Houston began singing at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, as a child and became a background vocalist while in high school. She was one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen after becoming a teen model in 1981. With the guidance of Arista Records chairman Clive Davis, Houston signed to the label at age 19. Her first two studio albums, Whitney Houston (1985) and Whitney (1987), both peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and are among the best-selling albums of all time. Hit singles from the albums, including "How Will I Know", "Greatest Love of All" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", established her as a catalyst in the acceptance of black female artists on MTV. Her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990), yielded two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, the title track and "All the Man That I Need". Houston's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 received widespread media coverage.
Houston made her acting debut with the romantic thriller film The Bodyguard (1992), which despite its mixed reviews became the tenth highest-grossing film to that date. Its soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and remains the bestselling soundtrack album of all time. It generated multiple hit singles, including "I Have Nothing", "I'm Every Woman" and "I Will Always Love You"; the latter won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, spent a then-record 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling single by a woman in music history. Subsequently, she went on to star in the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996), and she recorded their respective soundtracks; the former scored her last Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", while the latter, produced by Houston herself, became the bestselling gospel album of all time. As a film producer, she produced multicultural movies and series such as Cinderella (1997) and The Princess Diaries and The Cheetah Girls.
Houston's first studio album in eight years, My Love Is Your Love (1998), spawned several hit singles, including the title track, "Heartbreak Hotel", "It's Not Right but It's Okay" and the Academy Award-winning Mariah Carey duet "When You Believe". Following the success, she renewed her contract with Arista for $100 million in 2001, one of the biggest recording deals of all time. However, her personal problems began to overshadow her career. Her 2002 studio album, Just Whitney, received mixed reviews, while her drug use and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown received widespread media coverage. After divorcing Brown, Houston returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart with her final studio album, I Look to You (2009). In February 2012, Houston accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors. News of her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards, which took place the day following her death, and was covered internationally. Her life and career were dramatized in the 2022 biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Her assets amounted to $250 million, earned over a 25-year career.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston
Discography
Whitney Houston (1985)
Whitney (1987)
I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990)
My Love Is Your Love (1998)
Just Whitney (2002)
One Wish: The Holiday Album (2003)
I Look to You (2009)
Didn't We Almost Have It All?
Whitney Houston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The nights we almost lost it once again
We can take the night into tomorrow
Living on feelings
Touching you I feel it all again
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all
The way you used to touch me felt so fine
We kept our hearts together down the line
A moment in the soul can last forever
Comfort and keep us
Help me bring the feeling back again
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all
Didn't we have the best of times
When love was young and new
Couldn't we reach inside and find
The world of me and you
We'll never lose it again
Cause once you know what love is
You'll never let it end
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all
Didn't we almost have it all
Whitney Houston's "Didn't We Almost Have It All" is a poignant ballad about a love that was once within reach, but ultimately slipped away. The song's opening lines refer to a moment in the past when the couple held on to each other in the rain, suggesting that although they weathered a storm then, they were unable to survive the trials that followed. The lyrics suggest that they had come close to achieving everything they ever wanted, but were unable to hold on to it.
The chorus speaks to the idea that love was once everything they had to give, and how it was worth giving everything they had to hold onto it. The lines "Loving you makes life worth living" prove that the love they shared was everything to them. As the song progresses, Houston sings about how the way they used to touch felt so fine, hinting at the fact that something has changed between them. They were once so inseparable, but now they cannot hold on.
Overall, this song is a powerful testament to the concept of "almost" having something. It speaks to the idea that sometimes, no matter how close we come to achieving our dreams, they can still slip away into the night. It's a nuanced take on love and loss that captures the pain of almost having everything, but not quite.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when we held on in the rain
Remember when we held onto each other in tough times and weathered through them together.
The nights we almost lost it once again
The times when our relationship was hanging by a thread and we almost gave up on it entirely.
We can take the night into tomorrow
We have the ability to overcome difficult times and emerge stronger, looking forward to a brighter future.
Living on feelings
Our love is sustained by the strong emotional connection between us.
Touching you I feel it all again
When I am close to you, I am reminded of the intense love and passion we once shared.
Didn't we almost have it all
We were so close to achieving everything we had ever wanted in our relationship.
When love was all we had worth giving
Our love was the most important thing in our lives, and it was worth sacrificing everything else to keep it alive.
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Even though our relationship had its ups and downs, it was worth enduring the hardships because being with each other made it all worth it.
Loving you makes life worth living
Our love gives us a reason to keep going and inspires us to be better versions of ourselves every day.
The nights we held on till the morning
The times when we fought through our problems and stayed up all night talking, trying to work things out.
You know you'll never love that way again
No matter what happens in the future, we will never experience a love as intense and special as what we had together.
The way you used to touch me felt so fine
The physical affection we had for each other was one of the most beautiful and memorable aspects of our relationship.
We kept our hearts together down the line
No matter what challenges we faced, we always made sure to keep our love for each other at the forefront of everything we did.
A moment in the soul can last forever
The memories and emotions we shared together will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
Comfort and keep us
Our love provides us with comfort and strength, even during the darkest of times.
Help me bring the feeling back again
I long to experience the same intense love and passion we once shared, and I need your help to bring those feelings back to life.
Didn't we have the best of times
We shared so many wonderful memories and moments together.
When love was young and new
In the early days of our relationship, everything felt fresh and exciting, and our love was full of potential.
Couldn't we reach inside and find
If we try, we can tap into those same feelings of love and passion that we once had.
The world of me and you
Our love creates its own world, separate from everything else, where only we exist together.
We'll never lose it again
Even if we have to work hard to maintain our relationship, we will never let it slip away from us again.
