EXPLAINED || Whitney Houston's Voice || Act Two: The Golden Years 

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Whitney’s concert in Brazil, in January 1994, was an astounding vocal feat and overall performance… I recommend watching the full concert. It’s not just about what notes she’s hitting. It’s the face, the movement, the expressions- the space she leaves *between* notes and her connection with the audience. That Brazil concert is the most powerful I have ever seen a human be.

Over an hour and we're still in the 90s?! You are putting in work on this!! We love to see it. Thank you for your effort. This is great. I can't wait to see part 3.

This series is absolutely extraordinary! I hope you understand how much we appreciate your hard work. It's been a privilege witnessing the evolution of your content and you are a gift to the RU-vid musical and the black artistic community. I consider myself one of Whitney's most devoted (and analytical) fans and yet so many of your revelations here have been eye-opening to me (analyzing the pacing and range of her tour setlists, the vocal range of her speaking vs. singing voice pre/ post-pregnancy). I especially enjoy the visual aids you use to accompany your explanations! Thank you so much for this, a true blessing for all of us who love music and love the human voice

I’ve always preferred Whitney’s voice in the 90’s. The video explained perfectly why.

As much as I love Whitney’s 80’s voice i do prefer her darker voice from 92-95. Her voice just gives me goosebumps. But really I love all Whitney eras. Even the I look to you era.

Her radio city hall 1993 performance was the most insane display of her vocal power. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't watched it yet

I never even thought to compare Whitney to Jennifer Holiday, but i totally get it.

The greatest vocalist of all time in her prime

Whitney’s Vocal peak would be between the years 1986-1995. Where she could hit most of her notes in original key and then some. Where she would belt C5 (my favorite note ) that she sings and Ds and F sharp so effectively. Without no gear up or hesitation. She could just open her mouth and pretty much do anything. Truly an exceptional talent and gift that she had and used to literal capacity. We thank you for this breakdown!

Mezzo or whatever type her voice was, she’s simply the 9th Wonder of this World! Love you Nip 😢❤😢❤😢❤

Let me remind everyone who Auntie Nippy was: - The Bodyguard is the greatest selling album for a female artist and greatest selling soundtrack of all time (over 70 million records sold globally) - Whitney's first 2 albums are the greatest selling debut albums for a female artist of all time (both albums selling over 30 million copies each) - 11 #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 - Only artist in history to have 7 consecutive #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts (destroying Elvis and. The Beatles record ( I don't consider Elvis or Beatles legends because they stole and white washed Rock music from African Americans) - Over 250 Million Records sold globally (with only 7 albums 😲😲😲 tying with Mariah Carey and ranked 3rd overall behind Madonna and Rihanna as these others artist had alot more albums than her). - Most awarded female artist in history/2nd overall behind Michael Jackson - Greatest selling physical copies female artist of all time - Most Diamond Certified Albums for a Female Artist (along with Celine Dion) - Most certified Diamond Album Artist for a Black artist (outselling Micheal Jackson and Mariah Carey) "I Will Always Love You" is the greatest selling song for a female artist in physical sales - The only artist in history to have an album and song top the charts in every country around the world - The greatest selling gospel album of all time (Preachers Wife) - Only female artist in history to sell over 100 million records in a 10 year frame with only 4 albums) - Executively produced The Cheetah Girls and Princess Diaries and was also the reason why Disney Channel became more musical with movies like High School Musical and Camp Rock These are some of many accolades that Whitney Houston accomplished in her short life of 48 years. Additionally she is the greatest female singer of all time which is why she is called the Voice. It just makes me sad how the demonic music industry used her, exploited her gift, destroyed her image, and took her out of here. When she passed many people didn't even know she had achieved this global success in her career because her legacy was tarnished by the allegations of drugs and domestic violence in her marriage with Bobby Brown. The music industry is evil.

