Whitney Houston's "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" Leaks
Thursday July 2, 2009
Whitney Houston is back and the voice is unmistakably hers, but some fans are already thinking that powerful instrument has been greatly diminished. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," the expected first single from the upcoming album I Look To You, has leaked on to the Internet. It was produced by David Foster. The ballad style is similar to hits of her past, and the lyrics seem relevant to Whitney Houston's life experience, but we miss those incredible soaring moments when her voice really takes off. What do you think? Listen below while available, and let us know your opinion on the return of Whitney Houston.
- Listen to "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
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Photo courtesy Arista Records
Comments
I think the vocal is perfect and heartfelt, which decreases the neeed for bombastic vocals. Not every song needs to be the “I Will Always LOve You” key change.
welcome home whitney here comes another grammy
I think the message and the song works. The woman has been through hell, after all. It’s not a love song – it’s personal. She IS a bit broken so it’s all good.
This song is a display of vocal genius. It proves that Whitney can convey the essence of a song even without vocal bombast.
Listen to her vocals the song is great. It shows her vunerable side. You critics need to lay off whitney. God forgave her you don’t have too, the albums will sell.
Do you miss Aretha’s soaring moments?
I think her voice sound much weaker than the past, good song though.
I personally love the song. I think it’s Whitney’s most personal song yet. I would really love to see her performing this on Oprah, Good Morning America, as well as other talk shows and give us an in depth interview of how the song was derived. But any ways, It’s GREAT to see that the QUEEN, and yes i said QUEEN, of music is back. You do your thing Whitney…….. Can’t wait for the album.
With all my Love,
-Steven-
I think she sounds just as good as before. The song obviously didn’t call for the soaring vocals that in some of her recent appearances she has shown she can still do. Props to her for giving a restrained, moving and adult performance. Hopefully some of these other so called singers will take note.
I can’t stop listening to this song…emotional, raw, and honest. Love it!
I love this song so much that i want it to be the fist single to zoom up the charts i have played it so many times that i can’t wait for the club remix version to hit the clubs you go whitney you are the greatest.
….. good to hear her voice again !! i’m down w this track.
This comeback song is mediocre at best. Greatest Love Of All, this definitely isn’t. It is clear that her voice has deteriorated. Disappointing. 3 our of 10.
First part ok….voice very strained second half. Voice is gone
It is so sad.
PITIFUL!
It’s GREAT to hear new Whitney material!! Even though her voice has changed throughout the years, Whitney still manages to out sing most of today’s current female artists. Can’t wait to buy the album
I like this track. Its a very humble and powerful song that should by no means- be underestimated. The vocal arrangement is exactly what it should be to get the message out.If you listen carefully you will realize that it really takes you inside of yourself.
From a songwriting perspective, “I Didn’t Known My Own Strength” does lack a trademark Whitney Houston vocal climax. It is difficult to know whether the omission was a conscious songwriting decision or if Whitney Houston has lost her soaring vocal range.
David Foster is known for complex key changes and songs that build with each verse. It is a surprise to hear a song that pairs Whitney Houston and David Foster without an enormous climax. This circumstantial logic seems to lend validity to the notion that Whitney is not capable of hitting the high notes that she once was.
The rub is that Whitney turns in a fairly decent, albeit subdued, vocal performance on “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”. If this song is any indication, Whitney is still an exceptionally strong vocalist who outperforms the vast majority of the current pop marketplace. Though the soaring vocals are dearly missed, she does showcase a great deal of maturity in her vocal phrasing. The song itself is well written and the chorus is memorable.
Warren
Her voice sounds VERY affected by the drugs. What happened to that once pure and powerful vocal instrument? Now, she sounds breathy and hoarse, kind of like a chain-smoker…Very sad indeed. God bless Whitney!
She can still sing but you people are deluding yourselves saying it’s the same. Not even close.
Listening to this was very difficult. What was is gone. A new singer with a new range and tone quality has emerged. Houston needs to rethink this comeback because it’s going to blow up in her face.
It is truly amazing to me how many of you cannot even acknowledge the honest fact that Whitney Houston’s voice has deteriorated considerably from her prime. This is not to suggest that she can no longer sing–clearly she still can. But her range is a fleeting shadow of what it once was, and her once light, flexible tone is now dark and husky. She no longer has an upper register. These are the classic signs of permanent vocal damage.
She still has a nimble mid-range. And yes, she does demonstrate considerable expressiveness in these latest songs. But nobody can listen to her incredible rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” from the 1991 Superbowl, or “I Will Always Love You” and not be astonished at the amount of vocal range and dexterity she has lost.
Now that the songs are released, it is unmistakably clear that, as suspected, the drugs and smoking did indeed take a terrible toll, and the “classic Whitney” voice is gone forever. All we can do is accept the “new” Whitney sound with its limitations, listen to her older recordings, and curse Bobby Brown for ruining this national treasure.
the song has the same arrangement as Charice’s Note to God. Well of course it’s the same producer. Great job nevertheless, and much respect to Mr Foster. The Oprah airing of this song had me glued the same way Note to God had me glued. I’ve put up the piano instrumental of Note to God and will put this one up also on youtube
Whitney Do your thang girl… I love it this is truly for EVERY woman. You keep your head high girl and look past your haters. Always RJ
after just watching her performance on x factor, I think she would be better travelling around and showing youngsters just how drugs destroy you, she looks 10 a good 10 years oldr than her 46 years and her voice is no longer the fantastic thing that it was which is a real shame, when speaking she seemed to me to be rather confused. she will still be an icon to the loyal fans she has , and in her good years she had the best voice in the business, but I for one would not buy her cds now her voice has gone.