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)
Salute
Whitney Houston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say you want to walk away
You ain't got nothing to say
Well I salute you (eh)
Go on out the door now you take care
No more tears to shed
Well I'm not I'm done
So when you leave
Just close the door behind you
'Cause...
I'm feeling kind of taller than you (lately)
I'm feeling kind of stronger than you (lately)
I feel kind of better than you
And I know just what to do (yeah)
I feel like doing my hair
I'm feeling like calling some of my friends
I feel like going to a club
And partying
'Cause am I soldier girl in this world
I stand alone, I can be strong
I walk for miles and made it home
It's good to know without you I made it
Soldier girl in my world, took the fall now I stand tall
For the pain and all I made it through and now I'm vow to say to you
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
You think you know everything
See you think that your shit don't stink, well it do
Yeah, and when it comes to me you don't have a clue
It took me all of these years, to realize that you don't belong here
I can do better
You say, "I'll never do better"
Yeah right whatever
'Cause
I'm feeling kinda taller than you (lately)
I'm feeling kinda stronger than you (lately)
I feel kinda better than you
And I know just what to do
I feel like doing my hair (my hair)
I'm feeling like calling some of my friends (some of my girlfriends)
I feel like going to a club
And partying
I'm a soldier girl in this world
I stand alone, I can be strong
I walk for miles and made it home
It's good to know without you I made it
Soldier girl in my world, took the fall now I stand tall
For the pain and all I made it through and now I'm vow to say to you
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
"So don't call it a comeback, no... I've been here for years"
Through all of the drama and the pain and all of the tears
It's time to stop this roller coaster, say I want to get off
And start moving mountains, swimming seas, and climbing over
I'm a soldier girl in this world
I stand alone, I can be strong
I walk for miles and made it home
It's good to know without you I made it
Soldier girl in my world, took the fall now I stand tall
For the pain and all I made it through and now I'm vow to say to you
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Salute
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
I salute you...
Go on out the door, take care...
The song "Salute" by Whitney Houston is an empowering anthem about leaving a toxic relationship and embracing strength and independence. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been mistreated and taken for granted by their partner, but they have finally reached a point of realization and are ready to move on. This is symbolized in the chorus with the repetition of "soldier girl in this world" and "salute," as the singer is reclaiming their power and recognizing their ability to stand strong on their own.
The verses are directed towards the former partner, with the singer acknowledging that they are better off without them and that they have found a newfound sense of confidence and purpose. The repetition of "I'm feeling kinda taller than you" and "I'm feeling kinda stronger than you" emphasizes this personal growth and makes it clear that the singer is no longer willing to put up with mistreatment or disrespect. The chorus then reinforces this message, with the singer proudly proclaiming their independence and self-sufficiency.
Overall, "Salute" is a powerful track that speaks to anyone who has ever been in a toxic relationship and found the strength to move on. It celebrates resilience, self-love, and the ability to stand strong even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you want to walk away
You want to end this relationship
You ain't got nothing to say
You don't have any explanation or apology to offer
Well I salute you (eh)
I respect your decision to leave
Go on out the door now you take care
Take care of yourself, I'll be fine without you
No more tears to shed
I cried enough over you, it's time to move on
What you expecting me to beg
I won't beg you to stay, I'm not that desperate
Well I'm not I'm done
I'm done with this relationship and all the pain it caused
So when you leave
When you walk out of my life
Just close the door behind you
Leave completely and don't look back
I'm feeling kind of taller than you (lately)
I'm now confident and empowered without you
I'm feeling kind of stronger than you (lately)
I'm now more resilient and courageous without you
I feel kind of better than you
I'm now happier and more content without you
And I know just what to do (yeah)
I have a clear direction and purpose in my life
I feel like doing my hair
I want to pamper and take care of myself
I'm feeling like calling some of my friends
I want to reconnect with my supportive friends
I feel like going to a club
I want to have fun and enjoy my freedom
I'm a soldier girl in this world
I'm strong, resilient, and independent
I stand alone, I can be strong
Even without you, I can handle anything
I walk for miles and made it home
I've been through a lot, but I survived and learned from it
It's good to know without you I made it
I don't need you to be happy or successful
You think you know everything
You're arrogant and closed-minded
See you think that your shit don't stink, well it do
You're not perfect, you have flaws and weaknesses
Yeah, and when it comes to me you don't have a clue
You don't understand me or my needs
It took me all of these years, to realize that you don't belong here
I wasted a lot of time and energy on this relationship, but now I know it's not meant to be
I can do better
I deserve someone who treats me with love and respect
You say, "I'll never do better"
You don't realize your own shortcomings
Yeah right whatever
I don't believe your lies and empty promises
So don't call it a comeback, no... I've been here for years
I've always been strong and independent, even before you
Through all of the drama and the pain and all of the tears
I've been through a lot, but I'm still standing
It's time to stop this roller coaster, say I want to get off
I'm tired of this emotional roller coaster, I want to end it
And start moving mountains, swimming seas, and climbing over
I'm ready to conquer my fears and pursue my dreams
I salute you...
I respectfully acknowledge your departure and wish you well
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT S. KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind