wh0053.jpg (4556 bytes)...'I Learned From The Best' - Remixed By Hex Hector & Junior Vasquez...'My Love Is Your Love' Album Re-Packaged Featuring 5 Remix CD....

THE MOST ACCURATE NEWS & INFORMATION ON WHITNEY HOUSTON




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COMPETITION

My Love Is Your Love: Sampler CD

Classic Whitney Mailing List

January 2000 Competition - Classic Whitney and Esprit International are giving away this exclusive
promo only four-track 'My Love Is Your Love' sampler CD.  Originally issued before the album,
the CD contains 'It's Not Right But It's Okay', 'If I Told You That', 'I Learned From The Best'
and 'When You Believe (From 'The Prince Of Egypt')'.

How do you win it? Simple - you have to join the Classic Whitney Mailing List.
A question will be asked on the list (it won't be difficult, I'm not into that) in a couple of weeks time.
The winner will be selected at random in Mid-January.  Couldn't Be Easier.

 


Happy New...

This is it, the final update of the 20th Century on Classic Whitney.

I have to thank everyone who has supported Classic Whitney and my previous website.  1999 has been excellent for proving the power of in internet and I believe Classic Whitney has been a positive reminder of the great things than fans can do.  The website works because of contributions from Whitney's fans.  From sharing knowledge, ideas, information as well as news, sound and vision, we enrich each other with the gift of Whitney's truly great artistry.

I wish you a happy, safe New Year/Century/Millennium.

 

Global Request Whitney...

Global Request Whitney didn't make 'My Love Is Your Love' a hit.  It simply gave the song a nudge in the right direction.   Take a bow everyone who in their own way phoned, e-mailed and requested the song.   Thank you to everyone who helped compile the radio stations and TV station details to make the campaign a success.

In the new Millennium, Global Request Whitney will begin the campaign for 'I Learned From The Best'.  The approach is just the same, targeting key radio and TV stations.


My Love Is Your Love....

We're five months into the chart life of 'My Love Is Your Love' and as the single begins to peak, here's a look at it's remarkable trajectory on the Hot100 Airplay, Hot 100 Sales and the Hot 100 Singles Charts.

Before debuting on the Hot 100 Airplay Chart, the song moved 24-13-6-5 on the Bubbling Under Chart.

Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Sales

Hot 100 Singles & Tracks

72 65 70 56 44 48 38 36 33 30 30 21 16 11 11 9 8 9 10
    18 7 5 3 5 7 5 4 3 3 6 5 5 4 6 4 4
81 68 44 16 11 9 8 7 8 7 8 8 6 6 5 5 5 4 4

 

Tonight Is The Night...

The 'I Learned From The Best' promo is issued to DJs throughout the US today, New Millennium's Eve.


Billboard Answer...

[Excerpt From Billboard Chartbeat Chat]

Good day Mr. Bronson,

I am a regular browser of the Billboard charts and the new chart methodology has me puzzled.

Is it not correct that Billboard registers 75% of its points solely based on airplay and that only 25% of its points are allocated to sales? If this is indeed the case, explain to me how Jessica's Simpson's "I Wanna Love You Forever" sits at No.3, while Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love" sits at No.4?

When you take into consideration the new chart methodology, as it currently stands, Houston is No.9 in airplay and No.4 in sales, while Simpson is nowhere in the top-10 airplay although, she is in the top-5 of the sales chart. Therefore, how can Simpson be at No.3 while Houston rests at No.4?

This has been a particularly confusing issue for me, as Houston's "My Love Is Your Love" should at least be at No.3. It appears as if the Billboard chart methodology is reversed with these particular artists. Please explain!

Thanks!
Leigh Welch
Vancouver, British Columbia

And Fred Replies...

Dear Leigh,

It's a misconception that the Billboard chart position is an average of the positions a single or track may hold on the component sales and airplay charts. Even with the ratio you mention, a single can have such a large sales figure, that it can overwhelm songs that are way ahead in airplay.

So when you add this week's sales and airplay points of "I Wanna Love You Forever," the total is greater than the combined sales and airplay points of "My Love Is Your Love." And not to confuse the issue, but the ratio is an average of the entire chart, not the exact ratio for every single.

Let's imagine a hypothetical extreme case. Let's say "I Wanna Love You Forever" had no airplay at all, but massive sales points. In this case, 100% of its total points would come from sales, and if that point total was high enough, it could be No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Or to remove this from the hypothetical, Elton John's "Candle In The Wind 1997" had such massive sales points, it wouldn't need any airplay points at all under current Billboard chart policy to have a commanding lead at No. 1.

[Thanks Leigh]

NEWSFILE: 31 DECEMBER 1999


Billboard...

'My Love Is Your Love' is down one place on the Billboard 200 to No.95 this week, it's 58th on the chart. On the R&B Albums Chart, it's down to No.32 (from No.29) but retains it's bullet.

Here's the singles update for the week ending 8 January 2000:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Hot 100 - Remains at No.4 (2nd week) with bullet - 19 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Airplay - Down to No.10 (from No.9) - 19 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Sales - Remains at No.4 (2nd week) with bullet - 17 weeks on chart;

Top 40 Tracks - Up to No.10 (from No.11) - 10 weeks on chart;
Top 40 Mainstream - Remains at No.13 (2nd week) with bullet  - 10 weeks on chart;
Rhythmic Top 40 - Remains at No.21 (2nd week) with bullet -  11 weeks on the chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - Down to No.13 (from No.10) with bullet - 25 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay -Remains at No.46 (2nd week) - 25 weeks on chart;

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Sales - Remains at No.7 (2nd week) - 17 weeks on the chart;
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.13 (from No.12)  - 17 weeks on chart.

I LEARNED FROM THE BEST:
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - Down to No.71 (from No.65)  - 3 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay - Down to No.62 (from No.60) - 3 weeks on chart.
Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks - New Entry At No.30.

[Compiled By Lopez]


Whitney's Millennium...

Cyberworks' Li Pays $2.5 Mln to Fly in Whitney for His Party

Hong Kong, Dec. 30 -- Richard Li, chairman of Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd., the  largest Internet company in Asia outside Japan by market value, will throw a millennium party that features performances by U.S. pop star Whitney Houston and others, the South China Morning Post reported citing Cyberworks' group Managing Director Alex Arena. Li spent more than HK$20 million ($2.57 million) to fly in Houston and a host of other overseas and local music names such as Sister Sledge, Taiwanese act Dick and the Cowboy, local pop singer Eason Chan and Beijing group Tang Dynasty to entertain 3,000 guests, the paper said. Houston will perform for about an hour at the party, the paper
said.

Cyberworks officially changed its name in August from Tricom Holdings Ltd; the stock soared 11-fold on May 4 after budding Internet mogul Li bought control of the firm.

[Thanks Lopez]

Women Rule Europe 1999...

[Article From Billboard Website]

Britney Spears, Cher, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, and Christina Aguilera made 1999 the year of the woman in European record stores and radio, according to the year-end charts in Billboard sister magazine Music & Media (M&M).

Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" (Bliss Co.) and Lou Bega's RCA smash "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)" were, respectively, No. 1 and No. 2 on M&M's Eurochart Hot 100 Singles for the year. However, women locked out positions 3-7, with Spears' "...Baby One More Time" (Jive) at No. 3, followed by Cher's "Believe" (WEA), Aguilera's "Genie In A Bottle" (BMG), Emilia's "Big Big World" (Universal), and Houston's "My Love Is Your Love" (Arista).

Cher's "Believe" set was also Europe's No. 1 album of 1999, followed by Twain's "Come On Over" (Mercury) and the Offspring's "Americana" (Columbia). "...Baby One More Time" was Europe's most-played single, ahead of Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger" (Maverick/Warner Bros.)

The year-end statistics on M&M's Border Breakers chart, which monitors mainland European records breaking out of their country of signing, showed five Swedish singles in the top 10. Roxette's "Wish I Could Fly" (Roxette Recordings/EMI) came in at No. 1; fellow Swedish tracks making the list included two by Emilia and one each by Jessica Folcker and the Cardigans.

Norwegian singer Lene Marlin's "Sitting Down Here" (Virgin) made it six Scandinavian signings in the top 10, while Italy was twice represented with Eiffel 65 and British-born Ann Lee, who enjoyed a pan-European hit with "Two Times" (X-Energy).

-- Paul Sexton, London

[Thanks Arthur]

NEWSFILE: 30 DECEMBER 1999


Curtis Mayfield...

