single-phile: The latest singles, dissected and discussed
What a week, pop fans! Not one, but two fierce, fabulous, formative pop divas have dropped new singles this week. So, naturally, we thought it best to pit them against each other. In this corner, we have Madonna, whose "Celebration" anticipates her upcoming Greatest Hits collection. And in this corner is none other than Ms. Whitney Houston, coming out of a decade or two of struggle and scandal with a new attitude and a brand new comeback single called "I Look to You." Although they aren't typically all that closely associated with each other, these two dueling divas have experienced some rather fascinating career parallels: They are close in age (Whitney's 45 and Madge is 50) and career contemporaries (both got their start in the early '80s) with an impressive number of hits under their respective belts (Whitney's had 11 No. 1 hits and Madonna's had 12). More than quantity, however, it's the quality of their singles -- and the analogous career trajectories they trace -- that makes this battle royale so compelling. And logical. Totally, totally logical. Off we go!
Round One: First No. 1
Whitney: "Saving All My Love for You" vs. Madonna: "Like a Virgin"
This first round was a really close one. "Saving All My Love for You" is such a perfect first big hit -- an exhibition of the talented young Houston's emotional and vocal range. But when we're talking iconic, career-tone-setting, encapsulating-an-artist-in-approximately-three-and-a-half-minutes first No. 1s? Nothing beats "Like a Virgin."
Winner: Madonna
Round Two: The Single that Made Her an MTV Staple -- and Changed the Course of the Network/Industry
Madonna: "Material Girl" vs. Whitney: "How Will I Know"
Both of these singles have played integral roles not only in the development of MTV but in shaping pop music as we know it: The glammy, tongue-in-cheek "Material Girl" cemented the hold synth-happy, girl-driven dance-pop would have over pop music for at least the next several years (not to mention demonstrated just how non-fluffy pop fluff could be) -- and showed us how good videos could look. But the equally delicious dance-pop of "How Will I Know" made Whitney one of the first African American female artists to play in heavy rotation on MTV, helping to break down the network's color barrier and the racial division between "black" R&B and "white" pop.
Winner: Whitney
Round Three: Dance-Pop Song about Dancing (as a Meta-Metaphor for Love/Sex)
Whitney: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" vs. Madonna: "Into the Groove"
People in the '80s really liked to dance, huh? Also high on their "like" lists: synth-pop with a slightly Latin beat. And really, you can dance with somebody to either of these, but Whitney's dulcet, always-flawless vocals help her pull ahead of the rather flat-voiced Madge, who's always been more of a dancer-singer than a singer-dancer. Plus, "I Wanna Dance" is just sexier.
Winner: Whitney
Round Four: The Early Single We Always Forget About But That, in Retrospect, Kind of Defines Her
Madonna: "Everybody" vs. Whitney: "You Give Good Love"
Though they've never quite been the go-to tracks later singles by these prolific divas have become, "Everybody" and "You Give Good Love" represent stylistically disparate but similarly delectable pop fare that also happened to encompass a lot of what we'd come to expect from their singers. "Everybody" finds Madge uncomfortably forcing that small voice, as always, but also delightfully experimenting with the paradigm of pop, pushing it over the borders of dance music and even early hip-hop production. "You Give Good Love," on the other hand, teeters precariously on the fine line between sexy pillow jam and super cheeseball smooth lovin', but wow, does the young Ms. Houston have some incredible chops.
Winner: Tie
Round Five: Song You Can Hear Her Legacy In
Whitney: "I Will Always Love You" vs. Madonna: "Like a Prayer"
At once rivetingly controversial and infectiously danceable, "Like a Prayer" perfected the formula for the heady brew of sex, sugar-pop and subversion so many would-be material girls have attempted to steep their careers in since. But while Madonna's impact on pop is visible in acts ranging from Lady Gaga to Gwen Stefani to the Pussycat Dolls, the dramatic, dexterous, melisma-laden singing of "I Will Always Love You" (and, well, basically every Whitney Houston song) has echoed across the charts (not to mention the American Idol stage) for years. Hers is the voice that launched a thousand Mariahs, Christinas, Beyonces, Jordins -- the standard for which basically any girl who can sing still reaches.
Winner: Whitney
Round Six: Midcareer Track Designed to Let You Know She Was Still Relevant
Madonna: "Ray of Light" vs. Whitney: "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
This may be a controversial one, kids. "Ray of Light" represents a real musical departure for Madonna (or, at least, a return to her dance roots) and a marked effort to distance herself from the Sex mess (and, uh, her own acting career). "Exhale," on the other hand, came out when Whitney was still very much in her prime. That said, she had been at it 10 years -- a good time to remind people she was no '80s relic. And the song nods to the more neo-soulful directions R&B was taking at the time. (The later "It's Not Right But It's Okay" might make more sense here, chronologically speaking, but it's still so Whitney, you know?) Still, we've got to give it to Madge, simply because "Ray of Light" is such a damn fine song.
