Nothing but Love World Tour

The Nothing but Love World Tour was the ninth and final concert tour by American recording artist, Whitney Houston.[2] It was her first major tour in almost a decade and was used to promote her seventh studio album I Look to You released in 2009.

Nothing but Love World Tour
Tour by Whitney Houston
Promotional tour poster
Associated albumI Look to You
Start dateDecember 9, 2009
End dateJune 17, 2010
Legs4
No. of shows35 in Europe
6 in Oceania
7 in Asia
in total 48
Box office$36.3 million ($42.56 in 2019 dollars)[1]
Whitney Houston concert chronology

Prior to Houston performing two dates in Russia mid-December 2009, the official tour started on February 6, 2010 in Asia; also visiting Australia and Europe. The tour was the 34th highest-earning of 2010, grossing over $36 million with 48 to 50 shows performed.[3]

Background

The tour was announced on October 12, 2009 on Houston's official website.[4] By way of introduction, she stated:

This is my first full tour since the My Love Is Your Love tour and I am so excited to be performing for my fans around the world after all this time. I am putting together a great show and cannot wait to perform the songs from my new album 'I Look To You', along with some of your favorites.[5]

The tour began with two rehearsal dates in Russia, under an unadvertised title.[6] At the end of the rehearsal, the tour's title was changed to "Nothing But Love World Tour" with an "official" commencement in February 2010. Houston explained the meaning behind her tour's title is how she overcame her tough times. "I chose this title because what I had under any circumstance was love […] I wouldn't have overcome tough time without my mom and my daughter. My daughter is especially like a friend who supported me and stayed with me at the studio when I was working on the album."[7]

Public criticism

On February 22, the opening night of the Australian leg of the tour suffered negative reviews from critics. Her performance in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was poorly received, and some fans reportedly walked out of the arenas. [8] Houston's vocal condition was described as hoarse. Another action which came under fire from fans was when she paused from singing her song "I Will Always Love You" for many moments while she took a drink of water.[9][10]

Houston's promoter commented that Houston smokes cigarettes and stated "It is what it is. She's comfortable with the show she's performing. She knows she's not hitting every note like she used to. But it's value for money; it's Whitney Houston warts and all."[11] Houston received a similar response during her concert at the Forum Copenhagen. Some spectators stated the performance was not up to par on what they had expected; others stated that the singer is a legend, has been on the music scene for 25 years at the time, and considering what she had been through, the performance was fine.[12] Having grossed over $36 million, the tour itself was a financial success; however, the promoter, Andrew McManus, lost $2 million bringing her to Australia.[13]

Opening acts

Set list
Houston at The O2 Arena in London
Russia
  1. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
  2. "How Will I Know"
  3. "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  4. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
  5. "My Love Is Your Love"
  6. "Saving All My Love For You"
  7. "Greatest Love of All"
  8. "All at Once"
  9. "Man in the Mirror" (contain elements from "Missing You")
  10. "I Will Always Love You"
  11. "I Love the Lord"
  12. "I Look to You"
Encore
  1. "Million Dollar Bill"
Asia / Australia
  1. "For the Lovers"
  2. "Nothin' But Love"
  3. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
  4. "My Love Is Your Love"
  5. "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  6. "If I Told You That"
  7. "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
  8. "Saving All My Love for You" / "Greatest Love of All" / "All at Once"
  9. "I Learned from the Best"
  10. "I Love the Lord"
  11. "Missing You" (contain excerpts from "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "The Way You Make Me Feel")
  12. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
  13. "How Will I Know"
  14. "I Look to You"
  15. "Step By Step"
  16. "I Will Always Love You"
Encore
  1. "Million Dollar Bill"
Europe
  1. Instrumental Intro" (contains elements of "Queen of the Night", "I'm Every Woman" and "How Will I Know")
  2. "For the Lovers"
  3. "Nothin' But Love"
  4. "I Look to You"
  5. "My Love Is Your Love"
  6. "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (contain excerpts from "Like I Never Left")
  7. "Step By Step"
  8. "A Song for You" (contain excerpts from "The Way You Make Me Feel")
  9. "Saving All My Love for You" / "Greatest Love of All" / "All at Once"
  10. "I Learned from the Best"
  11. "I Love the Lord"
  12. "I Will Always Love You"
  13. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
  14. "How Will I Know"
  15. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
Encore
  1. "Million Dollar Bill" (Freemasons Radio Edit)

