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3 Eternal Pop Songs by Whitney Houston

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Nicknamed “The Voice,” Whitney Houston had a career that took its toll. It started as a single spark and blossomed into a fiery, enveloping mass of light and heat, and then, perhaps too soon, it fizzled out and was gone. She was 48 when she died in 2012 from an accidental drowning.

Still, Houston gave the world some of the greatest musical and vocal performances of all time. She was one of those artists who could sing the names and numbers out of a phone book and win an award before she was done.

Below, we wanted to introduce you to three of those songs. A trio of Whitney Houston tracks that she unleashed on the world like balls of fire that have since stood the test of time. Indeed, these are three everlasting Whitney Houston pop songs.

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“I want to dance with someone (who loves me)” by Whitney (1987)

If you look up the definition of “1980s pop song” in the dictionary, chances are the book will point you to this classic Whitney Houston tune. Bright, upbeat, effervescent, and energetic, the track is a smile-inducing wonder. The song, which earned Houston a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, remains a must-listen for those looking to jump out of their seats and treat their minds to some ear candy. It’s a song about longing for connection, but the kind that sounds like it’s about letting loose on the dance floor. On the track, Houston sings:

The clock strikes on time
And the sun begins to fade
There is still time to understand
How to chase away my blues

I’ve been doing well so far
It is the light of day that shows me how
And when night falls, solitude calls

Oh, I want to dance with someone
I want to feel the warmth with someone
Yeah, I want to dance with someone
With someone who loves me

“I will always love you” by The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992)

This song was originally written by Dolly Parton as a professional breakup song with her business partner Porter Wagoner. This version was released on Parton’s 1974 album Jolene. Houston later recorded her version of the song, bringing her giant vocals to the lyrics and, well, making the track her own — even Parton said so in the years since. It was Houston’s offer that helped make The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album the best-selling soundtrack of all time and the best-selling album by a female artist of all time. Houston’s version is perhaps the best pop vocal performance of all time. In the song, she sings about sincere and lasting feelings, offering,

If I had to stay
I would only be an obstacle in your path
So I go, but I know
I will think of you every step of the way

And I will always love you
I will Always Love You

“The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston (1985)

Originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The best, Whitney Houston later covered the song for her 1985 self-titled debut album. Her version, which reached number one on the charts, Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks, she showcases her passionate and pumping voice. She is a jet plane doing somersaults in the blue sky. On the loud track, she sings,

I believe children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they have inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier for them
May the laughter of children remind us of how we once were

Everyone’s looking for a hero
People need someone to turn to
I have never found anyone who meets my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to rely on myself

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Photograph by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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