I can never have enough Whitney. We need: The Decades of Whitney. Her sound was dynamic

i LOOOVVVVEEEEE that you dedicated an entire section to Whitney OWNING the stage and the audience 🙌🏾

she was a mezzo. PERIOD! the sheer power and JOY she had when she sang...oh my God! I miss her

I had some critiques for the first Act in this series, but this was amazing. Really fair and honest. It makes me realize how hard she worked. She was a REAL singer. It also makes me think her church training contributed to issues that came later. Sunday morning singing is a push. It's early, everybody wants you to sing your highest and strongest to get a reaction, so you get accustomed to not singing healthy or where's comfortable. You get used to "pushing." This video also really beautifully put into context her vocal prime years. Most fans or listeners wouldn't say it extended into 1996, but you prove it. I'm curious about the next part in this series, the voice certainly has changed by 99, she's still a virtuoso, and even has some moments of that old magic we'd grown accustomed to.

That technical delay in the performance of Queen of the Night was amazing. My god Whitney was incredible. It just makes me so sad we didnt get to see her best voice

I think society was very critical of such a beautiful soul. Her voice and personality were remarkable ❤. I love you always and forever Whitney. Rest peacefully

I’ve been with this channel since the days of ‘ ilovearethafranklin’ and I must say I have never once been disappointed by a video, which helps me as a singer go into depth with the gift god has given me. God bless you for you incredible works

Whitney, just to me, was the BEST SINGER, ever in her Time. I don't care if she sung, lying, down . Whitney was the bomb, and no one specific. People sometimes, act like she wasn't , yes, she may have done some things, on her own, to damage her voice. I don't know anyone, who, talks, abt, her could have kept up her schedule, and still , sound the same til, you leave here. I saw a documentary and there, are many, still making money off, of her name, cause they know many people, loved and followed, her. She was my favorite, still is. Out of all she contributed, it's a shame, they, lied abt, how she allegedly, passed, her and her daughter. I have nothing to complain, abt anything, I can't imagine, living with a schedule, like her's. I don't do drugs, but it's a wonder anyone, can be sober, living, always, on the run. Whitney you, did extremely well, and we'll miss you, dearly, you and baby girl. I think on one video, someone said, maybe undercover, wanted to sabatoge, her voice, cause was tired, always, on the run. Whitney you, did extremely well, and we'll miss you, dearly, you and baby girl. I think on one video, someone said, maybe undercover, wanted to sabatoge, her voice, cause was tired, and wanted to just be left alone. The public as soon as you fall, people talk abt you, and act, like the don't have feelings. All in there business. RIP Whitney and Bobby Kris. Your with the one , you, loved so much, your God. He will reveal, the truth, and now your at peace. Forever, Whitney! Hey you guy's listen to , Your Still my Man, it didn't make the list, but should have, Acapella, she killed it, and with music.

I watched "The Preacher's Wife" for the first time this Christmas Eve. Within a minute, I was crying, because I was reminded of what we lost. It's a movie that really depends on the willful suspension of disbelief - they are a church facing financial hardship, yet no one has suggested sending the choir on tour to raise money? Their lead soloist is one of the best singers who ever lived! Supposedly, Whitney was abusing drugs every day during the shoot, but you can't tell. Her voice and her acting are as good as ever.

When you talked about her not putting a break into the set lists for the Bodyguard Tour, 38:03 - I don't know if this was necessarily true as I was lucky enough to see her on the Johannesburg 'a Concert for a New South Africa' 1994 and she most definitely had breaks of 10+ mins where she would do a costume change as well, about every 4 songs as I remember it. Bobby and Cissy flew out especially and surprised her on stage and it was such a moment. She was also Incredible. I'm truly blessed to have seen her at her peak and for such a historic time and event in the history of South Africa!

Even when Whitney was struggling, I still think her voice remained beautiful. Change happens to everyone. It's how you navigate the change that matters.

Whitney also smoked and that deepens your voice. You can hear in her voice it becomes slightly more muffled and dark as the years go on

THANKS FOR LET US TO HEAR HER AND FEEL HER GREATNESS AGAIN !