Curtis MayfieldCurtis Mayfield died at the age of 57 this past Sunday.  As a friend of his and an admirer of his work, Whitney Houston recorded "Looking Into You Heart" for a 1994 tribute album to Curtis.

The Dotmusic Site Has A Brief Article About His Death.

 

BMG Backstage...

The BMG Backstage Website has a competition giving away 10 copies of the repackaged 'My Love Is Your Love' UK double CD.

Competition ends 3 January 2000.


MTV Asia...

The MTV Asia Website has a poll asking which female artist is going to reign the charts in 2000.  We all know it's Whitney Houston - Please Vote Here.

Note: The poll does not place a 'cookie' on your Temporary Internet Files folder so mulitple voting is allowed.

Whitney currently has 4% of the votes.

[Thanks Katerina/Stig]


TV...

Don't forget to check the TV Appearances Section - on 31 December 1999 (US) Whitney Houston & Natalie Cole Present Grammys Greatest Performances.

[Thanks Lydia/Arthur]

NEWSFILE: 29 DECEMBER 1999


UK Chart Update...

'I Learned From The Best' is back up to No.33 (From No.38) in it's fourth week on the UK Singles Chart.  All four singles from 'My Love Is Your Love' have now climbed the chart following an initial peak when debuting (a rare occourance once - remarkable four times over).  On the R&B Singles Chart, the song remains at No.5.

The album, 'My Love Is Your Love' is up one place to No.27 on it's 58th chart week.  The album has sold in excess of 40,000 copies in each of the past two weeks and over 120,000 copies in December alone.


Grammys 2000...

The Arista Records Whitney Website confirms Whitney is to appear at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

[Thanks Blackatlantic]


Billboard 90's...

The compilation of Whitney Houston's Billboard Rankings for each year she charted over the past fifteen years is complete - check it out.


Dotmusic...

The Dotmusic Website (the UK equivalent of Billboard) is running it's own Best Of 1999 Poll in which they have a Pop & Urban Category for Best Album.  Whitney's 'My Love Is Your Love' set is not listed as a possible contender.   Thankfully, Dotmusic recognise they could have missed out important albums and have also included a 'Suggest Album' section for the categories.

Please go to the Dotmusic Website to suggest they include Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love' to their Best Of 1999 List - Click Here.

Once the album is listed, we can all vote - I'll announce the inclusion when it happens.  Dotmusic will only include it if enough people request it so please take the time.


Mailing List...

Don't forget to sign up to the Classic Whitney Mailing List - the competition question to win the four track My Love Is Your Love album sampler will be announced on the list this week.


Classic Whitney Audio...

Here's last week's Top 10 Downloads from Classic Whitney:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I Learned From The Best - HQ2 Radio Edit
I Will Always Love You - Classic Whitney
My Love Is Your Love - Salaam Remi Remix
I Learned From The Best - Junior Vasquez Club Mix
My Love Is Your Love - Marvel & Eily Vocal Mix
My Love Is Your Love - Wyclef Mix (European Release)
Get It Back/My Love Is Your Love - MTV Europe 1999
Porgy/And I Am Telling You/I Have Nothing - 1994 American Music Awards
Impossible - Cinderella
When You Believe - 1999 Academy Awards Performance


Enrique...

Enrique Igelsias was on AOL chat earlier this month and when asked about what it was like to work with Whitney he replied "It was great. I grew up with her voice, and I am a big fan. She is amazing. She has great control."

[Thanks Lopez]


Dutch Charts...

On the Dutch Top 40 I Learned from the Best climbs 9 spots from No.29 to No.20 in it's third week. On the Dutch Mega Top 100 the single goes from No.38 to No.33 in it's fourth week.

[Thanks Deborah]

German Charts...

Media Control Top 100 Singles:
I Learned From The Best No. 53 [Last Week: No. 54]
 
Media Control Top 200 Albums:

My Love Is Your Love No. 30 [Last Week: No. 28]

Divas Live 99 No. 89 [Last Week: No. 88]

[Thanks Lopez]


NEWSFILE: 26 DECEMBER 1999

Two Decades Of History...

Whitney Houston features prominently in the end of decade charts for the 80's & 90's.
The following two images link you to detailed placing of Whitney and her music over

the past two decades.  The 1980's section details Whitney's placing for the decade
as well as for each year that she charted.  The 1990's section details Whitney's ranking

for this decade and her 1999 placing.  A detailed account of her performance in individual
years during the '90's will become available between now and the new year.

My Gift To Whitney's Loyal Fan Base & Their Assistance In Making
Classic Whitney The No.1 Whitney Houston Website

& To Whitney Houston Herself For Some Of The Best Shows, Songs, Remixes & Performances.

Whitney In The Billboard 80's End Of Year Charts

 

Whitney In The Billboard 90's End Of Year Charts

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, a peaceful holiday for the rest.


NEWSFILE: 24 DECEMBER 1999


Billboard...

'My Love Is Your Love' continues it's   upward trend on the Billboard 200 as it climbs to No.94 (from No.99) on it's 57th chart week. On the R&B Albums Chart, it's up to No.29 (from No.37) with a bullet.

Here's the singles update for the week ending 1 January 2000:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Hot 100 - Up to No.4 (from No.5) with bullet - 18 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Airplay - Down to No.9 (from No.8) - 18 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Sales - Up to No.4 (from No.6) with bullet - 16 weeks on chart;

Top 40 Tracks - Up to No.11 (from No.12) with bullet  - 9 weeks on chart;
Top 40 Mainstream - Up to No.13 (from No.16) with bullet  - 9 weeks on chart;
Rhythmic Top 40 - Up to No.21 (from No.22) with bullet -  10 weeks on the chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - Up to No.10 (from No.15) with bullet- 24 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay -Down to No.46 (from No.39) - 24 weeks on chart;

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Sales - Up to No.7 (from No.10) with bullet - 16 weeks on the chart;
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.12 (from No.11)  - 16 weeks on chart.

I LEARNED FROM THE BEST:
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - Up to No.65 (from No.76) with bullet  - 2 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay - Up to No.60 (from No.68) with bullet - 2 weeks on chart.

[Compiled By Lopez]

 

Vote Whitney @ Billboard...

You can vote for 'My Love Is Your Love' as the Best R&B Album on the Billboard Website - Whitney is currently in second place - Click Here.

Please also vote for 'Heartbreak Hotel' as the Top Hot100 Single - Click Here.



TV Appearances...

Be sure to check the TV Appearances Section for an update on Whitney on TV over the coming days.


Jet...

A photo of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown appears in the 27 December 1999 issue of Jet Magazine.  The photo was taken as Whitney & Bobby arrived at the charity gala for the Whitney Houston Foundation For Children.

[Thanks Lydia]


Arista's NAACP Sampler CD...

[From Arista Records Website]

(November 12, 1999) Arista recording artists are being showcased on a specially-produced, limited-edition CD sampler intended for reference use by the voting members of the annual NAACP Image Awards for 1999. The featured [Whitney] performances are as follows:

1. "My Love Is Your Love" by Whitney Houston

The RIAA gold title track from My Love Is Your Love, Whitney Houston’s first non-soundtrack related studio album in eight years, was also the album’s fourth consecutive R&B/pop crossover smash. It follows (in order of release since late-1998): "When You Believe (The Prince Of Egypt)," Whitney’s Academy Award winning duet with Mariah Carey; "Heartbreak Hotel," featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price; and "It's Not Right But It’s Okay."

The song was co-written and co-produced by Fugees masterminds Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis. My Love Is Your Love has sold over 8X platinum worldwide to date.

2. "Heartbreak Hotel" by Whitney Houston (Featuring Faith Evans & Kelly Price)

When this platinum single hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B chart on February 13th, it led a trio of hits — including "Angel Of Mine" by Monica (at #2) and Deborah Cox’s "Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here" (#3) — into chart history: the fifth time in Soundscan annals that Arista held the top three R&B spots and still the only record label in Soundscan history to accomplish this. The song was co-written and co-produced by the team of Soulshock and Karlin. As for the title, Whitney says "I’ve stayed in that place before, but I checked out!"

