Cartman_2k's Full Review: Just Whitney by Whitney Houston
I have to admit that the only reason I really bought this CD was so I could write a review where I could tear the product apart, and just let out all the anger I’ve been keeping inside of me for a really long time. It was either this album or Mariah Carey’s new album, but I decided that Whitney was more exciting and there was a bigger chance of getting to throw dirt on her and her brand new revolting album.
I was so disappointed when I finally got the album. And that’s positively disappointed!
Whitney Houston. A Unique Diva With A Fantastic Voice or A Distorted, Anorectic Madwoman?
Born in 1963, she began her singing career singing gospel and as a backup singer for artists like Chaka Khan. Her first single, Hold Me, released in 1983 was a success. In the following years she had a few #1, amongst them Saving All My Love For You and I Wanna Dance (With Somebody). In 1993 she had her acting debut in The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner. Not only did people now acknowledge her as a singer, but also as a good actress. Her biggest hit ever came from the soundtrack to that movie, I Will Always Love You. She focused mostly on her acting career in the 90’s, but none of the movies would be as big as the one she debuted in. In 1998 she released the album My Love Is Your Love which produced a few hits, including My Love Is Your Love, Heartbreak Hotel and I Learned From The Best. After this things went downhill for Whitney. Drug abuse had for a long time been a part of her life, but it got out of control in 1999. Various scandals including her and her infamous husband Bobby Brown took place for the following years.
Earlier this year she was back with her first single in 3 years, called Whatchulookinat…
Let’s Have A Closer Look At Just Whitney, Shall We?
Whatchulookinat, is as I said earlier the first single off the album. In this song she is attacking those who have told scandalous stories about her for the past few years. She sings that she won’t be broken. A pretty nice song even though I don’t like the lyrics too much and the production is a bit old fashioned.
Oh you know you're wrong
Don't wanna respect my song
But it's okay 'cause either way
My following is real strong
Tell Me No features Carlos Santana on the guitar. You only get to hear him in a pretty short guitar solo, where he gives an outstanding performance. The song would have been even better had he been included on the entire song. This song has a great airy percussion, the lyrics are satisfactory and Whitney gets to show off her talent once more. The chorus is pretty catchy and after listening to it a couple of times it got stuck on my mind and I still can’t get it out of my head.
The following four songs are the weakest on the album. Love That Man is an average soul song, starting out with an intro that raises your expectations, before your expectations plummet when you hear how ordinary the song really is. Things You Say and One Of Those Days are songs where she tries to sound sexy, but fails and the listener ends up feeling drowsy instead. I really can’t understand why she chose One Of Those Days as the second single, it’s gonna be another failure for Whitney. My Love is a duet between her and her hubby Bobby Brown. It’s really a decent soul song, but nothing out of the ordinary.
And then finally, we get a track which is the Whitney we all know and love, (er.. maybe not the latter one, but once upon a time some of us did) On My Own. It’s a ballad done in the same manner as e.g. I Will Always Love You. Even though this song isn’t quite as expressive as that one, it’s still one of the highlights on this album. Whitney gets to show us that the drugs may have ruined her life, but definitely not her voice, and that she’s still got it after all these years.
Dear John Letter has definitely got a hit potential. With a trendy and funky percussion, not too shabby lyrics (even though the title is totally stupid) and a delightful Whitney, she shows us that she is a versatile woman that can sing many different types of songs.
The best song on the album is Unashamed. This is the sort of the song you would have expected to hear on My Love Is Your Love, it is very catchy, Whitney sounds sexy and the lyrics are very good. It kind of reminds me of Heartbreak Hotel (if you haven’t heard it, it’s a wonderful song from her previous album) with a bit more soul touch to it. If Whitney chooses this to be the third single from the album, she’s definitely got herself a hit.
Unashamed of the life I lead
unashamed of the strength on my knees
of choices I’ve made
of the love that I’ve saved
of the things I've done
my belief in the One
You Light Up My Life is a cover the classic ballad. She hasn’t really done anything extraordinary with the song, but instead keeping the classic sound, and at the same time she shows off her wonderful voice. I really like the song, and another one of the highlights on the album.
And then of course there’s the mandatory P.Diddy remix. This time it’s of her first single Whatchulookinat. I’m not really a fan of mr. Diddy, he rarely does anything inventive with the songs, and this time is no exception. The music is weird and doesn’t seem to be connected with the lyrics. The album could have done without this remix.
Track Listing
01. Whatchulookinat? (****)
02. Tell Me No Feat. Carlos Santana (****)
03. Love That Man (***)
04. Things You Say (***)
05. My Love Feat. Bobby Brown (***½)
06. One Of Those Days (***)
07. On My Own (****½)
08. Dear John Letter (****)
09. Unashamed (*****)
10. You Light Up My Life (****)
11. Whatchulookinat? P. Diddy remix (***)
Aaah.. Wait!! 11 Songs?!
Yep. The album is VERY short. It’s really too bad, because there aren’t many of the 11 songs on the album that have a hit potential. Nevertheless, this was really a surprise to me. I expected Whitney to release an album filled with morbidly awful and obscene ‘songs’, but instead she actually ends up having an album that shows us that Whitney still has it, with decent songs and a beautiful voice. The production is a bit lame on some songs, while at other songs it glitters. Even though it isn’t as good as My Love Is Your Love, it’s not that much worse either. Overall I am pleased with the album, and even though it’s not one of the best albums this year, it’s definitely the most positive surprise.
Should I Buy It Then?
If you think that Whitney is a half-witted baboon that can’t sing, I think you should pick up this album. It will disprove your opinion of her. If you happen to like Whitney, I don’t think you will be disappointed by this album. She’s back with a more modern sound and some strong songs, which should leave Whitney’s fans content.
Pick up this album, and you can also get the most positive surprise this year.
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