| The Bodyguard World Tour | ||||
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The promotional poster for the UK leg of the tour |
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| Tour by Whitney Houston | ||||
| Associated album | The Bodyguard Soundtrack | |||
| Start date | July 5, 1993 | |||
| End date | November 21, 1994 | |||
| Legs | 7 | |||
| Shows | Over 58 in North America 16 in Japan 37 in Europe 2 in Brazil 5 in South America 3 in South Africa Over 121 in total |
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| Whitney Houston tour chronology | ||||
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The Bodyguard World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by R&B singer Whitney Houston in support of her The Bodyguard album. It was Houston's fourth world tour and by far her most extensive. The tour kicked off on July 5, in Miami, Florida. Spanning two years, Houston played North America twice, Europe, Japan, and made her first appearances in South America and South Africa.
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With the enormous success of The Bodyguard movie and soundtrack, Houston went on an extensive world tour to support her projects. The opening date was in Miami on July 5, 1993. Houston received a lot of flak for showing up late and then telling a fan who wanted an autograph to sit down.[1] Houston played five nights at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and then played six nights at the Sands Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Most of the shows during this 1993 US leg were in theaters because Houston wanted an intimate setting. During the US leg, Houston took a break to fly over to Europe to accompany husband Bobby Brown on his tour. Gospel act Angie & Debbie Winans were the opening act for the 1993 US leg. During the second North American leg in 1994, Houston performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the Rose Bowl Stadium. During that time, the singer had throat ailments and had to cancel eight shows during that time, all of which were rescheduled a month later.[2] The tour was a big success. Many shows were among the highest grossing shows of their week. The grossings helped Houston make Forbes Magazine's Richest Entertainers list. Houston earned over $33 million during 1993 and 1994, the third highest for a female entertainer.[3]
1993
1only performed in North America and on select dates in Europe
2only performed on select dates in North America and Europe
1994
1only performed in South America
2only performed on select dates in North America and South America
November 8, 12, 19, 1994
During the first North American leg, gospel act Angie and Debbie Winans were the opening acts. Smoothe Sylk was the opening act during the second North American leg. Unlike her previous tour, this tour did not focus as much on the entertainment aspect. Houston borrowed some of then-husband Bobby Brown's own concert dancers. However, the show was about The Voice.
As always, the concerts allowed her to arrange her material into more informal settings than the original recordings. During her first Radio City performance, Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote that "her stylistic trademarks -- shivery melismas that ripple up in the middle of a song, twirling embellishments at the ends of phrases that suggest an almost breathless exhilaration -- infuse her interpretations with flashes of musical and emotional lightning." [4] At one of her Atlantic City dates, Kevin L. Carter of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Houston handled her songs "with subdued emotionalism and the intelligence that only a gifted musician can bring to a song.[5]
"Saving All My Love for You" was turned into a "smoky saloon-style ballad".[6] Many critics noted that the highlight of the show was when Houston took on "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls, and "I Loves You Porgy" from Porgy and Bess. Stephen Holden wrote of the medley that "her voice conveyed authority, power, determination and just enough vulnerability to give a sense of dramatic intention".[4] As always, Houston included gospel songs. She introduced her band while performing "Revelation". Houston spoke about the Lord before going into "Jesus Loves Me" which was often accompanied with complete silence from the mesmerized crowd.[7] During the last couple of years, since her marriage to Brown, the tabloids generated many stories about Houston and Brown. The New York Post created a rumor that the singer had overdosed on diet pills, leading to a lawsuit filed by Houston. During her shows, while performing her love medley, Houston often denied tabloid rumors. Houston often brought her husband and baby to the stage with her to prove that they are a happy family and that the tabloids are wrong. Many critics felt that these tabloid stories helped her sing with more conviction and emotion. According to some critics, Brown's presence made "All the Man That I Need" a more stirring performance leading up the emotional high of "I Have Nothing",[8] while others felt they were unnecessary, cheesy moments.[9] Many critics praised her Aretha Franklin medley that she performed at certain shows. Houston performed "Ain't No Way", "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". According to Jon Beam of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Aretha Franklin medley was a triumph of substance over style. He wrote that "She seemed a natural instead of a studied singer doing "A Natural Woman," and "Do Right Woman" was a right-on, soulful country-blues song, with a traditional call-and-response between Houston and her backup singers."[10]
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | |||
| July 5, 1993 | Miami, Florida | United States | James L. Knight Center |
| July 6, 1993 | |||
| July 8, 1993 | |||
| July 11, 1993 | Vienna, Virginia | Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts | |
| July 12, 1993 | |||
| July 14, 1993 | Mansfield, Massachusetts | Great Woods | |
| July 15, 1993 | |||
| July 20, 1993 | New York City, New York | Radio City Music Hall[11] | |
| July 21, 1993 | |||
| July 23, 1993 | |||
| July 24, 1993 | |||
| July 26, 1993 | |||
| July 28, 1993 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Sands Atlantic City | |
| July 30, 1993 | |||
