Weekend Supplement ~ February 12th 2012: Remembering Whitney Houston...

How sad to wake up to the news that Whitney Houston has passed away :( In the 80s, Whitney was one of my obsessions - I played her first two albums incessantly, and even spent a large amount of my pocket money on importing the 1989 Aretha Franklin album she duetted on, just so I could complete my collection of Whitney songs. In the 90s, I'm Your Baby Tonight (still one of my all time fave albums) and The Bodyguard soundtracked my turbulent youth to adult transition years. And as Whitney's music continued, so did it's influence in my life. Heck, in the new millenium when the Virgin Airways delivered the wrong missing luggage of Sue and James Whitherspoon to my hotel, I actually got to say "My name is not Susan". Neither was hers- it was Whitney and her voice will live on...

Top ten fave Whitney songs:

• 10 ~ Didn't We Almost Have It All: You could almost pick any Whitney ballad and describe how her voice soared to bring such raw & vivid emotion to a track. This one I do think stands out for me - the heartbreak of what could've been is all consuming and so much more devastating than if they had never met at all.
• 09 ~ One Moment In Time: Surely one of the best inspirational Olympic songs to have ever been released? The key change at the end of the middle 8 is phenomenal & even after all these years, I still feel like I can accomplish more just by listening to it...
• 08 ~ Step By Step: Didn't Annie Lennox have a hand in this? It was from Whitney the Soundtrack Years and was just incredibly satisfying from start to finish. A percolating beat, a sock-it-to-em chorus and of course, a committed powerhouse vocal from Whitney herself :)
07 ~ So Emotional: Frankly, this is just an amazing pop song and no more really needs to be said about it (see also the very excellent Love Will Save The Day, How Will I Know, My Name Is Not Susan & Million Dollar Bill).
• 06 ~ Could I Have This Kiss Forever: In the late 90s, Whitney seemed to be doing excellent duets with a wide variety of people (another fave is Same Script Different Cast where she is joined by Deborah Cox). This one with Enrique always had my vote - blistering good pop music, a memorable chorus and a jolly good time all around...

• 05 ~ I Wanna Dance With Somebody: The lead single from Whitney's second album and if she wasn't classed as a superstar already, this certainly sealed the deal. The freeing of inhibitions and sucuumbing to the dancefloor beat never sounded so euphoric...
• 04 ~ I Will Always Love You: Of course from the Bodyguard and of course a cover of the Dolly classic, it's a rare occasion where the cover surpasses the original. Flawless from start to finish - it's only over familiarity that pushes it slightly down the list...
• 03 ~ All At Once: The b-side to the gorgeous Saving All My Love For You, yet the song I loved more and most. Just a mesmerising and haunting introduction to her resplendent vocals & a lesson in when to hold back and when to power forth...
• 02 ~ Miracle: An absolutely beautiful subdued ballad from Whitney that managed to hold it's own against bigger productions on it's parent album, I'm Your Baby Tonight...

• 01 ~ I;m Your Baby Tonight: A stunning return to the pop world in 1990, Whitney successfully straddled her r'n'b and pop audience tastes with this incredible & addictive song with it's propulsive beat & crashing percussion. The yearning in her voice is tangible & the quasi-rap in the middle 8 gets me everytime...

It's all subjective of course - what are your favourite Whitney songs??

The Ultimate Whitney Collection:

Disc One ~ The Singles: You Give Good Love / Saving All My Love For You / How Will I Know / The Greatest Love Of All / All At Once / I Wanna Dance / Didn't We Almost Have It All / So Emotional / Where Do Broken Hearts Go / Love Will Save The Day / One Moment in Time / It Isn't It Wasn't (with Aretha) / I'm Your Baby Tonight / All The Man I Need / Miracle / My Name Is Not Susan / I Belong To You / Something In Common (with Bobby Brown)

Disc Two - The Soundtracks: I Will Always Love You / I'm Every Woman / I Have Nothing / Run To You / Queen Of The Night / Exhale (Shoop Shoop) / Why Does It Hurt So Bad / Count On Me / I Believe In You and Me / Step By Step / Somebody Bigger Than You and I / My Heart Is Calling / You Were Loved / When You Believe (with Mariah Carey)

Disc Three - The Singles Part 2: It's Not Right / Heartbreak Hotel (with Faith Evans & Kelly Price) / My Love is Your Love / I Learned From The Best / Until You Come Back / Could I Have This Kiss Forever (with Enrique) / Same Script Different Cast (with Deborah Cox) / If I Told YOu That (with George Michael) / Whatchulookinat / One Of Those Days / Try It On My Own / Love That Man / One Wish / Million Dollar Bill / Didn't Know My Own Strength / I Look To You / Nothin' But Love / A Song For You

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Simon Curtis, How To Start A War
20 ~ Madonna, Masterpiece
19 ~ The Overtones, Say What I Feel
18 ~ Auryn, My Favourite Guy
17 ~ One Direction, One Thing
16 ~ Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
15 ~ Marcus Collins, 7 Nation Army
14 ~ Darren Hayes, Black Out The Sun
13 ~ Christopher, Nothing in Common
12 ~ Nicola Roberts, Yo Yo
11 ~ Neo, Fighting the Dark
10 ~ Marie Serneholt, Salt n Pepper (NE)
09 ~ Eric Saade, Love Is Calling
08 ~ Jason Mraz, I Won't Give Up
07 ~ Little Jackie, 31 Flavours
06 ~ Scissor Sisters, Shady Love
05 ~ Le Kid, Human Behaviour
04 ~ fun, We Are Young
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Starlight
02 ~ Madonna, Give Me All Ur Luvin
01 ~ Smash Cast, Let Me Be Your Star (NE/1 Week)