Who would ever give up on Whitney Houston’s “Talent”…..No one will ever have the beauty of this Woman…..The incomparable Vocal Talent…..Whitney sings…..She doesn’t “Yell”…..❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Behind all the technicalities of it all, every Whitney Houston vocal era evoked something different and alluring that would all fit perfectly into the storyline of what would become her life as we know. She remained a true master of her gift to the very end. This was an awesome documentary.

Whitney Houston was most definitely in charge of the girls!

As usual a fantastic, thorough, well researched analysis. I agreed with many things in this video. 1. She was definitely a mezzo-soprano. Folks who argue otherwise do so out of a misinformed opinion that being a soprano makes you a "better singer" which is not true. 2. I think the bodyguard era was her prime as well. Specifically based on, as you noted, the intersection of her vocal abilities (which started slowly declining from the early 90s onwards with time) and her interpretive abilities (which improved consistently from her debut onwards). It was the point where, IMO, we got the best of both worlds. That being said, although I do agree that her voice matured into her bodyguard sound and gained some weight and heaviness in a positive manner, I don't agree that her voice hadn't dropped in terms of range in the bodyguard era. She may have kept songs in the same keys but: 1. She navigated them slightly differently 2. She didn't improvise up as much as she did up until IYBT. Very rarely was she going above an F5 while belting nor was she dipping into the top of the 5th octave norr the C6 area as she would in younger years. 3. Even thought she was hitting the same "power notes" in the low 5th octave, they weren't as clear and free. There was a rasp and a noticeable difficulty - even in the examples you showed in the video above. I think two things can be true. Bodyguard was her prime, but she had definitely started to lose ease and clarity at the top of both her belting and head voice range. She had matured into her adult voice, but she had also done some damage to it. IMO everything 1995 onwards (even in the examples in this video) show a decrease in comfort at the top extremes of her range. She made up for that in increased interpretive abilities and increased use of runs and riffs. THANK YOU for the effort you put into these videos and the opportunity you give us vocal nerds to discuss.

Whitney’s voice teacher that she worked with to rebuild her voice in the 2000s also said she was a mezzo soprano! It’s annoying to see people continuously say she’s a spinto soprano lol

I have a greater appreciation for Whitney, and the dedication she gave to entertaining the Whole World 🌍 To have a study of how she accomplished this, and much more during her life 'times ' gives me a better understanding about her last year of her life. Thank You

It’s so interesting that the 2 greatest voices in music history have some distinct similarities. Similar upbringing down to the vocal changes. RIH Queens ❤️ (Aretha & Whitney)

we've been saying this over and over. whitney songs even in the 80s were written around g3-g5, suggesting this was her tessitura. her big notes were b4-d5. her famous "and iiiiiiiiii" in iwaly are b4 notes. the money note in the greatest love of all is a d5. and even in the 80s, in her youth, she would drop the keys to her songs so she could sing them comfortably live. so clearly this was not a soprano, but a mezzo-soprano, and a magnificent mezzo-soprano at that. as early as 1988, you could hear her voice darkening. yes, check out her nelson mandela concert. and as early as 1991, her voice was already big and pretty much mid-rangey, with eb5 being her reliable highest belt. listen to her HBO welcome home heroes show or her billboard music awards medley performance in 1991. this was way before drugs and smoking took a toll on her voice. that was the voice she could've had kept throughout her 30s and 40s had she remained healthy.

a video like this is not just catchy for anyone, but a blessing for those who love singing and who are learning vocal technique like me! Thank you for your outstanding job! And Whitney, she was a miracle indeed.

The Voice! She is missed so much!

*cant wait for the mariah carey version of these series!!*

Soaring vocals, unmatched precision, amazing technique - the epitome of perfection! ❤ God bless WHITNEY HOUSTON ❤

Man Malik another top tier video. Not only are they informational but you back it up with people that know what they’re talking about. So many fake vocal coaches on here try to say things as fact when they have no resume to back their claims. Oh and the additive wit you bring makes the videos even more enjoyable.

30 minute mark discussion of her stager persona shows why she is one of the best natural stage performers ever. No background dancers needed

Great video, I watched it twice already. And it made me realize how much we over play the drugs and down play the overworking, along with everything else.

