"Count on Me" | ||||
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Single by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans | ||||
from the album Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album | ||||
B-side | "One Moment in Time" | |||
Released | March 4, 1996 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:26 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Babyface | |||
Whitney Houston singles chronology | ||||
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CeCe Winans singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Whitney Houston,CeCe Winans - Count On Me (Official HD Video)" on YouTube |
"Count on Me" is a song recorded by American singers and best friends Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. Co-written and produced by Babyface,it is an uplifting song about leaning on a friend for support when needed. Released in early 1996,the song was the fourth single from the soundtrack album of the motion picture Waiting to Exhale ,and the second single by Houston released from that album and its soundtrack. "Count on Me" became Winans's highest-charting single on the US Hot 100,peaking at number eight. It was certified gold in the US.
AllMusic editor Craig Lytle wrote,"She (Whitney) teams with Cece Winans on the inspirational duet "Count on Me",and both accomplished singers raise all hopes with their comforting vocals." [1] A reviewer from Billboard deemed the song "torchy". [2] The magazine's Larry Flick commented,"The touch of superstar producer Babyface is,as always,unmistakable,and he excels with this song's lush string arrangement. Vocally,Houston dominates the track,though Winans makes a strong-enough impression that those who have yet to hear her fine recordings will yearn to hear more. A buddy song for the diva generation that is destined to saturate pop radio airwaves into the spring." [3]
Gil L. Robertson IV from Cash Box picked it as a "standout track" of the soundtrack album. [4] Chicago Tribune editor Greg Kot felt that Winans's is one of the few voices on the album that sounds enraptured. [5] British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five,adding,"a slightly lethargic ballad from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack but,since everything Houston touches turns to gold,put your money on this reaching the Top 10." [6] Gary Darling from The Orlando Sentinel commented that "with its swelling choruses and shouted pledges of friendship",the song "is infused with We Are the World earnestness and overkill,but the performances save it from being too treacly". [7]
The accompanying music video for the song features Houston and Winans giving a concert performance,while clips of the Waiting to Exhale feature film are sporadically mixed in. The "Count on Me" music video peaked at number one on music channels BET,MTV,and VH1.
On a Valentines Day episode of Sister,Sister ,the three principal actors:Tia Mowry,Tamera Mowry and Marques Houston,sing the song at a karaoke bar. They sing the first two verses and the chorus.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [29] | Gold | 800,000 [30] |
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "the Voice",she is one of the best-selling music artists of all time,with over 220 million records sold worldwide. In 2023,Rolling Stone named her the second-greatest singer of all time. Houston influenced many singers in popular music,and was known for her powerful,soulful vocals,vocal improvisation skills,and use of gospel singing techniques in pop music. She had 11 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the chart. Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards,16 Billboard Music Awards,two Emmy Awards,and 28 Guinness World Records. Houston's inductions include the Grammy Hall of Fame (twice),the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame,the Georgia Music Hall of Fame,the New Jersey Hall of Fame,and the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
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Priscilla Marie Winans Love,known professionally as CeCe Winans,is an American gospel singer. Winans has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards,the most for a female gospel singer;31 GMA Dove Awards,17 Stellar Awards,7 NAACP Image Awards,along with many other awards and honors to her credit including being one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music &Entertainment Walk of Fame. Winans is one of the greatest gospel artists of all time,and is the most-awarded and best-selling gospel act of all time.
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