3. "It's Not Right But It’s Okay" by Whitney Houston

She collected the 17th Top 5 pop hit of her 15-year chart career when this RIAA gold CD single bulleted to the top of the charts in June. "I think every woman feels this way at one time or another," Whitney said of the song, which was co-written and produced by Rodney Jerkins. It was soaring up the charts and rocking the clubs as Whitney triumphantly launched her 16-city tour in Chicago on June 22nd, her first live performances in five years

4. "I Learned From The Best" by Whitney Houston

Here is Whitney’s brand new single (released November 1999). Described by Whitney as "a love song about pain," the song is her winning collaboration with songwriter Diane Warren and producer David Foster. Meanwhile, My Love Is Your Love celebrates its 52nd week on the Billboard 200 album chart in the November 27th issue.

14. "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston (from VH1 Divas Live ’99)

No diva achieved higher heights at this year’s VH1 gathering than Whitney Houston, who owned the record-breaking cable television broadcast, chronicled on Arista’s recently-issued CD and home video of the live concert event. The high-point of Whitney’s 5-song set was an electrifying performance of her 4 million-selling theme from The Bodyguard, ranked one of the Top 5 pop hits of the last half-century as a result of its 14-week stand at #1 during 1992-93. The New York Times hailed Whitney’s "virtuoso flourishes" in this "song of longing and delicacy."

[Thanks Arthur]


Grammy Announcement...

Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Sarah McLachlan, Macy Gray, TLC, Dallas Austin and Diane Warren will be some of the artists who will together announce the nominations for the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on 4 January 2000.

[Thanks Lopez]

NEWSFILE: 23 DECEMBER 1999


Bunte...

The German magazine Bunte recently published some photos (officially authorised) of Whitney backstage during the European leg of her world tour.  You can see the complete page scans of the article pages on this specially designed Bunte Gallery Page.

The article - along with other German media - suggest that Whitney is to be the star of her own documentary.  The film is reportedly directed by Rudi Dolezal who also directed documentaries on the Rolling Stones and Queen.

I am still looking for some official confirmation as to the nature of this project if indeed it is true.

[Scans Courtesy Of Sylvie]

 

Canadian Chart Update...

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (ALBUM):

SoundScan Top 100 Albums - Up to No.90 (from No.93) - 44 weeks on chart
SoundScan Top 50 R&B Albums - Up to No.11 (from No.15) - 56 weeks on chart

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (SINGLE):

SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Down to No.36 (from No.26) - 13 weeks on chart
BDS Top 100 Airplay - Up to No.20 (from No.22) - 13 weeks on chart

IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY:

SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Up to No.48 (from No.51) - 13 weeks on chart

[Compiled By Darrell]

TV...

The TV Appearances Section has been updates.  If you know of any Whitney TV appearances anywhere in the world - Please Mail Me.

 

NEWSFILE: 21 DECEMBER 1999


UK 90's...

'I Will Always Love You' is officially the tenth best selling single of the 1990's in the UK with sales of 1.37 million copies.   The Bodyguard' registers as the 13th best selling album of the decade with sales of 2.05 million copies.

The complete UK Top 20 Best Selling albums and singles will appear on Classic Whitney shortly, placing Whitney's achievements in context.


Clap Your Hands...

UK Music trade magazine Music Week has begun it's round up of the highlights of 1999 and their writers always compile a Top 10 list of the best albums that are released in that year.  Obviously, 'My Love Is Your Love' doesn't qualify as it was released in 1998 but the album does get a mention:

Other favourites  were genuinely groundbreaking albums by Beck and Missy Elliott, although there is no doubt that had Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love' been released this year it would have made the grade.

Austria's Finest...

The Austrian Entertainment Magazine "TV Media", details the ranking of the best selling albums of the year.  Whitney holds second place with 80,000 copies sold after The Offspring's "Americana" which sold 85,000 copies.   Here the complete list:

1.    "Americana", The Offspring
2.    "My Love Is Your Love", Whitney Houston
3.    "Believe", Cher
4.    "...Baby One More Time", Britney Spears
5.    "The Final Curtain", Falco
6.    "The Best Of 1980-1990", U 2
7.    "Volare", Al Bano Carrisi
8.    "4:99", Die Fantastischen 4
9.    "Millennium", Backstreet Boys
10.  "Dedicated To...", Sasha

[Thanks Clemens]

NEWSFILE: 20 DECEMBER 1999


UK Charts...

In the second biggest sales week of the year, 'My Love Is Your Love' posts another strong sales gain to climb to No.28 (from No.32) on the UK albums chart, it's 57th week on the chart.

Not so great news for 'I Learned From The Best' which dips to No.38 (from No.26) just three weeks into it's chart career.  It does continue to climb on the R&B Singles Chart - this week No.5.


UK Airplay...

Apologies for being late with this:

'I Learned From The Best is down to No.24 (from No.23) on the UK Airplay Chart.  The song received 746 spins (an increase of 15% over last week) although it's audience dropped to 27.78 million (down 7%).


Classic Whitney Audio...

This is last week's Top 10 Downloads from Classic Whitney:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I Learned From The Best - HQ2 Radio Edit
I Learned From The Best - Junior Vasquez Club Mix
My Love Is Your Love - Salaam Remi Remix
My Love Is Your Love - Marvel & Eily Vocal Mix
Get It Back/My Love Is Your Love - MTV Europe 1999
My Love Is Your Love - Wyclef Mix (European Release)
I Will Always Love You - Classic Whitney
Could I Have This Kiss Forever - Whitney Houston & Enrique Iglesias
Lover Man/My Man/All The Man That I Need - 1991 Billboard Music Awards
Porgy/And I Am Telling You/I Have Nothing - 1994 American Music Awards


VH-1 Artist Of The Year...

Whitney is one of the 12 nominees for artist of the year on VH-1.   Click Here To Vote For Whitney.

[Thanks Keri]


Whitney's Billboard Year End...

Here's some of Whitney's rankings in Billboard's end of year charts:

Pop Artist of the Year - #9

Billboard 200 Albums - My Love Is Your Love - #30
Billboard 200 Artists - #32
Billboard 200 Female Artists - #10

Hot 100 Artist - #11
Hot 100 - Heartbreak Hotel - #4
Hot 100 - It's Not Right But It's Okay - #44
Hot 100 - My Love Is Your Love - #73
Hot 100 - When You Believe  - #99
Hot 100 Female Artist - #5

R&B Artist - #9
R&B Female - #3
R&B Albums - My Love Is Your Love - #12
R&B Singles Artists - #9
R&B Singles - Heartbreak Hotel - #3
R&B Singles - My Love Is Your Love - #33
R&B Singles - It's Not Right But It's Okay - #37

Dance Artists - #2
Maxi Artists - #5

My Love Is Your Love is the #6 single in Europe.

Whitney's Decade...

A brief look at how Whitney ranks in the 1990's according to Billboard Magazine:

#8 Pop artist of the 90s.
#12 R&B/Hip Hop of the 90s.
The Bodyguard Soundtrack is the #2 album of the 90s.
I Will Always Love You is the #7 single of the 90s.
Exhale (Shoop Shoop) is the #52 single of the 90s.

DVD...

According to Arista, there isn't a confirmed release date to issue Divas Live '99 on DVD although there is a good chance this will happen.

[Thanks Alan M.]

Dutch Charts...

On the Dutch Top 40 'I Learned From The Best' climbs from No.34 to No.29 in it's second week. On the Dutch Mega Top 100 the single moved up from No.51 to No.38 in it's third week.

Meanwhile the album 'My Love Is Your Love' is at the No.50 spot in the Dutch Album Top 100 (55th week).

[Thanks Deborah]


Polish Release...

I Learned From The Best is available as a single in Poland.  The tracklisting is:

1 - Radio Edit 3:49
2 - HQ2 Radio Mix 4:23
3 - Junior Vasquez Radio Mix 4:58
4 - HQ2 Club Mix 10:35
5 - Junior Vasquez Club Mix 11:37

[Thanks Sylwia]


German Chart Update...

Media Control Top 100 Singles:
I Learned From The Best No.54[Last Week No.50]

Media Control Top 100 Albums:

My Love Is Your Love No.28 [Last Week No. 34]
Divas Live No.88 [Last Week: No.66]

[Thanks Lopez]


Radio & Records Stats...

AC Urban
I Learned From The Best - No.16 (up from No.22) with bullet
My Love Is Your Love - No.11 (up from No.13) with bullet


AC

I Learned From The Best
- No.27 (Debut)

CHR/POP
My Love Is Your Love - Up to No.16 (from No.19) with bullet

CHR/Rhythmic
My Love Is Your Love - Down to No.30 (from No.29)

[Thanks Lopez]

Global Request Whitney...

More US radio stations have been added to the Global Request Whitney campaign stations list thanks to Lopez - please take some time to phone or e-mail requests for 'My Love Is Your Love' - The campaign has been remarkably successful.  Keep up the excellent work.

