January 2003 Nippy News (Part II)

Submit your news here!

2003/1/31

Response to Williams: BET News contacted Whitney's spokesperson, Nancy Seltzer, in regard to radio DJ Wendy Williams' offensive round of questions during Whitney's interview Thursday on WBLS-FM. The news program reported Seltzer expressed outrage today at the way the interview was handled, and said Whitney is only human. She said--

"Whitney became fiercely protective as a mother and as a wife. She is sick and tired of being attacked and ambushed. People are always using her to pay their rent.
Whitney is an extraordinary, loving, loyal woman... loving to a fault, but nobody is letting her tell that story."

In all, BET News highlighted some of Williams' most offensive questions to provide proper context of why Whitney was so irritated, and seemed to be the only organization that contacted Seltzer for comment. If you'd like to write a thank you note to BET News, you can e-mail betnightlynews@bet.com.

Interview Article: The New York Times published a report today on Whitney's interview with WBLS' Williams, seeming to enjoy some of Whitney's zingers.

Billboard Review: Read their review of Whitney's new single, "Try It On My Own."

Bert's Beat: Yes, he's Brandy's husband and cousin to Rodney Jerkins. But familial ties aside, Robert "Big Bert" Smith is busy forging his own identity as a producer. "I try to approach each project differently," the L.A.-based Smith says. "But overall I go for a more simplified, less computerized sound. More authentic with warm drums, piano, and bass lines. I like taking it back to the old school with a little more street."
Five years into his mission, Smith has worked with Toni Braxton, Dave Hollister, and Kelly Rowland; his upcoming Big Bert Entertainment schedule includes projects with Brandy, Usher, Angie Stone, Whitney Houston, and Blaque, who recently signed with Elektra. "I see myself as R&B, hip-hop, rock, country . . . I don't put a limit on anything," says Smith, who originally wanted to join his dad's trucking company. [Excerpt from Billboard]

Music Charts Update: Whitney's Thunderpuss remixes for "Try It On My Own" have made their first appearance on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Play breakout chart.

The Netherands: Dutch TV station V8 will air "CDTV: Whitney Houston" on Sunday, February 2 at 7:40 p.m. The program will include at least part of Whitney's "Primetime" interview with Diane Sawyer. (Thanks Pascal)

2003/1/30

WBLS Interview: You can listen to clips of Whitney's interview with DJ Wendy Williams from WBLS 107.5 FM today. Williams barely asked Whitney any professional questions, instead asking offensive questions about her family and even her sex life. Whitney didn't put up with it. A full transcript will be posted soon. If you would like to send a complaint to Williams, you can e-mail her at gowendy@wbls.com. Just take care to be polite.
In contrast, Whitney gave two other radio interviews today to KHHT 92.3 FM in Los Angeles and WKTU 103.5 FM in New York City. Unlike Williams, those hosts were respectful and covered her new album, and Whitney had pleasant conversations with them. If you have audio of either the KHHT or WKTU interviews, please e-mail the Nippy News.

WKTU Interview: Whitney called WKTU in New York at 11:30 a.m. this morning. She said she was in Miami, Florida, and also spoke about Clive Davis and some of the material on her new album. The station also had a mini listening party, playing "One Of Those Days" and "Try It On My Own." The station also asked Whitney which song is her favorite, and she said it was "My Love," so they had Whitney introduce it, and asked her to select a song, so she said to please play "Love That Man." She was in good spirits, sounded really happy, and said she and Bobby are planning a tour right now, mentioning New York and Baltimore. (Thanks Kenny, Thomas)

On the Charts: Read the complete statistics for Just Whitney, "One Of Those Days" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the latest issue of Billboard, plus news from Austria, Canada and Italy.

Brown's Big Day: After serving that grueling five-day jail sentence for DUI this month, recently released singer Bobby Brown and wife Whitney Houston are readying a high-profile return to Atlanta's social scene. The couple has rented out Club Fuel in Buckhead for Brown's birthday party Feb. 6. Brown is promising to perform for guests. Among the invitees: Ja Rule, Mystikal, Cee-Lo, 50 Cent, Master P, Brown's former New Edition bandmates and lots of other All-Star attendees. Brown will be 34. [From the Atlanta Journal and Constitution]

2003/1/29

Whitney Begins Radio Interview Promotions!
Promotion for Just Whitney and the upcoming single "Try It On My Own" appears to be coming together. Whitney was interviewed today by radio station WERQ 92.3 FM in Baltimore, Md. You can read a report about it here. Whitney discussed her new album, L.A. Reid, Clive Davis, and also mentioned that Bobbi Kristina sang some background vocals on "Things You Say." Additional radio interviews are planned, so far, for--

Thursday, January 30: Interview with Wendy Williams on WBLS 107.5 FM in New York City. The show airs at 2-6 p.m. ET, and the interview may air at about 4 p.m. ET. The show will be broadcast via streaming audio at WBLSi.com for fans outside of New York. (Thanks John G., Jen, Mike) The interview also may be posted in the Nippy News late Thursday evening.

