Celebrate (Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks song)

"Celebrate" is a duet by American recording artists Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks. It was written and produced by R. Kelly for the soundtrack album Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the 2012 musical drama film Sparkle. RCA Records released "Celebrate" as the first official single from the soundtrack. It is the last song recorded by Whitney Houston before she died on February 11, 2012. It was officially released on June 5, 2012 for digital download on iTunes and Amazon. The song made its US radio premiere on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on May 21, 2012. For the week June 16, 2012, "Celebrate" debuted at number 34 on the US Adult R&B Airplay. During that same week, "Celebrate" also debuted at number 84 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and has since peaked at number 62. The accompanying music video for the song was filmed on May 30, 2012. The video was shot over two days by director Marcus Raboy.^[1] The music video made its world premiere on BET's 106 & Park on June 27, 2012.

Background

"Celebrate" was written and produced by R. Kelly and is the last song that Whitney Houston recorded; it is a duet between Houston and R&B/pop singer Jordin Sparks.^[2] It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack album Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on June 5, 2012.^[3] It was officially released on June 5, 2012 for digital download on iTunes and Amazon. The song made its US radio premiere on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on May 21, 2012.^[4] For the week June 16, 2012, "Celebrate" debuted at number 34 on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart, having amassed 45 spins for that week ending.^[2] During that same week, "Celebrate" also debuted at number 84 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,^[5] and has since peaked at number 80.^[6] The music video for "Celebrate" was filmed on May 30, 2012.^[7] The video was shot over two days^[1] and a preview premiered on Entertainment Tonight on June 4, 2012.^[8] The music video made its world premiere on BET's 106 & Park on June 27, 2012.^[9]

Composition

"Celebrate" is a soul and R&B mid tempo song influenced by 60's themed music. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote that the song "is a relentlessly optimistic jam that seamlessly interweaves Sparks' American Idol-winning vocals with those of her idol".^[10] During the second verse, Houston sings: "Though we've been going through changes / Just trying to make it from day to day / Tonight, don't you worry about a thing / Just cast your cares away", before the chorus returns.^[10]

Critical reception

"Celebrate" received positive reviews from music critics. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard called the song "a relentlessly optimistic jam that seamlessly interweaves Jordin Sparks American Idol-winning vocals with those of her idol".^[10]

Chart performance

For the week June 16, 2012, "Celebrate" debuted at number 34 on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart.^[2] During that same week, "Celebrate" also debuted at number 84 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,^[5] and has since peaked at number 39.^[6] The song has also since made its debut on the US Adult Contemporary Billboard chart at number 26.^[11] "Celebrate" is Houston's 40th top 40 R&B hit.

Music video

Background

A shot of Sparks wearing a Whitney Houston I'm Your Baby Tonight T-shirt in a special ode to the late singer in the video.

A shot of the Sparkle cast dancing during Whitney's verse.

The music video for "Celebrate" was filmed on May 30, 2012.^[7] The video was shot over two days in down town Los Angeles and is directed by Marcus Raboy.^[1] A preview of the video premiered on Entertainment Tonight on June 4, 2012.^[8] The music video made its world premiere on BET's 106 & Park on June 27, 2012.^[9] The music video treatment originally was set to include both Sparks and Houston, But with her unexpected passing in February 2012 before the video was shot the treatment had been changed.^[12] Sparks says "When we did the song, we planned on it being Whitney and me. But she's not here, so we wanted to make it a tribute to her. So it's fun, upbeat and exciting — there are clips from the movie and the main cast is in the video too. It's me, Tika Sumpter, Carmen Ejogo, Derek Luke, Omari Hardwick ... Goapele is in it and Mike Epps. We're all just having a good time [and the premise is] they all come over to my house singing along to Whitney's music. And we're missing her and celebrating her as well. It's actually pretty simple, but when you watch it and hear her voice along with it, it makes it so much more."^[12]^[13]

Synopsis

Sparks hosts a house party at her place with fellow cast members of Sparkle in attendance. Throughout the video, Footage from Sparkle, mainly focusing on Houston, is spliced in throughout the clip. Houston's scenes in the music video show the late singer in her acting prime as she smiles in many of the clips then cries in another. The final shot of the music video is an image of Houston from the film. “Celebrate” is dedicated to Houston's memory.^[13]^[14]

