Nobody, and I mean nobody, does it like Whitney Houston! The Voice reminded everyone why she got her nickname with her stunning performance “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” at the 1994 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony. These days, performances at big sporting events are typically lip-synched, but Whitney ain’t the kind of singer who needs that. She gave a soul tour de force at the event, delivering the power and the passion throughout the medley with plenty of delectable vocal runs.
Houston’s studio recordings are legendary, but she’s the kind of singer who takes it up to another level live. The Prom Queen of Soul added plenty of tasty ad-libs and extra details to her vocal melodies at the ceremony, all while effortlessly entertaining the crowd with a cheeky grin on her face. The Music Man readers will def want to tune in to the big moment at 6:50, where Houston drives the performance home with a thunderous climax on the iconic hooks of “I Will Always Love You.” Talk about a killer closer!
In July 2024, FIFA treated fans to an HD upload of Houston’s eight-minute Closing Ceremony performance, which has since hit 1.5 million views on YouTube. Fans were loving the throwback and added comments such as “Greatest female vocalist of all time. Period” and “Her vocal control was unmatched and she effortlessly switched octaves while singing from the gut! Rest in peace Ms. Houston.”
Houston fans have had plenty to enjoy lately, as in January 2025 the Grammys uploaded an HD cut of her show-stopping performance of “I Will Always Love You” at the 1994 event. ‘94 was clearly a good year for Houston performances, as her voice sounds powerful, precise, and full of soul throughout. It’s truly incredible to watch her work. That combination of tone, technical ability, and emotional impact is one that comes along once in a generation, if that.
https://youtu.be/Qyesq5tKoBg?si=c9GmRCLkpYdpJaL8
Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” and released the country tune on March 11, 1974. It’s not often that the legendary Parton gets her song eclipsed by a cover version, but Houston managed that with her smash hit 1992 soul rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Houston’s take on “I Will Always Love You” became the most popular version, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 charts for a record-breaking 14 weeks. The Music Man readers probably won’t be surprised to hear that the single was also an international success, going to number one across much of the planet, including long runs at the top spot in major markets such as Germany, the UK, and France.