NEWSFILE: 19 DECEMBER 1999


Billboard Update...

'My Love Is Your Love' returns to the Billboard 200 top 100 positions climbing from No.107 to this week's No.99 - 56 weeks into it's career.  On the R&B Albums Chart, the album climbs from No.43 to No.37 (with a bullet).

Here's the singles update for the week ending 25 December 1999:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Hot 100 - Remains at No.5 (3rd week) with bullet - 17 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Airplay - Up to No.8 (from No.9) with bullet - 17 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Sales - Down to No.6 (from No.4) with bullet - 15 weeks on chart;

Top 40 Tracks - Remains at No.12 (2nd week) with bullet - 8 weeks on chart;
Top 40 Mainstream - Up to No.16 (from No.19) with bullet - 8 weeks on chart;
Rhythmic Top 40 - Remains at No.22 (2nd week) -  9 weeks on the chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - Up to No.15 (from No.16)  - 23 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay -Down to No.39 (from No.34) - 23 weeks on chart;

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Sales - Up to No.10 (from No.12) - 15 weeks on the chart;
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.11 (from No.9)  - 16 weeks on chart.

I LEARNED FROM THE BEST:
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks DEBUT at No.76 - 1 week on chart;
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay - DEBUT at No.68 - 1 week on chart.

[Compiled By Lopez]


Platinum...

'My Love Is Your Love' has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.  This is Whitney's sixth Platinum single following:

I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I Will Always Love You (Quadruple Platinum)
Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
I Believe In You And Me
Heartbreak Hotel

NEWSFILE: 16 DECEMBER 1999


Billboard End Of Year Charts...

This is a run down of some of the Billboard End Of Year Charts which feature Whitney - complete details should be available shortly:

Billboard Hot 100: Top 20

1. ``Believe,'' Cher. Warner Bros.
2. ``No Scrubs,'' TLC. Laface/Arista.
3. ``Angel Of Mine,'' Monica. Arista.
4. ``Heartbreak Hotel,'' Whitney Houston feat. Faith Evans/Kelly Price. Arista.
5. ``. . . Baby One More Time,'' Britney Spears. Jive.
6. ``Kiss Me,'' Sixpence None The Richer. Squint/Columbia.
7. ``Genie In A Bottle,'' Christina Aguilera. RCA.
8. ``Every Morning,'' Sugar Ray. Lava/Atlantic.
9. ``Nobody's Supposed To Be Here,'' Deborah Cox. Arista.
10. ``Livin' La Vida Loca,'' Ricky Martin. C2.
11. ``Where My Girls At?'' 702. Motown.
12. ``If You Had My Love,'' Jennifer Lopez. Work/ERG.
13. ``Slide,'' Goo Goo Dolls. Warner Bros.
14. ``Have You Ever?'' Brandy. Atlantic.
15. ``I Want It That Way,'' Backstreet Boys. Jive.
16. ``I'm Your Angel,'' R. Kelly and Celine Dion. Jive.
17. ``All Star,'' Smash Mouth. Interscope.
18. ``Angel,'' Sarah McLachlan. Arista/Warner Sunset/Reprise.
19. ``Smooth,'' Santana feat. Rob Thomas. Arista.
20. ``Unpretty,'' TLC. Laface/Arista.

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles

1. ``Fortunate,'' Maxwell. Rock Land/Interscope/Columbia.
2. ``Nobody's Supposed To Be Here,'' Deborah Cox. Arista.
3. ``Heartbreak Hotel,'' Whitney Houston feat. Faith Evans/Kelly Price. Arista.

4. ``No Scrubs,'' TLC. LaFace/Arista.
5. ``Bills, Bills, Bills,'' Destiny's Child. Columbia.
6. ``Where My Girl At?'' 702. Motown.
7. ``You,'' Jesse Powell. Silas/MCA.
8. ``What's It Gonna Be?!'' Busta Rhymes feat. Janet. FlipMode/Elektra.
9. ``Happily Ever After,'' Case. Def Soul/IDJMG.
10. ``If You (Lovin' Me),'' Silk. Elektra/EEG.

Hot Dance Music - Club Play Singles

1. ``Believe,'' Cher. Warner Bros.
2. ``Big Love,'' Peter Heller. Subliminal/Strictly Rhythm.
3. ``My Love Is Your Love,'' Whitney Houston. Arista.
4. ``All Or Nothing,'' Cher. Warner Bros.
5. ``I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro),'' Donna Summer. Epic.
6. ``Sexual (Li Da Di),'' Amber. Tommy Boy.
7. ``Situation (1999 Mix),'' Yaz. Mute/Kinetic/Reprise.
8. ``I'm Beautiful,'' Bette Midler. Warner Bros.
9. ``Nothing Really Matters,'' Madonna. Maverick/Warner Bros.
10. ``You Don't Know Me,'' Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden. Amed.

[Special Thanks To Lopez]


Whitney On Gospel Set...

New York Times Sunday, December 12, 1999

'TESTIFY! THE GOSPEL BOX' (Rhino R2 75734, three CD's, $49.98). An essential gospel set that could have been even better, "Testify!" poses as a greatest hits of gospel. Beginning at an odd point late in the music's development, its first songs are World War II-themed quartet numbers.

From there, the first two discs get so good (with the Fairfield Four, Mahalia Jackson, Marion Williams and Shirley Cesar's classic version of "No Charge") that you'll need to stop the CD to catch your breath; at other times, compilers oddly choose later and inferior material from great singers. Disc 3 takes a compelling look at modern gospel, with music from Sounds of Blackness, Boyz II Men and Whitney Houston with the Georgia Mass Choir. This collection, nicely packaged as a personal bible, may be as patchy as a stained-glass window; but like that window, it also reflects the light beautifully.

--NEIL STRAUSS

[Thanks Blackatlantic]


BMG Backstage...

The BMG Backstage Website now sports a 30 second clip of the 'I Learned From The Best' video.

The site itself has become painfully slow in recent weeks - something BMG need to address.


Year End Performance...

Some of the Year End performance chart placings for Whitney & Arista are listed below as reported by R&R Magazine.

Year-end R&B rankings (airplay)

Whitney Houston's trio was 'Heartbreak Hotel' at No.9, 'It's Not Right But It's Okay' at No.40 and 'My Love Is Your Love' at No. 51.  Only Jay Z had four songs on the chart.

Label Shares for R&B radio are as follows:

1)Arista- 18.7
2)Columbia- 11.0
3)Def Jam- 9.7
4)Elektra- 7.7
5)A&M- 6.5

Top AC-Urban song of the year:

7 -Whitney Houston - Heartbreak Hotel
28-Whitney Houston - It's Not Right But It's Okay
30-Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love

Top songs year-end rankings for the rhythmic charts:

10 - Whitney Houston- Heartbreak Hotel
56 - Whitney Houston-  It's Not Right But It's Okay
81 - Whitney Houston- My Love Is Your Love

Market shares for the labels CHR/Rhythmic:

1)Arista- 19.1 %
2)Columbia- 16.4%
3)Def Jam- 9.0%
4)A&M-7.3%
5)Epic Records Group- 6.0%

The year-ending top songs of the year for pop radio:

38 - Whitney Houston- Heartbreak Hotel
66 - Whitney Houston- It's Not Right But It's Okay

The CHR/POP label shares:

1)Columbia- 15.2%
2)Arista- 9.7%
3)Atlantic- 9.1
4)Warner- 8.0%
5)Jive- 7.9%
Arista moves from fifth (7.5%) in 1998 to second (9.7%) in 1999.

[Special Thanks To Tony]

NEWSFILE: 15 DECEMBER 1999


Dotmusic...

The Dotmusic Website has a RealVideo clip of Whitney's arrival at last month's MTV Europe Music Awards.

Click here for Whitney Houston



Global Request Whitney...

New stations (both pop & AC) have been added to the Global Request Whitney Campaign - please take some time to phone or mail these stations (especially phone your own local station!) and request 'My Love Is Your Love'.

[Thanks Lopez]


R&R Update...

Here's the latest info from R&R:

Whitney has the second most adds of the week with 52 R&B stations picking up 'I Learned From The Best' last week.

'I Learned From The Best' on the AC Urban charts is up eight spots to No.22.  The song was the fifth most added song on the AC Urban charts with 5 new adds this week.  It is also the number one song in the "most increased Plays" section.

