Merv Griffin Show- Whitney Houston and Cissy Houston sings Sweet Baby/You Send Me/Aint No Way 1983

[Hunkola]

Cissy was a beast on the mic !!

[mdouglas32]

This is still unbelievable to me! i feel like Whitney is still here with us!

[woolyhairs]

Whitney is marvelous but how good is Cissy !!!!!!

[wwwTHEROZESCREWcom]

R.I.P Whitney. We will miss you. We're praying for you mother and daughters strength now that they are without you..until you meet again. Please check out our respectful tribute to Whitney Houston on our page

[MrAeryk1971]

You all know that Cissy was the one hitting those high notes on the original Aretha Franklin version of "Ain't No Way", right?

[Trinacria1973]

was her father white?

[terelle18]

@Trinacria1973 No, her dad was black.

[false7sab]

Classic!!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful video! They sound great singing together! Sadly, it reminds me of the duets my Mom and I used to perform. May God give Cissy the strenghth to go on as Whitney rests in peace.

[awomanwonderful]

mother and child..beautiful.

[MyAmysBad]

This was beautiful & I never realized that Cissy had such a pretty voice...I had only heard Cissy on that one track she had on Whitney's second album. I wonder if today Cissy has any regrets that she allowed her beautiful, wonderful blessing of a daughter to enter the dungeon of show business & if she had to do it all again, would she have changed her decision. I mean it's so sad. Whitney could've stayed a catalogue model & actress or sang Gospel & still made a decent living.

[TheLanard]

@MyAmysBad Whitney wanted nothing else but to be a star. Once she started singing lead in church, she knew it was calling. Whitney knew very well what she was getting into, for Cissy schooled her on the REAL business. She saw first hand, but still wanted it. She just didn't know how much of her soul was for sale. Sad, but true.

[calidreamer082]

Ain't No Way...damn!! I got chills. I wish they'd sung that song to completion too. Sorry but Aretha ain't got nothing on Whitney.

[steph2buysell]

DAMN!!!! I wanted to hear her finish AINT NO WAY... Whiteny Looks like she was just about to TARE IT UPPP

[straycat316]

How very beautiful and touching!!

All my sympathy to Cissy.

RIP Whitney

Love

[Tinaorangeful]

Love this, mom and daughter, Cissy and Whitney Houston, you can't beat this! Lovely! Very strong, talent to inspire others, that's what God wants! he put them together for us to learn and live by! Love much Love always to Cissy, Whitney their family friends, Enjoy all!

[greatbydesign33]

I wanted Whitney to finish singing and sing the whole song "Aint No Way".

Her version was other worldly. It surpassed Aretha's version.

[kittieflower]

A parent should never have to bury a child. God Bless the family,

[fradaja]

HAIRS!!!



[cedniv26]

All I can say is WOW! So much talent gone. I prayed for Whitney's family before this happened and I will continue to pray for them.

[vanksism]

God knows burying a child is something no parent should ever have to do, but a force and talent to be reckon with like Whitney must have been 10 fold the pain. My condolences to the Houston family.

[2tim149]

Ok. Now I see Whitney in Bobbi Kristina. You just have to look back.

[KEVINCURTISLIVE]

So so so so much talent...such a blessing...we miss you Whit

[cntrygal2007]

One word: WOW!!

R.I.P. Ms Whitney Houston.

May God keep a watch over your family during this difficult time.

[door2wisdom]

Whitney in a class of her own,absolutely beautiful.

[Bandtrip50]

Wow! Cissy was wonderful! A great teacher for Whitney!

How cute Whitney was!

RIP Whitney!

[anewbginN]

what great harmony. i can imagine the sing a longs they shared growing up. Awww, she will miss her daughter immensely.

[DianaNYC72]

Rest in peace, Whitney. Your legacy will live forever.

[josipmickovic]

čarobno

rip

[blacksultan85]

great mother and daughter duo!!!!!!!!!!!

[mzbabygirl32]

GOD Please put your Loving Arms around Cissy Houston, Bobbi Kris and the whole Houston, Brown and Warrick family.

[honney1169]

Cissy also sang background for Aretha. She is the opera background solo on Ain't No Way, as demonstrated here.

[TheDeidrestephen]

she was the voice

[TheDeidrestephen]

she was the voice

[patterson11207]

Wow at cissy. First time I ever saw nippy got out sang. Rip Whithey

[consuelo14]

wow! cissy was something else with those high notes...