| July 31, 1993 | |||
| August 1, 1993 | |||
| August 3, 1993 | |||
| August 4, 1993 | |||
| Europe | |||
| August 13, 1993 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Parken Stadium |
| August 15, 1993 | Kolding | Kolding Stadion | |
| North America | |||
| August 22, 1993 | Los Angeles, California | United States | Hollywood Bowl |
| August 23, 1993 | San Diego, California | Embarcadero Marina Park South | |
| August 25, 1993 | Cerritos, California | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | |
| August 27, 1993 | |||
| August 28, 1993 | |||
| Asia | |||
| September 1, 1993 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Jo Hall |
| September 2, 1993 | |||
| September 6, 1993 | Tokyo | Budokan | |
| September 7, 1993 | |||
| September 9, 1993 | |||
| September 10, 1993 | |||
| September 13, 1993 | |||
| September 14, 1993 | |||
| September 16, 1993 | Nagoya | Rainbow Hall | |
| September 17, 1993 | |||
| September 19, 1993 | Yokohama | Yokohama Arena | |
| September 20, 1993 | |||
| September 22, 1993 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Dome | |
| September 24, 1993 | Yokohama | Yokohama Arena | |
| September 27, 1993 | Tokyo | Budokan | |
| September 28, 1993 | |||
| Europe | |||
| October 7, 1993 | Milan | Italy | Mediolanum Forum |
| October 8, 1993 | |||
| October 10, 1993 | Zurich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| October 11, 1993 | |||
| October 13, 1993 | Berlin | Germany | Deutschlandhalle |
| October 14, 1993 | |||
| October 16, 1993 | Stockholm | Sweden | Stockholm Globe Arena |
| October 17, 1993 | Gothenburg | Scandinavium | |
| October 19, 1993 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum |
| October 22, 1993 | Heerenveen | Netherlands | Thialf |
| October 23, 1993 | Maastricht | MEEC | |
| October 25, 1993 | Frankfurt | Germany | Festhalle |
| October 27, 1993 | Birmingham, England | United Kingdom | National Exhibition Centre |
| October 28, 1993 | |||
| October 30, 1993 | |||
| October 31, 1993 | Sheffield, England | Sheffield Arena | |
| November 2, 1993 | |||
| November 3, 1993 | |||
| November 5, 1993 | London, England | Earls Court Exhibition Centre | |
| November 6, 1993 | |||
| November 7, 1993 | |||
| November 9, 1993 | Dublin | Ireland | Point Theatre |
| November 10, 1993 | |||
| November 12, 1993 | Ghent | Belgium | Flanders Expo |
| November 15, 1993 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de los Deportes |
| November 16, 1993 | Barcelona | Palau Sant Jordi | |
| November 18, 1993 | Metz | France | Le Galaxie |
| November 19, 1993 | Stuttgart | Germany | Schleyerhalle |
| November 21, 1993 | Linz | Austria | Sporthalle |
| November 23, 1993 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| November 24, 1993 | Dortmund | Westfalenhalle | |
| November 26, 1993 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy |
| November 27, 1993 | |||
| November 29, 1993 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| November 30, 1993 | |||
| South America | |||
| January 16, 1994 | Sao Paulo | Brazil | Morumbi Stadium |
| January 23, 1994 | Rio de Janeiro | Praça da Apoteose | |
| April 14, 1994 | Santiago | Chile | Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo |
| April 16, 1994 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Estadio José Amalfitani |
| April 17, 1994 | |||
| April 21, 1994 | Caracas | Venezuela | Poliedro de Caracas |
| North America | |||
| April 24, 1994 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | Hiram Bithorn Stadium[12] |
| June 17, 1994 | Hartford, Connecticut | United States | Hartford Civic Center |
| June 20, 1994 | Uniondale, New York | Nassau Coliseum | |
| June 23, 1994 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | The Spectrum | |
| June 24, 1994 | Providence, Rhode Island | Providence Civic Center | |
| June 26, 1994 | Cleveland, Ohio | Richfield Coliseum | |
| June 27, 1994 | Detroit, Michigan | The Palace of Auburn Hills | |
| June 29, 1994 | Dayton, Ohio | Ervin J. Nutter Center | |
| July 1, 1994 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Target Center[13] | |
| July 2, 1994 | Chicago, Illinois | Rosemont Horizon | |
| July 5, 1994 | Atlanta, Georgia | The Omni | |
| July 8, 1994 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Cajundome | |
| July 11, 1994 | Denver, Colorado | McNichols Arena | |
| July 13, 1994 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Pan American Center | |
| July 17, 1994 | Pasadena, California | Rose Bowl (World Cup) | |
| August 12, 1994 | Las Vegas, Nevada | MGM Grand Arena (rescheduled from July 19)[2] | |
| August 14, 1994 | San Jose, California | San Jose Arena (rescheduled from July 21)[2] | |
| August 16, 1994 | Portland, Oregon | Memorial Coliseum (rescheduled from July 26)[2] | |
| August 17, 1994 | Tacoma, Washington | Tacoma Dome (rescheduled from July)[2] | |
| August 19, 1994 | Sacramento, California | ARCO Arena(rescheduled from July)[2] | |
| August 21, 1994 | Anaheim, California | Arrowhead Pond (rescheduled from July 16)[2] | |
| August 23, 1994 | Phoenix, Arizona | America West Arena (rescheduled from July)[2] | |
| August 25, 1994 | Houston, Texas | The Summit (rescheduled from July 8)[2] | |
| September 1, 1994 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Sands Atlantic City | |
| September 3, 1994 | |||
| September 4, 1994 | |||
| September 7, 1994 | |||
| September 9, 1994 | |||
| September 10, 1994 | |||
| September 16, 1994 | New York City, New York | Radio City Music Hall | |
| September 17, 1994 | |||
| September 20, 1994 | |||
| September 21, 1994 | |||
| September 27, 1994 | |||
| September 28, 1994 | Radio City Music Hall(rescheduled from September 23)[14] | ||
| September 30, 1994 | Radio City Music Hall(rescheduled from September 24)[14] | ||
| Africa | |||
| November 8, 1994 | Durban | South Africa | Kings Park Stadium |
| November 12, 1994 | Johannesburg | Ellis Park Stadium | |
| November 19, 1994 | Cape Town | Green Point Stadium | |
Houston's November 12, 1994, date at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, was broadcast live on HBO, Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa. The special was later released on home video. There is also a recording of her show in Brazil floating around.
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