Whitney Houston

Released: November 6, 1990

Songwriter: Sam Dees

Producer: Narada Michael Walden

[Verse 1]
I hope that you realize baby, just what you mean to me
Hey you where I run for cover, your loving shelter for me
And when I find myself needing some lifting up
One night with you and that always is enough
Hey you make being in love, a true rare affair
So take me I'm your prisoner

[Chorus]
Will you sentence me to be your lover for life
Your lover for life
Will you sentence me, I want to be you lover for life
Your lover for life

[Bridge]
I just want to hear you say
You'll be my lover, lover for life
Capture, there's no getaway
You're my lover, my lover for life

[Verse 2]
Under your spell or under my own power
It really doesn't matter to me
See I fell in love the first time I saw you
And have been falling in love ever since
You heard my testimony, you've seen my evidence
Hey, it's a crime of passion, in every sense
And justice won't be served, till you stay here in my world
Take me I'm your prisoner

[Chorus]
Will you sentence me to be your lover for life
Your lover for life
Will you sentence me, I want to be you lover for life
Your lover for life

Known across the pop culture spectrum as the “Queen of Pop” and “The Voice” for her mezzo-soprano octave, Whitney Elizabeth Houston left an indelible impression upon pop culture. She is one of the most successful artists of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide.

Born August 9, 1963, Houston grew up singing as part of the gospel choir at her local church. She was surrounded by powerful voices in her own family (mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, godmother Darlene Love, honorary aunt Aretha Franklin). After working as a model and commercial actress in the early 1980s, Whitney was discovered during a New York City nightclub performance, which led to her signing a contract with Clive Davis at Arista Records. Whitney’s first song was a duet in 1984 with Teddy Pendergrass on “Hold Me.”

She released her self-titled début album the following year, which catapulted her into superstardom as the album topped the Billboard 200 for 14 non-consecutive weeks before becoming the top-selling album of 1986, eventually achieving diamond status in the US and selling over 22 million copies worldwide. The singles “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved platinum status. The music video for “How Will I Know” received heavy rotation on MTV, which was uncommon for Black women at the time. She took home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for “Saving” in 1986; her performance at the Grammys of “Saving” later won her an Emmy award. She also won seven American Music Awards between 1986 and 1987.

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