‘… Soaring, effortless power and beauty…’

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Whitney Houston‘s version of Stevie Winwood‘s power ballad ‘Higher Love’ was recorded back in 1990 for Houston’s I’m Your Baby Tonight album. Shelved by Clive Davis in favour of more original material, the track has recently been unearthed and re-mixed by Norwegian producer Kygo.

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Houston’s sister-in-law Pat Houston said: “The current cultural environment has been thirsty for something uplifting and inspiring… Who better to inspire than Whitney, the most exhilarating vocalist of all time?”

Indeed. Houston’s vocal is, unsurprisingly, stellar with that soaring, effortless power and beauty that made her a star. Kygo does an impressive job in modernising the original recording while making it both danceable and soulful, even if falling guilty of occasional overproduction.

However, when listening to Houston’s original recording (embedded below), her vocals come through much clearer on Kygo’s remix (in the verses at least). What do you think?

(Image copyright: RCA Records)