How "I Will Always Love You" SHOULD sound

[SexyKev]

SexyKev....I knew you would be on this thread!

At least you "know" something, dear.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

I watched that for the first time a few years ago. It made me cry. There's a lot of songs from her that do that. haha Despite Whitney's exceptional vocal, Dolly wrote the song, lived the song so I think her version conveys more emotion, more sadness. That's why I'll always prefer her version.

i absolutely agree that the sadness is more in dolly's version than whitney's. but i like them both. i think whitney gave a more stunning performance of it with lots of emotion, just not the same emotion. so i don't know i think they are both good and they are just different

 

[miaedu]

Actually, I must insist that Maria Callas' version was vastly superior to any of these pop-music tarts'!

*ducks* OPERA QUEEN CAT-FIGHT!!!!



She sings "opera," but not really well.

Laugh all you want. One of the things that makes a great standard a great standard -- and I would argue that IWALY reaches that status -- is that it invites interpretation, at the same time it kind of sings itself. To me, it's just silly to say that anyone "owns" a song like this (beyond the fact that Dolly collects royalties every time anyone performs it).

I listened to Dolly, Leona, the clip above, and the 1994 Whitney "live" version.

The thing that really grabs me about the Dolly version (besides being reminded that Porter Waggoner was a huge freak of nature and that Dolly looked prettier when she weighed a little more) was how effortlessly the music flowed from Dolly. To me, that's magic. She doesn't try to take it any further than what she can do -- like OP said, it's even a little restrained, which I think makes it very impressive.

Yes, Leona starts out a little breathy, but she finishes with fullness, confidence, and power, AND she hits all the notes right! I said that IWALY is a song that "sings itself;" it's also a song that is easy to listen to (yeah Dolly!). It really only sings itself, though, if the performer has the pipes. Not everyone does. Leona made me learn forward and listen, and I got those little goose-bumps. I enjoyed it. The contrast between the beginning and the end of the song is, I think, the mark of an interesting interpretation. She's got nothing to be ashamed of.

The sound quality of the recordings in both of the Whitney versions that I listened to was poor, but it was good enough to hear a couple of things. Elvin pointed out that she "breaks," and I'm not sure that's what I heard (although I think I did in the 1994 stadium version). What I DID hear, though, is that in both of them, she really isn't exactly hitting all the notes. Especially in the unaccompanied intro to the "opera" version, she is either building some minor chords that aren't really related to either of the keys she's going to be singing in later in the song, or, she's just flat/not finding the note. In both of the versions, while she is accompanied, she is "off" enough to detect more than once, and in the 1994 stadium version, she is clearly straining to project the higher notes before she gets into her "head voice". So, anyone can call these versions "the greatest" or "unmatchable," and I can't really argue with taste, but what I can say with confidence is that it is not flawless. Sorry. It's just not.

And I love Whitney Houston and I love her version of the song. If you've got the pipes, the song sings itself, but filling up big halls/big stadiums takes a lot of work, and I wouldn't really expect anyone to be flawless.

...the first time I ever saw anything like a drag show was in the mid '90's at the Cabana Inn in Oklahoma City. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure it was April 4, 1994, because on the next leg of the trip, the day after, I heard that Kurt Cobain had died. Anyway, it wasn't really a drag show per se, but it was either a karaoke or a lip-synching night. I kind of think it was a lip-synching night, because I can't imagine that either of the two people I saw presenting the song were actually singing it. A drag queen was MCing. This guy -- I remember him as in jeans and western boots and a western shirt, although with a little more "preppy" than a "country" look -- did IWALY, and as soon as he was done, the drag queen MC came to center stage and took the song from the "key-up" spot, selling it for all she was worth. It was clearly her song, and the hapless quasi-cowboy clearly hadn't realized that, because when the MC was finished, the cowboy bowed and scraped and bowed and handed over numerous dollar bills. In that ahll that night, she "owned" IWALY.

I thought it was funny as hell.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mekingkong]

This is what a perfect performance sounds like:

 

[miaedu]

This is what a perfect performance sounds like:

MeKingKong,

I think this young lady deserves her own thread. Since you've posted her videos on here I'll let you do the honors.

 

[thevofl]

"I Will Always Love You" is one of the best written songs ever. The amount of emotion as a result of just a few lines is amazing. Dolly delivers the emotional connection to perfection. So rich is her voice, sung with painful restraint. Without knowing the words, one could understand the emotions based on the delivery. That can't be said about Whitney's version.

I love Whitney's version; I think it's one of her finest achievements. I have both on my iPhone. While Dolly's emotional connection is flawless, Whitney's technical achievements is unmatched by anyone else. When Whitney belts out, she nails it. Yet, it seems inappropriate to the context of the song.

 

[Spiff]

Dolly's was more genuinely from the heart. Whitney's was more theatrical (it was made for the movie The Bodyguard.)

 

[miaedu]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_utP1mGoutQ[/ame]

 

[steve621]

love the above movie, first time I heard the song

 

[MCsNo1Fn]

I love how the IQ level plummets every time SK comes into a thread and shoves a dildo up Whitney's ass. You sure know how to runaway with the topic.
Dolly all the way. Whitney can't own something she didn't create.

 

[Davenavarrolover]

Dolly's is softer and more emotional. She's a victim in the song
Whitney's is stronger and more confident, she's the warrior in this song!