Additional notes
  • December 12: the concert in Saint Petersburg, Houston performed "Step by Step", in place of "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", concerts in Korea and Japan, Houston performed "When You Believe". The concerts in Australia, Houston performed "Hallelujah!", in place of "Missing You." Houston did not perform "Step by Step" and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" during shows in Dublin and select dates in England.
  • March 1: the concert in Melbourne, Australia, Houston did not perform "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", "If I Told You That" and "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)." Additionally, she briefly performed "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Like I Never Left". The concert on March 4, at the Rod Laver Arena in Adelaide, Australia, Houston performed "Who Would Imagine a King" and "I Have Nothing" with a fan.[20]
  • April 13: the concert in Birmingham, England, Houston performed "I Am Changing." Additionally, Houston included the video interlude for "One Moment in Time".
  • April 20: the concert at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, Houston was joined on stage by an audience member to perform "Greatest Love of All". On select tour dates in Europe, Houston performed "Stormy Weather" as a tribute to legendary singer/actress Lena Horne.
  • May 1: at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, Houston did not perform "It's Not Right but It's Okay." The song was also not performed in Milan, Italy and in Zurich, Switzerland. May 3, the concert at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy and May 9, at Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, Houston began the encore with "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)", in place of "Million Dollar Bill".

Shows
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, amount of available tickets and gross revenue
Date City Country Venue Attendance Revenue
Europe[21][22]
December 9, 2009 Moscow Russia Olimpiyskiy N/A N/A
December 12, 2009 Saint Petersburg Ice Palace
Asia[21][22][23]
February 6, 2010 Seoul South Korea Olympic Gymnastics Arena N/A N/A
February 7, 2010
February 11, 2010 Saitama Japan Saitama Super Arena
February 13, 2010
February 14, 2010
February 17, 2010 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall
February 18, 2010
Oceania[21][22][24][25]
February 22, 2010 Brisbane Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre 7,386 / 7,732 $1,083,980
February 24, 2010 Sydney Acer Arena 11,157 / 11,634 $1,610,830
February 27, 2010 Pokolbin Hope Estate Winery Amphitheatre N/A N/A
March 1, 2010 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena 10,366 / 11,206 $1,375,490
March 4, 2010 Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre N/A N/A
March 6, 2010 Melbourne MCEC Plenary Hall
Europe[21][22][26][27]
April 13, 2010 Birmingham England LG Arena N/A N/A
April 14, 2010 Nottingham Trent FM Arena
April 17, 2010 Dublin Ireland The O2
April 18, 2010
April 20, 2010
April 22, 2010 Newcastle England Metro Radio Arena
April 25, 2010 London The O2 Arena 40,937 / 43,773 $5,271,620
April 26, 2010
April 28, 2010
May 1, 2010 Glasgow Scotland SECC Concert Hall 4 N/A N/A
May 3, 2010 Milan Italy Mediolanum Forum
May 4, 2010 Rome PalaLottomatica
May 9, 2010 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion
May 10, 2010 Geneva SEG Geneva Arena
May 12, 2010 Berlin Germany O2 World
May 13, 2010 Leipzig Arena Leipzig
May 16, 2010 Hanover TUI Arena
May 17, 2010 Hamburg O2 World Hamburg 6,377 / 9,953 $527,352
May 19, 2010 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle N/A N/A
May 21, 2010 Munich Germany Olympiahalle
May 22, 2010 Stuttgart Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
May 24, 2010 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis 11,629 / 12,399 $957,024
May 26, 2010 Oberhausen Germany König Pilsener Arena N/A N/A
May 27, 2010 Nuremberg Arena Nürnberger Versicherung
May 29, 2010 Mannheim SAP Arena
May 31, 2010 Frankfurt Festhalle Frankfurt
June 3, 2010 Copenhagen Denmark Forum Copenhagen
June 4, 2010
June 6, 2010 Stavanger Norway Sørmarka Arena
June 8, 2010 Stockholm Sweden Ericsson Globe
June 10, 2010 Helsinki Finland Hartwall Areena
June 16, 2010 Manchester England Manchester Evening News Arena 8,831 / 12,265 $1,087,150
June 17, 2010
TOTAL 86,683 / 108,692 $11,913,446
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
March 6, 2010 New Plymouth, New Zealand TSB Bowl of Brooklands Cancelled[28]
March 6, 2010 Perth, Australia Members Equity Stadium Cancelled[29]
March 7, 2010 Perth, Australia Members Equity Stadium Cancelled[29]
April 6, 2010 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy This performance was postponed to June 1, 2010
April 8, 2010 Manchester, England Manchester Evening News Arena This performance was postponed to June 16, 2010[30]
April 9, 2010 Manchester, England Manchester Evening News Arena This performance was postponed to June 17, 2010[30]
April 11, 2010 Glasgow, Scotland SECC Concert Hall 4 This performance was postponed to May 1, 2010[30]
April 30, 2010 Santa Cruz, Spain El Recinto de la Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz Cancelled[31][32]
June 1, 2010 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Cancelled[33]

Critical reception
Houston performing in Milan

Despite upsets from spectators, the tour received mixed to negative reviews from critics for the Australian and European legs of the tour.

