About the song
In 1992, Whitney Houston embarked on a remarkable musical journey with her contributions to the soundtrack of her debut film, *The Bodyguard*. Originally, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin was slated to be the film’s main theme. However, it had already been earmarked for another movie, *Fried Green Tomatoes*, prompting a search for an alternative song from Houston’s repertoire. It was then that Kevin Costner, her co-star in the film, suggested “I Will Always Love You,” a song originally written and performed by Linda Ronstadt in 1975.
Produced by David Foster, the song underwent a transformation into an R&B ballad that perfectly complemented Houston’s powerful vocals. Despite initial skepticism from her record label about the song’s potential success in this genre, Houston and Costner stood firm in their decision. Notably, Houston wasn’t the only artist to record the song for the film; a version by John Doe played in a scene where Houston and Costner danced together.
Upon its release, Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised her vocal performance as nothing short of extraordinary. It became a catalyst for Houston’s immense success over the next two years, earning her numerous awards including six Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, and three Grammys including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year. To date, the song has sold over 22 million copies worldwide, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling singles of all time and the best-selling single by a female artist in music history.
The song’s chart performance was equally stellar. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 14 weeks in the US, surpassing Houston’s previous record of 3 weeks with “Greatest Love of All.” Internationally, it achieved near-total chart domination, reaching number one in nearly every country it charted including lengthy reigns atop the European Hot 100 Singles for 13 weeks, 10 weeks in Australia, 7 weeks in Belgium, 8 weeks in France, 6 weeks in Germany, 8 weeks in Ireland, 2 weeks in Italy, 6 weeks in the Netherlands, 11 weeks in New Zealand, 9 weeks in Norway, 6 weeks in Sweden, and 10 weeks in the United Kingdom.
“I Will Always Love You” not only propelled Whitney Houston to unprecedented heights in her career but also left an indelible mark on the global music landscape, solidifying its place as a timeless classic cherished by audiences worldwide.
Video
Lyrics
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you every step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You
My darling, you, mm, mm
Bittersweet memories
That is all I’m taking with me
So goodbye, please don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you, you need
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I, I will always love you
You
Darling, I love you
I’ll always, I’ll always love you