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The Greatest Love of All

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For the Singaporean TV series, see The Greatest Love of All (TV series).

"The Greatest Love of All"
Song

"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. (A live version by Benson appears on 1978's Weekend in L.A.)

The song was later popularized by Whitney Houston under the title "Greatest Love of All". The song was recorded by the American recording artist for her debut album, self-titled Whitney Houston, which was released in February 1985, by Arista Records.

Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with great challenges that one must face in life, being strong during those challenges whether you succeed or fail, and passing that strength on to children to carry with them into their adult lives. Creed eventually succumbed to the disease in April 1986 at the age of 37; at the time her song was an international hit by Houston.

The song received critical acclaim and became a major hit, topping the charts in Australia, Canada and the US, while reaching the top 20 in most countries, including Italy, Sweden and UK. It remains her third biggest US hit, after "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[1] All three songs, in order of their former popularity, re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, after Houston's death, debuting the same week at numbers 7, 35 and 41, respectively, giving Houston three posthumous chart hits.[citation needed]

Background

Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was initially against Houston recording the song for her debut studio album, Whitney Houston, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Houston and Masser. It was released as the B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", a previous Top 5 hit by Houston. The song was eventually released as a single in its own right. The song, released in April 1986, was the seventh release from Houston's debut album, and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year.[2]

Houston's album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, it replaced the original album version on subsequent pressings of the album. However, the original version was restored for the 2010 Deluxe Anniversary Edition reissue of the album.

Music video

Houston's music video was filmed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, she is a successful singer who is about to perform in front of an audience. She reminisces about the time when she was a child performing in a talent competition and receiving encouragement from her mother. The video features Houston's mother Cissy Houston playing herself, supporting a young Whitney.[citation needed]

Reception

Critical reception

Many critics called the song the centerpiece of Houston's debut album. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that "Houston sings it with a forceful directness that gives its message of self-worth an astounding resonance and conviction" and called the song a compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, and family loyalty, all at once.[3] Don Shewey of Rolling Stone wrote that as the song builds, Houston "slowly pours on the soul, slips in some churchy phrasing, holds notes a little longer and shows off her glorious voice."[4] However, some reviewers were more critical. Describing Houston's performance as "straight-faced", Armond White wrote that "[w]e had laughed at that song during the seventies as a mawkish ode to self-involvement, not dreaming it would ever be taken seriously. But last year we laughed again—nervously—because Houston seemed to be using it as a theme song for her own aggressive ambition."[5]

Chart performance

Benson's 1977 version was an R&B hit, reaching #2 on the R&B chart. It was a moderate pop hit, making the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Houston's version reached number one on the Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1986. The single was the fourth hit (and third #1) from her debut album. To date, this song was her second longest stay atop this chart, behind 1992's "I Will Always Love You." The song also reached number one on both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, her second consecutive release to do so, and stayed for 14 weeks inside the top 40. On other Billboard charts, Houston also performed well, reaching number three on the R&B chart. The song topped the adult contemporary chart for five weeks, Houston's longest stay at the top of that chart at the time.[6] The song ranked No. 11 on Billboard's year end pop singles chart.[7] Houston's single fared well globally as well, reaching No. 8 in the United Kingdom and the top ten or No. 1 in several other European countries. It became her first No. 1 single in Australia. After her death, the single returned to the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 41.[8] The song has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Accolades

Houston won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Single of the Year.[citation needed]

Controversy

In April 1987, Gordon Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against Michael Masser, alleging that Masser's song "The Greatest Love of All" stole twenty-four bars from Lightfoot's 1969 hit "If You Could Read My Mind." According to Maclean's, Lightfoot commented, "It really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't want the present-day generation to think that I stole my song from him."[9]

New Zealand school Bruce McLaren Intermediate use the song as the school's student anthem.

In the 1988 film Coming to America, Randy Watson (portrayed by Eddie Murphy) performs a terrible rendition of the song at the "Miss Black Awareness Pageant." An unenthusiastic audience prompts him to walk offstage in a huff.

In the 1989 film Say Anything..., Joe (played by Loren Dean) performs a poor rendition of the song at his high school graduation, that is received warmly by Corey (played by Lili Taylor) in the audience, immediately before Diane Court (played by Ione Skye) gives her valedictorian speech.

In the Philippines, the song is also used as a commercial jingle for Anchor Milk.

In 1987, Celine Dion performed this song live broadcast in Radio-Canada in Quebec, Canada.

In 1987, the song is also featured by tribute of Julius Erving during the halftime of 1987 NBA All-Star Game on CBS Sports coverage of the NBA. It also featured former high school basketball coach Ray Wilson and former 76ers coach Billy Cunningham.[10]

In It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dennis and Dee sing this song with their biological father at the Juvenile Lupus Association in the episode "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad".