  • Kathy McCabe (The Daily Telegraph) was not impressed with Houston's performance at the Acer Arena. She states, "Her acoustic set of old favourites unfortunately could not hide the very obvious problems with her voice, the strain and those coughs that punctuated the Brisbane show were back. By the time she got to the gospel section of the show a steady stream of disappointed, saddened and angry fans started streaming out the doors."[34]
  • Cameron Adams (Herald Sun) gave Houston's performance at the Rod Laver Arena a positive review, despite media upset from her performance in Brisbane. He writes, "Houston is just a more human superstar in 2010, now with added flaws that give her character. She hits all the right notes in I Look to You, the new song about what she calls her 'down times'. Indeed every time she hits a huge note her devoted audience break into applause."[35]
  • Candice Keller (The Advertiser) states that Houston still has "it" after viewing her performance at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. She continues to write, "She knows how to engage a crowd and keep the fans eating from the palm of her hand. She'll tease with a knowing and tuneful hum, or tell a story about what brought her to today."[36]
  • Kim Dawson (Daily Star) found the performance at the LG Arena "forgettable" stating, Boos and jeers of: 'Where are you' filled the arena. When Whitney returned in a much wiser choice of black sparkly frock she said: 'I heard you got a little pissed off while I changed my clothes and dried off. But I'm here now.'[37]
  • Morwenna Ferrier (The Observer) applauds Houston's concert at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham. She further writes, "She kicks off successfully with two ballads from her 2009 album, I Look to You, 'For the Lovers' and 'Nothin' But Love' (love really is a theme with Houston.) The crowd, now warmed up, begins rattling with joy as she struts around all finger-clicky, black and proud during 'It's Not Right'. The songs include moments of genuine bonkersness."[38]
  • John Meagher (The Independent) praised Houston's backing vocalist and her brother, Gary Houston for the performance at The O2 in Dublin. He continues to write, "She spends more time chatting to the audience than singing in the early stages, although her conversation rarely strays beyond the 'I love you, Dublin' type. At one point she fixates on a young girl in the front row, but what initially is charming tries the patience of the audience and eventually becomes tedious. Even the more tolerable songs -- 'My Love is Your Love', for instance -- are carried by the strength of her backing vocalists and the enthusiastic singing of the crowd. There are slivers of the super-talented young Whitney -- a high note here, a spine-tingling pause there on 'I Will Always Love You' -- but they arrive so infrequently it hardly matters. Instead, you are left with the memory of her botched attempts to wring some magic from 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' and 'How Will I Know?'"[39]
  • John Aizlewood (Evening Standard) gave her performance at The O2 Arena one out of five stars, stating "Where once she soared, now she wheezes and croaks, bludgeoning her perfect pop single I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) into karaoke submission; stripping the moving My Love Is Your Love of all emotion and inflicting grisly carnage on I Will Always Love You (if she is late-period Judy Garland, this is her Over The Rainbow)."[40]
  • Fiona Shepherd (The Scotsman) gave the show at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre two out of four stars. She writes, "It was obvious from this performance that she has lost her vocal agility, her stamina, her poise and her wits – or so it seemed from her nervous laughter, repetitive thank yous and rambling personal tributes. Her band were practiced at covering for her while she took time out to pat away the sweat, re-apply her make-up, impart another nugget of eccentric insight and generally procrastinate."[41]

Personnel
  • Musical Director: Michael Baker
  • Choreographer: Jeri Slaughter
  • Assistant choreographer: Paul Monte
  • Tour Manager: Tony Bullock
  • Drums: Michael Baker
  • Percussion: Bashiri Johnson
  • Keyboards: Jetro DaSilva
  • acoustic guitar: Jetro DaSilva
  • Bass guitar: Matthew Garrison
  • Keyboards: Shedrick Mitchell
  • Guitar: Sherod Barnes
  • Keyboards/Orchestrater: Adi Yeshaya
  • Background vocalists: Gary Houston, Sharlotte Gibson, Cindy Mizelle, Valerie Pinkston
  • Dancers: Dres Reid, Ryan Chandler, Tre Holloway, Shannon Holtzappfel

