Even with a bevy of big-name producers at their disposal, proven hit-makers like Kanye West, 50 Cent, Usher, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston have turned to this virtually unknown producer for their high-stakes releases (such as West's awesomely futuristic and catchy track, “Flashing Lights”). From the looks of things, he won't be unknown for long. Eric Lee Hudson, the 20-year-old wunderkind from New Jersey, is working so often with so many big names these days, it's even making his head spin. The roster of artists that Hudson has produced is as diverse as music itself and, he says, he tries to embrace their individuality when he works with them. “I don't really have a signature sound,” he notes. “I play four or five different instruments, so I can give you a live sound or I can give you that 808. I just try to get in there and vibe with the artist and whatever the artist is looking for. I just try to capture their style.” Of the songs he's produced lately, Hudson says there are some that he's especially excited about. Among them is Usher's “Make It Rain,” from his upcoming album due in March. “The song is really exciting,” Hudson says. “It has an Earth, Wind & Fire feel; it has live horns and live drum overdubs. It's really different from everything that's on the radio.” And Hudson says he's keeping his fingers crossed for a possible first single from Whitney Houston's new album. He admits that working with the R&B superstar was a little daunting. “It was hard, but she was really nice and she wanted me to vocal produce her,” he says enthusiastically. Houston clearly isn't the only one who has confidence in Hudson's work. “Everybody from Usher to John Legend to Whitney to Mary have all been like, ‘Whatever you do, I'm following your direction’. Everyone's been real cool.”
Bobby Brown's attempt to overturn ex-wife Whitney Houston's divorce terms was denied by an Orange County, Calif. judge Friday. "His motion was denied because there were no appearances or phone calls from Mr. Brown today for a scheduled hearing," said court spokeswoman Carole Levitsky. "As of now, there are no more pending court dates in this case." A rep for Brown did not immediately respond for comment. In April 2007, Houston won a default judgment in their divorce – leaving Brown with nothing financially and only visitation rights over daughter Bobbi Kristina, 14. The following month, Brown, 38, sued Houston, 44, for spousal support and shared custody, alleging he was duped into not responding in time to Houston's initial divorce claim. "I just miss my daughter," Brown told PEOPLE last August. "The goal is to see her a lot more and to be involved in the decision making in her life." Houston, who currently lives in Atlanta, is working on another album with longtime mentor Clive Davis.
Of course, by the second week of hearing the same stuff over ... and over ... and over ... I'm ready to shoot some reindeer.
Maybe it's a sign of old age — or an unforeseen Grinch coming out of me — but I've learned that there are really only about 20 or so true Christmas carols — and eleventy billion versions of each. Any recording star with an album to his or her credit will put out a Christmas album, certainly hoping to capitalize on whatever popularity may exist at that time.
But some songs just shouldn't suffer this sort of repetition. After Bing Crosby recorded "White Christmas" no one should ever be allowed to do the song again. Same with Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" or Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad." Retire those tunes like jerseys, and hang 'em from the rafters. Don't let anybody touch 'em, ever again.
Do You Hear What I Hear? My all-time favorite, just because I got to sing it in the third grade. But nobody, and I mean nobody, beats Whitney Houston's soaring version. This one sounds amazing when you crank it.
Joy to the World — Ella Fitzgerald with a thoroughly uplifting version. Jewel's version is pretty, as is Whitney Houston backed by a gospel choir. Helps one remember the reason for the season.
Insiders are whispering that Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys may do a duet together for the 50th annual Grammys Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in L.A. [Chicago Sun Times]
Acording to promotional materials from Spain tentative release date for Whitney's new album is April 8th.
There were some wobbly moments but Whitney Houston still delivered. SHUIB TAIB remains a fan.
