Whitney Houston (9 Agustus 1963 – 11 Februari 2012) adalah seorang penyanyi pop dan R&B, artis, produser rekaman, penulis lagu dan mantan model Amerika Serikat. Kesuksesannya membuka pintu bagi para penyanyi Afro-Amerika yang lain, khususnya dari kalangan wanita, untuk sukses di dunia musik.[2][3] Dia juga sering sekali dijuluki sebagai "The Voice".[4][5] Whitney Houston dikenal sebagai salah seorang diva pop yang memiliki jangkauan suara kuat 3,5 oktaf. Ia juga dikenal karena kemampuan penyanyi pop-gospel yang bersuara indah dan kuat.[6]
Houston mulai bernyanyi di gereja ketika masih anak-anak dan menjadi vokalis latar belakang di sekolah menengah. Dengan bimbingan ketua Arista Records, Clive Davis, ia menandatangani kontrak dengan label tersebut pada usia 19 tahun. Dua album studio pertamanya, Whitney Houston (1985) dan Whitney (1987), keduanya mencapai nomor satu di Billboard 200 di Amerika Serikat. , dan hingga saat ini adalah dua album pertama terlaris yang dirilis oleh semua artis dalam sejarah. Hingga hari ini, ia adalah satu-satunya artis yang memiliki tujuh single nomor satu berturut-turut di tangga lagu Billboard Hot 100 AS, dari "Saving All My Love for You" pada tahun 1985 hingga "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" pada tahun 1988.
Pada tahun 1980-an, Houston adalah salah seorang penyanyi wanita Afrika-Amerika pertama yang masuk ke dalam tangga lagu MTV yang pada saat ini didominasi penyanyi rock kulit putih. Album debutnya menjadi album debut dengan penjualan tertinggi sebagai seorang penyanyi solo, yang menduduki peringkat #1 di tangga lagu Billboard 200. Ia juga memegang 7 buah singel #1 di tangga Billboard Hot 100, mematahkan rekor 6 kali yang dipegang The Beatles dan Bee Gees. Ia telah menjual 180 juta keping album yang membuatnya menjadi salah satu penyanyi paling laris sepanjang masa. Ia berkarier aktif dari tahun 1984 hingga kematiannya di tahun 2012. Dia bersama Mariah Carey dan Celine Dion sering dianggap sebagai Trinity Vocal atau ketiga diva pop dengan kualitas vokal terbaik sepanjang sejarah musik dengan karier yang gemilang. Dia telah menerima anugerah Grammy Hall Of Fame lewat lagunya "I Will Always Love You" dan telah menerima Honors International Artist of All Time dari American Music Awards.
Kehidupan awal
Whitney Elizabeth Houston lahir pada 9 Agustus 1963, di daerah yang pada saat itu merupakan lingkungan berpenghasilan menengah di Newark, New Jersey. Dia adalah putri prajurit Angkatan Darat dan eksekutif hiburan John Russell Houston, Jr dan penyanyi Injil Emily "Cissy" (Drinkard) Houston. Kakak lelakinya Michael adalah seorang penyanyi, dan kakak tirinya adalah mantan pemain bola basket Gary Garland. Kedua orangtuanya adalah orang Afrika-Amerika. Melalui ibunya, Houston adalah sepupu pertama penyanyi Dionne Warwick dan Dee Dee Warwick. Ibu baptisnya adalah Darlene Love dan bibinya yang terhormat adalah Aretha Franklin, yang ia temui pada usia 8 atau 9 ketika ibunya membawanya ke studio rekaman.Houston dibesarkan sebagai seorang Baptis, tetapi juga terkena Gereja Pantekosta. Setelah kerusuhan Newark 1967, keluarga itu pindah ke daerah kelas menengah di East Orange, New Jersey, ketika dia berusia empat tahun. Orang tuanya kemudian bercerai.[7]
Karier
Musik
Ia memulai debut karier musik pertamanya ketika merilis lagu "You Give Good Love" pada awal 1985 namun single "Saving All My Love For You" yang dirilis pada pertengahan tahun 1985 menjadi yang paling sukses dan berhasil meraih posisi satu pada Billboard Hot 100 Chart dan mendapatkan anugerah Grammy Awards pertamanya. Berkat lagu itu, karier Whitney semakin menaik dan terus sukses dengan merilis album di tahun 1987 dan 1990 dengan hit ; "How Will I Know", " I Wanna Dance With Somebody ", " Greatest Love Of All", "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", " So Emotional", "Im Your Baby Tonight" dan "All The Man Than I Need". Puncaknya kariernya terjadi pada perilisan album dari soundtrack film yang dibintanginya "The Bodyguard" pada 1992. Single seperti "I Will Always Love You", " I Have Nothing ", " Run To You" dan "Queen Of The Night" menjadi hit besar di seluruh Dunia (Khususnya single "I Will Always Love You") akibat album dan lagu tersebut, dia menyapu bersih dengan membawa 8 piala American Music Awards 1994, 11 Billboard Music Awards 1993 dan 3 Grammy Awards 1993. Album itu juga terjual lebih dari 40 juta kopi di seluruh Dunia dan menjadi albumnya yang paling laris sampai saat ini (bahkan pernah menjadi album penyanyi wanita dengan penjualan terbanyak dalam sejarah musik). Keberhasilan The Bodyguard, Houston memulai tur global lain yang luas di seluruh dunia (The Bodyguard World Tour) pada tahun 1993-94. Konser dan filmnya membuatnya menjadi penghibur wanita berpenghasilan tertinggi ketiga pada 1993-94, tepat di belakang Oprah Winfrey dan Barbra Streisand menurut majalah Forbes.
