Watch: Ariana Grande Wows White House With Whitney Houston Cover

Published: Friday 7th Mar 2014 by Sam
ariana-grande-white-house-whitney

Watch out Mariah!

Breakout star Ariana Grande may be just 20-years-old, yet the singer packs enough vocal wattage to rock the White House.

The ‘Baby I’ belter was tapped by President and First Lady Obama to perform at the ‘Women Of Soul: Performances At The White House’ extravaganza yesterday (May 6th).

Set to air in full on April 7th on PBS, a titillating teaser of the show has made its way on-line, in the form of Grande’s  (full) performance of Whitney Houston classic ‘I Have Nothing’.

Peep Ariana’s show-stopping showing, as well as her performance of ‘Tattooed Heart’ below. A rendition of ‘Proud Mary’ (alongside Patti Labelle, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae, and more) also awaits…

Yes, yes, and yes!

As seasoned appreciators of Whitney’s gift, it’s a given that Grande’s showing wasn’t a patch on the original. Indeed, it lacked the grit and at times conviction needed to sell it in the way Houston could and would.

However…

Ariana more than held her own, showcasing a brand of vocal range few of today’s starlets (as well as certain seasoned divas) could rival. Viewed this way, the performance (like her first album campaign) has us salivating at the prospect of what could be. For, there quite literally isn’t anyone in Ariana’s lane. She offered a commendable sprint on her first lap; we can’t wait to see her charge ahead with the second.

Pending its arrival, peep the singer herself chat to That Grape Juice about what fans can expect from her sophomore set….

Your thoughts?

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  1. James March 7, 2014

    The person who writes this blog sounds like such a twat.

  2. coolness March 7, 2014

    I commend her for doing this because taking on Whitney is not easy at all [just ask Ashanti when she TRIED it when she covered I Will Always Love You a while back]. That being said, this performance highlighted a lot of problems with Ari’s voice. She doesn’t enunciate her phrases well and she just lacks that raw power, soul and richness to do this song justice but then again, she’s young. There’s always room for improvement. Go Ariana! 🙂

  3. Molly March 7, 2014

    Good vocals just not into her as an artist.

  4. Molly March 7, 2014

    Hiiii baby boy @Lovebird

  5. Touché March 7, 2014

    Yaaaaaaaaas Patti!!! Her voice gives me life! Jill Scott and Janelle did great as well.

  6. James March 7, 2014

    Mariah used to be able to sing live in the 90s, and she did a great job with We Belong Together in 2005.

  7. Touché March 7, 2014

    Of course Dodobird is pressed as usual.

  8. Molly March 7, 2014

    @Touche be easy on lovebird 🙁

  9. Touché March 7, 2014

    @ Molly,

    Alright but if he keeps coming for Mariah, it’s on.

  10. Ariana’sGrand March 7, 2014

    Do you remember when Mariah used to sing like this?

  11. Molly March 7, 2014

    @Touche lol kay 🙂 knowing lovebird it will be on lol how you been tho?

  12. WeAreLambily March 7, 2014

    This copycat is getting on my tits.

  13. Junior in Jamaica March 7, 2014

    While a good vocalist, I do agree this showed up her weaknesses. Agree with COOLNESS.

    You guys didn’t even bother to mention Tessanne Chin, The Voice winner. She did a stellar job of “Last Dance”.

  14. ROSEGOLD March 7, 2014

    Ariana is a little too nasal for me. I can’t wait for Jojo to return.

  15. Love & Wanda March 7, 2014

    Where is that b**** Rosie? I’m here to confront her.

  16. love s** and magic March 7, 2014

    Mariah’s replacement has arrived

  17. Touché March 7, 2014

    @ Molly,

    lmao! I know right. Anyway, I’ve been ok just tired from my classes. What about you?

  18. IStanForYourFav March 7, 2014

    Yasss Ari. She can blow. I love her vocals. I wish het debut album would’ve done better. It’s ok though. She’s young, popular, and etc. Plus they got her weave right. Mariah doesn’t have to watch out bc she’s 20 plus years in the industry. However, Ariana better make sure she kills this decade with those vocals. I’m crossing my fingers for this girl. You what’s funny is Miley’s Bangaz went platinum, but Ari’s album didn’t hit gold. What a f***** up world we live in.

  19. Molly March 7, 2014

    @Touche oh ok that’s wassup hun and im good just enjoying my day off i slept till 12pm lol btw i can’t deal with these Ariana bandwagoners.

  20. IStanForYourFav March 7, 2014

    Child I had to stand up when I saw Patti & Jill Scott singing. Their voices are unworldly.

