writer
Here is a review of Whitney's concert at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA.:

Definitely not Whitney Houston -- not after her performance Sunday at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Although pretty unfamiliar with most of her songs, (I only really care for that short rap she does at the end of "I'm Your Baby Tonight,") I went to the Jordan Center with an open mind.

The last "diva" I saw at the Jordan Center was Gloria Estefan. I knew very little about her before the concert, but I became a huge fan after her stunning performance. I anticipated the same thing happening with Houston.

While waiting for our media passes at the ticket center, my friends and I began the evening by discussing the topic of "diva-ness" and how one qualifies to be a "diva."

We thought we were in for a great concert when we heard one woman go so far as to try to bribe a Jordan Center employee with her dog if he could give her better tickets than the ones she had.

However, just moments into the concert, we concluded Houston was definitely not a "diva."

First, a "diva" would have sold out or at least filled the majority of the arena. Houston was lucky she barely filled half of the arena.

A real "diva" also wouldn't have needed an opening act. But Houston's fans had to suffer the awful performance of the boy-band 112. The group was not only uncoordinated with its singing and dancing, but members also became extremely pathetic when they told the audience on several occasions to buy their new album.

After the horrible opening act, Houston came out and sang songs from her latest album, including her rendition of "Heartbreak Hotel," which ended up being one of her better performances of the evening.

Next, Houston did a retro set of her earlier songs. Her performances of "You Give Good Love," the song that started it all for Houston, and "Saving All My Love For You" weren't bad, but they still lacked the energy the crowd wanted.

Houston's wardrobe was more exciting than her performance, with several costume changes including a lime green faux fur coat. The liveliest the crowd ever got was with Houston's next set of songs.

"Can Pennsylvania shoop?" Houston asked. "Do you think we can all shoop together?" That performance of "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" was the only song in which Houston asked for audience participation -- and she had a hard time receiving it.

"I'm Every Woman," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "How Will I Know?" were the most upbeat songs of the concert.

However, while her band played the danceable beat heard on the albums, Houston chose to sing in a slower speed and use higher volume -- a combination that just didn't work.

Houston took time to discuss her often-portrayed rocky marriage with singer Bobby Brown. While announcing Sunday was their seventh anniversary, Houston defended Brown.

"Bobby and I are basically like everybody else," she said. "We have our ups and downs."

Keeping with the family theme, Houston brought Brown and their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, onstage to sing "My Love Is Your Love," the title song to her newest album.

Houston gave up stadiums and large arenas for this tour, and chose medium-sized venues, such as the Jordan Center, because they provided a more "intimate" setting.

However, the only real intimate moment of the night was her performance of "I Will Always Love You," her biggest hit. During the pause toward the end of the song, the audience began its standing ovation, followed by a flash of huge lights as the drum beats kicked in at the end of the song.

At this point, many were just getting into the concert.

Then the crowd dispersed after a very unsatisfying evening.