Is Clive Davis trying to stoke a diva songbird feud? The music producer says that Whitney Houston has a better voice than Mariah Carey. "In my opinion, the best singers in the world are Aretha [Franklin] and Houston, Davis said, reports Hollywood.TV. "That's not to knock Carey. Carey is a friend of mine, but I think Mariah would even say those two are the best."
Not only can Houston sing, Davis boasted, she's also talking clearly. "She looks radiant and is clearly together," he said of the rehabbed songbird. "She is talking enthusiastically and is articulate."

(MSNBC)

Might as well, if that's going 2 make him happy.
I agree that Aretha is a much better singer than Mariah but Whitney? Seriously? I've never found the "wow factor" when it comes 2 her voice.

@ Clive Davis

Clive is right! Mariah can sing, but she is overrated IMO & she defenitly aint coming close to Whitney in the singing department. Whitney has the greatest voice ever.

Cinnamon234 said:

I wouldn't be quick to say that Whitney is the greatest, but in her prime you couldn't touch that girl. I do hope and pray that her voice hasn't been totally destroyed by ciggs, drink, and drugs. We shall see.

As for Clive, he's the man. One of the few legends the business has left. This man is no joke. He brought to you via the industry - Santana, Springsteen, Billy Joel, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Pink Floyd and Chicago just to name a small few. He and Arif Mardin alone,what they brought to the industry ....damn.

His love for Whitney is on his sleeve. He wants her to come back with all the force that she once possessed . So he's got to go there and say these things. He's the one that could set her up to do it. However, she has got to put the work in as well.

Kissmequick said:

Her voice is completely ruined, I think. And so is Mariah's

Whitney has more power in her voice.
Mariah makes better albums.

theodore said:

I hope not, but you may be right. Oh well for a miracle. I'd like to see her get her act together and do well.
[Edited 3/27/07 11:40am]

theodore said:

actually, it sounds like he was being diplomatic while expressing who his 2 favorites are. he was trying to express an opinion about the best while stifling a potential feud.

Is this from an interview, or did he just call up some reporter and stir some shit up?

Well first of all i hope he is just talking about RB singers, I'll give him Aretha but Ann Wilson and Annie Lennox would destroy Whitney in a second, plus they are more soulful. I dont think Mariahs voice is shot, she has just changed her way of singing, i have seen her live many times recently and the vocals are there, so to say Mariahs voice is shot is insane. As far as Whitney i havent heard her sing in a long time, but we all know that drink and smoking and drugs do not help your vocals though they help creativity, vocals will be diminished from years of this, look at any rock vocalist that has had drug/drink issues.

CinisterCee said:

it's actually from an old statement that he released to the media about Whitney's "comeback" album about 2 years ago.

Clive has been taking a couple of jabs at Mariah ever since she declined him when she was a free agent.

She just picked Def Jam over J Records 'cause the 1st offered her an independant contractor status.

dammme said:

And she writes her own songs...

Personally i prefer Whitney Houston, not just because of the voice, but her whole persona...



I`m curious how her voice will sound on the new album.

theodore said:

Yeah well, that wasn't his attitude when he was all over her step lane back when she got outta Sony and Virgin,,,he wanted her in J Records SO bad, but she turned him down

Hype hype hype,,,,thats all what he is about, nothing more.

theodore said:

He talks about Whitney like she's a RETARD? He ain't praising her,,,,he's DISSING her

This grandpa,,,,,

Harlepolis said:

I thought the same thing. He sounds crazy talking about a grown woman like that no matter what her past tribulations may have been.

But I need to hear Whitney. She was having some vocal limitations long before she went through her rehabilitation.
[Edited 3/27/07 15:41pm]

Cinnamon234 said:

...except Whitney can't sing a high note as perfect as Mariah!
[Edited 3/27/07 15:53pm]

Kissmequick said:

1. Don't forget about Sly & The Family Stone. Clive was involved with that band signing to CBS Records (Sony Music). Also The Isley Brothers' T-Neck label was also connected to CBS Records under Clive's watch during the 70's.

2. Whitney's comeback will be successful because Clive is the one calling the shots again. Without Clive influences, Whitney would still be marry to Bobby Brown right now.....and yes, please quote me!

TonyVanDam said:

No, she cannot.

mariah and whitney have nothing on Aretha. Its all too glosy to be called soulfull. Would either of them make a song like Dr Feelgood? too much syrup for my liking. But where are the women who get nasty vocally while leaving their clothes on these days?

theodore said:

Like hell! Mariah still possess the 8th octave vocal range.

3121 said:

Agree. In fact, neither Whitney OR Mariah can mess with Chaka Khan OR Teena Marie neither.
[Edited 3/27/07 17:15pm]

TonyVanDam said:

Who said it was 8 octaves?

It isn't. The highest note she's sung is a G#7, and that was back in 1991, I don't think she can go that high now.

I'd take Whitney over Mariah any day. Whitney can sing softly without resorting to that damned whisper voice. Also, in her prime, Whitney made singing look so ridiculously effortless (a lot like Roger Federer in tennis the last few years).

All is know is that Aretha is light years ahead of both Whitney and Mariah. Not even close.

Icicle said:

Wow! Whitney looks just like Dionne Warwick on this pic. She’s a great singer who deserves another chance. I hope she can come back as strong as ever. Her Christmas cd ‘One Wish’ (12.03) is really nice.

Stax said:

Aretha is the one! OTOH, neither Whitney nor Mariah have ever sounded as awful as the Queen does "singing" "A House Is Not a Home" on the Luther tribute CD. That shit is painful!

AlexdeParis said:

Exactly!!! You never see Whitney waving her arms around on stage like she's having a damn seizure like so many of these other "Divas" tend to do. Whitney never needed to do all that. All she has to do is stand there and sing. She makes hitting those high notes look ridiculously easy. Nobody is f-ing with Nippy period!

AlexdeParis said:

as soon as i posted that comment i thought i should have specified Arethea "in her prime" ...

I do think Whitney's voice is better than Mariah's... at least it WAS, hopefully she hasn't smoked it out completely