Wondrous tribute to Whitney
Hearing Whitney Houston’s songs performed live in a tribute concert by Trina Johnson Finn brought back warm and fuzzy memories, writes Aref Omar
FOR fans of the late, great Whitney Houston, it was certainly a memorable treat. The American songstress was reported to be the most awarded female artiste of all time by the Guinness World Records. Having sold over 200 million records around the world, she tragically passed away on Feb 11, 2012 at the age of 48.
Achievements aside, what was more important was that her voice had touched the hearts of fans worldwide.
For those who grew up in the 1980s, there was a certain chance that her vocal presence was an inspiring and soothing phenomena filled with wondrous memories.
So it was with this setting that the recent tribute concert to her, titled Remembering Whitney — The Greatest Love Of All, by American entertainer Trina Johnson Finn at Istana Budaya, left many with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
The seasoned Las Vegas entertainer who has worked with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Michael Bolton, Smokey Robinson
and Sly & The Family Stone, delivered the set of almost 20 well-loved songs with gusto and power.
Looking dazzling in a variety of gowns and outfits during the night with a glistening array of sponsored diamonds to boot, Johnson was warm and cordial towards her audience, as she expressed her love and respect for Whitney.
Despite some witty banter with the appreciative crowd, she kept the chatter to a minimum and let her mellifluous voice do the melodic convincing.
Her delivery of upbeat No. 1 singles from the 1980s, How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), surely brought back happy childhood memories.
These also got the crowd worked up as many in the packed hall were seen singing along and bopping to the catchy rhythms.
Tunes like Saving All My Love For You, Where Do Broken Hearts Go and One Moment In Time then led to renditions of Whitney’s hits from the 1990s like I’m Your Baby Tonight, My Name Is Not Susan and It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.
Some were definitely better than others though. But that’s not a criticism, rather a testament to Whitney’s prowess at making the songs her own with an indelible mark.
The 50-year-old vocalist, actress, songwriter and producer was no slouch as she commanded the stage with her vocal presence, while backed by a competent live band and an ensemble of dancers to add pizzazz to the proceedings.
There was a poignant feel in the air closer to the end of the 90-minute show when a music video, featuring an elegant and more matured-looking Whitney performing one of her last singles from 2009, I Look To You, was played.
But the concert came to a climactic crescendo when Trina performed a deeply affecting rendition of what is arguably Whitney’s biggest song ever, I Will Always Love You.
After all, the song, from the 1992 movie The Bodyguard, which also starred Whitney in a lead role, won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became the best-selling single by a female artiste in music history.
Breathtakingly emotional and raw, the song was the best curtain number that made the whole show even more worthwhile. The thunderous applause and loud praise from the floor certainly proved it!
The opening act for the evening consisted of local songbird Tria Aziz and talented aspiring young singers, Falizstha Sarafina, 15, and Roy Wong, 13, who were winners of an audition contest.
Presented by Milestone Productions, the two-night tribute concert also saw a collaboration with non-profit charitable body, Badan Amal Kasih Sayang Malaysia (Bakasa), during the Royal Charity Gala show on the first night.
Funds collected from ticket sales to the tune of RM700,000 were channelled to orphans from Rumah Kanak-Kanak Tengku Ampuan Afzan (RUKTAA), a home for underprivileged children, and the Centre for Innovation Tengku Ampuan Afzan (Cintaa), a platform to help talented underprivileged children achieve their academic potential.