I'm Every Woman

In the United States, "I'm Every Woman" reached number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot Soul Singles,{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=321}} and number thirty on the disco chart.{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=144}} In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number eleven.

A music video was produced for Khan's version of "I'm Every Woman" at a time when the value of promotional films was increasing. The video, which features five dancing Chakas dressed in various outfits to represent "every woman", was made a few years before the onset of mainstream coverage of "music promos" through such outlets as MTV, VH1, and BET.

In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked "I'm Every Woman" number 11 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|author=Slant Staff|title=The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/100-greatest-dance-songs/|magazine=Slant Magazine|date=June 15, 2020|accessdate=April 10, 2025}} In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it number 27 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|first1=Jon|last1=Dolan|first2=Julyssa|last2=Lopez|first3=Michaelangelo|last3=Matos|first4=Claire|last4=Shaffer|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=October 30, 2022}}

• Lead and background vocals by Chaka Khan
• Background vocals by Will Lee and Hamish Stuart
• Produced by Arif Mardin
• Drums by Steve Ferrone
• Bass by Will Lee
• Guitars by Hamish Stuart and Phil Upchurch
• Piano by Richard Tee
• Engineer by James Douglass

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Chaka Khan|title=I'm Every Woman|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=12760-1562-1|access-date=June 16, 2023|note=Sales since November 14, 2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Chaka Khan|title=I'm Every Woman|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2024|access-date=October 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Chaka Khan|title=Ain't Nobody|award=Platinum|relyear=1983|certyear=2025|access-date=April 27, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I'm Every Woman

| cover = Whitney Houston - I'm Every Woman.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Standard artwork (U.S. edition)

| type = single

| artist = Whitney Houston

| album = The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album

| B-side = Who Do You Love

| released = January 2, 1993

| recorded = August 19, 1992{{cite web | url=https://www.whitneyhouston.com/track/im-every-woman-clivilles-cole-house-mix-edit/ | title=I'm Every Woman (Clivilles & Cole House Mix I Edit) * Whitney Houston Official Site }}

| studio = Tarpan Studios, San Rafael, CA, Ocean Way

| venue =

| genre =

• Dance-pop
• house{{cite magazine|first= Randy |last= Clark |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cash Box |date= January 23, 1993 |page= 5 |access-date= November 1, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-01-23.pdf}}

| length = 4:47

| label = Arista

| writer = {{hlist|Nickolas Ashford|Valerie Simpson}}

| producer = {{hlist|Narada Michael Walden|David Cole|Robert Clivillés}}

| prev_title = I Will Always Love You

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = I Have Nothing

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|H7_sqdkaAfo|"I'm Every Woman"}}}}

}}

American singer and actress Whitney Houston recorded "I'm Every Woman" for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Houston's version was produced by Narada Michael Walden, with additional production by David Cole and Robert Clivillés from C+C Music Factory. Recorded during Houston's pregnancy with Bobbi Kristina Brown, it was released as Houston's second single from the soundtrack on January 2, 1993, by Arista Records. Her version adds the introduction "Whatever you want, whatever you need..." where Houston contributed to the song. Randee St. Nicholas directed the music video for the song, featuring a pregnant Houston. A live performance of "I'm Every Woman" was included in the 1999 release Divas Live '99 as a duet with Chaka Khan. A 1994 performance was included on the 2014 CD and DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-her-greatest-performances-mw0002759110|title=Live: Her Greatest Performances|author=Andy Kellman|work=AllMusic}}