Monday, February 3: Whitney will call V103 102.7 FM in Chicago for an interview at about 3 p.m. ET. Fans outside of Chicago can try to hear the interview at V103.com, but for now, it appears the radio station has disabled streaming audio at its web site. (Thanks Shun)

Wetten Dass: BMG Germany reports that Arista, not Whitney, called off her appearance on German TV show "Wetten Dass" for release-strategic reasons. The label decided an appearance in February was too early to promote Whitney's next single there, which isn't due until the end of March or beginning of April. Unfortunately, "Wetten Dass" was already fully booked for March, which made the appearance impossible at this time. (Thanks Chris)

Music Charts Update: News from Germany

2003/1/28

Music Charts Update: News from France, Germany and Switzerland

Vote for Whitney! MTV France will broadcast a "Top10@10" Divas Videos special on February 12. Your votes will count until February 11 at noon, so please click the link to vote for Whitney! (Thanks Marie-Eve)

2003/1/26

Album Reviews: Forty additional fan reviews have been added today for Just Whitney. If your review hasn't been posted, it's because I haven't had time to publish it yet. There are currently over 200 Just Whitney fan reviews on file. I will continue to post the reviews in groups like this until all of them are online.
If you would like to submit your Just Whitney review but haven't done so yet, you have until February 1. All opinions are welcome -- just stay on topic, be polite and don't have an anti-Whitney agenda. The system will reject spam and reviews that seek to promote artists other than Whitney.

Airplay: "One Of Those Days" has risen two notches to top Radio & Records' Urban AC Chart for the week ended January 24. The song received 1,064 spins last week. (Thanks Robert N.)

Belgium: "One Of Those Days" slides to No. 46 from No. 40 this week on Radio Donna's Primadonna chart, compiled from listener opinions. The song has exited the station's Ultratip 20 chart. Radio Donna is one of the most popular radio stations in the Flemish part of Belgium. (Thanks Eddy VB)

2003/1/24

Whitney's New Single! Whitney's next single released from her latest album Just Whitney will be "Try It On My Own." Click to view the announcement of the new single impacting on February 3. [From the Platinum Club]
Note: The report doesn't indicate if the February 3 date covers all radio formats, or just select formats such as Urban or Adult Contemporary radio. Previous reports have indicated the song will go for adds at Pop radio on February 18.

BBC Documentary: The BBC is planning an episode of "Liquid Assets" to air April 28 in Britain about Whitney and Bobby. There's no word yet on whether the show will be scheduled to air on BBC America in the U.S. Click the link to read more details.

Promo CD: "Try It On My Own" is being issued to U.S. radio stations on a 3-track promo CD, pictured here. The tracklisting is as follows-- Radio Edit, Thunderpuss Radio Mix and Thunderpuss Radio Mix Instrumental.

Album Review: Read a new review of Just Whitney

2003/1/23

On the Charts: Read the complete statistics for Just Whitney, "One Of Those Days" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the latest issue of Billboard, plus news from Austria, Canada and Italy.

Wetten Dass Update: According to a representative of German TV show "Wetten Dass," Whitney has called off initial plans to appear on the program February 22. Additional information will be provided if the appearance is planned for another day. (Thanks Marie-Eve)

2003/1/22

Thunderpuss Mixes: You can listen to remixes of "Try It On My Own." As previously reported, the song is expected to go for adds at U.S. Pop radio February 18. (Thank you Brooke)

German TV Show Update: An employee for German TV show "Wetten Dass" confirms Whitney will appear on the program February 22. (Thanks Daniel)

Bobby Update: Bobby was released by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department late Tuesday, several hours after he was admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital with an undisclosed ailment. He was released early under a county policy that cuts a quarter of an inmate's sentence for good behavior, said Mikki Jones, public information officer with the sheriff's department. "He was released last night on time served," Jones said. A Grady Memorial spokeswoman said his condition was good, but would not say why he had been hospitalized. A rep for the singer said she didn't know what was ailing him, but said he was expected to return home to his wife, Whitney Houston, as soon as he's released. [Compiled from news reports]

Check out plans for a new Belgian Fan Club here! (Thanks Marie-Eve)

2003/1/21

Music Charts Update: News from France, Germany and Switzerland

Thunderpuss Details: Here is more information about the Thunderpuss "Try It On My Own" double pack 12" vinyl (US 82876-50538-1 5)--
A1. Thunderpuss Club Anthem Mix 10:09
B1. Tribe-A-Pella 7:58
C1. Thunderpuss Private Invite Mix 8:20
D1. ThunderDUB 7:48 (Thanks Aja)

MTV Casting: MTV2 is looking for Whitney experts, among fans of other artists, who live in New York City. If you live in the area and are interested in the possibility of talking about Whitney on TV, click the link to check their criteria.