Many of Whitney's most artistically complete performances come from the Bodyguard era. Sure, she had lost some of that ease she enjoyed in the 80s (i.e., she couldn't sing as "softly" as she did in the past), but she made up for it with sheer fervor, creativity, and charisma (i.e., her love medleys, her Porgy-Dreamgirls-Bodyguard medley, her Aretha medleys, etc.).

I'm a singer. Not professional, but a singer none the less. I can say that this video, as well as the Michael Jackson video, really helped me to understand my own voice. There are plenty songs I could sing at 18 that I can't now at 38. I'm also a smoker. I've come to realize I wasn't singing in my proper key. I always knew I wasn't a soprano, but I could make it sound like I was. Recently, I had post nasal drip which causes sore throat and hoarsness. So now with somewhat scaring from the condition & singing out of my range, I've noticed that I've been forced to sing in my real voice. I love it. I would also like to say that my most comfortable singing was always with male vocalists like R.Kelly, Usher, etc. Thank u for helping me understand that I haven't lost it. I can still sing, but only in my true range😊

Thank you so much. Cant wait for Mariah Carey's

Get ready, these Nippy stans and feaux RU-vid vocal experts are gonna come for you for referring to Whitney as a mezzo despite your research clearly showing that's what she was lol! Great video, keep up the work! You're the only content creator whose research I actually trust when it comes to these vocalism videos. You clearly do the research!

Bravo, brutha! A wonderful analysis of this queen's breath-taking voice and career. Your videos capture the lives and times of our singing divas better than any of the movies have. Keep up the great work.

This was a brilliant explanation. Basically, the only difference of Whitney voice from debut years in bodyguard years. Whitney‘s voice became stronger. She had the same range, but the color of her note she changed, and I honestly believe that was due to the artist stylist reasons because during bodyguard era. Whitney showed flashbacks of her lighter tone years of the 80s during some of the bodyguard tours.

I love that you guys touched on her runs and riffs I’ve noticed that as a Whitney fan she would do runs and riffs but she was more about interpretation and vocal line delivery those moments where and when her voice wasn’t voicing she definitely used riffs and runs to embellish but she didn’t always need to. I love this video so much and one thing we can all take away is KNOW YOUR VOICE I alway appreciated how Whitney always sing live no matter what state her voice was in and she added something different and new every time

You honestly have the best channel on youtube. Your interviews, insightfulness, explanations and research is second to none. THANK You for covering our black legends and immortalising their works. Joined your Patreon!

Philadelphia , 1994 on The Bodyguard Worldtour is complete 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Her voice was just EVERYTHING

Wow! I’ve always said when I heard Exhale, I noticed a major change. It was because of so much stress on the voice from the Bodyguard tour. When she got to the part in exhale, YOURE HALFWAY THERE, it didn’t hit the way it would have in prior years. I can tell what year it is by her live vocal performances.

You are doing a public service, Milik! Thank you for your work. I so appreciate the contributions you make. I learn so much from your videos and they are so interesting. I especially love the guest speakers, newspaper clippings, and showing the notes in real time on scale. As someone who unfortunately knows nothing about music, that's really helpful when you talk about notes. Whitney is my favorite singer, and I am enjoying you correct what so many youtubers have written about her voice and its changes. Thank you again.

This video was made with great dedication! Thank you so much BMA❤️

I actually dropped my tears watching this, Imagining how hard it was for a singer to have a change in her voice. Thank you Milik for your hard work for all of us.

I always thought the voiceover on these videos had an effect on it but your voice is naturally that deep. My goodness 😅

To me the 91 "All The Man' at hero's concert is her ultimate voice. After this she had to begin to compromise more. of course, still untouchable at times up to 10 years after.

STILL the Voice ❤

Man KUDOS to you for mentioning Dr. Bettye Nelson!!! She been a beast a LONG time...and nowadays she is STILL singing like that even though she only has ONE lung now!!!

The best mezzo ever !

