May 22nd, 2012
12:30 PM ET
What's the verdict: Whitney Houston's final recordingWhitney Houston didn't depart without leaving fans with new music. The legend recorded a duet with Jordin Sparks called "Celebrate" for their upcoming film "Sparkle," which Ryan Seacrest premiered on his radio show Monday. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH5AYjKxlI0&w=560&h=315] It's said to be Houston's last known recording before her February death at the age of 48, and she and Sparks croon along to an upbeat track about celebrating life and love.
The Hollywood Reporter found it to be "reminiscent of the early day, 1980s Houston pop numbers that first made her a star." Entertainment Weekly found that "Houston isn't asked to do much" on the song, but it nonetheless "drives home how authoritative her voice could still be and just how much Sparks' approach owes to Whitney's." Idolator "couldn't help but find it fitting [that] Whitney's final song should urge the world to take joy in life and, perhaps on a more symbolic level, celebrate the pop icon's lasting legacy of music." Listen to the song above and let us know what you think. "Sparkle," a remake of the 1976 film that's loosely based on the story of The Supremes, sees Sparks starring as the titular, talented Sparkle, with Houston playing her mom. The movie is set to arrive August 17.
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Oh Whitney how you are missed. How amazing that her legacy lives on, I love the new song! She sounds different yes but still just as beautiful. She was one of a kind, there will never be another, ever! She just needed to feel the joy and feel loved. We all do.
Whitney was never over the top. She comes from a gospel background and not only would sing a song, but she felt the song and lived it. It's called emotion. I can clearly see you are more into the style of Debbie Boone.
Awesome, i wish she would have stayed focus on her music and not Bobby. She kept wanting to have that a boy.
Apparently you do. You took the time to read, listen and comment.
for what it is, the song is just o.k., nothing special. i don't believe it will add anything to her legacy. Jordin Sparks has really grown into a fine looking woman though
Absolutely WONDERFULLLLL!!!
This ought to put those dang Whitney bashers in their place! Whitney STILL had it going on!!
Just awesome!!!
who gives a fkin sht
We do, fool.
Whitney Houston is the greatest and most beautifully voiced artist of all time! This is a great song but would be best part of an album with ballads and slightly less "cheesy" songs. BUT its still a good song and not to cheesy.... i would love for there to be hundreds of unreleased Whitney songs but i doubt it.
Whitney was good, about 10 years ago, never great. Her over-the-top vocal gymnastics made me change the station every time one of her songs came on. Now she's dead, and everyone's jumping on the bandwagon to praise her. Get over it.
I would like to get Dale's Forever Blowing Bubbles and play it on my next road trip. I'm sure it's sweet sounding like Free Bird or Stairway to Heaven.
@TPN, you do know she is dead right? there is no coming back for her.
It's one thing to lose your voice to age and another to abuse. That's the different this recording and her infamous voice of the past. Whitney you where great and this is a good attempt at a come back, but you feel short on this one for me.
The woman was also 40+ years old and smoked quite a bit, and for a very long time. Stop underestimating the powers of aging when this woman STILL had it going on!
Gawd, you must be terribly bored in your life.
It was ok, but I would not say it was over the top. I would not have known that was Whitney singing if someone did not tll me before hand.
There aren't too many singers over 40 who can rock the house as if they were still in their 20s. Only Madonna has come close.
You make a lousy critic. A critic with no substance.
The song is decent but what cracks me up are the comments even in the demise if you will of Whitney’s voice in her last months she still out sings most of the newer so called "DIVAS" including Ms Sparks... So go figure
When you put Whitney Houston up against Donna Summers, there is no contest....Donna's songs and talent run rings around Houston
you do know "Diva" really means "b!tch, right?
The comments on stories like this really reveal the lowest depths humanity has sunk. Disprespecting the dead has to be the lowest of the low.
Hunter, Entertainment Tonight is complimenting her voice and there are not any negative comments regarding Ms Houston.
She was and will always be considered one of the best. Her voice was one of a kind and truly beautiful.
When cocaine use was a contributing factor toward her death, it's "disprespecting the dead" (sic) to point it out? What Pollyanna world do you live in?