References
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. Sources for tour:
  3. "2010 Year End: Top 50 Worldwide Concert Tours" (PDF). Pollstar. January 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  4. "European Tour Dates". Whitney Houston Official Website (Press release). Sony Music International. October 12, 2009. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  5. "Whitney Houston returns to UK". The Boston Globe. October 12, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  6. Galouchko, Ksenia (December 7, 2009). "Double Date Begins Whitney's Comeback". The Moscow Times. Sanoma Corporation. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  7. "Whitney Houston to Begin World Tour in Seoul". The Dong-a Ilbo. February 3, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  8. "Comeback Whitney hits a flat note Down Under". American Free Press. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  9. Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne (February 24, 2010). "This just in: Whitney Houston disappoints in Australia, Charlie Sheen enters rehab, Placido Domingo to undergo surgery". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  10. "Whitney Houston's disappoints fans". NDTV Movies. February 25, 2010. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  11. "Whitney Houston's smoking to blame for tour problems". MSN Music. Microsoft Corporation. February 27, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  12. "Whitney Houston croons audience away". The Copenhagen Post. June 4, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  13. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/promoter-andrew-mcmanuss-year-of-dud-deals/story-e6frf96f-1226223322391/
  14. "22years on, Whitney Houston returns to Brisbane". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. November 29, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  15. "Whitney Houston". Stockholm Globe Arenas. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  16. Dutch Daily News Staff (April 2, 2010). "Waylon on tour with Whitney Houston". Dutch Daily News. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  17. "Supporting Whitney Houston in Glasgow was fantastic, says rising Scots star Alex Gardner". Daily Record. May 6, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  18. "Karima: il nuovo album, aspettando Whitney Houston" [Karima: the new album, waiting for Whitney Houston]. Virgilio Musica (in Italian). April 13, 2010. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  19. Lanz, Barbara (May 7, 2010). "Heiss auf Eis und Whitney Houston". Schweizer Illustrierte (in German). Schweizer Wochenmagazin. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  20. Bachelor, Blane; Jordan, Julie (April 3, 2010). "Whitney Houston Surprises Daughter with Cake – and Tunes – on Stage". People. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  21. "Events". Whitney Houston Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  22. "Whitney Houston: Concert Schedule". Pollstar. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  23. Sources for tour dates in Asia:
  24. Sources for tour dates in Australia:
  25. Australia Boxcore Data:
  26. Tore Lindø, Leif; Rege Olsen, Olav (November 17, 2009). "Whitney Houston til Sørmarka Arena" [Whitney Houston to Sørmarka Arena]. Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Schibsted Media Group. Archived from the original on December 22, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  27. Europe Boxcore Data:
  28. "Whitney Houston – NZ Concert Cancelled" (Press release). Wellington, New Zealand: Publicity Plus. Scoop. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  29. "Whitney Houston heads to New Zealand". TVNZ. Television New Zealand Limited. January 31, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  30. Kilkelly, Daniel (April 7, 2010). "Whitney Houston postpones three UK gigs". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  31. "Whitney Houston viajará a Tenerife dispuesta a exhibir su buena forma" [Whitney Houston will travel to Tenerife ready to show in good manner]. Paroles Paroles. April 14, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  32. Lyons, Beverly (May 1, 2010). "Music superstar Whitney Houston arrives in Scotland with a scowl". Daily Record. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  33. "Whitney Houston cancels Paris concert over illness". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 6, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  34. McCabe, Kathy (2010-02-25). "Sydney fans bail on woeful Whitney Houston". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  35. Adams, Cameron (2010-03-02). "Willing Melbourne fans urge on Whitney Houston at Rod Laver show". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  36. Keller, Candice (2010-03-04). "Whitney shows fans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre concert she still has diva quality". The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  37. Dawson, Kim (2010-04-10). "GIG REVIEW: WHITNEY HOUSTON, LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM". Daily Star. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  38. Ferrier, Morwenna (2010-04-18). "Whitney Houston: Trent FM Arena, Nottingham". The Observer. London. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  39. Meagher, John (April 19, 2010). "Review: Whitney Houston, The 02, Dublin". The Independent. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  40. Aizlewood, John (2010-04-26). "A horrible and heartbreaking evening with Whitney Houston". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 15 September 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  41. Shepherd, Fiona (2010-05-03). "Music review: Whitney Houston, SECC, Glasgow". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
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