Monday, January 21, 2008

He Sang, She Sang - 5


I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton first recorded this in 1974. A lot of people think of Dolly and think of her cartoon like body and really high voice....But she is actually a better than decent song writer. She wrote this song and she says she was inspired by a relationship ending - but a business one. That version changes depending on what interview you read or watch but its about the end of a relationship. This song was released on her very successful Jolene album and reached number 1 on the country charts. Dolly re-recorded this song in 1982 and was included on the soundtrack for the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Whitney Houston went on to cover this song in 1992 for the soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard. This song was a major part of the movie since it was also included in the story line. Interestingly, a Jimmy Ruffin song (of The Temptations) was to be covered by Whitney but it had been used before so Kevin Costner was asked to find another song and he picked this one. Can we say massive here? Her version sold 10 million copies and has surpassed the success of the original. It was selected as the number 1 love song on VH1's countdown....The video - simple and elegant and i cannot get the image of Whitney;s vocal chords as she gets to the breakdown of this song - when she belts out :And Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, will always love you....:....And the ad-libbing? The song spent 14 weeks on Billboard charts and became her longest running number 1.
So what version do you prefer?

9 comments:

ShadeCrown said...

I will always love u by dolly is a classic. Love the song!

Anonymous said...

Oh Uzo, you should have put Dolly Parton's original version up as well. So simple. It is my favourite. But of the two posted, I choose the one by Whitney Houston.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

no offense, but I truly prefer whitney's version. But Dolly's wasn't bad either. I have heard it many times on certain radio stations.

Anonymous said...

whitney's version,definitely

SET said...

THE BODYGAURD IS STILL SO GOOD EVERY TIME I HEAR ANY SONG FROM ON IT. I AM WAITNG TO HEAR SOME NEW MUSIC FROM WHITNEY.

Edirin said...

although dolly did it first, i neva really knew the song till whitney did it

i mean, this song is a classic and a half, amazing.. i was even supried it was a cover, whitney defo did it justice

Edirin said...

and i cant wait for whitneys comeback

ababoypart2 said...

First thing - I am biased. I am a huge Whitney fan and in my book she does no wrong.

While I think Dolly's version was cool. Whitney's is without doubt better. If you must copy, make yours as good or better.

Unknown said...

Whitney's version. I thought Dolly's was a wee bit too slow - but then it is country music after all. (smile)