  21. Arianator March 7, 2014

    Whitney’s voice is completely different then Ariana’s but she did a spectacular job with the song. Whitney has soul while Ariana’s voice is more Broadway but it still works. Lacking soul isn’t necessary a bad thing. Many great singers could be said to not have soul. In fact, some people write power off as screaming or see it as a sign that the singer doesn’t know the notes so they just do extra runs. Its really just a preference. Her main problem is enunciation and sounding nasal. The fact still remains that she is the best vocalist of this generation. Tattooed Heart was incredible too!

  22. RoyalKev March 7, 2014

    Gosh Whitney was such a damn vocal beast! Not too many people even come close to her renditions of her songs when they tribute her. WH wasn’t just able to sing her songs best, but her covers were always superior to the original. She was truly God’s most impressive work!

    I usually hate, hate, hate when people sing Whit’s songs, but Ariana put in a good effort. She needed more conviction, but I am impressed with her vocal chops! She miles ahead of her peers!

  23. Touché March 7, 2014

    @Molly

    Damn, you are so lucky lol. About those Ariana bandwagoners, I feel the same way but it is what it is.

  24. SLAYRIAH CAREY (TOUR DE FORCE) March 7, 2014

    “Watch out Mariah!”

    LOL, so Mariah’s name is mentioned in the article before Copyiana PasteDe? Lol what does Mariah have to watch out for? Yours Truly hasn’t even sold 500k worldwide. Please sit.

  25. Mimi Carey March 7, 2014

    Lil Ms.Ariana is still STRUGGLING for GOLD tho. @TGJ

  26. SLAYRIAH CAREY (TOUR DE FORCE) March 7, 2014

    Ariana’s two minutes are up. Every article everywhere, every song, every music video, Queen Mariah’s name will be brought up. She has a little talent but she will always be seen as Mariah’s lesser.

  27. Mimi Carey March 7, 2014

    Sam you do this same trick with Rihanna and Rita ora it’s becoming tired.

  28. Moe Millah March 7, 2014

    I totally agree, she has a beautiful voice, but come on she is no Mariah especially in Mariah’s prime. Why does this person who writes this blog hate on Mariah so much.

  29. OrangeJuiceInstead March 7, 2014

    Let me just be the voice of reason before a massive fan war breaks out:

    1. Mariah Carey is done and she’s the only one that can’t seem to understand that. Her prime and moment was the 90’s and ever since Glitter its been more misses than hits. Ya’ll can’t tell me I’m wrong.

    2. Ariana has Mariah tendencies BUT She is not the next Mariah. lLets be fair, Mariah’s voice had some soul when she really went for it, something mrs Grande does not posses. not to mention Mariah was much more crisp with her dictation.

    3. I love both Ariana and Mariah, but can we stop being delusional they are not the same.

  30. Rob March 7, 2014

    Ariana tried it, but that was the wrong cover for her to try to do.
    She will never get to Mariah’s pedestal in her prime.
    And @Lovebird, there are plenty of stellar Mariah vocal performances, all live, so go jump off a cliff.

  31. Why You mad, TGJ March 7, 2014

    Reaching. Even Mariah’s voice now would be better than that.

  32. Dev March 7, 2014

    I have to say that Mariah’s voice is superior to this even now because her tone is nice. Although Ariana can still sing she was giving me more Lea Michelle than Whitney.
    This video did make me sad because it made me miss Whitney’s voice. Whitney sliced, diced cooked and served that song

  33. pat March 7, 2014

    covering Whitney just shows how NOT great u are….decent job…and it’s more than soul she lacks..its mostly the lack of POWER

  34. Sarah March 7, 2014

    @ORANGEJUICEINSTEAD while i actually agree with most of your commentary..your first point was slightly off ..Mariah had HUUUUUGE success in 2005..But other than that .. i can agree..and i respect Mariah..if she loves music and singing let her be…everyone/everything doesnt have to be a #1 for people to love it..Prime Example Beyonce..she hasnt had a number one since 2008…so let these folks be and do what they love

  35. DOSSOME March 7, 2014

    Whitney is the greatest female singer of all time,this has always been proven everytime someone attempts singing her songs

  36. Navy commander March 7, 2014

    I’m impressed!

