Idolator
ARTIST: Whitney Houston
TITLE: "Like I Never Left (ft. Akon)"
WEB DEBUT: July 26, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: The question "how does one make Whitney Houston musically relevant to those who only know her from Being Bobby Brown?" has apparently been answered with one word: "Akon." Over the weekend, a teaser single from her allegedly forthcoming album released, and the fact that it was assisted vocally by last year's No. 1 collaborator brought up two troubling things: First, Whitney's record company is apparently angling for the 44-year-old singer to go "young" for her forthcoming album; and second, it's hard at times to tell the difference between the diva's voice and that of her younger foil.
"Like I Never Left" was apparently semi-deliberately leaked as "incentive" for Houston to finish her album, and I hope that the leaking means there are better tracks in the offing. Because while "Left" is a Mimi-styled piece of featherweight pop that's marked by Houston's still-impeccable phrasing, there are a few obvious—and unfortunately—AutoTune punch-ins that overshadow a lot of her interpretation. If this mask-the-imperfections-at-any-cost route is the direction that the rest of Whitney's album will go in, it's a sorry denouement to what was at once one of the brightest careers in pop.
WHERE TO HEAR IT: There are a few contraband copies up on YouTube, like the below:
Whitney Houston ft. Akon - Like I Never Left [YouTube]
Exclusive - Rosie O'Donnell's New Show [Fox 411]
Comments
"Akon and WHIT-naaaay..." Sheez, not to sound like a fuddy-duddy, but was that opener really necessary?
I'm not an Akon fan, but I actually like his bits better than Whit's on this. Weird.
there are a few obvious-and unfortunately-AutoTune punch-ins that overshadow a lot of her interpretation
Small caveat: Autotuning is not exactly new to Whitney; her producers were using it even in her heyday. I've read stories over the years -- hell, I recall one of them ran in The New York Times -- that Houston's producers have been "punching in" her lines for decades to create a "flawless" final mix composed of syllables from numerous takes. Honestly, the use of modern Autotune on her voice at this juncture is just the latest step in a long evolutionary process.
Damn Whit-nay. Thats some serious cleavage.
The question "how does one make Whitney Houston musically relevant to those who only know her from Being Bobby Brown?" Teaming her up with some fake ghetto thug? Nah. But faux meets faux flies these days. Who's her next partner? Fake Cocaine King Rick Ross? We can only dream.
Okay let's see. So what you're saying is Whitney Houston may drop an album sometime in the near future? [Before January 2009.] And what you also said is that Dre and Britney could possibly do the same thing? Get out. Next thing you know, word on the street will be that Amy Winehouse is dropping both a mixtape and a new album as well for the two double O eight. Her or Michael Jackson. I hear he's all up in Akon's studio searching for musical relevance again.
it doesn't have the oomph for pop or r&b radio, but it's got akon which means i doubt the adult contemporary folks will like it, either... god, what were they thinking?
@bcapirigi: Right? I never understand moves like this. It's like ... play to the base. The base! The base that feels abandoned and that will probably eat up new stuff that's operating in the vein they know and love, and maybe even PAY FOR IT.
They had to leak the song with Akon now, before his time in the spotlight is completely over and they have to scrap the song for some new ones with T-Pain or The-Dream.
@Al Shipley:
The use of Akon speaks to the long-gestation of this disc -- like they hired him back in 2006 when he was on every chart track and dry-humping teenagers at concerts.
[blog.newsok.com]
@Al Shipley: @GeorgeLang: The next track to leak will probably feature 50 Cent, Big & Rich, Jamie Foxx, Lil' Jon, Pharrell Williams or the Ying Yang Twins-- and probably all of 'em.
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