Rumour: Celine and Whitney duet demo ??

Posted July 16, 200915 yr

Whitney Houston's " I Look To You" LEAKED! NEW Information!

July 14th, 2009

Whitney Houston, a name I have not heard in awhile, and when it was mentioned I can only think of cocaine and Bobby Brown. The fond memories I recall as a child listening to Whitney Houston in a small dinner on a table side jukebox playing "Didn't We All Most Have It All", take me back in time. There was nothing this woman couldn't sing and everyone idolized her. She broke barriers, she touched life and music like very few black woman can do. I can always hear her voice in her powerful touching songs about love. (Yes as you may have wondered, there is a whole interview below with detailed information about most of the songs on her new album.) I once got very upset at Ms. Houston because of the song, " I Will Always Love You." I was angry because it was Dolly Parton's and Whitney made it famous. It wasn't till later that I forgave her, as Dolly often said she was happy that such a fine artist could bring it mainstream. Whitney Houston, one of the only performers that could sing better live than in a studio, broke countless of music records and forever would stay an icon...or maybe not! Whitney's crash and fall over her love Bobby Brown and her addictions to cocaine not only ruined her voice, but ruined her life. Her title was stripped faster then you can say Sarah Palin, she was than summarily out casted!

So now, fast forward a few years, Whitney Houston is struggling to reclaim her title and bring herself back into the limelight of music. It has been a hard arduous journey and her record company suck with her though all her ups and downs. Arista wanted to cut a new album but waited till she sobered up. Everyone knew that Whitney had to clean up her act and get it strait in order to successfully sell this new album, its title: "I Look To You." Everyone knows this right...ok, ok, to the good stuff already.

A very lovely girl I met on Twitter named Sholoongo Sweet has in fact confirmed she heard Ms. Houston's new album in May 2009. I know what your thinking...yea right! Well Ms. Sweet works for a major record label in marketing had the pleasure, or lack of pleasure (you have to ask her) of going on several dates with an Arista record executive. Her date the Arista exec. told her that they considered calling the CD "Strength of a Woman" and "Undefeated." They decided on the current title which as been confirmed by www.whitneyhouston.com. Her web site counts down the days, hours, and so forth in anticipation of her comeback album. Ms. Sweet has personally told me that Arista has contacted her and asked her to cease and desist on mentioning anything to do with " I Look To You." A direct quote from Sholoongo Sweet, " Yes, Arista Records did contact me, asking me not to talk about the CD, but I feel I'm helping Whitney." It is obvious that Arista wants to protect any leaks to garner whatever remaining loyal fans are willing to shell out. We all are quite aware of the piracy of today's music, it was much different when Whitney was pumping out gold records. I don't believe anyone knew what an MP3 was at that time, MP what?

Now lets get into the details about what Ms. Sweet has heard on this demo CD of "I Look To You." I will be posting a series of direct quotes and questions.

Derek Sheldon (DS): Ok, first question you have heard the new CD by Whitney how much did you hear and how many tracks were there?

Sholoongo Sweet(SS):I heard about 17 songs on the version of the CD that I heard in May. I did not see "song titles" or "credits." The number 1 song is written by Stevie Nicks called "Has Anybody Ever Written Anything For You" ---ballad cover, but my date said it may not make the CD. (For the record I love this song made famous by Stevie Nicks-DS)

DS: Second question: How would you describe the style of music genre, its new or classic Whitney style?

SS: At this time back in May--they had a rough mix of a killer dance song by SwizzBeatz called "Mill Dolla Bill" that is AWESOME crazy. This song, "Mill Dolla Bill" is not typical Whitney, it's more something Mary J. or Mariah Carey would sing--very urban, hip hop.

DS: How did she sound, was she strong, did we hear her classic high staining notes?

SS :Fans should expect Whitney to sound different on this CD. Her voice has aged, it is more mature, but she sounds strong, beautiful. Whitney does sing falsetto on a lot of the tracks and she is NOT straining, she is singing deeper but still sings high notes very well.

DS: Is this the Whitney we all been waiting for or should we expect a new Whitney. Will this album disappoint us?

SS: Fans should expect Whitney to sound different on this CD. Her voice has aged, it is more mature, but she sounds strong, beautiful. (I'm not repeating myself she wanted to reinforce this fact-DS)

DS: Is there any thing we should hear that you could recommend? Does she collaborate with anyone else?

SS: One song on the CD sounds like it's a Black Eyed Peas song. It's mid tempo and has WIll.I.Am all over it. I smelled an instant hit. I didn't like the fact that Whitney had duets on the CD with Akon and Alicia Keys, but those songs grew on me. Especially Akon's mid tempo...."Like I Never Left" (Akon). VERY good song. When I heard Whitney singing with another woman I thought both voices were Whitney, but my date said it's Alicia Keys duet. It may not make the CD. On one of the songs, they had 2 versions. A demo by Jennifer Hudson, then a better version by Whitney Houston. The Jennifer Hudson/Whitney Houston demos were 4 the song titled "Try Born."

DS: Tell us some more about the tracks, what you heard.

SS: There's a hot jam on the CD called "Nothing But Love" but Whitney sings the title in "Slang." The song has a slightly island breeze beat. I really liked the Gospel tracks that are on Whitney's new CD. My date said that only one will make the final CD. There is a remake of "Song for You" by Whitney that is just blistering hot. She does it in Donna Summer's old style the ballad turns to disco. The Rodney Jerkins cut, "Sweetness of Life (Spirits)" is really close to my heart. I love anything Rodney Jerkins produces, it's HOT!!! The biggest reward of the whole CD, however, was listening to such great Ballads by Whitney again. She is bringing the ballads back strong!

DS: You just told me here on Twitter you have even MORE shocking information..wow. Let us hear.

SS: My date told me that there was a duet recorded with Whitney Houston and her mother, Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick, but I didn't hear it. He said that a duet with Celine Dion was recorded in 2008, but Celine didn't like how she sounded and Arista shelved it. Note that it was back in 2008 Celine and Whitney did a "demo" that has been shelved but may appear on future Whitney Houston's "Greatest Hits."

DS: What was your favorite song and give us some predictions on where this CD could end up:

SS: My favorite song on the entire CD was "I Look to You" which was written by R. Kelly, it's an amazing new song. Definitely a classic. Her weakest song on the new CD, in my opinion, is "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." It's good, but it's still the weakest on CD. Whitney's new CD is so good that I predict she will sweep the Grammy Awards in January. The song "I Look to You" will win Best Record/Song.

DS: Wow this is great information. If there was anything you could say to Ms Houston right now what would it be?

SS: If I could say one thing to Whitney it would be--"Thank God you didn't end up like Michael Jackson, and please don't!"

Well that's it folks for that interview. I want to thank Ms.Sholoongo Sweet for her time and her wonderful interview. So as you read, lots of new information here about Whitney's new record. I am excited to hear it, I may even purchase it not Limewire it! I hope that this record can pull Ms. Houston out of banishment (or Amy Whineyhouse existance) and allow her to take her place where she belongs. I do believe she was unduly written off and It would be nice to see a Hollywood ending to her legacy of work. Look for " I Look To You" around September 1st, or just go to www.whitneyhouston.com and count the hours with your crack pipe...best of luck Whitney! In the mean time you can hear her new song "I Look To You" below.

That's All I Dare Say On That.