They're both great but ask anyone on the street who sings IWALY and 9 out of 10 will say Whitney. Whitney has a way of making songs her own

Now about Leona, she's good but mediocre. Don't forget that she did an 1 1/2 minute version of the song and lacks the power that Whitney has. Let's see if Leona does this song in concert like Whitney and does the full version, honey she can't! period. Next your gonne say Beyonce or Mariah could sing it ROFL

And for the not so flawless versions of Whitney, it's sad that you pick 2 seconds out of the grammy performance, listen tot the whole thing and then tell me it's not perfect?! aside from one or two notes it's like WOW! Whitney live is so much better then recoreded Whitney. She has soul! Leona doens't even know what soul means. Nothing against her but it's like comparing Beyonce to Whitney.

And

 

[SexyKev]

Dolly's is softer and more emotional. She's a victim in the song
Whitney's is stronger and more confident, she's the warrior in this song!

They're both great but ask anyone on the street who sings IWALY and 9 out of 10 will say Whitney. Whitney has a way of making songs her own

Now about Leona, she's good but mediocre. Don't forget that she did an 1 1/2 minute version of the song and lacks the power that Whitney has. Let's see if Leona does this song in concert like Whitney and does the full version, honey she can't! period. Next your gonne say Beyonce or Mariah could sing it ROFL

And for the not so flawless versions of Whitney, it's sad that you pick 2 seconds out of the grammy performance, listen tot the whole thing and then tell me it's not perfect?! aside from one or two notes it's like WOW! Whitney live is so much better then recoreded Whitney. She has soul! Leona doens't even know what soul means. Nothing against her but it's like comparing Beyonce to Whitney.

And

Exactly......speak on it!

 

[AngelFromAbove]

Dolly's is softer and more emotional. She's a victim in the song
Whitney's is stronger and more confident, she's the warrior in this song!

They're both great but ask anyone on the street who sings IWALY and 9 out of 10 will say Whitney. Whitney has a way of making songs her own

Now about Leona, she's good but mediocre. Don't forget that she did an 1 1/2 minute version of the song and lacks the power that Whitney has. Let's see if Leona does this song in concert like Whitney and does the full version, honey she can't! period. Next your gonne say Beyonce or Mariah could sing it ROFL

And for the not so flawless versions of Whitney, it's sad that you pick 2 seconds out of the grammy performance, listen tot the whole thing and then tell me it's not perfect?! aside from one or two notes it's like WOW! Whitney live is so much better then recoreded Whitney. She has soul! Leona doens't even know what soul means. Nothing against her but it's like comparing Beyonce to Whitney.

I actually have to agree with this statement. They are both great interpretations of the song; there's really no right or wrong answer as to whose version is better. I personally like both.

However, Whitney Houston made this song famous, whether you like it or not. People generally recognize this song because of Whitney Houston. Even when people attempt to cover the song, they often try to mimic the Whitney version/arrangement.

As far as Leona's version is concerned, she did a good job in her performance. However, it was condensed, as it was a talent competition, so she did not carry the whole song. However, Leona is not mediocre; she does have a lighter voice than Whitney, which is why she lacks in the soul department, but she has a rather good voice.

 

[TygreBryte]

Dolly's is softer and more emotional. She's a victim in the song
Whitney's is stronger and more confident, she's the warrior in this song!

They're both great but ask anyone on the street who sings IWALY and 9 out of 10 will say Whitney. Whitney has a way of making songs her own

Now about Leona, she's good but mediocre. Don't forget that she did an 1 1/2 minute version of the song and lacks the power that Whitney has. Let's see if Leona does this song in concert like Whitney and does the full version, honey she can't! period. Next your gonne say Beyonce or Mariah could sing it ROFL

And for the not so flawless versions of Whitney, it's sad that you pick 2 seconds out of the grammy performance, listen tot the whole thing and then tell me it's not perfect?! aside from one or two notes it's like WOW! Whitney live is so much better then recoreded Whitney. She has soul! Leona doens't even know what soul means. Nothing against her but it's like comparing Beyonce to Whitney.

And

"good but mediocre"!!!

 

[Fucker29]

I love both Dolly and Whitney's versions.

As a few have said...Dolly's version does seem more genuine and heartfelt. I'd sing that one to my boyfriend before I sing Whitney's. Whit did an amazing job with it though.





I know fans of the first three can be pretty bad.

Madonna fan here! I'll fight a bitch about her...

But MJB fans? I don't think I've seen them in action.

Oh you should see them in action...it's quite insane, trust me. The things I've seen on youtube...oh my...not to mention internet forums.

 

[NineOfClubs]

EvilTwin2, thanks for sharing.

I've always felt Dolly was one of the best individuals in show business.

She's full of life, positive, funny, spunky, good-natured, inspirational...

I could go on.

 

[miaedu]

By the way, Linda Ronstadt also recorded this song. haha If I'm not mistaken, it was Linda's version that inspired Whitney to record the song.

Guess this changes the ranking of How "I Will Always Love You" SHOULD sound:

1. Dolly Parton
2. Linda Ronstadt
3. Whitney Houston

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D090T2MSxKY[/ame]

 

[miaedu]

By the way, Linda Ronstadt also recorded this song. haha If I'm not mistaken, it was Linda's version that inspired Whitney to record the song.

Thanks for bringing that to our attention. Linda's version is also beautiful. Wonder if there are similar versions out there?

I always loved "Frenesi". Reminds me of family gathering when I was young listening to the originals.

 

[TygreBryte]

I think Linda's version drags a bit.

 

[Vegas80]

Whitney definitely owns this song as far as popularity and vocals. Dolly's version is much more heartfelt and sincere in my opinion. Whitney made the BEST vocal of a mainstream hit with this song which deserves recognition.