Albumnya yang cukup sukses di akhir dekade 90an adalah dengan merilis "My Love Is Your Love", dirilis pada November 1998. Dengan hit " Its Not Right But Its Okey" dan "When You Belive" yang diduetkan dengan rival yang menjadi sahabat baiknya Mariah Carey . Album tersebut menjadi album terakhir nya yang sukses besar dan setelahnya itu, ia tetap merilis album di awal dan pertengahan tahun 2000an namun tidak begitu berhasil. Hal itu terjadi karena Whitney kesandung banyak masalah dengan polisi akibat penggunaan obat-obat terlarang serta penyelundupan kokain dan lainnya. Hal itu ternyata turut mempengaruhi karier musiknya di dekade 2000an. Album terakhir yang dirilis adalah "I Look To You" pada tahun 2009 dengan single yang dirilis "Million Dollar Bill", " I Look To You" dan "I Didn't know my own Strength", cukup sukses namun belum memuaskan label. Namun album tersebut disambut positif para kritikus musik karena dianggap sebagai album kembalinya sang Diva yang telah lama " Tertidur". Ia juga sempat meraih Honor International Artist dari American Music Awards akibat dedikasi dan pengaruh besarnya di dunia musik internasional
Dia bertemu penyanyi R&B Bobby Brown di Soul Train Music Awards 1989. Setelah pacaran tiga tahun, keduanya menikah pada 18 Juli 1992. Brown kemudian memiliki beberapa perselisihan dengan hukum untuk mengemudi dalam keadaan mabuk, kepemilikan narkoba dan baterai, termasuk beberapa waktu penjara. ] Pada 4 Maret 1993, Houston melahirkan putri mereka Bobbi Kristina Brown (4 Maret 1993 - 26 Juli 2015),] satu-satunya anak pasangan itu. Houston menyatakan dalam wawancara tahun 1993 dengan Barbara Walters bahwa dia mengalami keguguran selama pembuatan film The Bodyguard.[9]
Kematian
Pada 11 Februari2012, Whitney Houston ditemukan meninggal di kamarnya di Hotel Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills.[10] Whitney berada di hotel tersebut untuk menghadiri pesta yang diadakan sebelum ajang Penghargaan Grammy.[11] Penyebab kematian dari Whitney Houston masih diinvestigasi oleh kepolisian Beverly Hills walaupun pihak kepolisian menyatakan bahwa "hingga saat ini, tidak ada bukti akan terjadinya kekerasan".[11]
Houston's debut album was released in early 1985 and she performed at various clubs to promote the album. Following the success of the hit single "You Give Good Love", Houston became the opening act for singers' Luther Vandross and Jeffrey Osborne on their individual 1985 US tours.[92] After the next single, "Saving All My Love for You", became Houston's first #1 in the US, she began headlining her own shows, playing at various American theaters, festivals, and clubs throughout the summer and fall of 1985.[93]
Whitney Houston met France's Serge Gainsbourg on this live talk-show, which was then the most watched Saturday evening show in France.[118]
Having sung her hit "Saving All My Love for You", Whitney was brought by presenter Michel Drucker over to the couch where drunken Serge was waiting. Serge sat down next to Whitney and immediately said in heavily accented English, "I want to f*** you". Needless to say, Miss Houston was more than a little shocked by this 58-year-old French crooner's rather crude display of appreciation, but she stayed nonetheless and sang a duet with him before the end of the show.[119]
This incident listed #41 in NME's "Top 100 Rock Moments of All Time" in 2001 and #48 in VH1's "100 Most Outrageous Celebrity Moments" in 2004.[120][121]
Whitney was the international guest at the finale of the most popular Italian contest and awards. Her live performance of All at Once got a huge standing ovation and the audience asked her for the encore, the request was immediately satisfied. That was one of the rare encores requested in the history of the contest.
