Whitney Houston, Step By Step | COVERS

In the 15^th edition of COVERS (2024), Whitney Houston delivers a compelling rendition of “Step By Step,” originally performed by Annie Lennox.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 15^th edition of COVERS (2024), Whitney Houston delivers a compelling rendition of “Step By Step”, originally performed by Annie Lennox.

“Well, there’s a bridge / And there’s a river / That I still must cross / As I’m going on my journey / Oh, I might be lost.” The Preacher’s Wife (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is one of the most memorable soundtracks of the 1990s. It was also incredibly successful, certified triple platinum by the RIAA. The late, great Whitney Houston was at her best on this 1996 album. Among the crème de la crème of the compilation is the song, “Step By Step”.  “Step By Step” was not an original.  It was written and originally recorded by Annie Lennox in 1992 as a B-side.  That B-side, reworked and tweaked for a dynamic vocalist like Houston, made “Step By Step” sound brand-new.  Notably, on this inspirational record, Lennox provides background vocals for Whitney. Stephan Lipson produced the Houston rendition. 

So, fantastic vocals go without saying. At her best, Whitney Houston was unbeatable and unstoppable. “Step By Step” begins as a mid-tempo ballad of sorts, playing to Houston’s strengths. Progressively, the rhythm increases from the keys, and the beat drops establishing “Step By Step” as a dance-pop record. Even leaning into a dance aesthetic, the powerhouse vocals are never compromised.  In the second verse, which is more danceable, finds Whitney growing more dynamic.  The section to beat, unsurprisingly, is the chorus where the inspirational vibes are at an all-time high (“Step by step / Bit by bit / Stone by stone (yeah) / Brick by brick”). The bridge section is high-flying too:

“Oh, but I won’t let my spirit fail me

Oh, I won’t let my spirit go

Until I get to my destination

I’m going to take it slowly

Because I’m making it mine.”

“Step By Step” may be a cover, but we all know what happened to covers in the hands of Whitney Houston – she made them her own. “Step By Step,” which reached no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and was certified gold, is no different.

Whitney Houston // The Preacher’s Wife // Arista // 1996

Whitney Houston, Step By Step: Covers No. 15 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Arista; Andrea Piacquadio, cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Matteo Milan from Pexels; MR1313, OpenClipart-Vectors, Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay]