Sunday, January 22, 2023 | The Parker
Thursday, January 26, 2023 | The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
By Denny Patterson
Are you ready to dance with somebody?
The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston is coming to South Florida! Featuring the breathtaking vocals of South African songstress Belinda Davids accompanied by a live band, backing vocalists, and choreographed dancers, plus state-of-the-art sound, lighting, vision, and theatrical effects, this critically acclaimed and beautifully crafted concert honors the talent, music, and memory of one of the world’s most revered singers.
This two-hour production is full of joy, nostalgia, and wonderment, and OutClique caught up with Davids to talk more about it.
Denny Patterson: Thank you for taking some time to chat with me, Belinda! Can you begin by telling us what audiences can expect from The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston?
Belinda Davids: First I need to say that this show is not a lifetime story of Whitney Houston’s life. It’s a concert the way Whitney was on stage in concert. We have an amazing band and stage with an amazing show to watch. We chose most of her number one hits from the beginning of her career all the way to her last album, and we have some costume changes that replicate hers.
DP: You have been performing this show since 2012. How are you constantly keeping it fresh and exciting?
BD: We update costumes, swap out some songs, and we bring in an orchestra sometimes. We are always looking for new parts or angles of Whitney’s career and essence that we can highlight.
DP: Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to the most about this tour?
BD: We haven’t been to Florida in a while. We loved it here the last time and look forward to it again. The weather is amazing!
DP: Have you always had a passion for singing and performing?
BD: I have been singing since the age of five, and I loved it then because of the effect I had on people when I sang. When I started singing with my first band at the age of 14, I think I knew this was going to be my journey. And believe it or not, I might be exhausted at the end of a vigorous tour, but everything in my body would do it again and again.
DP: When did you realize you had a knack for singing Whitney’s songs, and what drew you to her music?
BD: When I was young, I realized that I had similar range and technique, so I practiced and listened to her to no end. When my friends and neighbors heard me sing Whitney, it’s all they wanted me to sing, and they started calling me Whitney. So, she ended up in all my setlists as I traveled the world. What drew me to her was when I saw her on tour for the first time. I fell in love with how relatable she was. She was bright and young, and the innocence she portrayed was what I wanted to be.
DP: Which song of hers is your absolute favorite?
BD: It’s hard to say! I could say “The Greatest Love of All,” but I love the I’m Your Baby Tonight album. Her first album, Whitney, was so good as well. Do you see where I’m going with this? It’s hard to say (laughs). But on stage in the show, I love doing “I Have Nothing.”
DP: Whitney’s songs are very vocally demanding. How do you keep your voice healthy and strong enough to sing her music?
BD: I think it’s just keeping my body healthy, but there are routines I have when I’m on tour. Lots of water and no acidic foods or drinks. Vocal warmups are also very important, and then I have to pace myself. I have to know which song to hold back on and which to give my all on.
DP: What do you think Whitney would be doing if she was still with us today?
BD: I would like to think she would have catered to my generation. More mature. I know she lived to sing. She believed it was a gift from God. As a matter of fact, I think she probably would have given us a crazy Gospel album.
DP: What is something you learned about Whitney as a performer that you didn’t know before starring in this show?
BD: That all she really just wanted to do was sing.
DP: Are there any future goals you hope to accomplish with this production?
BD: I recently did this show in Cape Town in an arena that not a lot of local artists can pull off, and it sold out. It’s only 5,000 full, but I want to do bigger than that. I know what you’re thinking, I’m just a tribute, but I want more people to see this show. I want people to remember her. I know no one will forget her, but when I talk about her, people always go, ‘oh, she died tragically.’ She was also the voice of my generation, and the next and the next. She was so ahead of her time, and I want people to remember that. So, the more people I reach the better.
DP: What about in regard to your career overall?
BD: Of course, I will release my own music. I’m going to step away eventually from this show and accomplish my other dream, but being the age that I am, I want to see how long I can do it. It’s a challenge in itself to sing 21 of her songs and dance in high heels five nights a week, but I love it!
Facebook @BelindaDavidsMusic, Instagram @ImBelindaDavids, TikTok @BelindaDavids76, or BelindaDavids.com.