THEY were there for her! And Whitney Houston could do no wrong. Despite several announcements made prior to her performance requesting that no photographs nor recordings be done while she performed had the crowd go “boo”... they waited. Then there was the time factor. By the time “Mr Lover Lover” Shaggy ended his segment, it was 11.30pm. It took another hour for the stage to be set for Whitney and despite it being past midnight, the crowd stayed on. The presence of a journalist from BBC London also showed the magnitude of the event. After all, the diva was making a comeback and Kuala Lumpur had the honour of being the venue of her first stage re-appearance! “Beyonce may have given us a miss but thank God for Whitney!” said a fan just before the tall and stylish singer came out. When the stage lights were off, the 8,000-plus crowd started to chant her name. They got even more excited when the six musicians and three back-up singers who included brother Gary Houston walked to their stations. Then she appeared. Clad in silver-coloured pants, beaded mid-riff, leopard-print shoes and a trench coat, Whitney opened the show with If I Told You That, a duet originally sung with George Michael. Anyone who has been following her career would have known by now that Whitney “live” is not quite the same as Whitney the recording artiste. Even in her heyday, Whitney had always performed differently when on stage. However, at Live & Loud KL 2007, it was not only different, it was clear from the start that Whitney would struggle with the high notes. However, there were time when her superb vocals were back, especially the lower registers. Whether the fans were in awe or in shock or simply knackered, most of the time they were rather subdued. Whitney told the audience that it was the first time that she had ever been to beautiful Kuala Lumpur and that she was coming out with a new album soon. If the crowd were rather reticent early on, they came to life when they heard the introduction of the songs that followed which go back to 1985 when Whitney just started. Saving All My Love for You, Greatest Love of All, All at Once and You Give Good Love were rendered in a medley. The crowd sang with her, sometimes a note faster, and that made her smile. At times she appeared distracted by the off-key singing of her fans — so much so she had to politely request them to “shush” at one point so that she could do a better job. Whitney is also one singer who has the habit of ad-libbing the lyrics and doing “sing-talk” to her audience. Instead of saying “You give good love”, for example she changed it to “Malaysia, you give good love, yes you do...” Hardly pausing in between songs, Whitney continued with Waiting to Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Heartbreak Hotel and It’s Not Right (But It’s Okay). Sensing that the crowd were getting restless, she would walk and sometimes run from one end to the other and get them to clap to get them come alive again. Although Whitney hardly communicated with the crowd, the smile never left her face. The “I love you Whitney!” shouts were responded with “I love you too!” Whitney treated the audience with Step by Step and for the following song, My Love is Your Love, she surprised the audience by introducing daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who sang along with her. The already grown-up and at times forgetting-the-lyrics Kristina certainly had Bobby Brown’s smile on her. The impromptu singing was certainly one of the highlights of the evening. After the segment, Whitney went backstage to change while brother Gary took over and delighted the crowd with his version of Eric Clapton’s Change the World. When Whitney came back, she launched into the fast number, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and How Will I Know. “Do you love my dress? I put it on just for you,” said Whitney who was decked in a one-piece royal purple gown. With a towel in hand (which she later threw to the audience) and her trademark stylish hand movements, Whitney soldiered on with an impromptu number, I Believe in You and Me, a song she obliged after fans requested for it. She capped the night off with I Go To The Rock and I Will Always Love You before coming back for an encore belting out I’m Every Woman.
“I don’t care that she struggled a bit. I still love her. It’s Whitney, man,” said a fan.
Finally here are audio files from Whitney's concert at Live&Loud KL 07 festival. At the moment you can download following songs:
06 - It's Not Right But It's Ok 08 - My Love Is Your Love 10 - I Wanna Dance With Somebody 11 - How Will I Know 13 - I Believe In You And Me 14 - I Will Always Love You 15 - I'm Every Woman
KUALA LUMPUR: Multiple-award winning singer Whitney Houston lived up to her billing as the top draw in the Live & Loud concert here last night.
Her appearance at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club here signalled the start of her comeback, and will be followed by a brand-new album next year.
The 44-year-old pop diva, who came on after midnight, wowed a crowd of about 10,000 people, who were earlier entertained by a host of world-class singers at the event which started at 3pm yesterday.
Houston showed the crowd just why she is a multi-platinum selling music legend, with songs like Saving All My Love and her evergreen hit I Will Always Love You.
Clad in skin-tight leather pants, a flashy top and a white overcoat, the Grammy Award winner spiritedly pranced across the stage, starting off with the energetic If I Told You That.
About an hour into her segment of the music fest, a young girl of about 10 – who Houston introduced as “my daughter” – stepped onto the stage and sang with her on My Love Is Your Love.