Reception

The video was met with positive reception. Rebecca Ford of TheHollywoodReporter.com calls it "a very positive and uplifting video".^[13] Sabrina Rojas Weiss from VH1 said "For a while now, we’ve been thinking of Sparkle as “the movie that makes us really sad about Whitney Houston.” We probably weren’t alone".^[15] She concluded "which is why the release of the video “Celebrate” was a brilliant move".^[15] Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly praised the video saying "It feels triumphant, in a way, that they carried on [The Video] without Houston".^[16] Byron Flitsch from MTV.com says "we're really loving is the storyline that weaves in a montage of movie scenes" he went on to say "it's the emotional, almost home-movie quality honoring Whitney's on-screen presence that gets us all kinds of sentimental".^[17]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2012	Soul Train Awards	"Best Gospel Inspiration Performance"	"Celebrate"^[18]	Won
2013	Black Reel Awards	"Best Original Song"	"Celebrate"^[18]	Nominated

Track listing

Digital download^[3]

"Celebrate" – 3:35

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack liner notes.^[19]

Recorded at The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL
Mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
Lead vocals – Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks
Composition, Production, Arrangement, Co-mixing, Keyboards & Additional Vocals – R. Kelly
Vocal Production - Harvey Mason, Jr.
Guitar - Donnie Lyle
Bass - Bigg Makk
Additional Keyboards - Bigg Makk, Rodney East
Choir - Joan Collaso, Yvonne Gage, Pastor Chris Harris, Mike Harvey, Jeff Morrow, Lauren Pilot Morrow, Robin Robinson
Recording & Programming - Ian Mereness, Abel Garibaldi
Vocals Recorded by Andrew Hey at Mason Sound, North Hollywood, CA
Assisted by Davad Boyd, Micheal Daley & Dabling Harward
Engineering - John Hanes
Assistant Engineer - Phil Seaford

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[6]	39
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[20]	26
Japan Hot 100^[6]	48

Radio and release history

List of radio and release dates with formats and record labels
Country	Radio or release date	Format	Label
United States^[4]	May 21, 2012	Radio premiere	RCA Records
United States^[3]	June 5, 2012	Digital download
Canada^[21]
Mexico^[22]
Australia^[23]
Belgium^[24]
Denmark^[25]
Finland^[26]
France^[27]
Japan^[28]
Netherlands^[29]
New Zealand^[30]
Norway^[31]
Sweden^[32]
United States^[33]	June 18, 2012	Adult contemporary radio

References

Whitney Houston singles

Whitney Houston	"Hold Me" "Thinking About You" "You Give Good Love" "All at Once" "Saving All My Love for You" "How Will I Know" "Greatest Love of All"

Whitney	"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" "Didn't We Almost Have It All" "So Emotional" "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" "Love Will Save the Day" "I Know Him So Well"

I'm Your Baby Tonight	"I'm Your Baby Tonight" "All the Man That I Need" "Miracle" "My Name Is Not Susan" "I Belong to You" "We Didn't Know"

The Bodyguard	"I Will Always Love You" "I'm Every Woman" "I Have Nothing" "Run to You" "Queen of the Night"

Waiting to Exhale	"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" "Count On Me" "Why Does It Hurt So Bad"

The Preacher's Wife	"I Believe in You and Me" "Step by Step" "My Heart Is Calling"

My Love Is Your Love	"When You Believe" "Heartbreak Hotel" "It's Not Right but It's Okay" "My Love Is Your Love" "I Learned from the Best"

Whitney: The Greatest Hits	"Could I Have This Kiss Forever" "If I Told You That" "Fine" "Same Script, Different Cast"

Just Whitney...	"Whatchulookinat" "One of Those Days" "Try It on My Own" "Love That Man"

One Wish: The Holiday Album	"One Wish (for Christmas)"

I Look to You	"I Look to You" "Million Dollar Bill"

Sparkle	"Celebrate" "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"

I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston	"I Look to You"

Other/Featured/Promotional singles	"One Moment in Time" "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" "The Star Spangled Banner" "Something in Common" "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"