On the AC charts the news is just as good for 'I Learned From The Best'.  Whitney was ranked fourth for most adds with a total of 14 adds!  Her song is ranked second in "Most Increased Plays".  As for the New and Active (much like Billboards bubbling under), it jumps to number one.  This means that next week it's likely to debut on the Top 30.

The stats for 'I Learned From The Best' on the AC charts are as follows:

Total plays-310
Total stations-49
Adds-14

[Thanks Tony/Lopez]

 

Do You Hear What I Hear...

'I Learned From The Best' is getting played across the US at an increasing rate - Altuaniko reports that 101.1 WBEB (an AC station) played it yesterday, and Lydia reports that 102.3 in Havelock, NC have been playing the song.

[Thanks Altuaniko/Lydia/Lopez]


Canadian Chart Update...

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (ALBUM):
SoundScan Top 100 Albums - Up to No.93 (from No.100) - 43 weeks on chart
SoundScan Top 50 R&B Albums - Remains at No.15 - 55 weeks on chart

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (SINGLE):
SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Down to No.26 (from No.23) - 12 weeks on chart
BDS Top 100 Airplay - Remains at No. 22 - 12 weeks on chart

[Compiled By Darrell]

NEWSFILE: 14 DECEMBER 1999


The Late Lick...

WHITNEY HOUSTON & BOBBY BROWN AT TREVOR NELSON'S LATE LICK PARTY
IN DUBLIN FOLLOWING THE 1999 MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS
CLICK ON IMAGE OR HERE TO SEE MORE SCREEN CAPTURES

 

Dutch TV...

The Dutch TV channel FOX 8 will broadcast 'Waiting to Exhale' on Tuesday the 14th at 21.30 hrs.

[Thanks Deborah]


Dutch Radio...

Last Week I Learned From The Best was the 'highlight single' of the week on Radio 538, one of the biggest radio stations in Holland. These 'highlight singles' are played every three hours.This means that Radio 538 expects I Learned From The Best to become a hit.

[Thanks Deborah]

NEWSFILE: 13 DECEMBER 1999


Mailing List...

Reminder - You'll want to sign up to the Classic Whitney Mailing List to be in with a chance of winning a special prize (to be announced shortly) which has been provided by Esprit International.


UK Chart Update...

'I Learned From The Best' drop to No.26 (from No.19) on this week's UK Singles Chart.  The single is up one place to No.6 on the R&B Singles Chart.

Better news for the album, 'My Love Is Your Love', as it climbs 16 places to No.32 (from No.48) on it's 56th consecutive chart week.   The album registered a significant sales increase of more than 50% over last week.

'My Love Is Your Love' is the No.14 best selling album in the UK for the year to date and the single of the same name is No.19 for the year to date.


Top Ten Downloads...

No prizes for guessing what the Top 3 most downloaded songs from Classic Whitney were last week.  The remixes of 'I Learned From The Best' proved very popular (second only to the demand for 'Could I Have This Kiss Forever' on it's first week of being available).

Also noteworthy is the continued Top 5 demand for Whitney MTV Europe Music Awards performance of 'Get It Back/My Love Is Your Love' and, curiously, the Salaam Remi Remix of 'My Love Is Your Love'.

Here's last week's Top 10 Downloads:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I Learned From The Best - HQ2 Radio Edit
I Learned From The Best - Junior Vasquez Club Mix
Could I Have This Kiss Forever - Whitney Houston & Enrique Iglesias
Get It Back/My Love Is Your Love - MTV Europe 1999
My Love Is Your Love - Salaam Remi Remix
Lover Man/My Man/All The Man That I Need - 1991 Billboard Music Awards
I Will Always Love You - Classic Whitney
My Love Is Your Love - Wyclef Mix (European Release)
Porgy/And I Am Telling You/I Have Nothing - 1994 American Music Awards
My Love Is Your Love - Marvel & Eily Vocal Mix

 

Dutch Chart Update...

'I Learned From The Best' entered the Dutch Top 40 at No.34 (official list). In the Dutch Mega Top 100, the single entered at No.100 last week and has shot up to No.51this week.

[Thanks Deborah]


NEWSFILE: 12 DECEMBER 1999


Global Request Whitney...

Whitney's fanbase on the 'net has done really well to promote 'My Love Is Your Love' to US radio stations using Global Request Whitney.   It's been an incredible run for this song and is now a Top 10 airplay hit for Whitney, the second from 'My Love Is Your Love'.

Don't rest now, we have much more work left to do - take some time to request 'My Love Is Your Love' on the radio stations listed on Global Request Whitney.


German 1999...

[Top 10 Selling Albums & Singles In Germany - January To September 1999]

Top Selling Albums: Jan.­Sept. 1999

1. "Believe" (WEA)-Cher
2. "Nicht Von Dieser Welt" (Epic)-Xavier Naidoo
3. "Millennium" (Jive/Zomba)-Backstreet Boys
4. "My Love Is Your Love" (Arista/BMG Ariola)-Whitney Houston
5. "4:99" (Columbia)-Die Fantastichen Vier
6. "Alone: The 8th Album" (Hansa/BMG Berlin)-Modern Talking
7. "Buena Vista Social Club" (World Circuit/EastWest)-Buena Vista Social Club
8. "Ladies And Gentlemen... The Best Of" (Epic)-George Michael
9. "Radio Maria" (WEA)-Westernhagen
10."Ray Of Light" (Maverick/WEA)-Madonna


Top Selling Singles: Jan.­Sept: 1999

1. "Mambo No. 5" (Lautstark/BMG Berlin)-Lou Bega
2. "Baby One More Time" (Jive/Zomba)-Britney Spears
3. "Big, Big World" (Universal)-Emilia
4. "Blue [Da Ba Dee]" (Logic/BMG Berlin)-Eiffel 65
5. "Flat Beat" (PIAS/Connected)-Mr. Oizo
6. "Sie Siet Micht Nicht" (Epic)-Xavier Naidoo
7. "My Love Is Your Love" (Arista/BMG Ariola)-Whitney Houston
8. "Maria" (RCA/BMG Ariola)-Blondie
9. "MfG [Mit Freundlichen Grëben]" (Columbia)-Die Fantastichen Vier
10. "I Want It That Way" (Jive/Zomba)-Backstreet Boys

Also, Whitney's sold out 13 date German Tour sold 165,000 tickets.

[Thanks Rita]


Belgium Divas...

VH-1 Divas Live '99 is available in Belgium now.  Pick it up!

[Thanks Marie-Eve]

Belgium Request Whitney...

RTL TVI and Club RTL are 2 TVs in Belgium: they diffused stuff on Michael Jackson,Celine Dion,Queen, the first Divas live but nothing about Whitney.   Please send aan e-mail (in French) to ask for more Whitney.  Send your e-mails to avariane@rtl.be with a comment along the lines of:

Vous avez diffusé des programmes sur Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Queen, le premier Divas live,... maitenant nous voulons voir Whitney Houston!!

(Translation: You diffused programmes on MJ,CD,Queen, the first Divas live now we want to see Whitney Houston!!).

Probably advisable to word it yourself if at all possible - French speaking/writing fans should really take the lead on this one.

[Thanks Marie-Eve]

NEWSFILE: 11 DECEMBER 1999


Mailing List...

You will want to Join The Mailing List - in the next couple of weeks, Classic Whitney in conjunction with Esprit International will run a cool competition - the prize will be announced on this Newsfile shortly but you'll need to be on the Mailing List to be able to take part.

Watch This Space.


TOTP...

We did really well the last time with voting for Whitney as the best performer on Top Of The Pops.  Whitney's performance was shown again tonight - Please Vote Whitney - you get three votes before the TOTP website places a cookie on your Windows, Temporary Internet Files directory.

I won't advise you to delete the cookies and vote again...


Ask Billboard...

[Lopez Posed A Question To The Ask Billboard Section - Below Is Q & A]

The Q...

Hi Keith,

Whitney Houston is about to release "I Learned From The Best" to radio. It will be the fifth single from her album "My Love Is Your Love." With reports that Hex Hector and Junior Vasquez have remixed it with additional new vocals, do you have any idea if this song will be commercially released?

Lopez

The A...

Lopez,

Remixes of "Best" have already been completed by Hector and Vasquez. A promo-only 12-inch of the mixes will be serviced to dance club DJs by Dec. 31. As you probably already know, a music video for the song was completed months ago, and has already debuted on MTV's "Making The Video."