Winner: Madonna
Round Seven: Late Career Track Designed to Let You Know She Could Keep Up with the Kids
Whitney: "Heartbreak Hotel," featuring Kelly Price and Faith Evans, vs. Madonna: "4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (Runner-Up: Her cameo on Britney's "Me Against the Music")
In this round, we find the divas following the age-old adage: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- or, rather, if you think they might be after your throne, challenge them to a collaboration that's secretly a duel. The thing about "Hearbreak Hotel" is that Whitney just disappears in it a bit. Now, that kind of democratic approach certainly makes for good teamwork, but while there might not be an "I" in team, there's definitely one in diva. Her Madgesty, on the other hand, rules her collaborations with an iron fist and runs "4 Minutes" like clockwork (which would make little Justin, what, a rat in her maze?).
Winner: Madonna
Round Eight: Single that Cemented Her Status as a Drag Icon
Madonna: "Vogue" vs. Whitney: "My Name Is Not Susan"
We're tempted to disqualify "Vogue" since it's really more an example of Madonna appropriating her gay fans' culture, rather than inspiring them with her sheer fierceness. At the same time, Madonna's hipness is impressive and the song's overall fabulousness is undeniable. Whitney, on the other hand, is so generally fabulous and just slightly off-balance (which is, of course, the drag queen's aesthetic cocktail of choice) that we were hard-pressed to limit her entry in this category to just one song (also in the running: "So Emotional," "All the Man That I Need" and, of course, "Queen of the Night" -- heck, even the "Star-Spangled Banner"). Given all those caveats (not to mention that we're afraid someone might get hurt in this round), we're just going to call this one a draw.
Winner: Tie
Round Nine: Self-Aggrandizing Cover
Whitney: "I'm Every Woman" vs. Madonna: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"
Another round riddle by technicalities. Ladies, please, can we at least try to play by the rules? No, you're right -- that wouldn't be any fun. So fine, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" is technically a show tune, not a cover. And a teenage Whitney sang backup on Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," so her '92 cover of the '78 hit is technically more a historically accurate tribute than an attempt to be the second coming of Chaka. Still, technicalities aside, this one goes to "I'm Every Woman," mostly because Madonna's Eva Peron stage was infinitely more annoying than the (rather sensible idea) of Whitney-as-the-new-Chaka.
Winner: Whitney
Round Ten: The New Single
Madonna: "Celebration" vs. Whitney: "I Look to You"
This is it, folks! The final round -- the single showdown you've all been waiting for! We're sorry to say, however, that it's kind of anticlimactic. After all, "Celebration" is a sleek, shiny, but not exactly thrillingly risky new club-pop carrot dangling from an upcoming Greatest Hits collection by an artist who, despite personal-life problems, is doing pretty freaking great. Meanwhile, "I Look to You" is a dramatic light at the end of a very dark tunnel for a once-great diva who is attempting to claw her way out -- and back to the top. Ok, actually, that does sound pretty exciting, if a little weighted to Whitney in terms of sheer anticipation. Thankfully, the diva delivers. "I Look to You" is not the spectacular, sky-reaching stuff of her heyday. It's rough and weary and hopeful -- everything we want from a comeback single.
Winner: Whitney
Overall Winner: Whitney
It's certainly no K.O., but Whitney does seem to have mustered the strength (or at least the attitude) to triumph over Madonna -- this time. We're rooting for Whitney: she certainly needs a victory right now. But Whitney, we also caution you to watch your back. We have a feeling Madonna won't let this go without a(nother) fight. (And, of course, if she does, we'll be watching, riveted!)
Whitney: "Saving All My Love for You" vs. Madonna: "Like a Virgin"
This first round was a really close one. "Saving All My Love for You" is such a perfect first big hit -- an exhibition of the talented young Houston's emotional and vocal range. But when we're talking iconic, career-tone-setting, encapsulating-an-artist-in-approximately-three-and-a-half-minutes first No. 1s? Nothing beats "Like a Virgin."
Winner: Madonna
Round Two: The Single that Made Her an MTV Staple -- and Changed the Course of the Network/Industry
Madonna: "Material Girl" vs. Whitney: "How Will I Know"
Both of these singles have played integral roles not only in the development of MTV but in shaping pop music as we know it: The glammy, tongue-in-cheek "Material Girl" cemented the hold synth-happy, girl-driven dance-pop would have over pop music for at least the next several years (not to mention demonstrated just how non-fluffy pop fluff could be) -- and showed us how good videos could look. But the equally delicious dance-pop of "How Will I Know" made Whitney one of the first African American female artists to play in heavy rotation on MTV, helping to break down the network's color barrier and the racial division between "black" R&B and "white" pop.