Bobby Hospitalized: Bobby was admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta after becoming sick at about 3 a.m., complaining of an undisclosed ailment, said Mikki Jones, public information officer with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department. "The hospital reports he is in good condition," said Jones, who couldn't comment further on his illness, citing confidentiality. His condition is not serious, and he is expected to be released Tuesday evening. Bobby was jailed Friday after pleading guilty to a 1996 charge. He was sentenced to eight days in jail, but Jones said he was scheduled to be released Wednesday under a policy that cuts sentences for good behavior. [Compiled from wire reports]

2003/1/20

We have a dream.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
1929 - 1968

2003/1/19

Greatest Voice: MTV2 is conducting a poll for the 22 greatest voices in music. Vote for Whitney! (Thanks Dora, Shawn)

Producer Comments On Whitney: The quotes below are excerpts from a TMHentertainment interview with producer Dwight "Lil Skrapp" Reynolds, who worked with Whitney on her new album--

Aries (T M H): Having the first release from Whitney Houston's new CD has to be exciting, how did that come about, was "One Of Those Days" intentionally written for Whitney?
Lil Skrapp: Actually, the record wasn't written until I actually met Whit'. I was at She'k's music complex, The Music House, and Bobby and Whitney fell through. She'k had a few blazin tracks up and ready to go and immediately the Vibe was set. We put ideas out and she (Whit) would say, that's not somethin' I would say or that's not my life right now, so I can't sing about that. But once we touched that vibe, it was over. We actually wrote three records that night. But we only cut two, "Dear John Letter" and "One Of Those Days" the single.

Aries (T M H): How was the experience of working with her?
Lil Skrapp: That was actually the first time I met Whitney. The experience was more like a family reunion. There was an incident a long time ago when my singing group was supposed to go to Africa along with Whitney and perform for Mandela. It didn't work out, but we had mutual friends at the time. This go around they treated me like a little brother, like family actually.

2003/1/17

European Promotion: German magazine TV Spielfilm reports Whitney is in talks to appear on TV show "Wetten Dass" in Germany on February 22. The date is currently unconfirmed. (Thanks Roland)

Just Whitney Article: Read a new report in which Whitney discusses her album.

Belgium: "One Of Those Days" is up to No. 11 from No. 14 this week on Radio Donna's Ultratip 20 chart for the Flemish part of Belgium. (Thanks Eddy VB)

Not-So-Little Princess: It should surprise no subject of the Hollywood realm that Garry Marshall is prepping The Princess Diaries 2, with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews returning. "It takes place in Genovia. She's going back to be the princess and eventually run the country," says the director, who plans to film in Prague as a stand-in for the fictional kingdom. "They're going to try to marry her off, but she doesn't want to do that. And we have a moment where all the princesses from all the countries come together to see if they can do something about the state of the world." Can't wait for the scene where Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, and Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis-Renaldi, crown princess of Genovia, finally bring peace to the Middle East. [From January 24 issue of Entertainment Weekly]

Bobby Update: Bobby Brown was sentenced to eight days in jail and ordered not to drive for a year after surrendering and pleading guilty today to a 1996 drunken driving charge in DeKalb County. State Court Judge Wayne M. Purdom also ordered Bobby to perform 240 hours of community service, pay $2,000 in fines and $800 in court costs and get counseling. He will be on probation for two years. Bobby was taken into custody immediately. As he was escorted from the courtroom, he said, "It's over." [Compiled from wire reports]

2003/1/16

Just Whitney Platinum: According to Billboard, Whitney's new album has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for 1 million copies shipped. Congratulations Whitney!

Thunderpuss Mixes: The duo's remixes for "Try It On My Own" are expected to be released February 11 on 4-track 12" vinyl, including Club Anthem, Private Invite Mix, Tribe-A-Pella and Thunderdub versions. (Thanks Aja)

On the Charts: Read the complete statistics for Just Whitney, "One Of Those Days" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the latest issue of Billboard, plus news from Canada, Denmark and Italy.

If you missed the earlier Nippy News, use the News Archive or the newslog.