# Whitney's "I Will Always Love You": Hog Calling at its best. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 23, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714 "2012-02-23T06:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/1 "2012-02-23T06:32:38Z")
Does anybody else cringe when they hear Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You”? Gad! I can only think of General Burkhalter’s (See _Hogan’s Heroes_) sister cackling out this monstrosity whenever I hear it. Or, perhaps Hoss Cartwright. The song, in itself should be a lament; instead we get a monster truck competition. Gotta go. Getting ready to barf. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/2 "2012-02-23T06:43:23Z")
I don’t get Monster Truck vibes from it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/3 "2012-02-23T07:15:18Z")
I think of Leela singing it to the aliens in Futurama, causing Lrrr’s wife to accuse the humans of attacking. I also think this topic is more than a little crass. Sorry to be Buzz Killington. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/4 "2012-02-23T07:55:32Z")
I think of Mark Hamill singing it on The Simpsons as the bodyguard instructor (he played himself and this role in that episode). I also think of it being played over the freeze-frame finish to the gay dating afterschool special parody they did on SNL. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/5 "2012-02-23T10:47:30Z")
I’ve always hated that song. If it comes on the radio I have to turn it off. This one’s much better… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBBlukDGx00) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/6 "2012-02-23T11:04:51Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I think of Leela singing it to the aliens in Futurama, causing Lrrr’s wife to accuse the humans of attacking. > > I also think this topic is more than a little crass. Sorry to be Buzz Killington. I thought it sucked ass when she was alive, I need to like it now she is dead?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/7 "2012-02-23T11:20:45Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I thought it sucked ass when she was alive, I need to like it now she is dead?:dubious: No you do not. She was a drunk and she was a junkie, and I cannot fathom why people are so surprised at her death. I own a book: _Rock Stars Do The Dumbest Things_, all about the excesses & stupidity of major musical talent, & she & Bobby get an entire chapter, dedicated to drugs, drink, violence & spousal abuse (mutual). **Nuts** to the Whitney-worship! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/8 "2012-02-23T12:26:10Z")
Dolly Parton’s version is lovely and poignant. Houston’s is a vocal exercise. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/9 "2012-02-23T12:32:07Z")
I’ve always thought it sounded like a dog howling. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/10 "2012-02-23T12:50:37Z")
Pepper Mill can’t stand it. Back when it first came out, they joked About it on (I think) the Tonight Show, using it as the sound for the Whitney Houston Smoke Alarm. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/11 "2012-02-23T13:02:08Z")
It sounds more like vocal warming-up exercises than actual music. And I can’t help noticing that her death has gotten more air time than a head of state. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/12 "2012-02-23T13:06:09Z")
It sure as hell got overplayed, and is one of those songs/versions that doesn’t stand up to repeated, to-death overplaying like, say Hey Yaa by Outkast or Pumped Up Kicks, weird lyrics and all, by Foster the People. We seem to have a low tolerance, as a species, for diva-based overplayed songs, like the Titanic theme by Celine Dion. If I only heard the version a few times, I would say it is an excellently-sung Gospel-style interpretation of the song. I accept the transition from Dolly’s reflective to Whitney’s triumphant/overcoming the heartache tone as part of that. I prefer Dolly’s interpretation, but thought Whitney put a different-but-legitimately different spin on it. And the irony of her triumphant tone now is…ironic. :dubious: So don’t feel the hate for the version. But man it got overplayed. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/13 "2012-02-23T13:29:45Z")
I prefer Dolly’s version, too. But I respect Whitney’s, although it has been overplayed–for a very sad reason, lately. Some folks are just too white to like it, though… ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/14 "2012-02-23T14:44:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Dolly Parton’s version is lovely and poignant. Houston’s is a vocal exercise. Agreed, Dolly’s is much better in every way. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/15 "2012-02-23T14:48:41Z")
I think its a beautiful song, sung by someone with the voice of an angel that’s now dead by slow suicide. That said I generally hate that kind of music but that song has always moved me to tears for some reason. I like Whitney’s version the best…it absolutely soars. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/16 "2012-02-23T14:51:00Z")
I like both versions, can’t really choose between them. I’m not sure why so many people seem to be aiming for “cool-kid” cred by hating Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” or snickering about her drug problems, but whatever floats your boat, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/17 "2012-02-23T14:52:14Z")
too white to like it. Bridget Burke? just because I’m white my judgement is suspect? that was sarcasm, right?whatever. I admit that Whitney had a great voice but I didn’t like her songs (do like Dolly’s version of her own song) or her vocal style, not gonna like em suddenly after her sad death. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/18 "2012-02-23T14:53:28Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I prefer Dolly’s version, too. But I respect Whitney’s, although it has been overplayed–for a very sad reason, lately. > > Some folks are just too white to like it, though… Put it back in the deck, sister. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/19 "2012-02-23T15:12:20Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > I like both versions, can’t really choose between them. > > I’m not sure why so many people seem to be aiming for “cool-kid” cred by hating Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” or snickering about her drug problems, but whatever floats your boat, I guess. No, I’ve been cool since at least 2005: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6383452&postcount=32](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6383452&postcount=32) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714/20 "2012-02-23T15:19:07Z")
I think there’s a racial/ethnic component to how people feel about Whitney Houston’s rendition of that song. No, no, I’m not suggesting anyone who hates her recording is a racist! I hate it myself! I’m just recognizing that what the OP dismisses as “hog calling” is part of a vocal style that Whitney learned while singing gospel in all-black or mostly black churches. And the prima female vocalists in a black gospel choir learn to do a lot of trilling, ululating and vocal gymnastics. People who grow up in such churches LOVE that style. People who don’t often find it, well, excessive. Some people (especially black fans) hear Whitney sing “Iiiiiiiiiiiiii… will always love YoooouuuuuuuuUUUUUUooooo…” and think it’s magnificent. Other people (primarily white) will hear it and think, “Just sing the song, and stop showing off!” Whitney sang the song exactly the way she wanted to… and we either like it or we don’t. It was a HUGE hit, so obviously somebody (make that MILLIONS of somebodies) loved it. I just wan’t one of them. WHitney had a great voice, no question, What she didn’t have was restraint. And since she had huge success WITHOUT learning restraint, where was her incentive to change? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitneys-i-will-always-love-you-hog-calling-at-its-best/613714.md?page=2)