Winner: Whitney
Round Three: Dance-Pop Song about Dancing (as a Meta-Metaphor for Love/Sex)
Whitney: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" vs. Madonna: "Into the Groove"
People in the '80s really liked to dance, huh? Also high on their "like" lists: synth-pop with a slightly Latin beat. And really, you can dance with somebody to either of these, but Whitney's dulcet, always-flawless vocals help her pull ahead of the rather flat-voiced Madge, who's always been more of a dancer-singer than a singer-dancer. Plus, "I Wanna Dance" is just sexier.
Winner: Whitney
Round Four: The Early Single We Always Forget About But That, in Retrospect, Kind of Defines Her
Madonna: "Everybody" vs. Whitney: "You Give Good Love"
Though they've never quite been the go-to tracks later singles by these prolific divas have become, "Everybody" and "You Give Good Love" represent stylistically disparate but similarly delectable pop fare that also happened to encompass a lot of what we'd come to expect from their singers. "Everybody" finds Madge uncomfortably forcing that small voice, as always, but also delightfully experimenting with the paradigm of pop, pushing it over the borders of dance music and even early hip-hop production. "You Give Good Love," on the other hand, teeters precariously on the fine line between sexy pillow jam and super cheeseball smooth lovin', but wow, does the young Ms. Houston have some incredible chops.
Winner: Tie
Round Five: Song You Can Hear Her Legacy In
Whitney: "I Will Always Love You" vs. Madonna: "Like a Prayer"
At once rivetingly controversial and infectiously danceable, "Like a Prayer" perfected the formula for the heady brew of sex, sugar-pop and subversion so many would-be material girls have attempted to steep their careers in since. But while Madonna's impact on pop is visible in acts ranging from Lady Gaga to Gwen Stefani to the Pussycat Dolls, the dramatic, dexterous, melisma-laden singing of "I Will Always Love You" (and, well, basically every Whitney Houston song) has echoed across the charts (not to mention the American Idol stage) for years. Hers is the voice that launched a thousand Mariahs, Christinas, Beyonces, Jordins -- the standard for which basically any girl who can sing still reaches.
Winner: Whitney
Round Six: Midcareer Track Designed to Let You Know She Was Still Relevant
Madonna: "Ray of Light" vs. Whitney: "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
This may be a controversial one, kids. "Ray of Light" represents a real musical departure for Madonna (or, at least, a return to her dance roots) and a marked effort to distance herself from the Sex mess (and, uh, her own acting career). "Exhale," on the other hand, came out when Whitney was still very much in her prime. That said, she had been at it 10 years -- a good time to remind people she was no '80s relic. And the song nods to the more neo-soulful directions R&B was taking at the time. (The later "It's Not Right But It's Okay" might make more sense here, chronologically speaking, but it's still so Whitney, you know?) Still, we've got to give it to Madge, simply because "Ray of Light" is such a damn fine song.
Winner: Madonna
Round Seven: Late Career Track Designed to Let You Know She Could Keep Up with the Kids
Whitney: "Heartbreak Hotel," featuring Kelly Price and Faith Evans, vs. Madonna: "4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (Runner-Up: Her cameo on Britney's "Me Against the Music")
In this round, we find the divas following the age-old adage: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- or, rather, if you think they might be after your throne, challenge them to a collaboration that's secretly a duel. The thing about "Hearbreak Hotel" is that Whitney just disappears in it a bit. Now, that kind of democratic approach certainly makes for good teamwork, but while there might not be an "I" in team, there's definitely one in diva. Her Madgesty, on the other hand, rules her collaborations with an iron fist and runs "4 Minutes" like clockwork (which would make little Justin, what, a rat in her maze?).
Winner: Madonna
Round Eight: Single that Cemented Her Status as a Drag Icon
Madonna: "Vogue" vs. Whitney: "My Name Is Not Susan"
We're tempted to disqualify "Vogue" since it's really more an example of Madonna appropriating her gay fans' culture, rather than inspiring them with her sheer fierceness. At the same time, Madonna's hipness is impressive and the song's overall fabulousness is undeniable. Whitney, on the other hand, is so generally fabulous and just slightly off-balance (which is, of course, the drag queen's aesthetic cocktail of choice) that we were hard-pressed to limit her entry in this category to just one song (also in the running: "So Emotional," "All the Man That I Need" and, of course, "Queen of the Night" -- heck, even the "Star-Spangled Banner"). Given all those caveats (not to mention that we're afraid someone might get hurt in this round), we're just going to call this one a draw.
