New Whitney Houston: Know My Own Strength

heh. I read Diane Warren and David Foster and I already knew what to expect. Hopefully this is not her official single.

Also, when I hear about her getting through the pain, my mind automatically thinks that I hope that she can weather the hurricanes. haha

It’s a touching song, obviously autobiographical, but the voice… the voice is gone and so has her range. She sounds nothing like the Whitney of yore, more like her 80 yo self after 40 years of chain smoking. Sigh.

still it takes courage to rise from such a state as whitney had reached. I wish her well, I might buy the single in support.

I would dearly like to see Whitney her old self again.

Yuck.

I like the song. I kept waiting for Whitney’s strong vocals to come out but it never did.

Also, when I hear about her getting through the pain, my mind automatically thinks that I hope that she can weather the hurricanes.

Hee. I think it’s a bit better than NB though. All jokes aside, it’s a nice song.

But I can’t imagine this old-fashioned AC power ballad getting any pop radio play these days.

I can’t see that happening for her either. I think only AC stations will play this IMO. I agree that the “old” Whitney is gone in terms of her vocals. It really is kind of sad.

I didn’t like the song at all. Suppose it was inevitable that at least one would address what she’s been through but it didn’t sound well written. I’ve always loved the tone of her voice but this was definitely underwhelming. Hope she’s got better stuff on there!

The era of Whitney Houston type music has passed.

This song will still sell, but it won’t make airplay in the top 40 radio stations.

It will still make some airplay in the AC stations.

For her, for me, for her…I thought this was an okay attempt. Hopefully, she will be able to reclaim that beautiful, powerful voice in time. We’ll just have to wait and see!

MommaDuck

For her, for me, for her’ ¦

ROFL! Hi Randy!

I liked the song. hope it does well.

I’ve never heard a Diane Warren song without a strong hook before, until now that is. I think her voice sounds fine, but the song is a disaster. This is the best material Clive Davis could find for her big comeback? Sad.

Yuck

i like this…. whitney still has that signature tone, and resonance in her vocals that will make her voice stand apart from anyone else out there in the game…. is this the whitney of old, the power belter of yesteryear? of course not – not on this track.. and why would anyone expect her to be? what we may have here is much like frank sinatra’s storied comeback, after his tumultuous years of disappointment and failure, on capitol records, with the nelson riddle orchestra – a changed voice, a more mature sounding voice, one evoking a certain world weariness, deeper, richer, more resonant tones in the lower register, and impeccable phrasing…. she sells this song to me, in this voice, and i wouldn’t be so quick to write her off on top 40 radio… she is still whitney houston.

I liked it. She looks pretty.

I actually think it is a really touching song.

Even if it doesn’t sell, this song is for her to heal. The lyrics are clearly about her past

I expected something like this. I think she had to address her struggles in a song and she does sell it well. But it’s a dull song and her voice has certainly suffered from all the abuse. I’m glad she’s singing again, though. And I’m very glad the drugs didn’t take her out.

It was good but Whitney could do better.

edit: NO FINGERWAGGING

Whitney does look good but I didn’t care for the song at all. And I don’t agree that Whitney’s power ballads are out of date, she probably can’t do them anymore, but there will always be a niche for those who can, male (Adam) or female (Jennifer Hudson) to name 2 contemporary artists who people love to hear power or rock out, either one.

Adam is my fave idol and I love Jennifer Hudson. I loved her on AI, and in the movie Dreamgirls she blew me away. We’ll see about Whitney. I wish her all the best. And it is nice to hear her voice again on a new song.

Since this is about Whitney’s struggles, I think it would have more impact live with her emotions on display. I really wish Whitney well.

whitney in 2009 is still the standard by which all female pop vocalists are going to be held…. even in her present voice…. mariah is the only other female i would put in her league… the whitney of old may never come back as strong as we remember her vocally.. i accepted that long ago, made my peace with it, adjusted my expectations, so i’m pleased with what i hear on this track from her vocally… she has exceeded my expectations, truth be told. better material will come, and a master vocalist like she is will find a way to adapt the material to fit within her new vocal limitations, and still sell the song. so overall, i’m pleased with what i’m hearing…… i’m not counting her out – not by a long shot. monster promo, the right push to radio, and she could possibly take this song, or perhaps others we haven’t heard on this album, and kick the katy’s, the britney’s, the gaga’s, the beyonce’s et al to the curb… an icon is an icon, and america likes a comeback story – she has all the ingredients in place for a monster comeback.

rooting for ya nippy!

I didn’t care for the song either. For the song, I even like NB better.

Well said ggdoorsfan…I agree with you completely.

Whitney is an icon and is back.

Actually, I think the traditional power ballad is poised for a comeback. And Whitney Houston is just the singer to make it happen. This is her time! But is THIS the (right) song? I’m not so sure.