When "I'm Every Woman" was released, Houston's preceding single, "I Will Always Love You," was still at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 (it remained there for eight more weeks). Houston's version of "I'm Every Woman" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in just its seventh and eighth week of release; remaining in the top 40 for nineteen weeks. In doing so, Houston became only the first female artist since Donna Summer in 1979 to have multiple songs inside the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and the fifth overall artist to do so joining Elvis Presley, The Beatles and The Bee Gees.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1993-02-20 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 20, 1993 |accessdate=March 23, 2025 |title=Billboard Hot 100™ }} The song became number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart,{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=124}} reached number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=263}} and cracked the top 40 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Houston's cover was also a bigger international hit than the original version as it peaked within the top 5 in the UK and several other countries, and the top 20 in France, Australia, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Contrary to popular belief, Houston did not perform backing vocals on Khan's original 1978 version. Chaka Khan confirmed this in an interview with Lester Holt in 2012.{{cite web|last=Holt|first=Lester|title=Chaka Khan: Whitney like a sister|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/46358465#46358465|work=NBC Today Show|publisher=NBC|access-date=February 12, 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} As a tribute to her, however, Houston proclaims Khan's name towards the end of the song.

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised Houston's cover version of "I'm Every Woman", stating that it's a "first-rate" urban pop song "that skillfully capture[s] Houston at her best."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bodyguard-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000180918|title=The Bodyguard [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=AllMusic|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}} Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Utilizing the original version's instantly recognizable vocal arrangement, Houston belts with unbridled confidence and power."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= January 23, 1993 |page= 80 |access-date= October 26, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-01-23.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Randy Clark from Cash Box named it a "dance-inspired tune", noting its "discotheque feel and obvious dance floor appeal. Although Whitney is the strongest aspect of this song, the combination of her voice and the house jam should launch this track high onto various charts and playlists alike." Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Amy Linden praised the cover as "triumphant". She explained, "To take on another diva's material requires the female equivalent of cojones, and Houston (wisely) doesn't muck around with the original's overall tone or arrangement. But she sure does it justice, even adding a sly Chaka shout-out as the cut fades."{{cite web|first=Amy|last=Linden|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/12/04/bodyguard-soundtrack/|title=The Bodyguard (soundtrack) - EW.com|work=Entertainment Weekly's EW.com|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-date=July 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712082553/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312588,00.html|url-status=live}}

Alan Jones from Music Week felt the singer "does her best to xerox the performance of Chaka Khan."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= February 6, 1993 |page= 10 |access-date= March 24, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-02-06.pdf}} Nancy Culp from NME said her "Whitney-ed version" is "well over the top and she carries it decently, but lacks the real soul to give it punch."{{cite magazine|first=Nancy|last=Culp|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52745899613/|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=November 21, 1992|page=34|access-date=March 29, 2023}} Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "Though not as exuberantly sexy as the original, her version [...] is a respectable imitation."{{cite web|first=Stephen|last=Holden|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/20/arts/record-brief-944292.html|title=Record Brief|date=December 20, 1992|work=The New York Times|author-link=Stephen Holden}} A writer from Rolling Stone called it an overwrought remake and added that Whitney undermined her soul roots.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/whitney-houston/albumguide|title=Whitney Houston: Album Guide | Rolling Stone Music|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324201944/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/whitney-houston/albumguide|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=March 24, 2014}} USA Today complimented the song, "She adds surprises: Chaka Khan's 'I'm Every Woman' becomes sweaty house music."{{cite web|url=http://www.whitney-fan.com/music/reviews/36/65|title=The Bodyguard Soundtrack|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004042556/http://www.whitney-fan.com/music/reviews/36/65|archive-date=October 4, 2011}}

The accompanying music video for "I'm Every Woman" was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, and features a very pregnant Houston performing the song, while scenes from The Bodyguard are intercut into the clip. The video also features cameo appearances by Houston's mother Cissy Houston as well as by Chaka Khan, Valerie Simpson, Martha Wash and labelmate TLC. The song won Houston an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video, and received a Grammy Award nomination in 1994 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The video was later made available on Houston's official YouTube channel in 2009 and had generated more than 100 million views as of June 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_sqdkaAfo|title=Whitney Houston - I'm Every Woman (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube|date=November 14, 2009|access-date=February 27, 2024}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• CD single

1. "I'm Every Woman" – 4:45
2. "Who Do You Love" – 3:55

• European CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (7" single) – 4:44
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
3. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

