Whitney Houston

Released: December 10, 2002

Songwriter: Tweet Missy Elliott Kenny Bereal Charlie Bereal

Producer: CKB Missy Elliott

[Intro]
Oh baby, baby, oh baby, yeah, yeah, yeah
Such a pleasure loving you, it's all mine
I smile each day away
I feel better knowing you
Ooh, you've got me thinking

[Verse 1]
It's better to give than take
I don't have to beg you to
You're so good to me
Carries me from day to day

[Pre-Chorus]
I appreciate the things you do
Ooh, but there's one thing
I have to tell you boy
I take your actions
But I love the things you say

[Chorus]
I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

[Verse 2]
Lovely letters come from you
At times, I know I don't deserve you
Any weather, you'll come through
Ooh, you've got me gleaming
I feel more than I'm not worth it
You're my treasure
I'll take you over anything
As pleasing on this earth

[Pre-Chorus]
I appreciate the things you do
Ooh, but there's one thing
I have to tell you boy
I take your actions
But I love the things you say

[Chorus]
I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

[Bridge]
Every word that you say
Makes the day much brighter
Melody that you play
I, I hear right away
And my heart is lighter
Sweet to my heart, boy

[Chorus]
I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

I listen to the things you say
Ooh, you're calling me oh, oh, oh, oh
I listen to the things you say to me baby
In a poem or a card, serenade my heart

[Outro]
The things you say

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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