Nevertheless, I like the song fine. It wears well with repeated airings. Whitney’s voice sounds at least as good as it did on the last album nearly 7 years ago. I’m well pleased and wish her all the best.

But is THIS the (right) song? I’m not so sure.

After all she’s been threw, this is the right song

JustWatching
Jul 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I didn’t care for the song either. For the song, I even like NB better

I’m glad you like No Boundaries. More power to you!!

I just think Whitney is way better than that song, but I’m hoping that’s just the unfinished version. btw, i hate clive davis who i think is stuck in the early 90s if he thinks that song is going to be a good comeback so I blame him and not her =)

I’m glad you like No Boundaries. More power to you!!

Be careful not to lecture posters. I just edited your first post.

Hmmm. Whitney has (had) one of the great voices of the past two or three decades. I was hoping her new album would restore some luster, but this single will NOT do it. No how. No way. I hope this is one of those leaks that proves to be not much of anything.

This single will go nowhere. It’s beneath even the voice that she has left. I was hoping that she would stage a major comeback. But this is very disappointing.

1) Whitney looked pretty good in that picture.
2) This song is very heartfelt and I liked it!
3) I think a lot of peeps out there will be able to relate to this song.

Will it be top 40? Probably not. Will it do fairly well in spite of that? I’m guessing yes, but we’ll see.

This just kinda makes me sad. I’ve always thought Whitney’s was the greatest voice of her generation. So many wasted years.

rooting for ya nippy!

Me too!

I hope she makes a fantastic comeback. I have never seen a female power vocalist with more control and mastery over her range than Whitney Houston in her prime, and if only for that, I will always be a fan.

I had the privilege of seeing Whitney perform in Boston in the late 90′s. Though she was a bit of a diva, she gave the best vocal concert I have ever seen. She sang non stop for 2 hours, and I was in awe.

Like many of you, I am sad that she seems to have lost her big range and power. I still love her though, and hope she ends up going to the gospel route. I think it would better suit her career at this point. JMHO.

I think this is exactly the right song for Whitney right now. Honest, heartful, gives us a little glimpse into what she’s been through instead of glossing it over. Beautiful.

Well, it made me cry, but mostly because it evokes a message that Whitney has turned a corner and is perhaps on a path towards healing. I don’t love the song–as someone else said, it has no catchy hook. It is heartbreaking that her voice no longer has the beautiful rich tone that I loved so much. I don’t know if she can ever get that back.

Well, I ‘ve always loved Whitney and was really sad when she took that downward spiral. (boo, Bobby!). I’m really happy she’s back. This song is obviously about those wasted years and should be taken as such. Now that the acknowlegement is out of the way I’m hoping she will bring back some of the old Whitney and blow us out of the water like ony she can. Her voice is still intact, I think it’s just that the song doesn’t showcase it. Best of everything to you Whitney!

Good lord, that’s wordy enough to be an Idol coronation song. What is with they songwriters? Dianne Warrent and Kara Dioguardi must have contracts that pay them by the word now.

I don’t really have a problem with big power ballads, but if you’re going to go that route, at least structure it with a great melody. This tune doesn’t stick in the head–something all good ballads need to do. I’m hoping this will just be a song on the album at best. The message is nice, particularly given Whitney’s story. But overall, it’s just not that good of a song.

It’s a moldy oldie, for sure, but she’s too old to try to compete with the current crop of female r&b artists. Nor should she have to; she’s a legend. Her voice isn’t what it used to be and I’m not convinced she’s fully conquered her problems, but I wish her well. She’s damn lucky to still be alive and I hope she takes advantage of her opportunity to reclaim a good reputation.

I didn’t particularly like the song, but I never much liked over the top Whitney either. I always loved when she sang with emotion, not bombast…..anyway I thought the voice was lovely, effective, the song, not so much. I still would take this over some of the other R^B divas…..but even if she hadn’t had the drug issues, most voices don’t age well. Mariah’s certainly hasn’t, she just found a way to adjust, she lost her voice a long time ago, imho.

To me this sounds like a woman with a good voice, but it doesn’t really sound like the way I remember Whitney. She makes me sad. Handed beauty and talent to an almost unworldly degree, she seemed to just want to rub mud all over it. I guess she did what she felt she needed to do. I like a lot of her early work (not all, if I ever hear “You Give Good Love” again it will be too soon), but I don’t have a sentimental “oh I hope she gets her comeback” feeling about her. The song is ok. I’m sure she can do some Vegas shows if she wants to and bothers to show up. I hope she keeps it pulled together for the sake of her kids and the fans who still love her, I’ll say that much for her.

Her tone is still there, although a bit raspy. The problem is the phrasing – not so good.

It’s most likely a miracle she’s still alive considering the drug abuse. Hopefully the return to music will help her recovery, but I don’t think she’ll regain the voice she once had.

Is that the whole song? There’s not one exciting part in that stream I heard.