• UK CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (7" single) – 4:44
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:40
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
5. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's Beat) – 4:11
6. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

{{col-2}}

• US CD maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:40
2. "I'm Every Woman" (album version) – 4:45
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
5. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix II) – 10:54
6. "Who Do You Love" – 3:55

• US 12" maxi-single

1. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's House/Club Mix) – 10:14
2. "I'm Every Woman" (Every Woman's Beat) – 4:11
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix I) – 10:37
4. "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole House Mix II) – 10:54
5. "I'm Every Woman" (The C & C Dub) – 10:03
6. "I'm Every Woman" (a cappella) – 4:27

{{col-end}}

• Performed by Whitney Houston
• Produced by Narada Michael Walden
• Additional production and remix by Robert Clivilles and David Cole
• Vocal arrangement inspired by Chaka Khan
• Additional vocal arrangement and production by Robert Clivilles and David Cole
• Percussion by Bashiri Johnson
• Roland TR-909 Programming by Louis Biancaniello, James Alfano and Chauncey Mahan
• Recording engineers – Matt Rohr, Marc Reyburn
• Additional production recording engineers – Acar S. Key, Richard Joseph
• Mixing engineer – Bob Rosa
• Executive producers - Clive Davis, Whitney Houston

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Every Woman|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2022|id=12760-1531-1|access-date=March 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Every Woman|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|certyear=2019|access-date=March 8, 2022|refname=riaa}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

France + 50.000

After the popularity of the Whitney Houston version, The Oprah Winfrey Show unveiled its "I'm Every Woman" campaign in the 1993–94 season, using a cover version with remade lyrics in promos{{cite book |last1=Rexroat |first1=Jennifer L. |editor1-last=Cotten |editor1-first=Trystan T. |editor2-last=Springer |editor2-first=Kimberly |chapter='I’m Everywoman': Oprah Winfrey and Feminist Identification |title=Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture |date=11 December 2009 |pages=19–32 |doi=10.14325/mississippi/9781604734072.003.0003}} and an instrumental rendition used as the theme song. Girls Aloud covered "I'm Every Woman" on the UK Discomania album released in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4448435-Various-DiscoMania|title=DiscoMania (2004, CD)|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=Discogs.com|date=June 21, 2004 }} In 2006, it was recorded in the fifth season of American Idol by Mandisa, and put on the album American Idol Season 5: Encores.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/American-Idol-Season-5-Encores/dp/B000FIM2EO|title=American Idol Season 5 Encores|date=October 20, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=Amazon.com}} Country pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift also recorded the song when she was trying to get a record label.{{Cite web|url=https://www.celebuzz.com/|title=Celebuzz|website=Celebuzz.com|access-date=October 20, 2021}}

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1978 (U.S.)
• List of UK top 10 singles in 1989
• List of number-one dance singles of 1993 (U.S.)
• Top 50 Singles of 1993 (UK)
• List of RPM number-one dance singles of 1993
• Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1993
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1993

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Chaka-Khan-Im-Every-Woman/master/348178 I'm Every Woman (Chaka Khan)] at Discogs
• [http://www.discogs.com/Chaka-Khan-Im-Every-Woman-Remix/master/348180 I'm Every Woman (Remix, Chaka Khan)] at Discogs
• [http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-Im-Every-Woman/master/51736 I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston)] at Discogs

{{Chaka Khan}}

{{Whitney Houston}}

{{Whitney Houston Singles}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1978 songs

Category:1978 debut singles

Category:1993 singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Chaka Khan songs

Category:Whitney Houston songs

Category:Songs written by Nickolas Ashford

Category:Songs written by Valerie Simpson

Category:American dance-pop songs

Category:American house music songs

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:Music videos directed by Bruce Gowers

Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas

Category:Song recordings produced by Arif Mardin

Category:Song recordings produced by Narada Michael Walden

Category:Song recordings produced by Robert Clivillés

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Music Week number-one dance singles