Music Review: Whitney Houston "You Give Good Love"

Whitney Houston

You Give Good Love

Album: Whitney Houston

Year: 1985

          Whitney Houston tells her crush she’s in love with in the overflowing “You Give Good Love.”

         A dreamy keyboard opens the single, setting a mawkish tone. She takes a deep breath and fiddles with the strap of her purse. She tells him she’s always been the type to not stay in place. She’s changed jobs, cities and homes. However, none of made it truly happy. It was all a replacement for not having someone special in her life. (“I found out what I've been missing/Always on the run/I've been looking for someone.”)

         In the pre-chorus, she says he’s patient (given how long it took her to admit her feelings). He knows by the sound of her sigh what kind of mood to expect from her. For a long time, she was being friendly. It took her awhile to realize he liked her. (“Now you're here like you've been before/And you know just what I need/It took some time for me to see.”)

              In the chorus, she thanks him for taking care of her. She’s trusts him more than anyone else. She’s grateful for him not smothering her. (“That you give good love to me baby/So good take this heart of mine into your hands/You give good love to me baby/Never too much/Baby you give good love.”)

             She tells him she let her friends set her up on blind dates. She answered ads in the singles page of her local newspaper. She attended mixers. None of it worked. She had always wanted a boyfriend who she could talk to and gives her flowers just because. (“Never stopping I was always searching/For that perfect love/The kind that girls like me dream of.”)

               The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

               In the bridge, she has told her friends about him. She has plans to remain where she is, settled and content. She would like to be with him forever. (“Now I've stopped looking around/Each night what this life's all about/Our love is here to stay/Baby you give good love.”)

             The chorus is sung again to close the single.

            Houston’s obliged vocals are restrained, as her emotions pour out without drowning him in them and scaring him off.  She’s waited so long to tell him and now she wants to tell him every detail. She can hardly contain herself. While she riffs, it's kept to a minimum. It allows her voice to just be.

            The tearful “You Give Good Love” lets Houston's clear voice shine.