  37. JOHNVIDAL March 7, 2014

    Sam the hate is getting out of control. 2 posts per day hating on Mariah now? Why did she need to be mentioned here? Watch out Mariah? How? Ariana can´t push gold with her first album for crying out loud and is unknown outside the USA.
    Plus I agree with the people saying she lacks soul, power and also one thing: is she singing in English? God I swear that didn´t seem like the Whitney The Voice Houston song I know, where are the lyrics? LOL
    Now seriously, she can sing but she won´t go anywhere. Most of us predicted it last year and it already happened seeing how her first album underperformed and failed. When Mariah is always mentioned no matter what you do… it´s just not good.
    RIP Whitney Houston, probably best vocal thing I´ve ever witnessed.
    Finally: Sam if you cared a little bit about talent and music you should have made this post about the amazing performances the other women gave, not about another silly hateful post.

  38. S****** Blonde March 7, 2014

    Whitney was superior to all vocalists, Aretha, Patti, Dione, Celine and Mariah are great singers but Houston was special, the greatest female singer of all times.

  39. Navy Commander March 7, 2014

    Whitney Huston is the greatest singer off all time. I really doubt they’ll be another better than her , or even on her level

  40. Skyfall March 7, 2014

    She sounds amazing as usually, I agree she lacks the soul Whitney and Mariah had in there voices. I think she could do Katy & Miley’s or even Rihanna’s numbers if she just branded herself better and spiced up her look without going to slutty or whorish and made a little more mature songs hopefully her second era will see better success I’m rooting for her because she’s one of the only few artist in the pop scene with actually talent to back it up.

  41. FAF March 7, 2014

    She did that

  42. FAF March 7, 2014

    And her album is at 404k so she’ll get gold certification, especially if her 2nd album does well, more ppl will check for her 1st album

  43. xedos March 7, 2014

    Tessanne chin did it better. Ariana is so boring is like watching paint dry

  44. Stephy Tha Lambily March 7, 2014

    Also, I agree Blondie! Whitney Houston was the greatest vocalist of all time!

    I liked Whitney more than Mariah, Aretha, Patti, Barbra & oprah singers…

    But we must show respect to the REAL singers of the world which are the OPERA/Classical trained singers.

  45. Navy Commander March 7, 2014

    What happened Mimi?

  46. Copyana Grandok March 7, 2014

    This little girl is talented, but she’s trying HARD to be Mariah. She copied A LOT from Mariah. Gurl, Be original and Kill those basic b****** (Miley,Selena,Nicki, etc)

  47. pnkladylolo35 March 7, 2014

    THAT WAS HORRIBLE!!! SHE DID NOT DO THAT SONG JUSTICE!
    1 OF MY FAVORITE SONGS BY WHITNEY. I SAW TESSANNE CHIN WINNER FROM THE VOICE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE. SHE SUNG THAT SONG AND KILLED IT!! MADE THE HAIRS ON MY ARMS STAND UP. TESSANNE IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE SUNG I HAVE NOTHING. OOOH I SAW MY OTHER FAVORITE SINGER IN THE AUDIENCE–JILL SCOTT! THESE 2 SINGERS I KNOW WON’T DISSAPPOINT. PLEASE show Tessanne Chin and Jill Scott performances.

  48. pnkladylolo March 7, 2014

    Being young has nothing to do with it. SHE JUST ISN’T AS GREAT AS SOME PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE. TESSANNE CHIN FROM THE VOICE SHOULD HAVE SUNG THIS SONG AND SHOW HER HOW IT IS DONE.
    A REAL POWER HOUSE SINGER CAN ONLY PERFORM THIS SONG OF WHITNEY’S. OOH MARIAH CAREY BACK IN HER DAYS COULD HAVE PULLED THIS SONG OFF SHE WAS 19 YRS OLD AND HAD THAT POWERFUL VOICE—a God given talent.

  49. BeYAWNce March 7, 2014

    Ariana still learn what is GOLD smdh

  50. JLO March 7, 2014

    My new single Luv Papi is DAYUMMMMM!!! Buy Now Bitchessss

  51. Bravo!! March 7, 2014

    There will never be another Whitney Houston!!

  52. Navy Commander March 7, 2014

    LMAO NOT I LUH MY PAPI THO BYEE

  53. Theman March 7, 2014

    ACTUALLY MARIAH IS THE GREATEST TECHNICAL SINGER EVER.. SHE DOES DO THINGS, THAT OTHERS SIMPLY CAN’T.. SHE’S THE MOST VERSATILE FEMALE SINGER EVER ALSO.. PEOPLE THAT HAVE STUDIED VOICES EVEN SAID SHE’S THE GREATEST TECHNICALLY.. WH HAS AMAZING POWER & STAGE PRESENCE THAT’S UNMATCHED.. BUT MC OWNS EVERYTHING ELSE !! HER VOICE HAS IT ALL, THE ARTISTRY, MUSICIANSHIP, RANGE, SOUL, POWER, ABILITY ECT.. SHE’S THE BEST.. WHEN SHE ACTUALLY GIVES A DAYUM SHE’S ABOVE & BEYOND !!