Talk-singing is the gift of phrasing! It takes creativity, intelligence and talent to do it! Not everyone can do it. Whitney does it so well that when she talk-sings, I do not feel shortchanged! When the likes of Dionne, Aretha and Whitney re-phrase a song, I get excited and it interests me on how will they execute a familiar song and make it sound fresh! ❤

I hope you do an analysis of Mariah's voice in the future. Her voice is such a rollercoaster. And to think she's had nodules since she was a child...

I was looking forward to this, and- as always- you exceeded expectations, Milik! There are a lot of vocal "coaches" and "experts" on this app who continue to disrespect Whitney's God-given gift of a powerful Mezzo-soprano voice. I don't know why or how it benefits them to change the gift God gave her, but thank you for spending extensive time on the proof of that🙏🏾💖

32:49 - 33:00 "The question was...who was in charge of the gurls? Whitney was in charge of the gurls...and she knew it". Yasssssss. 😆. In all seriousness - Amen.

I appreciate your thoroughness & depth that you put into these videos. It’s top tier! 🙌🏾❤️🔥🙏🏾

You astounding work is valuable to the entire community of singers-opera, gospel, soul, ALL singers! I would be very interested to learn about your acquistion of such knowledge. It is TREMENDOUSLY inspiring!

90s Whitney can never be touched

Nomatter the era I love Whitney Houston can't nobody sing like her there is only one may she continue to rest with the lord.

EXCEPTIONAL WORK‼ Truly the best doc you have done so far! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I especially appreciated your perspective on The Bodyguard tour being her prime singing years. I never really thought of it that way, and so I really enjoyed your very well thought-out reasoning. However, I would note that it would be around this tour that Whitney's falsetto, and maybe not so much her head voice, became unreliable for her. The inability to remain in falsetto on the first verse of, say, All At Once, or the first chorus of IWALY illustrates thus. I would argue that because we hear her working around it, that for the first time, we lose the sense of effortlessness that her prior years had. This is what I think fans are responding to when they call this tour an era of early decline. Thoughts?

Taylor Dayne is a gem.

PLEASE DO A VIDEO ANALYSIS OF MS. Patti labelle!!!!!!!!! 🙏🏽

Another brilliant one!!❤❤❤

I never clicked on a video so fast!!! First viewer! ❤️

Great video! Thanks for your dedication and hard work!

My Friday just got better 🥹🫶🏾

Love these videos please keep them coming

This is so cool. Thank you!

i just love this channel

Can't wait for part 3

I’m enjoying this so much.

Thank you for your amazing work

An excellent analysis 👏🏼

There you go again with another wonderfully put together video

Amazing episode

This was the best one yet!!! It explains so much.

Here early to enjoy your amazing work and the amazing voice

I fought crying through this entire episode. Bravo

My favorite channel ❤❤

I love this series ! I would love to see an era breakdown on Mariah Carey too ❤ the greats!

Thanks!

Thank You 🙏🏾

This was awesome

Can you do a series on Black song writers....I would love to see your take on the art of songwriting ❤ im so glad i found this channel. This is masterclass. You are a legend 🙌🏽

I’m very excited for part two!!! Thank you for everything you do!! I just joined your patreon the other day!!

Thank you for these videos explaining the development and changes in Whitney's voice. I found both videos so interesting. I always preferred Whitney's more mature voice over her young 80s voice. My favourite era was the My Love is Your Love era. I know she wasn't always in the best voice during that tour but I loved the deeper, more gravelly sound she had then. Much preferred it over the brighter, girly sound of the 80s. Plus I adored the gospel numbers she did in that tour. For me her voice was at its most authentic when she sang the gospel. Great videos. I learned so much, so thanks again 🙏 ☺️

Thank you thank you. This video and the Act one, have been a masterclass on her talent. Cannot wait for the third one. Love your work.

These explained videos are absolutely divineee I’m so obsessed

What a voice! What a beauty!!❤❤❤❤

YEEEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!! 🙌 🙌

Bout to watch part 1 again and then part 2

Thank you so much for your work, it is greatly appreciated. Can’t wait for Act 3

Yasss, part two! Thank you for all the hard work of putting these amazing documentaries together.