Naomi Ackie, Ashton Sanders, and Stanley Tucci play the great Whitney Houston and important figures in her life, respectively, in Kasi Lemmons’s new film “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” which also features a star-studded ensemble. Ackie excels in the role of Houston, which she is portraying. Ackie portrays Houston’s power, her hardship, and, most importantly, her capacity to completely alter the music industry. The two not only share an uncanny resemblance in appearance, but also in mannerisms. The question of whether the voice is similar raises with such similar looks. Is Ackie genuinely singing the songs from the movie, even if she is the ideal choice to play Houston? No, in a nutshell.
Ackie’s portrayal of Houston is spot on, but the movie will use Houston’s actual voice, according to chief music producer Clive Davis, who has indicated as much. In addition to knowing Houston for more than half her life, Davis, who played a role in her rise to fame, was also aware that it would be nearly difficult to duplicate Houston’s talent and vocal prowess. The Whitney voice will be heard in the movie, according to Davis, who told USA Today in May 2021, “We just didn’t think anyone could capture Whitney’s vocal creativity.”
Ackie spoke about her role and how difficult the eight months of preparation to portray Houston’s character were in a December interview on “Live With Kelly and Ryan.” She said, “I think it was that: knowing that so many people love Whitney and not wanting to let anybody down and trying to portray the best parts of her and the most complicated parts of her, so it took a long time.”
Since no one can sing it as well as Whitney Houston, it must be nearly impossible to hit those notes in the way Houston was able to.
The movie “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” will be released in theatres on December 23 and will allow you to relive the enchantment that Houston brought to every song and performance she touched.