In 1994, Mel B chose this song as her audition piece to become Scary Spice of The Spice Girls.

The Song was used in the 1994 Movie Lipa 'Arandia' Massacre: Lord, Deliver Us from Evil Starring Vilma Santos, Joel Torre, Charina Scott, Angelica Panganiban and John Regala.

Cordelia Chase (played by Charisma Carpenter) poorly performed the song on two occasions. She originally performed it in 1997 on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and later on its spin-off, Angel, in 2002.

In Bret Easton Ellis' novel American Psycho, yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman gives a long critique of Whitney Houston's career. In the 2000 film adaptation starring Christian Bale, Bateman gives an abridged version of the critique to two women making out on his couch, shortly before he has sex with them and murders them. Since the filmmakers were not able to obtain the rights to the song, an instrumental, easy-listening version plays in the background during the scene.

The song's lyrics are featured in the film School of Rock. When asked for his opinion about testing from his fellow teachers, Dewey Finn (played by Jack Black) answers the question by saying the lyrics "I believe that the children are the future. Now listen, you can teach them, but buddy, you have got to let them lead the way. Let the children's laughter...just remind us how we used to be. That's what I decided...long ago". One of the teachers asks if it is from a song, but Dewey denies it.

On American Idol (season 3), finalist Fantasia performed this as her third song in the Top 4 category in 2004.

In Season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race, Shannel and Akashia lip-synched to Houston's version of the song in the. Lip Synch For Your Life elimination. After recovering from a wardrobe malfunction, Shannel delivered on the song and Akashia was eliminated.

In One on One, Flex sang the song on TV during the election day episode "Rock the Vote" that first aired in October 2004.

In Shrek Forever After, Donkey and Shrek are captured by two witches, who sing the song with Donkey.

On November 17, 2012, Celine Dion performed this song again live for the Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston.

Track listing

  • US vinyl/7"/Single
    • A "Greatest Love of All" – 4:51
    • B "Thinking About You" – 4:06

Personnel

  • Writer – Michael Masser, Linda Creed
  • Producer – Michael Masser
  • Arranger – Gene Page, Jr.
  • The players – Robbie Buchanan, Nathan East, Dann Huff, Paul Jackson, Jr., Randy Kerber, Richard Marx, Lou Shelton, Debbie Thomas, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, John Robinson
  • Mixer – Bill Schnee
  • Engineers – Michael Mancini, Russell Schmitt

Charts and certifications

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart number-one single
July 14, 1986 (1-week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles number-one single
April 26, 1986 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number one single
May 17, 1986 – May 31, 1986
Preceded by
"Live to Tell" by Madonna
 Canadian RPM number-one single
June 7, 1986 		Succeeded by

See also

References

  1. ^ Whitney Houston's Biggest Billboard Hits: A Look at Her Legendary Chart Career
  2. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 636.
  3. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Whitney Houston – Pop's New Queen". NY Times. March 18, 1986. Pg A18.
  4. ^ Shewey, Don. "Whitney Houston Album Review". Rolling Stone Magazine.
  5. ^ White, A. "To Be Young, Gifted and Wack." The City Sun, July 8, 1987. Reprinted in The Resistance: Ten Years of Pop Culture That Shook the World, 69. Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 1995.
  6. ^ a b Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 306.
  7. ^ Top 20 Pop Singles for 1986. Newsday. December 28, 1986. Pg 19.
  8. ^ "Whitney Houston Returns to Hot 100's Top 10 With 'I Will Always Love You'". Billboard. February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  9. ^ "Gordon Lightfoot – Biography".
  10. ^ Dr. J Farewell Tribute at the 1987 All-Star Game - CBS broadcast on YouTube
  11. ^ ""Greatest Love of All" on the Australian Singles Chart". Kent Music Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  13. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 161. ISBN 951-1-21053-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  15. ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=5
  16. ^ http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_anno/hpy1986.htm
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  18. ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Top 40 Singles.
  19. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Singles Top 100.
  20. ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Swiss Singles Chart.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  22. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in French). Les classement single.
  26. ^ http://www.top40.nl/search.aspx?keyword=whitney%20houston&jaar=2012&maand=2&week=8#
  27. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: February 12, 2012 to February 18, 2012)". Gaon Chart. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  28. ^ http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=Greatest+Love+of+All&cat=s
  29. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/whitney-houston/chart-history/
  30. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855395
  31. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855387
  32. ^ http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=greatest%20love%20of%20all&ica=False&sa=whitney%20houston&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist
  33. ^ http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=3&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=whitney%20houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2011&sort=Artist&perPage=25
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