[koenhouse]

WOW Cissy can SING SO WELL!! Whitney definitely got her voice from her mother! :)

[ramonadiaz333]

@koenhouse she sang back up for Elvis Presely

[jixxxxer17]

God Bless Whitney's Family and Music has lost the greatest voice we will ever hear :(

[tytheeman20]

I just realized Cissy is 30 years older than Whitney. And, Whitney was 30 years older than Bobbi Kristina. Bobbi Kristina won't be able to do with her mother what Whitney did with hers...

[tytheeman20]

A 78 year old Mother losing her 48 year old daughter. So sad. I hope she can pull through and it doesn't take a toll on her health.

[scheckdj]

@tytheeman20 I can't imagine how devasted she must be - So Sad!!

[chgosatrap]

@tytheeman20

That is what I have been worrying about.

[watdah311]

Oh wow .... Cissy's real good!! Now I see where Whitney got so much of her soul from.

[smokeyfan]

WOW what a mother-daughter tandem...Whitney had a God given, natural talent but still was a little GREEN and in need of polish. Cissy THOUGH...was a consummate and seasoned professional. SHE DID THAT!!!!

[DetroitLives313]

Love this !

[jaziec36]

SHE WAS A TRUE FORCE !!!!

[1iutub1]

Jesus loves she, this i know. she is with him now.

[porgynbess]

I am gonna miss that voice....

[D84D]

clone time.

[070150537]

Where's the revive button?

[UniqueMonique513]

I got goosebumps.. pure talent

[gurumayi00]

Her poor mother. She must be beside herself with grief.  So, so sorry for your loss Cissy.

[candacesuero]

Cissy and Whitney's voices are so alike, its insane

[EMCEMITCH]

R.I.P. dear heart

[oigls1]

Jeez!! I never heard her mom sing before. Now I see where I see where she gets her talent from!! Wonderful!!

[ronfrankl]

Cissy was performing at NYC jazz clubs like Sweetwater's around this time, and Whitney would join her for part of her set. Their voices blend so perfectly.

[bugietube]

How beautiful. Now is the time in Consumerist America when they will finally say lots of nice things about you...Bless you, Whitney; and bless everyone a bit who loved you through all...and understood your trials.

[MsToiBox]

She will be missed...



[kmeccat]

gorgeous girl with a gorgeous voice.

RIP Whitney.

[babsandgirly]

rest in peace Whitney. I loved your voice. This is a great video.

[ThatGuyTooHigh]

damn....RIP

[thabigcohuna]

as good as whitney is she was no match for Cissy right here she was killing those high notes, WOW

[WONDERBOY8332]

@thabigcohuna whitney obviously holdin back she was trained to not outsing etc etc

[thabigcohuna]

@WONDERBOY8332 Ive seen whitney outsing many of duet partners

[eyeshine1]

Mother & Daughter...Power Combination

[MarkRahilly]

when they were playing everywhere in manhattan uptown downtown big small they did it all...

don't have to settle for those crumbs now they are baking the bread! babeeee!

[ariesfire041]

Chile I'm gon' SMACK Cissy!!! She is the birth mother of the incomparable "VOICE"!! Cissy is a beast! Yes Yes!!!!

[anjelheaven]

@ariesfire041 lmfao you are hilarious. 

[twanbiz2]

WHAT...that run at 228 that Cissy did....woooow. sounds like somethin ive heard Whitney do.  That is truly where Whitney gets it from

[Vincent50]

When I found out that Cissy was the voice behind Aretha that hit those high notes in the song "Aint No Way" I was shocked! The things you learn as time goes by. In this clip both Whitney and Cissy were simply awesome!!!!!

[nippoessa]

The Best Soulful Perfomance Ever !

[mafiosoginger]

cissy is always with her, from the beginning .. every step

[Vogueboyzz]

Two legends ! That's what I call music ! Outstanding singers in every way !

[Ceedsmith]

The first song is called Since You Been Gone.

[Maria1Silva]

tá explicado ! é de familia esse talento ,essa voz linda que Deus deu, a mae dela arrasa né!!!!!!!

[kmaur21]

Cissy was just warming up she did even get into higher octaves the woman ain't no joke.

[iloveabba91]

Wow, now I know where Whitney's head voice come from.

[kmaur21]

@iloveabba91 Yep and superhead voice too!

