EXPLAINED || Whitney Houston's Voice || COMPLETE SERIES

The Voice: EXPLAINED is a music education docu-series created by award-winning multidisciplinary artist Milik Kashad. It is designed to educate listeners and viewers on the science and history of music and singing in an easy-to-understand and engaging way!
To support this channel in its efforts to continue making quality and accessible music education content, please consider a donation:
paypal.me/blackmusicarchive
cash.app/$BlackMusicArchive
Chapters
_________
0:00 - Call to Action
0:14 - Cissy Houston
1:27 - The Old School Gospel Technique
3:23 - Cissy Houston’s Technique
6:19 - Whitney Houston
6:58 - The Gospel Alto
8:29 - The Whitney Houston Chest Voice
9:56 - Cissy Houston Jr.
11:56 - Does Whitney Have a Higher or Lower voice than Cissy?
14:38 - Sing Like Your Teacher!
18:13 - The Whitney Head Voice
21:07 - Redefining The Power Singing
23:24 - The Houston Tone
24:21 - Redefining The Look of The Power Singer
24:45 - Singing In The Mask
28:54 - Whitney Houston, Superstar
29:28 - The Greatest Love of All Tour
31:08 - Whitney: soprano, mezzo, contralto?
34:05 - I Am Changing
38:38 - Whitney
39:49 - Developing Body. Developing Brain. Developing voice.
40:49 - The Whitney Power Zone
42:03 - Where did the high notes go?
42:12 - Whitney: soprano, mezzo, contralto?
43:45 - The Greatest Breath Control of All
45:48 - Choir Director Houston
47:38 - The Trouble Begins
49:40 - Bringing The Gospel to Pop Music
52:16 - Here Come The Whitney Clones
53:40 - I’m Your Baby Tonight
55:54 - Tapping Into Black Markets
57:52 - First Vocal Problems
58:38 - Whitney: soprano, mezzo, contralto?
1:00:18 - he, I Believe
1:01:57 - Passagio
1:06:37 - Vowels and The Operatic Head Voice
1:08:07 - The National Anthem
1:09:35 - Did Whitney Lip The National Anthem?
1:10:33 - The Underrated Success of “I’m Your Baby Tonight”
1:12:55 - Call To Action
1:13:10 - Lifechanging Success
1:15:27 - “Now That’s a Woman”
1:16:45 - Supporting The Sound
1:24:10 - Pregnancy and Whitney’s voice
1:28:22 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: Ask a Spinto
1:30:04 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: Vocal Range and Tessitura
1:31:24 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: The Critics Speak
1:32:02 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: The Fans Speak
1:33:19 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: Passaggio
1:35:20 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: Does Belting Determine a Soprano
1:38:18 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: Quality of Sound
1:39:58 - Soprano, Mezzo or Contralto: The Longevity of Voice
1:43:51 - Drugs and Divaism
1:45:13 - Diva Body Language
1:47:05 - The Technical Delay
1:48:41 - The Prime Voice
1:50:25 - Demands of The Bodyguard Tour
1:52:13 - Singing In Arenas
1:54:38 - The Changing Voice
2:00:51 - Singing on Your Menstrual Cycle
2:02:13 - 1997 and The Classic Whitney Concerts
2:08:55 - Singing The Line & Talk Singing
2:10:55 - Using Runs as a Bandaid
2:12:53 - We Need New Music
2:13:01 - The Makings of My Love Is Your Love
2:16:05 - Style of Singing and Style of Music
2:17:30 - Money Troubles
2:20:48 - The Physicality of Singing
2:24:16 - Tessitura and Vocal Range Revisited
2:26:35 - Drugs Use and The End of The American Touring Career
2:28:26 - What Happened to Whitney’s Voice after 1999?
2:31:28 - Inconsistent Voice, Inconsistent Behavior
2:33:01 - Just Whitney & The 100 Million Dollar Contract
2:35:35 - Emphysema
2:36:53 - Dental Work and The Voice
2:38:02 - A New Vibrato
2:40:02 - 2004 Comeback
2:42:27 - Loss of Voice
2:44:01 - I Look To You
2:44:50 - A Raspy and Deep Voice
2:47:06 - Final Years Voice Analysis From Her Teacher
2:48:58 - Quality and Consistency of Sound
2:51:11 - Drugs, Divas and The Voice
2:53:32 - Different Time, Same Expectations
2:57:00 - Same Voice, Different Woman: The Mentality of Singing
2:59:54 - Concluding Thoughts
Episode Credits
-----------------------------
Director: Milik Kashad
Executive Producer: Milik Kashad
Editor: Milik Kashad & Darien Meggett
Motion Graphics: Milik Kashad
Voiceover: Milik Kashad
Script: Milik Kashad
Script Editor: Tim Dillinger
Special Guests: Karen Slack, Carolyn Sebron, Keri Alkema, Isola Jones, Grace Bumbry, Raehann Bryce-Davis
Inquiries: [e-mail]
To support this channel in its efforts to continue making quality and accessible music education content, please consider a donation:
paypal.me/blackmusicarchive
cash.app/$BlackMusicArchive
#WhitneyHouston #MariahCarey #VocalTechnique #Documentary #MusicDocumentary

[@BlackMusicArchive]

To support this channel in its efforts to continue making quality and accessible music education content, please consider a donation: paypal.me/blackmusicarchive cash.app/$BlackMusicArchive account.venmo.com/u/milik-kashad-1

[@leomcziah1136]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@darrinthornton2409]

They used her up for everything and they still threw the damn party the night she died She deserved so much better but her legacy will live forever

[@joncerda351]

I feel like this documentary was necessary for the universe to keep expanding. So thank you so much

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you ❤

[@derrickmiller-handley5724]

Yessss! 🌌🪐

[@willfrancescofini]

You expressed exactly what I was thinking

[@daman0015]

I can rewatch this over and over and I know that I will learn something new each time.

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you ❤

[@Itsd2323]

This Whitney Houston documentary going to create a superstar.

[@willfrancescofini]

Yes

[@tennischannel6572]

THIS

[@brigitteleafbarnes1441]

Yes ❤ G-d Willing 😊

[@GetWellSoonR.E.M.]

She deserved so much better than she got in life. I wish she would’ve had her big comeback and been able to live her life free from her controlling family

[@KendallLXL]

@@kaerlighedenand husband

[@KendallLXL]

@@kaerligheden not 1 good friend

[@silvana8391]

Concordo totalmente , alla fine l’hanno fatta apparire come una che ha sempre e solo Usato droghe a tutto spiano e invece la Sua voce si è deteriorata per il Superlavoro e perché il pubblico si aspettava da lei che cantasse sempre come quando aveva 20 anni… povera creatura , ha pagato , lei e la sua bambina , il Prezzo più alto mentre tutti gli altri sono Vivi e fanno ancora tanti tanti Tanti soldi col suo nome e con la sua bellissima Voce Riposa in pace whitney , ora sei al sicuro con la tua bimba ❤🌹

[@colly7963]

No singer is more worthy of this wonderful documentary. Thank you so much. Whitney's legacy will live on. God bless!

[@KendallLXL]

SHE WAS THE GREATEST

[@clamclam3]

is it bad that this is the fourth time I’ve rewatched this trilogy since part one…😅

[@mbthegreat7]

Look, I’ve even watched some parts over and over!!! And the fact that Milik said that he is never doing a trilogy like this for no other artist or singer ever again says a lot!!! She is the greatest singer of all time!!!

[@marywatkins9438]

I went to the end of this documentary and found what I was looking for. I grew up so mesmerized by Whitney’s voice. It really broke my heart to see Whitney’s decline musically and physically. And I can’t even begin to describe my emotions when I heard she died. But her legacy is still strong, and she remains a tremendously aspirational singer. Thank you for this documentary.

[@clintpatricksimacio9864]

Rest In Power, The Voice ❤

[@baglady2652]

Whitney Houston is once in a lifetime artist. Her voice, personality, presence, intelligence, charisma, impact, shades and resilience

[@applecider]

such an intense and thrilling dose of pure knowledge and SANGIN' 💯❤️

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you 🍎❤️

[@derrickbelmar]

Whitney Houston is the vocal queen there never be another!!!

[@leftunsupervised]

This is the Whitney documentary I've been wanting to see all these years. Thank you for making it!

[@blkprince198]

The Gold KZbin Award for Best Documentary 🏆

[@Sim882]

Whitney is the tragic goat Thanks for loving her so much

[@vincentthomas7142]

You made mention of Sara Vaughan in this. Can you PLEASE do a video of her? Her voice changed during her career but got richer and deeper but she could still go high and to me, her voice was just about perfect. Watching her sing live is an otherworldly experience. Just effortless. Also Stephanie Mills too please.

[@soaribb32]

I second this

[@ArtTheSinger]

This content will be used in schools.

[@blacklisted849]

I love how respectful you were to Whitney's legacy. It just explains alot of what she was going through and why she was so troubled. Yet and still such a beautiful beautiful soul. I do not understand how she was surrounded by so many seasoned people in the industry, and signed such a terrible contract/deal. Just sonmuch that even explains why some would have wanted her outta here. This is such a great series. As a gospel singer, I learned so much.💗💗

[@Leira6267]

She wanted to leave Clive and we know how that ended.

[@KendallLXL]

Mama Cissy raised and taught the best❤❤❤

[@quincytuggle2498]

Thank you all at BMA for this 🙏. As a Whitney stan.. this is the BEST most detailed documentary I've ever seen. EVER!

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Wow, thank you! ❤

[@tuscanleather3209]

I've always loved Whitney. Her beautiful voice and the strength and the emotion it produced reached everyone's hearts. It's sad to know that her voice could've lasted far longer if she wasn't touring so much and so intensely. Being a record-breaking artist, and still being broke, because your family is funding everyone in that there is. Greed is such ugly sin. I guess, it just reminds everyone to be financially literate. Even the ones at the top will have nothing. Thank you so much for your work! The amount of labour that went into this is massive! Just like her voice! ❤

[@JusticeLong3317]

Thank you for spending such a long time researching, interviewing, and editing to create this masterpiece. I’m a diehard Whitney Houston fan (in fact KZbin said replay said I listen to her 3x as much as the average listener😂) and I still learned a great deal about just how monumental a singer she was from your documentary. Keep up the great work!

[@KH-sn2sj]

That Queen of The Night performance in Rio gets played DAILY over here because of the various reasons you pointed out here. Whitney's confidence was on 1000! Everyone from the band to Kirk to the backup singers ate that performance UP!

[@Theechosenone_]

Milik you are the GOAT for this & everything you do! I’ve never found such a thorough breakdown & analysis of a voice like the way you explain things. I want you to know I’m grateful and will donate❤ keep up the good work 💪🏾

[@BlackMusicArchive]

I appreciate you! ❤

[@Tewhill357]

​@@BlackMusicArchiveIt is the attention to detail that I most admire. I was a suburban teenager in the 80's. Whitney never interested me. She was a big voice that wasn't saying anything. (Grown up a bit since then) But this video made it interesting. Thanks.

[@juliusmaloney]

I saw Whitney live in concert in 1988 (my first concert, to say I was spoiled doesn’t even cover it) and again in 2010 in Australia (Sydney), and being a fan of Billie Holiday (who’s Lady in Satin remains one of my all time favourite records despite the loss of her younger voice and range) knowing all that Whitney had endured I had no expectation of her reproducing the sound that I’d heard back in the late eighties to mid nineties. Audiences that expected the Bodyguard voice were just being obtuse. I will say that watching her close with ‘I Will Always Love You’ as she walked back from the microphone a couple of times in order to deliver the key change and when delivered sent shivers through the audience is still one of the great live performances I’ve had the privilege & honour to watch. I consumed all three hours in one sitting, in it’s entirety and as a lifelong Whitney fan this has to be one of the best documentaries that covers her life and career exclusively through her work and technique and this is its own achievement. Thank you. I cannot put into words all the emotions it brought up for me. A touching and respectful testament to a once in a lifetime talent. 🙏🏼❤️🕊️

[@richdwayneadamdelacruz7633]

The best trilogy

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you ❤️

[@dionneking8]

​@@BlackMusicArchive will you cover donna summer next ?

[@tylerhackner9731]

@@BlackMusicArchiveyour channel is incredible

[@jeebsunabia7972]

Three months since this 3-hour video was put up, and I still cry. Everytime.

[@isaiahcochran1446]

This is AMAZING! I loved this so much. I loved the thorough analysis. An angel, the VOICE. Nothing else to say THE VOICE!!!

[@ARTUROLOPEZ-kb1nh]

As a singer, music lover, and Whitney's number one fan...I absolutely LOVE this, THANK YOU!!!

[@jimdavis081]

This documentary is so well thought-out! I can't imagine the man-hours spent in making this! Thank you BMA! Whitney Houston's life is indeed a great case study to the future pop stars of the world. I still regard her as the most influential vocalist who ever graced the earth.

[@mrpreacherman8262]

The best reason for KZbin, this channel right here. Teach on brotha

[@rubbercilla]

her voice is just indescribable, amazing

[@MosesJD86]

This was beautifully done.

[@soaribb32]

To know her voice was still growing and evolving but the overworking, the drugs and the stress took it away...

[@thelastvulcano8821]

She's actually a trained singer.

[@Leira6267]

If that was the case then the rest of the singers should sound better than they actually do live. Whitney voice was God's gift. What her mother did was enhance her.

[@tylerhackner9731]

I loved this trilogy so much

[@paulculshaw4779]

This was INCREDIBLE. I loved her voice at every single stage and I was so lucky to be at her penultimate full-length concert before she passed.

[@stacistaci6657]

I'm gonna have my snacks ready to watch this over the weekend! 🍿 🥨 🥤 🍫 🍪 😋

[@kimberlyjade4094]

Thanks for the clarification of Whitney’s voice post Bodyguard Tour. I do think while the vocal injury healed..it did seem to have a permanent scarring in the upper register that gave her that husky tone. After the 96 miscarriage it seemed to not only darken but it definitely got sharper.

[@eskyles98]

This is a tour de force! Bravo 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@joiner764]

I begin to watch this a few weeks back because I am such a Whitney Houston fan I had to stop I couldn't not get emotional I just finished and everything you said was so spot on Whitney Houston sing she had gone through been through so much she wasn't that same teenage girl she once was she was a woman of so many different characters I suppose the biggest hurdle would be life itself job well done Whitney we love you we miss you most of all we thank you forgiving to us the best you had I'm so grateful and honored and as I almost tear up writing this I know she's in a better place no more pain no more suffering no more wanting to be enough

[@gioblu]

This was SO informative. Thanks for handling Nip with such care, honesty, & vulnerability. ❤️🙌🏾🔥🙏🏾

[@IAMMOVIN4WARD]

Thank you brotha! I’m cash appin’ you right after I hit send lol!

[@sentfromupabove]

You worked so hard at this and it shows well done bro❤

[@s0me0nelse]

I'm just an amateur singer, and I put the effort to see all of that lecture even though it's very long, and I want to thank you so much, your videos are seem so professional, going deep and to much detail, and it's so much better to learn and understand all of this using examples from our idols and role models, and not just from dry theory. Thank you so much for the effort, I think you did a big favor for singing enthusiasts, and also to our all time legendary divas (and I say it as a "white person", who adore black music, no bias here), and in this case to the great and dear Whitney, which maybe due to her naiveness she didn't have the best of luck and unfortunately was taken advantage of by others (and I'm sure they got the punishment they deserve from the universe), but at the same time, the same person with this same character changed people's across all nations lifes forever, and that means more than all the money in the world (what are we living for if not for leaving our good internal mark in people's souls). and if there is a heaven she must be seeing that this way from there ❤

[@3van3lm]

Theres just so much to discuss about her voice, its just so unique! Thank you so much for these!!!

[@bskeete]

Thank you....just simply thank you!!!

[@manueldavidson1398]

Like mother like daughter. Cece and Whitney had some of the most incredible, phenomenal, and powerful voices ever. Whitney took what her mother taught her and just elevated it to an even higher level. ❤❤❤

[@christopherantoine8925]

This was amazing! Thank you for this

[@MichaelKnows97]

Love this documentary, I’m happy you mentioned pregnancy and it’s effect on the voice and she did become pregnant again around the time of the “preachers wife” but unfortunately miscarried. Then of course because of the constant stress on her voice, her voice changed.

[@musicislyfe1672]

So thorough and so much information it's incredible I learned so much

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Thegazelle1000]

Thank you for the energy that you put in this masterpiece. God bless you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you for watching ❤️

[@KimimaruKusanagi]

I really enjoyed this Whitney Houston series, very high quality. Thank you for that. I have a question. Who's the singer at 23:44?

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Milira, "Go Outside In The Rain."

[@KimimaruKusanagi]

@@BlackMusicArchive Thank you so much

[@pedromurilo1050]

Great Job! Can't wait for Patti and Mariah's analysis!

[@BlackMusicArchive]

I would love to see those! What channel will they be on?

[@tylermills4812]

@@BlackMusicArchive They never learn lol

[@pedromurilo1050]

???

[@tylermills4812]

@@pedromurilo1050 He only did Whitney as a gift for reaching a subscriber milestone. He’s not making a trilogy for any other artists.

[@pedromurilo1050]

@@tylermills4812 oooooh now i got😬😬😬 My bad!

[@khalilantonio6281]

Whitney had the IT factor you couldn’t help but watch her in amazement

[@Inthemiddlestage]

This was so, so well done!

[@carolinemckenna-xc2be]

Loving this series it provides so much insight and is very coherent. Thankyou for educating me on a subject I would normally take for granted.

[@sparkswolverine]

Cissy has a doctorate in music technology but she don't know it yet.

[@tennischannel6572]

IMPECCABLE!!! SUPERB!!! BRAVO!!! YOU DID THAT!

[@QueenDiva]

This is outstanding! Every singer and fan of Whitney Houston needs to watch this video! 👑👑👑👑👑

[@KendallLXL]

I love this ❤

[@canditate740]

Thank youuuuuuuu! I love this! I love your approach! And I will ALWAYS LOVE Whitney!

[@sandhyanagarajan]

WOW, this was such a great video!!!! Thank you so much, it was soo accurate!

[@crestanburton8760]

I have been watching her Series all week!

[@closedcaption6375]

Excellent commentary brother. This is your Magnum Opus.. Just WOW! 😎🙌

[@veraee45]

This was amazing.

[@tennischannel6572]

Astonishing! Riveting! You deserve a damn emmy for this. Incredible!

[@tennischannel6572]

When you said who was in charge of the girls....and WAS!

[@Timothylloydblues]

Thank you 🙏 Whitney Houston will always be one of my musical influences 😊

[@KendallLXL]

Thanks!

[@najeesmith583]

I love this documentary. Even if she was facing her off days, she still came out swinging. You have earned a subscriber ❤ R.I.P Whitney Houston

[@MarchMusicCollective]

Excellent work as always, Milik. You inspire me!

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thanks a lot!

[@tofunmiolowu]

Such respect and care, nothing less than what Aunty Whitney and her team earned. Her Christmas album was a staple of my childhood, and I look forward to playing it for my own little ones, when the time comes. Thank you for the excellent work! I hope that any future biopics or documentaries on her incorporate this documentary. #WhitneyHouston #BlackMusicArchive #BlackGirlGenius

[@KhMeR4L1Fe]

I can’t wait for Brandy

[@Cyber_Diva]

Thank you for this awesome documentary! I pray that it’s used by music instructors and schools around the world! ❤

[@Jesus08958]

I love your channel so much. ❤❤Too much information that I am learning. I would love if you could explain Kim Burrell's voice. An analysis of it would be interesting. God bless your channel.❤❤

[@reginaldmartyr8748]

Excellent documentary! Kudos to you and your team on such an extensive and well-researched breakdown of Whitney’s vocal journey. Regarding her performances in 1997, while we do see a noticeable change in her vocal quality/stamina during the Classic Whitney concerts (end of her 1997 Pacific Rim Tour) as well as her Grammy performance at the beginning of 1997, it’s worth mentioning that she was in WAY better condition during her concerts at the beginning of the Pacific Rim Tour (Japan, Bangkok, Taipei). She sang all of her material in the same key and her money notes (C#5/D5) were still intact, so I think the shift you’re referencing must have taken place after those initial concerts dates.

[@RitchieLahnsteinofficial]

Amazing, conclusive documentary 👏🏻 👌🏻. Thank you

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you too, for watching ❤️

[@QuentH17]

Forever missed. Love you forever Nippy 🕊️❤

[@ashley-gw8jl]

I SEEN WHITNEY LIVE AT THE IYBT TOUR BODYGUARD TOUR BOTH TIMES ELECTRIFYING I ALMOST SAW HER IN 86 BUT MISSED MY PLANE 88 I SEEN HER TO MISS THIS VOICE

[@deandraehughes3661]

Man, you are simply the best at it. A Master. I don't have any money but I would love to volunteer to help you if you need it. If you ever get tired of talking lol I'm a great narrator lol seriously tho, best narrator since Morgan Freeman lol

[@90skid97]

1:09 it's funny how in this one picture of her in her youth I can totally see how she resembles Whitney. But from then on it's hard to believe it was her mother.

[@s0me0nelse]

thank you for this good stuff, do you have something about legendery tina? if not, if and when is it planned to come out?

[@Angelscnbsexi2]

You explained how a lay person as myself was never impressed with Cissy’s sound but understood her brilliance when it came to coach her daughter and carrying a whole choir as a director

[@KendallLXL]

WHITNEY WAS. STILL is THE GOAT

[@DH39341]

Ok you did yo thang wit dis 😊 Thai country

[@pierocipriani196]

Now seeing again the documentary I remembered that on the last previous Whitney episode you mentioned something about her having breath support issues and that we could see them on the jaw and neck consistently throughout her career Maybe it’s due to her use of substances or just a young voice who still has to mature

[@KH-sn2sj]

It got harder & harder to watch this as it went on. Whitney had the wrong ppl round her & it's even sadder that those folks were her family. She was just used up as a cash cow. You continue to rest well Nippy!

[@LoLovesU]

can you do a vocal analyses on Brandy please

[@CASantos]

I know we generally avoid more specific fachs for pop singers, but I wonder... I fully agree Whitney was a mezzo. Would you say she was (or would've been, if operatically trained) a dramatic mezzo? I think Holliday's voice sounds a bit larger, but they sound about the same "weight class", where I'd say they both have a much larger sound than most other pop mezzos/altos.

[@rezaariel8406]

Since the day she was born she was meant to be a mezzo

[@tylerhopee9323]

This is awesome! Will you please do a video explaining Jazmine Sullivan voice.

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Thank you!

[@jermainereed9143]

I never knew she used the same techniques as Jennifer Holiday.

[@caninbar]

Good singers NEVER let all the air go at once, it's always controlled.

[@KendallLXL]

GREATEST FEMALE SINGER. THE RANGE, POWER, CONTROL, ENERGY, PASSION- UNMATCHED

[@matthewpilling9494]

Damn, I wish I had your voice! 😉

[@RoyaltyAC]

Great video! I want to add how drug use affected her mannerisms would be near impossible to identify. Particularly if she was using over a long period of time. An individual can be for a long time before it becomes noticeable to others. If it’s noticeable it’s already venturing towards becoming fatal which can take a few years or several.

[@dereklong7757]

I love this and Whitney but when are you going to continue the mariah carey explained series

[@BlackMusicArchive]

There is no Mariah Carey EXPLAINED series.

[@TheRealVocquals]

​@@BlackMusicArchiveplease make for mariah carey as it is popularly demanded by the lambs. She is one of the most-awaited artist to be featured in your channel.

[@jshard-tj9jg]

Please can you do Aaliyah?? I love your videos so much bro

[@royalgreenlantern]

Can you please do a video on the insane voice of Minnie Riperton