Houston’s live comeback on ‘GMA?’ Not exactly
The folks at Arista Records and “Good Morning America” are taking no chances with Whitney Houston’s much-publicized comeback concert set to air Wednesday on the ABC morning show.
At noon Tuesday, Houston was on a purple-adorned stage in New York City’s Central Park taping the musical selections to be broadcast Wednesday.
“She looks good and she sounds good,” Jake Ray, a former Atlanta morning radio producer, told Buzz by cellphone from Central Park.
“I mean, she’s not hitting those glass-breaking notes she did back in the day but she sounds good. It’s a polished performance.”
And Ray confirmed that Houston’s microphone was indeed live and that she was not lip syncing.
“She’s even flubbed some lyrics so I know for a fact that it’s live.”
For her comeback appearance, Houston was outfitted in an embellished light brown tunic with leggings and a trendy trenchcoat that came off after the first number.
During the mini set, Houston focused chiefly on selections from her brand-new album, “I Look to You,” including her new dance track “Million Dollar Bill.”
As Jake Ray was talking to Buzz, Houston could be heard launching into a fourth song, her hit “I’m Every Woman” in the background. “I’m betting they close the show with this,” Ray predicted.
To their credit, the folks at ABC News who oversee “GMA” aren’t actively misrepresenting the concert as a live show. On “GMA’s” website, fans were invited to the free concert and given directions to Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield on Tuesday.
New York Daily News pop music critic Jim Farber reported that Houston’s voice cracked numerous times during the brief outing, blaming her vocal fatigue on a chat with Oprah Winfrey taped this week. Farber reported that the singer approached high notes in the set “the way drivers with new cars treat pot holes.” (to read his entire review, click here.)
For photos from the “GMA” concert, click here.
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
22 comments Add your comment
LindaH.
September 1st, 2009
2:09 pm
I read on Classic Whitney she sounded really bad. People say her voice is gone. I think I won’t buy her new CD.
BeBe Sweetbriar
September 1st, 2009
2:34 pm
There isn’t anything on http://www.classicwhitney.com that talks about the concert at all. Don’t know where you got your info LindaH. I think the CD is fabulous, and I will take Jake Ray’s live account as the gospel. thanks!
Kim
September 1st, 2009
2:48 pm
Whitney sound good to me.
c note
September 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
You can listen to the entire CD on her site http://www.whitneyhouston.com check it out for yourself. I will buy it for sure…I love it.
BobbyH
September 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
I bought the CD. LindaH, you’ve been mislead and misinformed.
Tracey
September 1st, 2009
2:53 pm
LindaH. That’s ok if you don’t want to buy the CD I have my copy and it sound great!!!!!!! she Whitney will not miss your love, hater.
Whiteny Fan
September 1st, 2009
2:57 pm
LindaH you are just hating…Whitney sounds fabulous!!!
Jose
September 1st, 2009
3:08 pm
Love her. Can’t wait to get home to listen to the album!
Uncle Tom
September 1st, 2009
3:24 pm
Now maybe the spotlight can be taken off of Beyonka for a change. Oh I’m sorry, Ms. Beyonce.
Khalil
September 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
You are so wrong. She did not even have on a dress. You need to get your facts straight! And she actually sounded much better than 95% of the singers today!
Whitney Houston Good Morning America Video, Photos 9-2-09: Whitney Houston Central Park Video | Shallow Nation
September 1st, 2009
3:54 pm
[...] Is Houston taping live “Good Morning America” concert? Whitney Houston Good Morning America video [...]
Speedygrl
September 1st, 2009
3:55 pm
I really like Whitney…with or without the drama.
I’m really diggin #5 with Akon “Like I Never Left”.
Go Whitney – do the doggone thang!!!!!!!!!!!
HSW
September 1st, 2009
4:07 pm
I have to giggle at the headline of this story –”Taped Live”…for gosh sakes, anytime a human is taped they are taped live.
gagirl
September 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
I will definitely buy it today. I got a little worried when I heard she was taping her performance. That usually means it’ll be tweaked in the studio first. But I also don’t think Clive Davis would put out a product he can’t stand behind 100%. Even if her voice isn’t the same there are very few singers who can begin to hold a candle to her. And no, Beyonce the over-exposed and overrated is not one of them. Whitney’s back!
ATL
September 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
I’m proud of Whitney and I wish her the best, We all Fall Down and We Get Back Up.
I love this CD……………
Wha?
September 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
OK, so why is GMA not going to broadcast the performance live? Was the Brass at ABC scared that Whitney was going to act crazy or something?
They show lesser talent live on GMC all the time, so why not Whitney?
Question
September 1st, 2009
4:45 pm
No one has a link of today’s live performance posted? Did GMA make everyone discard their camera phones before entering the park?
Mark
September 1st, 2009
4:51 pm
I’ve listened to a couple of tracks on the new CD so far. On the one hand, it’s really Whitney singing. She’s not lost in an overpowering production, reverb, overbubbing or auto tuning (like so many current “singers” we hear now). Even after all she’s been through, she’s a thousand times better singer than Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears or any of the current pop tarts. But on the other hand, her voice just isn’t what it used to be (but who’s is?!). Good for her taking a chance.
whateverboo
September 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
Who the heck this crackhead heifer think she is? A diva? Umm…not anymore. She isn’t any better than anyone else that performs live on GMA, why give her special treatment. Show me that you still got it by doing it live–not that I really care, because I was never a true fan anyway–only liked a couple of her songs back when she was “hot”.
WhitneyCantSingAnymore
September 1st, 2009
6:57 pm
Exactly what I thought. Don’t call it a “comeback” cause she aint comin back with performances like this!
Michael K Success
September 2nd, 2009
8:30 am
I dont’ know what these darn narrow minded critics are rambling about. This album is all that. Just listen to the songs, the lyrics, the heart felt humanity that is sewn throughout this album. As for her voice, the fact is that all of us lose a little bit of our shine as we grow older; however, to say that Whitney can’t sing anymore, or isn’t the old Whitney? Life is about growing and accepting change. Why waste time comparing, take the time to enjoy today.
Elvis wasn’t the same 20 year old Elvis at his last gig either, but he was still Elvis.
God Bless us all and the music we love,
Michael K
http://www.airmusicgroup.com
TheAuthor
September 3rd, 2009
5:25 pm
Whitney is blessed and ordained by God to do what she does. So that being said, hate all you want, it only lifts her higher. People who can’t do, criticize. Not many today recognize true gifts or talents anyway with all the canned nonsense that passes for music. Half these so called “artists” sound like screeching cats singing live. I enjoyed the performance, and as one who actually does sing, I understand vocal fatigue, the air and humidity factor. Singing outdoors is not easy, but again, if you don’t have the ability, how would you. I still love Whitney and there is nothing fair weather about me, sink or swim, I’m gonna always be a Whitney Houston fan! Continued blessings and favor on her life and her music! Haters, keep on hating, your shoulders make great ladders!