Book Category Portal

Jordin Sparks singles

Discography Awards and nominations Tours

Jordin Sparks	"Tattoo" "No Air" "One Step at a Time"

Battlefield	"Battlefield" "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" "Don't Let It Go to Your Head"

Right Here Right Now	"Double Tap" "Right Here Right Now" "They Don't Give"

Featured singles	"Art of Love" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"

Other singles	"This Is My Now" "I Am Woman" "Celebrate"

Promotional singles	"The World I Knew" "Angels Are Singing" "Skipping a Beat" "It Ain't You"

Other songs	"It Girl (Remix)"

Book Filmography RCA Records Jive Records

R. Kelly songs

Discography Production Discography Videography Awards and nominations

Born into the 90's	"She's Got That Vibe" "Honey Love" "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" "Dedicated" "Hey Love (Can I Have a Word)"

12 Play	"Sex Me (Parts I and II)" "Bump N' Grind" "Your Body's Callin'" "Summer Bunnies" "It Seems Like You're Ready"

R. Kelly	"You Remind Me of Something" "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" "Thank God It's Friday" "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)"

R.	"I Believe I Can Fly" "Gotham City" "Half on a Baby" "Home Alone" "I'm Your Angel" "When a Woman's Fed Up" "Did You Ever Think" "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" "Only the Loot Can Make Me Happy"

TP-2.com	"I Wish" "The Storm Is Over Now" "Fiesta (Remix)" "Feelin' on Yo Booty" "A Woman's Threat"

Chocolate Factory	"The World's Greatest" "Ignition (Remix)" "Snake" "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)"

The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1	"Thoia Thoing"

Happy People/U Saved Me	"Happy People" "U Saved Me"

TP.3 Reloaded	"In the Kitchen" "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)" "Playa's Only" "Slow Wind" "Burn It Up"

Double Up	"I'm a Flirt (Remix)" "Same Girl" "Double Up" "Rock Star"

Untitled	"Supaman High" "Number One" "Religious" "Echo" "Be My #2"

Love Letter	"When a Woman Loves" "Love Letter" "Radio Message" "Number One Hit"

Write Me Back	"Share My Love" "Feelin' Single" "When a Man Lies"

Black Panties	"My Story" "Genius" "Cookie" "Legs Shakin'"

The Buffet	"Backyard Party" "Switch Up"

Other singles	"Soldier's Heart" "Take You Home With Me (A.K.A. Body)" "Honey" "Big Chips" "Hair Braider" "Skin" "I Believe" "Sign of a Victory" "Platinum" "To the World" "I Look to You" "Bump & Grind 2014" "Ignition (Viceroy Remix)"

Featured singles	"Down with the Clique" "Street Dreams (Remix)" "Be Careful" "Friend of Mine (Remix)" "Satisfy You" "Contagious" "We Thuggin'" "Gigolo" "Hotel" "Gangsta Girl" "Till the World Ends" "So Sexy" "So Sexy: Chapter II (Like This)" "Wonderful" "That's That Shit" "Go Getta" "Speedin'" "All the Above" "Ms. Chocolate" "Throwin' My Money" "We Been On" "Do What U Want" "PYD" "Make The World Go Round" "It's Your World"

Soundtrack singles	"I Believe I Can Fly" "Gotham City" "Bad Man" "World's Greatest "I Believe" "Christmas, I'll Be Steppin'"

Other songs	"It Seems Like You're Ready" "Sadie" "TP-2" "R&B Thug" "Heaven I Need a Hug" "I Need an Angel" "Real Talk" "You Are Not Alone" "Shut Up "Betcha Gon' Know" "Marching Band" "Wake Up Everybody"

Singles written and/or produced by R. Kelly	"Back & Forth" "At Your Best" "Stroke You Up" "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" "Down with the Clique" "The Thing I Like" "No One Knows How to Love Me Quite Like You Do" "Foolin' Around" "You Are Not Alone" "I Don't Want To" "Fortunate" "808" "Cry" "Contagious" "One More Chance" "Any Time, Any Place" "Bump, Bump, Bump" "Hell Yeah" "Outrageous" "Out of this Club" "I Look To You" "Celebrate" "Sleeping with the One I Love"

Category:R. Kelly songs Category:Songs written by R. Kelly

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