Whitney Houston, You Light Up My Life | COVERS

In the 30^th edition of COVERS (2023), Whitney Houston delivers a compelling rendition of “You Light Up My Life,” originally performed by Debby Boone.

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 30^th edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 Whitney Houston delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “You Light Up My Life”, originally performed by 🎙 Debby Boone.

When it comes to covering, the late, great 🎙 Whitney Houston was one of the best – truly a pro. Houston made a habit of making hits out of songs originally recorded by others, which is nothing short of awesome.  Once again, in 2002, Houston found herself taking the old – 🎵 “You Light Up My Life”, the 1977, dominant no. 1, 🏆 Grammy-winning hit by 🎙 Debby Boone – and making it new and her own.  The Houston rendition of  🎵 “You Light Up My Life” appears as the ninth and penultimate track on 💿 Just Whitney. Just Whitney is one of Houston’s least heralded albums but still achieved platinum status 💪.

Ballads are where Whitney was at her best and “You Light Up My Life” is no different.  It begins with that stellar voice – the signature tone – which remained intact at this point [Her voice diminished noticeably on her final studio album, 💿 I Look To You (2009)].  Houston provides a balanced performance, not showing all her cards early on in the first verse.  Even so, Houston treats each note of the melody with incredible care and expression. Of course, by the chorus, she shows off the commanding nature and power of her instrument.  Again, each note of the melody sounds elite, refined, and truly remarkable.

“And you light up my life

You give me hope

To carry on

You light up my days

And fill my nights with song.”

Of course, some of the most impressive moments of Houston’s career are the melisma, riffs, and runs, which she executed like no other.  These ad-libs and playful moments that extend beyond the melody show up and show out towards the close of this liberal, one-of-a-kind take that easily distinguishes itself from the original.  The arrangement and production (🎛 Rickey Minor and Babyface) of Whitney’s take on 🎵 “You Light Up My Life” required tweaks – the original was huge, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.  The refined adult contemporary R&B sounds bodes well. Houston ‘makes it do what it do, baby’ on a stunning cover that sounds original and refreshing.

🎙 Whitney Houston • 💿 Just Whitney • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 2002

Whitney Houston, You Light Up My Life: Covers No. 30 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Arista; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]