If it's anything like her recordings of the last decade then I'm not interested. Let's just say she didn't go out at the top of her career.
ok @mike! I'll call out your name when I'm jumping off mmmmiiiiiikkkkkeeeeee!!!!! Oooooo nnnnoooooo!!! SPLATTER!!! I'm dead!!!! lmao !!
The song is over-produced but Whitney's voice is only a shell what we remember of her glory days. Her singing seems muted and forced and she really never gets out of a middle register. What a difference from a pop tune like 'So Emotional' where we see the real power of her voice in a higher range. One can only guess that years of abuse and neglect will deteriorate even the best instrument. Jordin Sparks is a great talent, much more that this song demonstrates.
More c r a c k h o news? WHen will you let her rest?
I'm choking on my vomit !! or is it the bubbles? ! Ahhhh somebody help me !!!!
cow place wish it was you that would have died you have no respect for humane life do us a favor jump off the highest bridge.
Bobby Brown should held in utter contempt for the way he teated Whitney.
I really, really miss her!
Whitney is our Doris Day.
4ever blowing bubbles lmfao! that's f <ked up!
Wow at some of these comments. I find it hard to believe that humans are considered God's greatest creation. Rodents have more respect and intellect.
I like it! People have to realize the song speaks to the movie which was set in the 70's. Hence the light melodic beat.
Just don't get why people waste their time to get on these posts to put useless comments like blowing bubbles.
But then again that's the culture of our society. No respect for anyone.
R.I.P. Whitney (A True SisterGirl).....
Song not that impressive, but I choose to remember Whitney before all the trouble.
A fantastic song. sure to be one of the summer songs this year. people who need attention from saying horrible things are sad little mice that hide behind their keybords, this song will blow up in the charts and will be a anthem for pride celebrations forever.
Well I guess everyone judging Raven Symone yesterday wasn't enough fix for you yesterday so CNN took care of that today and so far gave y'all Jaye Z,Ray J and Whitney to f with.Go git em.
Question: What does Whitney Houston and a daddy long legs spider have in common?
Answer: Neither of them can get out of a bathtub.
may she RIP, but the woman sucked on every aspect
@ giggity – so not true!
And you, giggy, suck while living.
What a pathetic excuse of a human being you are.
I am just astound how disrespectful you all have been. The woman has passed away...let her rest in peace. OH I forgot, we all not all PERFECT like some of you who have posted comments. You all must live life with no errors. WOW, I guess GOD will use you as gatekeepers you you pass huh?
God does not exist.
Wouldn't it be cool if her final recording was Whitney choking on her own vomit?
You better pray that you don't choke on your own vomit!
Her last big hit was a crack pipe.
What will your last big hit be?
song is not impressive at all, and I don't see how everyone is saying she changed music. Ok she a couple of good songs nothing that impressive to the standards of music before and after her. She tarnised her own legacy, sorry but I can't respect and artist who is strung out on drugs.
I guess it's whole lotta folks that you have no respect for including yourself!
you should really apologize for that comment because unless your in the shoes of an addict or related to them or in a relationship with them you will never understand the extent of their struggle. So think about that the next time you commit to saying you can't respect a strung out artist. They're not asking you too, they're asking you to celebrate their legacy which is what where doing for whitney. Here lies a woman who transcended color and brought the masses together with song.
Sucha a shame how insensitive people can be. What if that was your mom, daughter or sister? Think about how your words can affect others before speaking. Really.
Shelly...no worries. The energy behind their words ONLY affects them.
I love it but there isn't much Whitney did that I didn't love! No one knew the value of a life and the frailty of it any more than Whitney even as she struggled to live it! RIP Nip ....... You are missed!!
Dale that was so disrespectful...please respect the dead. They are unable to defend themselves.
This is a fun song! Whit sounds wonderful and Jordin is keeping up with her. I miss Whitney Houston....I surely do. It was great hearing her sing again.
I heard her last song was, "Forever Blowing Bubbles"
That is sooo wrong, but it was funny. Now I am sooooo wrong 🙂
dont quit your day job loser.
Dale if you had a brain you probaly wouldn't have been able to write the stupidy that came out of your that empty little head of yours. Next time, let your but do the thinking for you. Are you looking for attention that bad.,try a hot shower.
No man, it wasn't me.
Your comment says more about you than it does Whitney. Pitiful!
Those funny little white splooge bubbles?