Arista has delayed the promotion of "I Learned From The Best" until the end of the year, because Houston's current single, "My Love Is Your Love," is still growing at radio and retail. In fact, the single reached a new peak on the Hot 100 for the week ending Dec. 11. After seemingly stalling at No. 6, the title climbed to No. 5 in its 15th week on the tally.

Houston has had great success on the Hot 100 with the singles from her current album. She's charted four top-20 entries: her duet with Mariah Carey, "When You Believe" (No. 15), "It's Not Right But It's Okay" (No. 4), "Heartbreak Hotel," (No. 2) and "My Love Is Your Love" (No. 5).

[Thanks Lopez]


Billboard...

The Billboard Chart Statistics for the week have been updated fully - see the Newsfile below for 9 December 1999.

Also amended is the Hot100 Sales Chart information for 'My Love Is Your Love' - the song actually climbs this chart to No.4 this week.

[Thanks Lopez]

German Chart Update...

Top 100 Singles:
I Learned From The Best - No.50 [Last Week: No.53]
 
Top 100 Albums:

My Love Is Your Love - No.34 [Last Week: No.34]
Divas Live 99" No.66 [Last Week: No.100]

[Thanks Lopez]


Jet...

Whitney & DenzelWhitney makes the cover of Jet December 13 1999 issue for the Most Memorable Movie Couples of the Decade, Whitney and Denzel for (The Preachers Wife) Angela Bassett and Tye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Grove Back) Laurence Fishburne and Vanessa Williams (Hoodlum) Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry (Boomerang) Jada Pinkett and Allen Payne (Jason Lyric) Will Smith and Vivica Fox  (Independance Day) Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover(Beloved).

This is what is said about Whitney and Denzel...

Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington were an acting team made in movie heaven when they teamed up three years ago for the heartwarming comedy The Preacher's Wife. As Julia Biggs, the gospel singing wife of a preacher who doubts his ability to make a difference in his troubled community and home, Houston's character is given solace by the angel Dudley, played by Washington. The warm friendship that the two share is endearing, it touched the souls of moviegoers all over.

[Thanks Lydia]


NEWSFILE: 10 DECEMBER 1999


Billboard Update...

'My Love Is Your Love' is down two places to No.107 with six albums debuting above it on the Billboard 200 this week, it's 55th week on.  On the R&B Albums Chart, it falls to No.43 from No.41.

Here's the singles update:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Hot 100 - Remains at No.5 (2nd week) with bullet - 16 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Airplay - Up to No.9 (from No.11) with bullet - 16 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Sales - Up to No.4 (from No.5) - 14 weeks on chart;

Top 40 Tracks - Up to No.12 (from No.16) with bullet - 7 weeks on chart;
Top 40 Mainstream - Up to No.19 (from No.21) with bullet - 7 weeks on chart;
Rhythmic Top 40 - Up to No.22 (from No.23) -  8 weeks on the chart;
R&B Singles Chart - Down to No.16 (from No.13)  - 22 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B Airplay -Up to No.34 (from No.36) with bullet - 22 weeks on chart;

Hot R&B Sales - Down to No.12 (from No.11) - 14 weeks on the chart;
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.9 (from No.8)  - 15 weeks on chart.

I LEARNED FROM THE BEST:
R&B Singles & Tracks Bubbling Under Chart - Up to No.2 (from No.23).

IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY/I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU:
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.49 (from No.47) - 29 weeks on chart.

[Compiled By Lopez]


TOTP...

UK fans - TOTP will re-broadcast Whitney's performance of 'I Learned From The Best' tomorrow.  Hopefully, the performance will not be edited down.

No doubt, we'll all vote the performance the best of the week on the TOTP website from tomorrow evening onward.


Grammys Honour Clive Davis...

[From Grammy.com Website]

Clive Davis

Clive Davis, president and founder of Arista Records, has helped launch the careers of Whitney Houston, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Springsteen and many other artists. Before Arista, Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, and Carly Simon also rose to prominence on his watch. At work for more than three decades, the 65 year-old Davis has risen through the record label ranks from lawyer to president of CBS Records, and then as the head of Arista Records, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year and recently closed its fiscal year with more than $425 million in sales. Davis remains not only a major industry player, but also a trendsetter who has signed such musical trailblazers as Sean "Puffy" Combs and producers Antonio L.A. Reid and Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, before they became superstars.

Davis put himself through law school and started working at CBS Records in 1960 as a lawyer. He rose to become president of the company seven years later and a year after his departure from CBS, he started the Arista label. Davis' ability to recognize and develop talent is well-documented and his hands-on approach to every facet of an artist's career is what separates Davis from many other label chiefs. From Arista's first release, the 1974 album Mandy by Barry Manilow, to the latest effort from Santana - Supernatural, Davis has proven himself as a hitmaker. His charitable efforts are as noteworthy as his label's hits. He was honored in 1999 by AmFar for donating more than $30 million to AIDS charities over the past 15 years.

[Thanks Arthur]

NEWSFILE: 9 DECEMBER 1999


Chart Commentary...

[UK Singles Chart Commentary From Music Week]

One of only two female solo artists to top a million singles sales this year - the other is Britney Spears - Whitney Houston returns to the chart with I Learned From The Best, the fourth hit from her album 'My Love Is Your Love'.  While its predecessors have all made the Top 5, 'I Learned From The Best' is a much more modest success, debuting at 19.

It's another hit written by the Nineties' most successful songwriter, Diane Warren.  Since launching her career with the DeBarge hit 'Rhythm Of The Night' in 1985, Warren has penned exactly 60 UK hits.   Though the recent failure of Eric Clapton's recording of her song Blue Eyes Blue prove she is after all a mere mortal, Warren can look forward to several hits in the early part of 2000.  Those who have recorded her songs tentatively scheduled for singles release include Enrique Iglesias & Whitney Houston, 'N Sync & Gloria Estefan, Toni Braxton, Kristine W, TLC, Ricky Martin, Tracie Spencer, Mya and Christina Aguilera, to name but a few.

UK Airplay Update...

It was a good week for Whitney - 'I Learned From The Best' is up to No.23 (from No.34) on the UK Airplay Chart.  Posting an audience increase of 33% to 646 spins, 'I Learned From The Best' found itself with an audience of 29.64 million, itself an increase of 30% over last week.


Sales Gain...

The sales increase posted by 'My Love Is Your Love' in the UK last week (from No.62 - No.48) was more than 50% over last week.  The album was one of only five albums to post such a significant gain over the previous week.   Expect another strong gain this week.

 

NEWSFILE: 8 DECEMBER 1999


Esprit...

Just above, you will see the link/logo to Esprit International's Whitney Houston catalogue - definitely worth checking out for rare and collectable Whitney CDs and vinyl.

Esprit have set up the page which links directly from the above banner especially for Whitney's growing internet fanbase.


Bebe Winans Duet...

[Winans Plans Star-Studded Set On Motown - Billboard Article]

Winans Plans Star-Studded Set On Motown Bebe Winans has signed to Motown Records and will release an as-yet-untitled album in June 2000. The Grammy Award-winning gospel star will duet with Brian McKnight, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and his sister, CeCe, on the set, which he says will "incorporate [my] signature style, but be more R&B- and pop-flavored."

At a press conference today in New York, Winans claimed he signed with Motown "to do what I love to do but suppressed for a while -- singing." He says he will "come out of his comfort zone" on the album, and plans to work with multiple producers, among them R. Kelly, Joe, and Knight.

Winans has won four Grammys, 10 Dove awards, two NAACP Image honors, and six Stellar awards in his 13-year career. His last set, a self-titled solo album on Atlantic/Sparrow, peaked at No. 125 on The Billboard 200, No. 2 on Top Gospel Albums, No. 5 on the Top Contemporary Christian chart, and No. 36 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

[Thanks Blackatlantic]


VH-1 Artist Of The Year...

Whitney Houston can be voted the VH-1 Artist Of The Year - Your Vote Counts!

[Thanks Arthur]

Canada...

Canadian fans - Don't miss the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards on Much Music this coming Thursday at 9PM.

Details also updated on the Upcoming Television Appearances Section.

[Thanks Mike]


Canadian Chart Update...

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (ALBUM):
SoundScan Top 100 Albums - Down to No.100 (from No.80) - 42 weeks on chart
SoundScan Top 50 R&B Albums - Down to No.15 (from No.12) - 54 weeks on chart

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (SINGLE):
SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Up to No.23 (from No.30) - 11 weeks on chart
BDS Top 100 Airplay - Up to No. 22 (from No.25) - 11 weeks on chart

IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY:
SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Up to No.36 (from No.46) - 11 weeks on chart

[Thanks Darrell]


Oprah...

