Do you remember the first concert you attended?
Mine was July 17, 1987 - when I saw the biggest pop star in America perform at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN.
Whitney Houston. She had just released ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ - and she was HUGE.
I’ve been thinking about Whitney Houston, as the Super Bowl always reminds people that no one will top her 1991 rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’
As I followed my curiosity about Whitney in those times, I found myself drawn to another of her hits - I Will Always Love You. It’s been *28 years* since this song dominated the charts. But how did it come to be?
Our story begins in 1992, with this man:
In 1992, Kevin Costner was the biggest star in Hollywood. He had a string of hit films under his belt – and had been the darling of the 1991 Academy Awards for his directorial debut, Dances With Wolves.
He was now taking a chance producing a film called The Bodyguard, starring opposite a first-time actress, singer Whitney Houston.
And he had a problem.
He planned to have his co-star record a version of the 1966 Motown song What Becomes of The Brokenhearted to use for an emotional moment at the end of the film.
But he found out the song was being used at the end of another film that had just been released.
He needed a new song for the end of his film – fast.
He wanted something that would showcase Houston’s powerhouse vocals, and fit the dramatic moment where their characters say goodbye.
Costner was a fan of a country song Dolly Parton had written nearly 20 years earlier called I Will Always Love You, and reached out to secure permission to use it in the film. Although Dolly agreed, Houston’s record label was less enthusiastic about their R&B artist recording a country song.
Costner persisted. He asked Houston to record the song – and decided to do something different. He wanted to add to the drama and emotion of the moment in the film, and asked Houston to start the song singing acapella.
Houston’s record label fought him, saying that a song with an acapella introduction would never get played on the radio.
But Costner told them not to be so sure. He persisted– and got his way.
And his idea to have Whitney Houston record a country song – and sing acapella – paid off.
The last-minute song choice that ‘radio would never play’ did get played on the radio. In fact, Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You broke records, holding the #1 spot for 14 weeks.
It became the biggest hit of Houston’s career – and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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For more stories inspired by pop culture, check out my blog:
Dear Justin, Your Apology Sucks
Janet Jackson is Not The Woman Who Flashed Her Boob at The Super Bowl
Three Communication Lessons from Whatever the Hell is Going on with Armie Hammer