Whitney Houston's Debut Album: The Quest for a Title More Interesting Than "Whitney Houston"
Ah, Whitney Houston. The name itself evokes power, range, and enough ballads to make a Hallmark Channel writer weep with joy. But what about the album that started it all? You might be surprised to learn it wasn't called "Whitney Belts It Out: A Vocal Journey" (although, that's catchy, right?).
The Adventures in Naming:
Believe it or not, naming a debut album can be stressful. Imagine the pressure! This is the first impression that launches a career. Well, buckle up, because for Whitney's debut, things got a little...uninspired.
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Exhibit A: "Whitney Houston" - Groundbreaking. Truly Shakespearian in its complexity.
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Exhibit B: "The Clive Davis Special" (Okay, we made that one up, but Clive Davis, the head of Arista Records, was known for his meticulous artist development).
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Exhibit C: Titles Rejected Due to Being Too Cheesy (and There Were Many) - "Whitney: Because You're Worth It" (Sorry, L'Oreal, Whitney got there first). "Houston We Have a Songbird" (We can only imagine Clive Davis's eye roll).
The Nameless Wonder Emerges:
In the end, they went with the classic "Whitney Houston." Safe? Yes. But hey, it did the trick! The album went on to become a diamond-certified megahit, spawning iconic singles like "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know." So, maybe simple and straightforward wasn't such a bad idea after all.
But Wait, There's More! The Nickname Nobody Knew About:
Here's a little-known fact: Apparently, there was a rumored nickname for the album amongst those in the know at Arista. We can't confirm its validity, but according to whispers in the music industry back alleys, it was called...
- "The Album That Will Make You Forget She Can Act" (Sorry, Whitney! Your turn in "The Bodyguard" came later).
In Conclusion:
So, there you have it. The not-so-thrilling story behind the naming of Whitney Houston's first album. But hey, who needs a fancy title when you have a voice like hers? Whitney Houston proved that sometimes, the music speaks for itself.