May 15, 1987
The 27th Montreux Golden Rose Rock Festival; IM&MC Gala
"Love Will Save the Day" performance was used as its music video later.
In 1988, she won Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Sports Program for the performance in this event.[123]
November 13, 1989
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration In Show Business
This special event was a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., as the entertainer celebrates his sixtieth anniversary in show business. It was taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on November 13, 1989 and aired on ABC on February 4, 1990.[124][125][126]
The patriotic feeling of her gospel-inspired version resonated so strongly with the public that it was released as a single. Within weeks, sales of video tapes, CDs and audio cassettes of her performance raised more than $500,000 for the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund.[127][128]
The single was reissued on September 27, 2001, as a charity CD single after the September 11, attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon and has been certified platinum for U.S. sales in excess of 1 million copies by RIAA.[129]
Whitney Houston, The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, Inc. and Arista Records donated their royalties and net proceeds from the sale of re-released single to New York Fraternal Order Of Police and The New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund.[130][131]
The single released in 1991, reached No. 20 on Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart; making her second artist to turn the national anthem into a pop hit of that magnitude since José Feliciano's version has reached No. 50 in 1968 and re-released single in 2001, peaked No. 6 on the Hot 100 chart; becoming easily the biggest hit version ever of "The Star-Spangled Banner".[131][132]
In 2003, this performance listed #12 in VH1 and TV Guide's "100 Moments That Rocked TV" and ranked #1 in "25 Most Memorable Music Moments in NFL History" to be featured in Rolling Stone.[133][134]
June 23, 1991
Coca-Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer
A Fox's TV special hosted by Cher, which previewed the Summer 1991 music scene.[135][136]
She talked about her musical and personal life with behind-the-scenes view of world tour. Her co-star, Kevin Costner in the movie The Bodyguard, her parents Cissy Houston and John Houston appeared to talk about Whitney Houston.
Whitney Houston arrived on the playing field with the legenday Brazilian soccer player Pelé and performed six songs for 25 minutes with support from several thousand dancers, flag bearers, and musicians during closing ceremony before the final game, Brazil Vs. Italy.[140][141][142][143]
Whitney did a private gig, for the wedding of Princess Rashidah, the eldest daughter of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, at Jerudong Park Garden on August 24, 1996.[145][146]
She was reportedly paid $7 million to perform for this event. Media stories on the Brunei royal family indicated that Prince Jefri gave Houston a blank check for the event and instructed her to fill it out for what she felt she was worth.[147]
November 28, 1996 (Air date)
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony
It was a two-hour-long event featuring America's biggest stars, looking back, remembering and celebrating the past 50 years and the Ebony Magazine that chronicled it.[148]
Whitney Houston & the Georgia Mass Choir kick off the celebration with a soul-stirring medley of "I Love the Lord" and "Joy to the World".[148]
It was the special event to celebrate opening a new stadium which was named after former tennis player Arthur Ashe.[149]
While the past US Open tennis champions appeared on screen, she dedicated "One Moment in Time" to the legendary tennis players and about 23,000 audience.[150]
Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Cher, Brandy and Faith Hill top the bill for this concert special staged by VH1 which pays tribute to the women of pop music.[151]
The show benefited VH1 Save the Music, a pro-social initiative that supports music education in public schools.[152]
The all-star concert, broadcast live on VH1 from the Beacon Theatre in New York on April 13, became the highest-rated single broadcast in VH1 history.[152]
Whitney performed 5 songs then, but "It's Not Right But It's Okay" and "My Love Is Your Love" not included on CD which was released on November 2, 1999 and DVD released on April 4, 2000.[153][154]
Whitney briefly joined Mary J. Blige's "Rainy Dayz" for the song's ending, but that performance was not included on CD & DVD, released on October 22, 2002.[161][162][163]
May 22, 2003
VH1 Divas Duets: A Concert to Benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation
The festival took place from 16–24 May 2008 in Morocco’s capital city, Rabat and featured artists from forty countries in more than 100 musical performances.[169][170]
Whitney performed during the festival's closing ceremony at Hay Nahda stadium on May 24, 2008.[170][171][172]
January 30, 2011
BET's Celebration of Gospel
Whitney made a surprise appearance at the show singing her hit "I Look to You" with Kim Burrell, who had sung the first verse prior to Houston's appearance, which led to an immediate standing ovation; Houston and Burrell's performance ends with resounding cheers from the audience. It becomes Houston's final television performance before her death a year later.
The 44th Anniversary Of The United Negro College Fund
Whitney performed at a United Negro College Fund Awards gala saluting her musical friend, superstar Michael Jackson who received The Frederick D. Patterson Award in this ceremony.[175]
It was an awards special honoring the lives and achievements of eight African-American women who have made significant contributions in their respective fields.[178][179]
For the first time, the ceremonies broadcast in prime time by CBS on May 29, 1992.[179]
Right before she accepted the award for "Entertainer of the Year", Denzel Washington paid tribute to Whitney Houston for her outstanding career 'til then with video presentation and introduced her mother, Cissy Houston and brother, Gary Houston who performed "Amazing Grace".[183]
When she received the award for "Outstanding Soundtrack Album: Film or T.V." and made an acceptance speech, sang a snippet of "Jesus Loves Me" for audience's request.
Houston scooped up five accolades, including best-selling female artist worldwide, and sang "I Will Always Love You" being introduced by Albert, Prince of Monaco.[185]
Whitney Houston was the recipient of BET's the second "Walk Of Fame" award – created in 1995 to "recognize the significant contribution of African-Americans in the entertainment industry."[187][188]
Whitney Houston has been selected to receive the first ever the Triumphant Spirit Award at the 10th annual Essence Awards. Houston was honored for her many philanthropic projects, including a foundation for homeless children suffering from AIDS and cancer. Essence magazine-sponsored event, which aired May 22 on Fox TV.[189][190]
But because of an unexpected her absence at the ceremony, then presenter, Quincy Jones made her excuses and Cissy Houston accepted the award on behalf of her daughter.[189][191]
Whitney Houston accepted a special award, "Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements in the field of entertainment" by Whoopi Goldberg and the presentation incorporated a short videography of Whitney's career to date.[192][193]
Houston delivered a soul-stirring rendition of "I Go to the Rock" at this awards. She won an award, Best Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year, for the tune.[195]
Whitney was presented "World Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement" was designed for women whose unique achievements have contributed to a better, more peaceful and humane society by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.[198][199]
After actor and presenter, Samuel L. Jackson introduced Whitney Houston as the 7th name in a prestige list of "International Artist Of The Year Award" recipients with the video presentation for her achievements, she performed her powerhouse ballad "I Didn’t Know My Own Strength" and received a standing ovation.[200][201]
Houston's performance marked the first time she had performed on the show in ten years ("Until You Come Back" ans "My Love Is Your Love" medley with Babyface and Wyclef Jean in 1999) and her first primetime U.S. network performance in five years (World Music Awards in 2004).[200]
Following her touching performance, the show honored Houston with the award, according to an inscription read by Samuel L. Jackson, which is given "in recognition of her worldwide success exemplified by her international record sales, radio airplay in countries all over the world, live performances that span the globe, and popularity that knows no borders or boundaries."[202]
The presenter Ne-Yo appeared on stage and introduced Houston's video presentation for her career in entertainment with short interview.
After video presentation, Houston received special tribute performances by Kim Burrell introduced as "one of Houston's favorite voices on the planet", and Jennifer Hudson. Burrell sang the jazzy version of Houston's rendition "I Believe in You and Me" and received a standing ovation. Hudson also brought the crowd to its feet singing Houston's chart-topping "I Will Always Love You", as she was presented with The BET Honor for Entertainment by Ne-Yo. Houston also sung a snippet of “I Love The Lord” during her speech.[203][204]
Referensi
^"Diva pop". Miami Herald. October 1998. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal 2008-12-04. Diakses tanggal 2008-09-06.
^Corliss, Richard (July 13 1987). "The Prom Queen of Soul" (dalam bahasa English). Time Magazine. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal 2012-03-05. Diakses tanggal 2007-03-17. ; Pemeliharaan CS1: Bahasa yang tidak diketahui (link)
^Holden, Stephen (1985-2-16). "Cabaret: Whitney Houston" (dalam bahasa English). The New York Times. ; Pemeliharaan CS1: Bahasa yang tidak diketahui (link)
Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to June 19, 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Edisi Illustrated). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. hlm. 143. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 19, 1988.
Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
"Saving All My Love For You", "How Will I Know", "Greatest Love of All", "Didn't We Almost Have It All" and "I'm Every Woman" (ARIA) 2012 re-entries: "The ARIA Report – Issue #1147"(PDF). Pandora Archive (original document published by ARIA). Diakses tanggal February 16, 2016.
The Bodyguard Soundtrack: Duffy, Thom (March 5, 1994). "Multi-Artist Compilations Reaping Platinum Rewards in U.K". Billboard. 106 (10): 47. ISSN0006-2510. Diakses tanggal January 30, 2012. Note: The soundtrack was classified as a compilation for chart purposes, and thus the peak position for the soundtrack is that on the compilation chart, not the main albums chart. The soundtrack peaked at number one on its 6th week of release (January 2, 1993) and stayed the pole position for 11 non-consecutive weeks.Lane, Dan (February 13, 2012). "Remembering Whitney: Her Top 20 biggest tracks revealed". The Official UK Charts Company. Diakses tanggal February 20, 2012.
The Bodyguard Soundtrack: "Les Albums Diamant". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal November 20, 2008. Diakses tanggal September 21, 2011.
My Love Is Your Love: "Certifications Albums Double Platine – année 1999". disqueenfrance.com. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. December 20, 1999. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal March 7, 2012. Diakses tanggal September 20, 2011.
Whitney: The Greatest Hits: "Certifications Compilations Double Or – année 2000". disqueenfrance.com. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. June 7, 2000. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal April 20, 2014. Diakses tanggal November 21, 2010.
Just Whitney: "Certifications Albums Or – année 2002". disqueenfrance.com. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. December 12, 2002. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal January 25, 2012. Diakses tanggal September 20, 2011.
^ abcdefgh(dalam bahasa Prancis)The sales of Houston's albums in France:
Whitney Houston: "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal October 18, 2011. Diakses tanggal January 17, 2011.
Whitney and I'm Your Baby Tonight: "Les Albums Platine". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal February 19, 2012. Diakses tanggal January 17, 2011.
My Love Is Your Love: "Les Albums Double Platine". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal December 28, 2010. Diakses tanggal January 17, 2011.
Whitney: The Greatest Hits: "Les Albums Double Or". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal December 28, 2010. Diakses tanggal January 17, 2011.
The Bodyguard Soundtrack: "Les Albums Diamant". infodisc.fr. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal September 4, 2012. Diakses tanggal January 17, 2011.
^ abcdefgh(dalam bahasa Swedia)IFPI Sweden certifications for albums and singles:
From 1987 to 1998: "Guld & Platina År 1987–1998"(PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden. Diarsipkan dari asli(PDF) tanggal July 25, 2011. Diakses tanggal September 20, 2011.
Since 2000:
My Love Is Your Love, Whitney: The Greatest Hits and "Could I Have This Kiss Forever": "Guld & Platina År 2000"(PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden. Diarsipkan dari asli(PDF) tanggal August 11, 2010. Diakses tanggal September 20, 2011.
The Ultimate Collection: "Guld & Platina År 2007"(PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden. December 17, 2007. Diarsipkan dari asli(PDF) tanggal August 11, 2010. Diakses tanggal November 21, 2011.
I Look to You: "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2009"(PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden. September 3, 2009. Diarsipkan dari asli(PDF) tanggal July 25, 2011. Diakses tanggal September 11, 2011.
My Love is Your Love: "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Europe. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal March 20, 2007. Diakses tanggal June 27, 2012.
My Love Is Your Love: "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Europe. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal March 20, 2007. Diakses tanggal November 21, 2011.
Whitney: The Greatest Hits: "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards 2000". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Europe. January 16, 2001. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal 2014-01-14. Diakses tanggal November 21, 2011.
^In the US sales of The Bodyguard Soundtrack, 1,310,000 copies sold from BMG Music Clubs was added to 12,140,000 from Nielsen SoundScan as of October 2014.
^ ab"ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart – 27/02/2012". Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. February 27, 2012. Diarsipkan dari asli tanggal February 28, 2012. Diakses tanggal February 20, 2012.
^"Albums : Top 100 – February 29, 2012". Jam! Canoe. Canoe Inc. February 23, 2012. Diarsipkan dari versi asli pada March 1, 2012. Diakses tanggal February 23, 2012.
^Whitney: Dancin' Special (back cover). Whitney Houston. Japan: BMG Victor Inc. 1988. A28D-1. Diakses tanggal January 21, 2012. Pemeliharaan CS1: Lain-lain (link)