  54. Gerald Sealy March 7, 2014

    Ariana Grande is a young talent that is still very unpolished her version of I have nothing was very weak and lacked the emotion and convection of Whitney Houston’s version. Also the Mariah Carey comparisons are weak as well because Mariah at 20 was light years ahead of Ariana vocally. I just wish her team would let her be a first rate of herself and not try and make her the carbon copy of someone else.

  55. Mark111 March 7, 2014

    Mariah could never nor had ever done this. Smoke N Mirrors.

    Ariana is a master at mimicking voices, that’s why she “sounds” like MC IF she wants to. I hope she find the perfect mix between the tone she did for Whitney and the MC headnote technique.

  56. Legendtina March 7, 2014

    When has Mariah Carey ever sang with soul. Mariah is technically the best singer to ever grace pop radio but a soul singer she is not. Never was either. Whitney sang with soul.She sang with emotion. So does Xtina. They have that raw power. Ariana doesn’t have soul or much emotion in her voice. That isn’t a bad thing though. We need more technical singers like MC and Celine Dion. We have plenty of soul singers in R&B. Ariana needs to focus on expanding her range and singing clearly. I don’t need her to start screaming trying to sound like a singer with soul when she simply isn’t.

  57. Stephy Tha Lambily March 7, 2014

    Mariah Carey never sung with soul?!!!

    Huh!

    Songs like..

    1.) And You Dont Rememer
    2.) If Its Over
    3.) So Blessed
    4.) Vision Of Love
    5.) Vanishing
    6.) I Dont Wanna Cry
    7.) Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child
    8.) Fly Like A Bird
    9.) My Saving Grace
    10.) Outside
    11.) Alone In Love
    12.) Cant Let Go
    13.) Love Takes Time
    14.) Anytime You Need A Friend

    SHE DID NOT SING WITH SOUL, PASSION & CONVICTION IN THOSE SONGS!?!? THATS A FUCKKING LIE!!!

    People try their hardest to put down Mariah Carey & to deminish her legacy but im not stupid I hear & see her legacy very clear & this girl is NOTHING like Mariah Carey NOTHING!!!
    SHE SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE THIS…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKJqd09-fmk

  58. Slayretha Franklin March 7, 2014

    Whitney & Mariah are only the worlds greatest singers if you’ve never studied vocalists from the 60’s 50’s 40’s and 30’s. As good as they were they would tell you themselves they could never measure up to Aretha, Barbra, Mahalia, Nancy, Ella, and Sarah.

  59. Rihboy March 8, 2014

    The only current artist with absolute vocal control (period)

  60. Gonçalo March 8, 2014

    Ariana was clearly sick! Her voice sounds really hoarse, any fan of her really know she got much more than this!

  61. Sean March 8, 2014

    I’m sorry. Ariana is a fine pop singer, but she is NOT a soul singer. She pales in comparison to Jill, Patti and Tissanne. There’s just no comparison.

    And no – her voice is not big enough to tackle a Whitney song.

  62. veronica March 8, 2014

    you are messed up in the mind if you think this copy cat h** is going to replace mariah

  63. #Jump March 8, 2014

    tHE SOON TO BE “nEW vOICE OF THE gENERATION”. Give her 5 years and she’ll take over the World like Beyonce once did or currently is.

  64. Metzo March 8, 2014

    Give me Mariah anytime over Whitney (In their prime). I prefer Mariah’s voice.

    However, she’s done now. Btw, Ariana is the next big thin I c a bright future

  65. Metzo March 8, 2014

    And I’m tired of people saying Whitney Houston is the best singer in the world. Ya’ll are sleeping on Celine Dion. She has the most unique and beautiful angelic voice in the world imo.

  66. mr.m March 9, 2014

    WOW! That actually did NOT impress me at all!
    IMO, singing that song just showed me her weaknesses as a vocalist, and how she is overrated. Jojo is even >>>
    Listen to Xtina singing this song at Ariana’s age, there is no comparison. Well she’s still a very good vocalist.
    But, I don’t know, nowadays singers are so overrated just like her and Adele. Where they cannot be compared to Whitney, Mariah, Celine and Xtina.

  67. BeYAWNce March 9, 2014

    OMG! Celine? That ho is overrated, monotonous, nasal and clown. Whitney is the greatest vocalist.

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