60s Freakout Organ: Samplefocus.com
The Weekend 80's loop: Samplefocus.com
Handclaps by: Gail Nobles
Strings by: Gail Nobles
Jingle: Music is Whitney
Jingle written by: Gail Nobles ©️ 2023
Vocals by: Gail Nobles

Photo credit: Stephen Luff
https://flic.kr/p/2mWWHcF
Usage: CC BY 2.0

I love the opening scene of the Whitney Houston biopic, “ I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Now, I haven’t seen the whole movie yet, but I have seen the opening scene. I like the part when Whitney is singing in church played by Naomi Ackie.

(Singing)

Her mom, Cissy Houston, played by Tamara Tunie is leading the choir. The church crowd was just loving how Whitney was singing. Whitney was tickled thinking she had done a great, but her mom gave her a look as if she was not satisfied.

Then the movie shows Cissy Houston practicing with Whitney telling her to stop. Whitney said: Mom.

Cissy said: Again!

Whitney said: Mom!

Cissy said: Again!

She explained to Whitney that when God gives you a gift, you got to use it right. She explained that she had to learn the melody. Once she learned it then she could play around & do her little flourishes. She told her to pay attention to the words. To complete every word. That every song was a story. If not a story, not a song. Cissy said great singing comes from 3 places. The head, the heart, and the gut. Whitney wanted to quit., but her mom wouldn’t let her.

When I saw that opening scene, it reminded me of me and my mom. Though I haven’t seen all the movie yet, I already know that the opening scene is my favorite part of the movie.

Whitney was blessed that she had a mom to teach her more about how to sing. Some of those things that were taught to Whitney a lot of people didn’t know. They just started singing.

Once Whitney learned all that she was suppose to do in singing, she became the best singer ever. Music & singing became her career. She had a powerful voice and her words were clear & understood. I always thought: Whitney is music & music is Whitney. If you take the music away, you can hear music in her voice. Whitney could sing without music & she had the perfect vibrato.

You’re listening to the Whitney Soul podcast. I’m your host Gail Nobles.