Winner: Tie
Round Nine: Self-Aggrandizing Cover
Whitney: "I'm Every Woman" vs. Madonna: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"
Another round riddle by technicalities. Ladies, please, can we at least try to play by the rules? No, you're right -- that wouldn't be any fun. So fine, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" is technically a show tune, not a cover. And a teenage Whitney sang backup on Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," so her '92 cover of the '78 hit is technically more a historically accurate tribute than an attempt to be the second coming of Chaka. Still, technicalities aside, this one goes to "I'm Every Woman," mostly because Madonna's Eva Peron stage was infinitely more annoying than the (rather sensible idea) of Whitney-as-the-new-Chaka.
Winner: Whitney
Round Ten: The New Single
Madonna: "Celebration" vs. Whitney: "I Look to You"
This is it, folks! The final round -- the single showdown you've all been waiting for! We're sorry to say, however, that it's kind of anticlimactic. After all, "Celebration" is a sleek, shiny, but not exactly thrillingly risky new club-pop carrot dangling from an upcoming Greatest Hits collection by an artist who, despite personal-life problems, is doing pretty freaking great. Meanwhile, "I Look to You" is a dramatic light at the end of a very dark tunnel for a once-great diva who is attempting to claw her way out -- and back to the top. Ok, actually, that does sound pretty exciting, if a little weighted to Whitney in terms of sheer anticipation. Thankfully, the diva delivers. "I Look to You" is not the spectacular, sky-reaching stuff of her heyday. It's rough and weary and hopeful -- everything we want from a comeback single.
Winner: Whitney
Overall Winner: Whitney
It's certainly no K.O., but Whitney does seem to have mustered the strength (or at least the attitude) to triumph over Madonna -- this time. We're rooting for Whitney: she certainly needs a victory right now. But Whitney, we also caution you to watch your back. We have a feeling Madonna won't let this go without a(nother) fight. (And, of course, if she does, we'll be watching, riveted!)
- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.
thank you for this help
Whitney is and will always be a classy, beautiful woman whose voice Madonna will never beable to match or even come close to.. Welcome back Whitney.. Your fans have missed you.. I know.. I am only one of millions....
I agree with the outcome of this mock diva throw-down! Both diva can can bring it, but Whitney is the "the Preacher's Wife" and the dropping of that dead weight (Bobby Brown) and her stop sleep walking (smoking cocaine) has back on the road to bring her fans, like myself the great sounds the Lord blessed her with to share with all of us! Whitney stay strong, you have people out here that have been "sleep walkers" also and have stoped and never looked back! It's a faith in GOD that keeps you strong and changing the people you are around!
Keep the hits coming
fatdaddy1
These are two uncompareable musicians. They were both good vocalists, creative and above all were both super singers; however, according to my own analysis, Ms Whitney may still emerge the best.
Nicely Done!!!
Whitney hands down no contest
Welcome back Whitney, welcome back!!
Withney, need to realy look to God and realy look to Him and turn her back form the things and people who are leading her into eternal distruction. I will continue to keep her in my prayer for total renewal, she is too gifted and bless to miss what God have for her.
Whitney is a great singer, but Madonna made her way through hard work and dedication to her profession. It is unfortunate that Whitney turned to drugs and alcohol. She is a great talent and it didn't help her career. I sincerely hope she is back on the road to success. She has some catching up to do.
FOR ME! IT'S ALWAYS WHITNEY HOUSTON ... THE GREATEST SINGER OF ALL TIME ... THAT'S FOR ME ... I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOURS.....
i love them booth they are booth two great singers madonna and whitney here we go again girls more music to dance too
Whitney was a great artist and so is Madonna. They're both divas in their own rights. I wouldn't say that one is overall better than the other, because they both have brought us some wonderful music, and to each it's own. I say hat's off to two great artists and I hope that they will continue to bring us clean great music in the future.
There was no reason to do this comparison. Despite her human frailties as we all have on some scale, Whitney Houston should never be mentioned in the same realm with Madonna. Whitney Houston is universes away from Madonna vocally. The rest is all subjective. The proof is always heard from note one ... 'gon Whitney !!
Whitney is the greatest singer ever. Welcome back and yes I agree, watch your back. I got your back
Whitney launched Mariah? Whitney may have been there first, but Mariah was never a fan of hers (later on, maybe, but she was not "inspired to become a singer" by Whitney. Secondly, Mariah's vocal abilites surpassed Whintey's, and thirdly Mariah herself *far* surpassed Whitney professionally. Placing Mariah after Whitney is factually incorrect. The ONLY place to put Mariah after Whitney chronologically when asking "who came first?".
I love them both, not the best comparison though. Whitney is a better vocalist, and Madonna is a better musician and dancer. Madonna writes her own music and dances like crazy, and Whitney shows up and sings like an angel.