CSPC: Whitney Houston Popularity Analysis

Selling high amounts of albums and singles with the same material is a tough target. This being said, The Bodyguard managed it perfectly. The lead single I Will Always Love You sold an absurd total of 10,56 million physical units, making it the highest selling single studied so far and replicating the album achievement, an unreal result. Just like in the album front, it tops none other than the Grease Soundtrack lead single, You’re the One That I Want. The Top 10 prior to this article is displayed below.

1 1978 Soundtrack – You’re the One That I Want [Grease] – 10,400,000
2 1997 Céline Dion – My Heart Will Go On [Let’s Talk About Love] – 8,100,000
3 1984 George Michael – Careless Whisper [Make It Big] – 6,500,000
4 1975 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody [A Night At The Opera] – 6,400,000
5 1999 Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time […Baby One More Time] – 6,000,000
1 1992 – Soundtrack / Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You [The Bodyguard] – 10,560,000
2 1978 – Soundtrack – You’re the One That I Want [Grease] – 10,400,000
3 1968 – Beatles – Hey Jude [Orphan] – 8,200,000
4 1997 – Soundtrack / Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On [Let’s Talk About Love] – 8,100,000
5 1963 – Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand [Orphan] – 7,800,000
6 1977 – Soundtrack / Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive [Saturday Night Fever] – 6,470,000
7 1975 – Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody [A Night At The Opera] – 6,400,000
8 1984 – George Michael – Careless Whisper [Make It Big] – 6,290,000
9 1999 – Britney Spears –  …Baby One More Time […Baby One More Time] – 6,000,000
10 1979 – Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven [Spirits Having Flown] – 5,640,000

Whitney Houston sold way more singles during the 90s than just this one with at least 2 songs from each era topping the million mark. With 7,44 million units sold combined, My Love Is Your Love hits performed incredibly well.

The Bodyguard (1992) – 4,074,000 equivalent albums

I Will Always Love You – 10,560,000
I Have Nothing – 1,150,000
I’m Every Woman – 1,440,000
Run to You – 290,000
Queen of the Night – 140,000

NB: Song It’s Gonna Be a Lovely Day which isn’t from Whitney Houston sold 300,000 units, adding 90,000 units to the album as we will see in final totals.

The Preacher’s Wife (1996) – 741,000 equivalent albums

I Believe in You and Me – 1,110,000
Step by Step – 1,280,000
My Heart Is Calling – 80,000

My Love Is Your Love (1998) – 2,232,000 equivalent albums

It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay – 1,450,000
Heartbreak Hotel – 1,600,000
My Love Is Your Love – 2,640,000
When You Believe – 1,320,000
If I Told You That – 130,000
I Learned from the Best – 300,000