Another update featured on the Upcoming Television Appearances Section - Whitney & Mariah on the Oprah Show from last year will be re-broadcast on Sky One in the UK on Sunday 12 December 1999 at 3pm.

[Thanks Sanj]

 

Clive's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame...

How's this for timing - Clive Davis will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in the 6 March 2000 ceremony.

Well Done Clive.

[Thanks Lopez]

NEWSFILE: 7 DECEMBER 1999


AMA...

Whitney Houston has received three nominations for the 2000 American Music Awards:

Favorite Female - Pop/Rock
Favorite Female - Soul/R&B
Favorite Album - My Love Is Your Love - Soul/R&B


Winners will be announced on the live broadcast on Monday, January 17 2000 ABC (check local listings).


Celestial...

[Review Of 'I Learned From The Best': Sky Digital Interactive]

The celestial sweet songstress of soul is back with the third single off her multi-platinum album "My Love Is Your Love". "I Learned From The Best" is a sensual emotion filled ballad that is just vintage Whitney. Produced by David Foster, who produced the international hit "I Will Always Love You", this song is set to set up home in the top ten for a long time.

[Thanks Bryn]


World Exclusive...

Available on Classic Whitney, 'I Learned From The Best' remixes.  Featured here are the HQ2 Remix (by Hex Hector & Mac Quayle) and the Junior Vasquez Club Mix.  It's likely that a longer HQ2 Remix has been completed. UK single regulations restrict each CD single to 3 tracks with a total playing time of no more than 20 minutes.



I Learned From The Best - CD2...

I Learned From The Best: CD2 UK

The second CD for I Learned From The Best is released today in the UK.

The tracklisting is as follows:

1 - I Learned From The Best (Album Version) 4:19
2 - I Learned From The Best (HQ2 Radio Mix) 4:23
3 - I Learned From The Best (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) 11:11



Repackaged Album...

My Love Is Your Love: UK Repackaged CD

The repackaged 'My Love Is Your Love' album has the original album (cover and booklet the same) inserted into the cardboard sleeve (as picture) fairly similar to the limited edition 'The Bodyguard' CD.

The second CD, titled 'My Love Is Your Love - The Club Remix CD' features five remixes:

- It's Not Right But It's Okay (Thunderpuss 2000 Club Mix) 9:15
- My Love Is Your Love (Wyclef Remix) (Featuring Dyme) 4:10
- Heartbreak Hotel  (Hex Hector Radio Mix) 4:20
- It's Not Right But It's Okay (Johnny Vicious Radio Mix) 4:14
- My Love Is Your Love (Jonathan Peters' Tight Mix) 8:23

The only remix which has appeared in the UK before is the Johnny Vicious Radio Mix of 'It's Not Right But It's Okay' so this CD is quite a good buy for UK fan - well done Arista.


UK Chart Prediction...

UK retailer Woolworths who are usually quite good at predicting chart performance for the coming week look like they can't decide about Whitney.

Last week, Woolworths predicted a No.6 debut for 'I Learned From The Best' (13 places too high) and this week they predict a No.35 placing.


MTV Europe Music Awards...

The 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards are scheduled to be rebroadcast tonight on MTV in the USA.  No word as to whether Whitney's complete performance will be shown.

[Thanks Andrea]

NEWSFILE: 6 DECEMBER 1999


UK Chart Commentary...

[Dotmusic Chart Commentary By James Masterman]

19 I LEARNED FROM THE BEST (Whitney Houston) 

This time last year Whitney Houston made a fleeting appearance in the Top 10 on a one-off duet with Mariah Carey on When You Believe. The track was actually on albums by both women but the attention was focussed on Mariah's Greatest Hits collection rather than My Love Is Your Love, the first studio album from Whitney Houston since 1990 and which had been released at the same time as the single with little or no fanfare. 12 months later and the album is credited with transforming her career, burying the ghosts of her glamorous 80s past and reinventing her as a modern R&B diva who has producers like Wyclef Jean queuing up to work with her. It's Not Right But It's Okay and My Love Is Your Love both went Top 3 and spent 11 weeks combined inside the Top 10. Whitney rounds off a very successful 1999 with a slightly smaller hit and ironically one of the few tracks from the album which hark back to her old style, this lush heartbreaking ballad sounding like it could have been made ten years ago. A small hit it may be but it still sneaks into the Top 20 to extend a run which stretches back to 1991 when her single My Name Is Not Susan became her chart nadir by peaking at Number 29.


UK Chart Update...

'I Learned From The Best' has debuted on the UK Singles Chart at No.19 this week.  This is Whitney's fourth hit single from the 'My Love Is Your Love' album which has so far peaked at No.4.  The previous singles from the set have peaked as follows:

When You Believe (From 'The Prince Of Egypt')
It's Not Right But It's Okay
My Love Is Your Love
4
3
2

The previous three singles peaked where they debuted.   If 'I Learned From The Best' peaks at No.19, it'll be Whitney lowest chart peak since 'I Belong To You' debuted and peaked at No.54 following a distribution problem.

'I Learned From The Best' is Whitney's 31st UK Single, the 27th to get top 40/30 placing and the 25th to get to the Top 20.

'I Learned From The Best' debuts at No.7 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.

On the Albums Chart, 'My Love Is Your Love' climbs 14 places to No.48 (from 62) on it's 55th charting week.


Record Of The Year...

As reported earlier in the week, 'My Love Is Your Love' was nominated in the UK Record Of The Year Poll. 

To vote for Whitney into the final ten records, phone 09011 980 015.  Lines close at midnight tonight (GMT).   Calls cost 10p from the UK.

[Thanks Gary]


I Learned From The Best Remix CD...

UK fans - Don't forget to pick up the 'I Learned From The Best' remix CD due for commercial release tomorrow (Monday).

Top Ten Downloads...

These are the most popular RealAudio sound clips on Classic Whitney for last week:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Could I Have This Kiss Forever
Get It Back/My Love Is Your Love - MTV Europe 1999
I Believe In You And Me - UK National Lottery Live
My Love Is Your Love - Salaam Remi Remix
I Learned From The Best - Top Of The Pops
I Will Always Love You - Classic Whitney
When You Believe - 1999 Academy Award Performance
My Love Is Your Love - Wyclef Mix (European Release)
Porgy/And I Am Telling You/I Have Nothing - 1994 AMAs
My Love Is Your Love - Marvel & Eily Vocal Mix


Thunderpuss 2000...

[Expert from the Thunderpuss2000 Website]

Whitney & TP2K - VH-1 Divas Live
[Barry Harris, Whitney Houston & Chris Cox]

Thunderpuss 2000, the hitmaking production team of Chris Cox and Barry Harris, are very serious contenders for the next Grammy Remixer Of The Year Award in the year 2000. 

Wearing their many hats as artists /songwriters /producers and remixers, TP2k (as they are also known) is responsible for three #1 hit remixes this year -- Whitney Houston's "It's Not Right But It's Okay" and "My Love Is Your Love" along with Amber's "Sexual (LiDaDi)."

"My Love Is Your Love" and "Sexual (LiDaDi)" were #1's on both the Billboard Club Play and Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales charts. "Sexual (LiDaDi)" topped the Maxi-Singles Sales Chart six consecutive weeks and was replaced by "My Love Is Your Love."

The Gold-certified TP2k remix of "It's Not Right But It's Okay" also went Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been the anthem of 1999 as the remix is still getting major airplay on radio stations around the country and is a dance club favorite around the world. Both MTV and VH1 had the remix version of the video in regular rotation this past Summer. And most recently, Whitney has incorporated the TP2k remix of "It's Not Right But It's Okay" on the European part of her 1999 World Tour.

 

TOTP Poll...

On last week's TOTP poll for best performance, Whitney came in second place with an impressive 44% of the votes.  Cliff Richard pulled in the lead on the last day with 50% of all votes cast.

Thank you to everyone who voted - we make a difference and hopefully, the performance will not be edited down when it is shown again this Friday.

 

Request MTV...

'I Learned From The Best' is B listed on MTV UK.  Clearly the song needs more exposure.  Please E-Mail MTV UK & Request The Song Here.

 

NEWSFILE: 5 DECEMBER 1999


Teen.com...

Whitney Houston has been nominated for Best Female Artist for this year's teen.com awards.

You can help things along by voting Whitney on the Teen.com Website.

[Thanks Lopez]

20th Century Images...

