Whitney Houston's vocals on "I Will Always Love You"... my goodness, they are incredible. I had avoided that song for such a long time, in great part because that arrangement (by David Foster, I think) which only has one drum beat and a pause to recommend itself. Hearing it with fresh ears, or with ears jaded by having heard too much R&B yodelling, I was astonished by what Whitney did there. Of course, it's bombastic; I prefer Dolly sing it her way. But the way Whitney uses her range, building up to that climax and then erupts in pyrotechnic overkill is in itself quite impressive, even beautiful. And I don't think the accusation of her overdoing the melisma sticks. She's not overdoing it the way people like Patti LaBelle and Aretha did before her, and the way virtually every Beyonce Aguilera Carey has since.
So, that's my bit of revisionism: "I Will Always Love You" as a vocal masterpiece. Your turn to revise (or to tell, me I'm off my nut, of course).
So, that's my bit of revisionism: "I Will Always Love You" as a vocal masterpiece. Your turn to revise (or to tell, me I'm off my nut, of course).
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