I'm Every Woman
"I'm Every Woman" is the debut solo single by American singer Chaka Khan from her debut solo studio album "Chaka" (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album "Masterjam" was released in late 1979. The track was remixed and re-released in 1989 for Khan's remix album  ; this mix reached number 8 in the United Kingdom. American singer Whitney Houston covered the song in 1992 with production by David Cole and Robert Clivillés and vocals produced by Narada Michael Walden. It was a major hit, peaking at number four on both the "Billboard" Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Chart performance. In the United States, "I'm Every Woman" reached number twenty-one on the "Billboard" Hot 100, number one on the Hot Soul Singles, and number thirty on the disco chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number eleven. Music video. A music video  was produced for Khan's version of "I'm Every Woman" at a time when the value of promotional films was increasing. The video, which features five dancing Chakas dressed in various outfits to represent "every woman", was made a few years before the onset of mainstream coverage of "music promos" through such outlets as MTV, VH1, and BET. Whitney Houston version. American singer and actress Whitney Houston recorded "I'm Every Woman" for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack. Houston's version was produced by Narada Michael Walden, with additional production by David Cole and Robert Clivillés. It was released as Houston 's second single from the soundtrack on January 2, 1993 by Arista Records. Her version adds the introduction "Whatever you want, whatever you need..." where Houston contributed to the song. A live performance was included in the 1999 release "Divas Live '99" as a duet with Chaka Khan. A 1994 performance was included on the 2014 CD and DVD release, "". Release. When "I'm Every Woman" was released, Houston's preceding single, "I Will Always Love You," was still at number one on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 (it remained there for eight more weeks). Houston's version of "I 'm Every Woman" peaked at number four on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in just its seventh and eighth week of release; remaining in the top 40 for nineteen weeks. The song became number one on the "Billboard" Hot Dance Club Play chart, reached number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and cracked the top 40 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Houston's cover was also a bigger international hit than the original version as it peaked within the top 5 in the UK and several other countries, and the top 20 in France, Australia, Germany , Sweden and Switzerland. Contrary to popular belief, Houston did not perform backing vocals on Khan's original 1978 version. Chaka Khan confirmed this in an interview with Lester Holt in 2012. As a tribute to her, however, Houston proclaims Khan's name towards the end of the song. Critical reception. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the song, stating that it's a "first-rate" urban pop song "that skillfully capture[s] Houston at her best." Larry Flick from "Billboard" wrote, "Utilizing the original version's instantly recognizable vocal arrangement, Houston belts with unbridled confidence and power." Randy Clark from "Cashbox  called it a dance-inspired tune", noting "its discotheque feel and obvious dance floor appeal". He added, "Although Whitney is the strongest aspect of this song, the combination of her voice and the house jam should launch this track high onto various charts and playlists alike." A reviewer on CD Universe said the singer "continues to mine her rich vein of ornate balladry and pop-flavored dance workouts on the Ashford & Simpson original". Also "Entertainment Weekly"s Amy Linden praised the cover, adding, "Just as triumphant is her tackling of Chaka Khan's signature tune, I'm Every Woman. To take  on another diva's material requires the female equivalent of cojones, and Houston (wisely) doesn't muck around with the original's overall tone or arrangement. But she sure does it justice, even adding a sly "Chaka" shout-out as the cut fades." Alan Jones from "Music Week" stated that the singer "does her best to xerox the performance of Chaka Khan." Stephen Holden of "The New York Times" wrote, "Though not as exuberantly sexy as the original, her version of Chaka Khan's 1978 hit, "I'm Every Woman", is a respectable imitation." A writer from "Rolling Stone" called  the rendition an overwrought remake and added that Whitney undermined her soul roots. "USA Today" complimented the song, "She adds surprises: Chaka Khan's I'm Every Woman becomes sweaty house music." Music video. The accompanying music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, and features a very pregnant Houston performing the song, while scenes from "The Bodyguard" are intercut into the clip. The video also features cameo appearances by Houston's mother Cissy Houston as well as by Chaka Khan, Valerie Simpson, Martha Wash and labelmate TLC. The song won Houston a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video , and received a Grammy Award nomination in 1994 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Other versions/in popular culture. After the popularity of the Whitney Houston version, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" unveiled its "I'm Every Woman" campaign in the 1993–94 season, using a cover version with remade lyrics in promos and an instrumental rendition used as the theme song. Girls Aloud covered "I'm Every Woman" on the UK Discomania album released in 2004. In 2006, it was recorded in the fifth season of "American Idol" by Mandisa, and put on the album "". Country pop singer and songwriter Taylor  Swift also recorded the song when she was trying to get a record label. The Chaka Khan version of the song was featured in the "King of the Hill" Season 11 episode "The Peggy Horror Picture Show".