Cause once you know what love is
Once you experience the power of true love, it becomes impossible to settle for anything less in life.
You'll never let it end
No matter what obstacles we face, our love will endure and never truly come to an end.
Writer(s): Michael Masser, Will Jennings
Contributed by Harper V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ninamo7969
In real life concerts/performances definitely not! It's impossible to choose just 1 out of Whitney's great live performances. I can only say this list and many more are all magnificent epic 'out of this world' beautiful performances. Before autotune there's Whitney Elizabeth Houston.
Didn't We Almost Have It All (Saratoga Springs Concert 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_4PlM85NJo&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz&index=10&t=0s
One Moment In Time (Grammy Awards, 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L9EMe-7Z4w&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=73
The Greatest Love Of All (Live from the Arista Records 15th Anniversary Celebration, 1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrPpYbI8L1U
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xoksq2 (full screen version, if link doesn't work/video is taken down for the millionth time😒🤐)
I loves You ,Porgy / And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going / I Have Nothing (American Music Awards 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hTu1coYMDA&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=100
A Quiet Place (Superstars and their moms 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_swWLNcXXY&index=3&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz
Saving All My Love For You (Grammy Awards 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EChcz8-Inrs&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=64
I Have Nothing (Billboard Music Awards 1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQ0fE0MRWQ&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=33
Why Does It Hurt So Bad (MTV Movie Awards 1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF0j0WuOhDM&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=86
Star Spangled Banner (Welcome Heroes Concert 1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM9-DONjnTc&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz&index=10
The Greatest Love of All and Battle Hymn of the Republic (Welcome Heroes Concert 1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjqUZDrYsY&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=17
Home (Whitney's very first TV live performance at the Merv Griffin Show 1983 (19 years old) )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5CeQ3twVaI
https://vimeo.com/256231395 (full screen version, if Youtube link doesn't work/video is taken down for the millionth time😒🤐)
This Day (Rehearsal "This Is My Life” Special, 1992)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bflUJjH-puo&index=2&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz
Don't cry for me (Commitment for life AIDS Benefit 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZMgsHVh6lE&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=51
La Donna E Mobile with Luciano Pavarotti & others (singing opera / highlights 0:42 - 0:52 and 1:38 - 1:49) & I Will Always Love You (Rainforest Benefit Concert 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTk59cdfoyI&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz&index=27&t=0s
I Will Always Love You (World Music Awards 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK4hweZRU0k&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=57
You Give Good Love (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e9aqfi2aro&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=92
Have a little talk with Jesus (Just 12 years old in the New Hope Baptist Church 1975)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA97K6AxsQE&list=PLZYslmmRsoxfkXqkF-KeBJt1gtBdEuxg5&index=3
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be) ~ My Man ~ All The Man That I Need (Billboard Music Awards 1991) starts at 2:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPVXQdTZteY&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=94
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Live from the Arista Records 15th Anniversary Celebration, 1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSzmOKg1WIY&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz&index=27
Hold Up The Light (Arsenio Hall, 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRzg8sZGGQ&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=117
Do you hear what I hear (Jay Leno 1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQPcv66n2tg&list=PLZYslmmRsoxcH1W4thAM6sKQUiMQkjnpu&index=92
One Song (LaGuardia of performing & the Arts Video from 1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejj9B55M0_Y&t=0s&index=3&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz
In Return (sick and still this great!) (Live in Japan 1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vIpx6nDSw&list=PLZYslmmRsoxeRdJJ2CAvcv19jFhlWTXDz&index=41&t=0s
Jesus Loves Me (Santiago Chile, 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHm9Ggdanyo&list=PLZYslmmRsoxfkXqkF-KeBJt1gtBdEuxg5&index=10&t=0s
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is a once in human existence miracle/gift that must be cherished for our future generations to hear and see what true greatness and vocal divinity sounds and looks like!
@Thorsten-Tom-Martin
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Remember when we held on in the rain
The nights we almost lost it
Once again, we can take the night into tomorrow
Living on feelings
Touching you, I feel it all again
[Chorus]
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all?
The nights we hold on 'til the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all?
[Verse 2]
The way you used to touch me felt so fine
We kept our hearts together down the line
A moment in the soul can last forever
Comfort and keep us
Help me bring the feeling back again
[Chorus]
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all?
The night we hold on 'til the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all?
[Bridge]
Didn't we have the best of times
When love was young and new?
Couldn't we reach inside and find
The world of me and you?
We'll never lose it again
Because once you know what love is
You never let it end
[Chorus]
Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living
Didn't we almost have it all?
The night we hold on 'til the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all?
Didn't we almost have it all?
@maaas2222
This is her best live performance ever. Who is still watching in 2024 and will continue to watch in the future. RIP queen Whitney ❤
@ruth-uk4yw
Am here,from Kenya I can't stop Watching Whitney videos or rather listening her songs she is my idol may she continue resting in peace 🕊️
@williamfitzgerald1935
Always! I miss her!
@maribelmespaque7737
On and on again ❤😢
@selmajid
Je confirme, elle chante de ses tripes, elle est en transe, plus rien n 'existe autour d'elle , c était une déesse moi chaque fois que j' ecoute cette performance mes larmes coulent parce qu'elle touche mon âme.
@jonpaulmolfettarealestate
chills every time
@ericfernando5969
Best live performance of this song. Whitney's high notes are untouchable. I miss her so much.
Who's watching with me in 2023?
@thomasrehag1747
Me too.... 👍👍👍👍💜💕💖💖
@ZandileMbhele-ck3yr
I miss her too she was amazing
@jeromenorris4672
She is a gift from God amen