Tribute or opportunism? Whitney Houston already has the definitive best-of collection: her 2000 two-album The Greatest Hits, released as her career was just about to run its course. Now, according to RCA, "the legacy of Whitney Houston continues with the first-ever definitive single disc 
collection" of hits, coming November 18, just in time for fourth-quarter holiday sales.I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston contains 18 songs and two "new" cuts: “Never Give Up” from Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox & Johnta Austin; and a "duet version" of previous flop single "I Look To You" with the song's writer R. Kelly stripped on as her singing partner and a different vocal take from Whitney.
Most disturbing is Kelly oozing, "We love you Whitney. Rest in peace" at the end of the song, which is not only gruesome but just plain gratuitous. It made me a little sick to my stomach.
Clive Davis claims, "The duet version of 'I Look To You' between Whitney and R. Kelly is purely and simply a knockout. I believe that everyone will remember the first
time they heard it and I think a new classic is being born." With all respect to Mr. Davis, I believe that unfortunately, the song is as non-monumental as it was 
the first time it was released and simply unnecessary. I'd love nothing more than to hear something fresh and new from the Houston archives. This is not it.Last week, I was browsing through the aisles of a retailer in Downtown Brooklyn and Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" came on the radio. There must have been four women I passed who were singing along with Whitney, quietly, to themselves but audibly, with happiness in their hearts. Now that is a tribute. The release of another greatest hits that offers nothing new just to put some more bucks in the bank? No thank you. *
Lord have mercy. Somehow enough time has passed that I am now three times the age of my Sweet 16 
(surprise) birthday party, in September 1978. How the hell did this happen? Isn't time just the damndest thing?
special on November 16, with top-notch vocalists Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson 
performing. Usher will also sing... (How'd you like my little Usher dig there? Get it?)
Hudson and Dion could nail that baby. Apparently, Jenn has previously performed it in tribute to Houston, so perhaps it will be handed to Celine. Man, I'll be crying like a baby over that performance.
On August 23, the William Levy Ultimate Fans blog reached a milestone of 50,000 unique visits, 
five months after its official launch on March 26, 2012. I'm delighted to report that just one month later, The Smoking Nun's sister sub-blog has 
climbed to 60,000 hits! That's just plain hot!
and Speedos, what other choice was there to satiate our love for Mr. Levy than to offer him his own dedicated online space, especially as he 
reached mainstream fame last Spring via his star-making turn on ABC's Dancing With The Stars?
At last! The song I've been waiting for: The fourth single from my sweet, adorable, hunky pal Matt Zarley's current album Change Begins With Me is the beautiful power ballad title track. Written by Zarley, 
Andy Zulla, & Chris Curtis, and produced by Matt's long-time collaborator, the Grammy-winning Zulla, “Change Begins With 
Me” is a wildly intense declaration of self acceptance, responsibility and ultimately, forgiveness.
couldn't help but tear up again. Every time that thunderous bridge and final chorus start scraping the clouds, I feel the chills coming on. And I feel change, brothers and sisters.
months, dozens submitted home movies with messages of change, which are featured in the clip's finale. The vid was directed by Robert Bottoms and also features the Broadway Inspirational Voices singing the requisite gospel background chorus.
Sweet 16 (surprise) birthday party, in September 1978. How the hell did this happen? Isn't time just the damndest thing?
