The Bodyguard World Tour is the fifth concert tour by American recording artist, Whitney Houston. The tour was in support of her multi-platinum soundtrack album, The Bodyguard, and also of the movie of the same name. Following the success of the album and worldwide hit singles "I Will Always Love You", "I Have Nothing" and "I'm Every Woman", Houston started the extensive world tour that lasted through the fall of 1994.
Background
With the enormous success of the film and its soundtrack, Houston went on an extensive world tour to support her projects. Houston began rehearsals two months after giving birth to daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. The opening date was in Miami on July 5, 1993. Houston received a lot of flak for showing up late and then telling a fan who wanted an autograph to sit down. Houston played five nights at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and then played six nights at the Sands Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.
Most of the shows during this 1993 US leg were in theaters because Houston wanted an intimate setting. During the US leg, Houston took a break to fly over to Europe to accompany husband Bobby Brown on his tour. Gospel act Angie & Debbie Winans were the opening act for the 1993 US leg. During the second North American leg in 1994, Houston performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the Rose Bowl Stadium.[2]
During that time, the singer had throat ailments and had to cancel eight shows, all of which were rescheduled a month later. Houston also went public concerning having a miscarriage during the tour.[3] The tour was a big success. Many shows were among the highest grossing shows of their week. The grossings helped Houston make Forbes magazine's Richest Entertainers list. Houston earned over $33 million during 1993 and 1994, the third highest for a female entertainer.[4]
Critical reception
During her first Radio City Music Hall performance in New York City, Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote that "her stylistic trademarks — shivery melismas that ripple up in the middle of a song, twirling embellishments at the ends of phrases that suggest an almost breathless exhilaration — infuse her interpretations with flashes of musical and emotional lightning."[5] At one of her Atlantic City dates, Kevin L. Carter of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Houston handled her songs "with subdued emotionalism and the intelligence that only a gifted musician can bring to a song.[6]
"Saving All My Love for You" was turned into a "smoky saloon-style ballad".[7] Many critics noted that the highlight of the show was when Houston took on "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls, and "I Loves You Porgy" from Porgy and Bess. Stephen Holden wrote of the medley that "her voice conveyed authority, power, determination and just enough vulnerability to give a sense of dramatic intention".[5] As always, Houston included gospel songs. She introduced her band while performing 'Revelation.' Houston spoke about the Lord before going into 'Jesus Loves Me' which was often accompanied with complete silence from the mesmerized crowd."[8] During the last couple of years, since her marriage to Brown, the tabloids generated many stories about Houston and Brown. The New York Post created a rumor that the singer had overdosed on diet pills, leading to a lawsuit filed by Houston. During her shows, while performing her love medley, Houston often denied tabloid rumors. Houston often brought her husband and baby to the stage with her to prove that they are a happy family and that the tabloids are wrong.
Many critics felt that these tabloid stories helped her sing with more conviction and emotion. According to some critics, Brown's presence made "All the Man That I Need" a more stirring performance leading up the emotional high of "I Have Nothing",[9] while others felt they were unnecessary, cheesy moments.[10] Many critics praised her Aretha Franklin medley that she performed at certain shows. Houston performed "Ain't No Way", "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". According to Jon Beam of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Aretha Franklin medley was a triumph of substance over style. He wrote that "She seemed a natural instead of a studied singer doing "A Natural Woman", and "Do Right Woman" was a right-on, soulful country-blues song, with a traditional call-and-response between Houston and her backup singers."[11]
Houston's performance at the Pond in Anaheim, Chris William of the Los Angeles Times wrote that, "she approached sheer vocal perfection at virtually every turn". And noted that, "she got to apply that astonishing instrument to some material worthy of it. Watching her progress emotionally through a gospel standard or great ‘60s R&B; ballad made it all the more difficult to see Houston go back and end the show as she began it"[12]
Houston returned a year later at Radio City Music Hall, opening a seven-night sold-out engagement in September 1994. Jon Pareles of the New York Times reports, "Houston belted ballads, predictably bringing down the house with songs that moved from aching verses to surging choruses. A medley of hits from Dionne Warwick, Ms. Houston's cousin, lacked Ms. Warwick's lightness, but Ms. Houston made "Alfie" sound like the ethical wrangle it is".[13] Ira Robbins of Newsday wrote, "Houston peaked in the Warwick segment with marvelous adaptions of "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Alfie", and "after the powerful one-two of "I Have Nothing" and a rendition of "Run to You" so compelling it would have been no shock to see Kevin Costner jog out".[14]
On select dates, from July 1993 to September 1994, Houston closed the show with a duet of "Something in Common" with Bobby Brown.
In North America and Europe, "My Name Is Not Susan" was performed on select dates. "You Give Good Love" was performed on select dates in Europe and Japan.
During the show on July 30, 1993, in Atlantic City, Houston performed "Stormy Weather" as a tribute to Lena Horne.
On November 5 and 7, 1993, January 18, August 14, September 16, 27 and 28, 1994: Houston performed "Run to You".
During two concerts in Brazil on January 18 and 23, Houston brought Bobby Brown onstage and sang "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" to him. Houston performed an encore of "Greatest Love of All".
The New York City concerts in September 1994, Houston performed a medley of Walk On By", "A House Is Not a Home" and "Alfie", also select dates included a performance of "I'm Your Baby Tonight". On September 16, Houston closed the show with "Greatest Love of All".
During the show on September 30, 1994, Houston performed "You Are So Beautiful", "Amazing Grace" and closed the show with "I Will Always Love You".
The show in Cape Town on November 19, 1994, Houston performed "All the Man That I Need" and "Wonderful Counselor".
Shows
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue
Houston's November 12, date in Johannesburg, South Africa, was broadcast live on HBO Cable TV, Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa. The special was later released on home video. There are also televised recordings of her concerts in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
The concerts in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela were televised in select countries in South America.
^"List of world's richest entertainers". Reuters News. September 11, 1994.
^ abHolden, Stephen. "For Whitney Houston, Showy Doesn't Count: The Show Is the Voice". New York Times. June 22, 1993. Page C11.
^Carter, Kevin L. "Whitney Houston Sings With Passion, Her Voice Has Matured, and She's a Waif No More." Philadelphia Inquirer. June 30, 1993. Page 32.
^Peterson, Karla. "Whitney slim, but act expands nicely". San Diego Union – Tribune. August 25, 1993. Page E7.
^McCoy, Frank Milton. "Whitney Captivates Bowl Audience". The Sentinel. September 2, 1993. Page B4.
^Catlin, Roger. "In Hartford, Whitney Houston is Trouble Free. Hartford Courant. June 18, 1994. Page D4.
^Robbins, Ira. "Whitney's Story, And Some of Her Songs, Too". Newsday. July 22, 1993. Page 58.
^Beam, Jon. "Whitney's musical personality shines through on stage". Minneapolis Star Tribune. July 2, 1994. Page B3.