[ZeusClaxton]

I wonder what goes through Whitney's mind whenever she sees these great performances with her mom....Love them

[ciarra06283]

Wow! Just....wow I've ALWAYS wondered if they ever sang together, too..wow

[zordonesses]

Cissy Houston Hit those high notes, Beautiful to watch this. Thanks so much for posting this video.

[Shrinksjp]

Cissy sang backup for th egreat Connie Francis.

[deepkeel65]

@Shrinksjp: She also sang backup for Elvis Presley for awhile.

[tipofmytongue1024]

Cissy harmonizes sooo well with Whitney, gives me goosebumps

[BrownSouth]

Wow, I wonder how Cissy sounded when she was Whitney's age. She is tearing that stage up and she doesn't look young.

[pannoni1]

@BrownSouth Check out some of the Drinkard Singers/Sweet Inspirations clips and you'll see those pipes at work!

[kmaur21]

Notice Whitney takes the higher key 3:30 I love how the switch high soprano parts in their harmonies and it hard to tell who singing higher sometimes cause both sopranos are very high.

[DDDD1980]

Sing Cissy! By the way that piano is way too loud! Cissy is quite the singer, never knew, and her soprano is beautiful!

[pooney4]

Those high notes of Cissy's...Gets me every time...

[Woozyb123]

I think Whitney wuld hav succeeded even BETTA without Bobby! She wuld hav been way betta, and maybe in a betta situation now!

[traboe]

Cissy sound like she could sing some opera with them notes in AInt NO Way

[dagll]

@traboe

Cissy was classically trained as a soprano as well! I believe she sung on the original by Aretha also..

:)

[fenyx327]

Miss Cissy voice SLAYS on them background notes during Ain't No Way! And you wonder where Whitney gets it from?

[xXAussieXPrideXx]

Cissy is amazing, but nothing like her daughter

xx

[xXAussieXPrideXx]

Cissy is amazing, but nothing like her daughter

xx

[17Tazia]

Wow that was absolutely beautiful.

[samstorch1]

Whitney is very good!

[CoolMec21]

I love this, because they used to perform in nightclubs together before whitney got big....and its just like mother and daughter doing another number together!!

[ICANDIGUOUT]

sang whitney & cissy...pure class & sensuality

[pure92766]

again @charlesbarry i listened to jean carn version but it doesnt even touch whit at her best sorry!

[pure92766]

@ charlesbarry listen to whitney and mary j blige sing aint no way and ill listen to jean carn to see whats up!

[kmaur21]

Jeane Carne rendition is very good and the only one I rank up there with Whitney's but Long Island 1994 rendition Whitney does buts her to shame for sure.

[twanbiz2]

Cissy is killin that soprano harmony at the end....i see where Whitney gets a lot of her technique and different inflections from.....amazing

[hoggyo3]

THEY SOUND ALOT ALIKE!

[AbeokutaCity1]

LOVELY!

[CharlesBarry]

As always Cissy was great on Ain't no way ! just wanted to say I really like it sung by Jean Carn best ! check Jean out on YouTube and let me know what you think !!!!!

[jonhi1]

Yes sit!! it run in the family..

[kmaur21]

Yep Whitney looked like Momma hit that high note heffa!

[ssaturn]

she made her mama so proud

[uncoverbrother]

can somebody please tell me what they're saying at 4:00? it's bugged me for years! even when aretha sings it, i can't make it out.

something like: "your love is a silly millimeter longer".

any other guesses?

[CamWrightborn2sing]

thats what their saying! there was an old commercial back in the 60s for a cigarette bradn named 101 (most cigarettes were 100 mm) so the phrase was "a silly millimeter longer 101" so I guess aretha put it in her song!

[uncoverbrother]

@CamWrightborn2sing

aww thanx! after all these years i can now sing along, guilt-free!

[NeyBethSton]

They say "love me a little millimeter longer"

[Tatiana708]

Sweet merciful Lord.... CISSY! My God, that soprano on "Ain't No Way."  You can clearly tell Whitney is a little tentative, a little intimidated by her mom, but who wouldn't be when having to sing with THAT power and range?

[kmaur21]

Know Whitney ain't her soprano was higher than Mom's here. Whitney was proud in fact cause that where her soprano comes from her Momma!

[raquelmjackson]

This is just great!!! Puts a smile on my face to see the two of them kicking it together. Love WHITNEY!!!!

[wizpro]

Yall bettah sang!!!...

[skidiva1]

That's Cissy singing the background on the original "Ain't No Way" with Aretha.

[ynothouser]

Cissy killing it love her and her baby, like mother like daughter!

[bla2706]

wow great

[jurray1987]

damn!they were killin it

[hansiclever]

What a revelation! I love both, Whitney and Cissy.

[donidoni11]

LUV IT

Cissy & baby !!

AMAZING

[qCLEFJones]

Cissy is still making my mouth drop!!! wow!!!

[froggypimper]

WOW!!! look where Whitney got it from!!!

[cristianoactur]

uf cuantos años ya no

[SeveralMimi]

CIssy's high soprano here touches me everytime.

[kmaur21]

True soprano right along with Nippy!

[uprayup]

@SeveralMimi Yes! and it gives me the chills. No one can do it like her.

[nyppyn]

Thanx to WWM, withouti him/her, I would not be able to see this video I really was waiting for to one day, ;) xoxo

[stvndggs]

its weird to see THIS particular whitney lol...bcuz i know she was jus a kid here so of course her confidence level wasnt up there...she seems a lil intimidated by her moms prescence lol...its cute to see...ive heard her do this song and she TORE IT UP!!!!! she sung AINT NO WAY with mary j. blige at the DIVAS LIVE 99 concert YOUTUBE it and see what i mean...

[nippyme]

lol yeah thats cute & I noticed it as well...

[WoodeytheBigEyedOne]

Carolyn wrote the song, but Cissy hit the notes.........can't you tell by this performance ! It even states this in her own autobiography.

[mbenz64]

Hello Hottrico.. Carolyn wrote the song, but in the liner notes on Aretha's Greatest hits album, It clearly states that the operatic voice on this song IS "Cissy Houston"

[Detroitstarr]

Look how pretty Sissy was 26 years ago -- now we know where Whitney got her good looks!

[bertram404]

Cissy Houston I have never heard it like that.... you sound better than the original.

[vanswilson]

Cissy Houston sang background on the originals of the songs in this medley along with the three other Sweet Inspirations - Sylvia, Estelle & Myrna (on Aretha Franklin's versions). On Ain't No Way that's Cissy hitting the high notes in the background of the song behind Aretha. Some musical history - at one point in the industry the Sweet Inspirations (led by Cissy) were the top female background session singers in the world.

[kmaur21]

Thank you Cissy in my book is the original Queen of Soul. I love Ree but no one not even Patti could mess with Prime Cissy Houston voice thats true. Like Whitney said Cissy can do wonders with her instrument. On a good day now, she still can rip it like no other. She has been singing for a very very very very long time!

[Nevascaredtotry]

Cissy hit them notes, wonder duet

[kmaur21]

Look at Whitney 1:52 how she looks like you betta hit them notes Momma!!!!!!

[kmaur21]

Please those high notes was Cissy Houston you don't know what your talking about. Cissy was the only soprano in that era who can hit those notes besides Denise Williams and Minnie Ripperton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kmaur21]

How you think Whitney learned how to do those opera high notes from her Momma and lessons. Those sopranos can sing as high as they want in prime. Both Cissy and Whitney were the highest soprano voices.

[babyboi1002]

@kmaur21 those are two different types of notes...Denise and Minnie hit whistle notes.....Cissy hits high soprano opera notes....two different notes...sung two different ways

[TheLanard]

@babyboi1002 You're right. Finally, someone who knows what he's talking about. Thanks, babyboi.

[Gary2837]

@babyboi1002 Minnie was a coloratura soprano and Cissy was a first soprano. Both could have blasted the opera world wide open!

[nippyme]

love this video.....whitney the BEST!!

[kmaur21]

Notice in the beginning of you send me Whitney singing higher. They switch soprano notes cause there both first sopranos with coloratura abilities!

[soulshock4444]

they both sang the evil out of that ain't no way song. that opera voice of cissy's is beyond amazing

[kmaur21]

Oh 3:48-3:50 thats Whitney doing that high part in head voice not Cissy. I always thought it was Cissy but it is Whitney. That some good singing if you can tell who is doing what in the harmony. Amazing. Listen to how quick there switching soprano notes.

[nippyme]

1:29-1:30 I love how whitney sounds when she sings "there just aint no way" her voice sound so mature and unreal for her age!!