Whitney performing 'You'll Never Stand Alone' at the
Sports Illustrated - 20th Century Sports Awards

[Thanks Lisa]

NEWSFILE: 4 DECEMBER 1999


UK Midweek Chart...

This week's UK midweek chart has Whitney's "I Learned From The Best" as the No.25 selling single for the week.  The midweek chart is usually an excellent indicator to the main chart on Sunday, however, things can shift significantly when Saturday's sales are figured in, just three weekends before Christmas.  Watch this space.


US Sales Update....

Here is an update as to Whitney's US Sales this year (actual Soundscan information):

TITLE

THIS WEEK

TOTAL


My Love Is Your Love


25,108


2,141,642

When You Believe

-

408,744

Heartbreak Hotel

157

1,342,690

It's Not Right But It's Okay

792

489,664

My Love Is Your Love

52,054

647,246

[Thanks Anderz]

German Chart Update...

Top 100 Singles:
I Learned From The Best: # 53 [Last Week: # 54]

Top 100 Albums:

My Love Is Your Love: # 34 [Last Week: # 36]
VH-1 Divas Live 99: # 100 [Last Week: # 80]

[Thanks Lopez]


Sports Illustrated...

Whitney performed 'You'll Never Stand Alone' for last night's CBS special, Sports Illustrated.


20th Century Message...

Reuters Television compiled a series of messages from around the world by personalities (achievers of the 20th century).

Whitney's message: ``Be at peace. Just be at peace with yourself,''

[Thanks Lopez]

Chartbeat...

Whitney Houston gets a couple of mentions on this week's Billboard Chartbeat Chat.

Four On One...

'I Learned From The Best' is B listed on UK's Radio One for a fourth week.


NEWSFILE: 3 DECEMBER 1999


She'kspere...


Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs to be Honored at the Whitney Houston All-Star
Holiday Gala

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1999--

Songwriter/Producer mogul Kevin Briggs is slated to be one of the 1999 recipients of the
Distinguished Achievement in Contemporary Music Award on Saturday, December 4, 1999, at the Whitney Houston All-Star Holiday Gala. Infamous for his exceptional ability to blend melodies and lyrics that sound like poetry to the listener has earned Briggs the nickname "She'kspere," as he is affectionately known throughout the entertainment industry.

A songwriter signed with Atlanta-based Hitco Music Publishing Co. (where L.A. Reid is President), She'kspere is not only a musician extraordinaire, but also a conscientious businessman. As Founder & CEO of She'kspere Productions, Briggs is devoted to community development by way of structured programs geared towards the growth of new artists. In his role of songwriter/producer, She'kspere has developed a knack for creating hits with his most recent, "No Scrubs" (TLC) and "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Destiny's Child), earning No. 1 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Tracks. Along with TLC and
Destiny's Child, She'kspere keeps very busy these days working with Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, Boys II Men, Sinead O'Connor, Jermaine Dupri, Montell Jordan, and Mya, to name just a few.

The all-star gala, benefiting the American Cinema Awards Foundation, the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, Inc., and The Actors' Fund of America, will recognize a host of honorees in various categories of achievement and include a concert featuring a spectacular line-up of some of music's greatest performers.

[Thanks Lopez]


Billboard Update...

'My Love Is Your Love' dips to No.105 (from No.97) on the Billboard 200 this week, it's 54th chart week.  Some 13 albums debut above it.  This is the first time the album has left the top 100 positions.   Better news is on the R&B Albums chart where it climbs to No.41 (from No.45).

Congratulations have to be said to Whitney for landing the third Top 5 single from 'My Love Is Your Love' with the title track.   This is Whitney's 19th Top 5 Hot100 single.

Here's the singles update:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Hot 100 - Up to No.5 (from No.6) with bullet - 15 weeks on chart - Power Pick Sales ;
Hot 100 Airplay - Remains at No.11 (2nd week) with bullet - 15 weeks on chart;
Hot 100 Sales - Remains at No.5 (2nd week) with bullet  - 13 weeks on chart;

Top 40 Tracks - Up to No.16 (from No.17) with bullet - 6 weeks on chart;
Top 40 Mainstream - Up to No.21 (from No.23) with bullet - 6 weeks on chart;
Rhythmic Top 40 - Up to No.23 (from No.26) with bullet -  7 weeks on the chart;
R&B Singles Chart - Up to No.13 (from No.17) - 21 weeks on chart;
Hot R&B Airplay -Down to No.36 (from No.31) - 21 weeks on chart;

Hot R&B Sales - Remains at No.11 (2nd week) with bullet - 13 weeks on the chart;
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.8 (from No.6)  - 14 weeks on chart.

I LEARNED FROM THE BEST:
R&B Singles & Tracks Bubbling Under Chart - Debut at No.23.

IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY/I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU:
Dance/Maxi CD Sales - Down to No.47 (from No.45)  - 28 weeks on chart.

[Compiled By Lopez]

 

Whitney On TV...

The TV Appearances Section has been updated - Check out Whitney on Videotech (UK) tonight and on OK TV (UK) tomorrow night.

Does anyone know what OK TV is?  This show will broadcast a segment from Whitney's end of tour party.

Global Request Whitney...

Time to refocus - be sure to call you local radio station and request 'My Love Is Your Love'.  You can also use the Global Request Whitney page to e-mail radio stations but phoning would be preferable at that this juncture.

I'm sure everyone would love to see 'My Love Is Your Love' in the Top 10 Airplay Chart.



NAACP...

Whitney has two nominations in the 31st annual NAACP Image Awards, set for February 11-12 at the Pasadena (Calif.) Civic Auditorium.  She's been nominated for Best Female Artist and 'My Love Is Your Love' is nominated for Outstanding Song.

 

Capital Reviews...

[I Learned From The Best Review From Capital Radio Website]

Whitney Houston
'I Learned From The Best'
The Queen of Smooch succumbs to a traditional ballad following two funkier more up-tempo hits. Digging out her best ballad vocals she opts for a very atmospheric bond-theme-style which is way cooler than the soppy ballads we're used to from La Houston.

Celeb TV...

Whitney was featured on late night UK show Celeb TV.  A short interview segment was shown from her London end of tour party.   She was stood next to Clive Davis (leaning on him no less) as she talked about the decision to have the video for 'I Learned From The Best' feature her in a 60's look which no-one had seen her in before.

When asked what Whitney had planned to do next, she replied she had gathered a lot of gifts for her daughter and was looking forward to going home.

 

Canadian Chart Update...

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (ALBUM):
SoundScan Top 100 Albums - Down to No.80 (from No.74) - 41 weeks on chart
SoundScan Top 50 R&B Albums - Down to No.12 (from No.10) - 53 weeks on chart

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (SINGLE):
SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Down to No.30 (from No.29) - 10 weeks on chart
BDS Top 100 Airplay - Up to No.25 (from No.29) - 10 weeks on chart

IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OKAY:

SoundScan Top 50 Singles - Down to No.46 (from No.45) - 10 weeks on chart

[Thanks Darrell]

Reminder...

US fans - don't forget to watch Sports Illustrated Awards on CBS tonight (8PM - 11PM).  Whitney is scheduled to perform.

NEWSFILE: 2 DECEMBER 1999


I Learned From The Best: Remix Revocal...

[Text From MTV Online - Whitney Discusses Recording New Remix Vocals]


RealVideo

Whitney Phones It In For Enrique Duet, Remix Of New Single

If you tell Whitney Houston she "phoned in" her most recent performances, she has no reason to be offended.   That's just what the diva did for her share of the duet "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" with Enrique Iglesias, which can be found on his just-released album "Enrique."

Long-distance duets have become something of a standard industry practice, and while Whitney was in Europe, she took the technique a step further for a remix of her new single, "I Learned From The Best."

"I did the remix, the house remix of 'I Learned From The Best' over the phone," Houston told MTV News' John Norris during the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards.

New York-based producer Junior Vasquez handled the duties of adding the phoned-in vocals to the "Best" house remix; the original version of the song appears on Houston's 1998 album "My Love Is Your Love." -- Raquel Cepeda

French TV...

Whitney will be on TF1 (French TV) on December 3 at 20.50 in "Les Années Tubes".
She'll perform "My Love Is Your Love".

--Updated on the Whitney TV Appearances Section.

[Thanks Marie-Eve]

New Entry...

'My Love Is Your Love' has debuted at No.15 in Czech Republic.

[Thanks Katerina]


NEWSFILE: 1 DECEMBER 1999

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