Reception The Greatest Love of All

1 reception

1.1 critical reception
1.2 chart performance
1.3 accolades

reception
critical reception

many critics called song centerpiece of houston s debut album. stephen holden of new york times wrote houston sings forceful directness gives message of self-worth astounding resonance , conviction , called song compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, , family loyalty, @ once. don shewey of rolling stone wrote song builds, houston pours on soul, slips in churchy phrasing, holds notes little longer , shows off glorious voice. however, reviewers more critical. describing houston s performance straight-faced , armond white wrote [w]e had laughed @ song during seventies mawkish ode self-involvement, not dreaming ever taken seriously. last year laughed again—nervously—because houston seemed using theme song own aggressive ambition.

chart performance

benson s 1977 version r&b hit, reaching number 2 on r&b chart. moderate pop hit, making top 40 on billboard hot 100. houston s version reached number 1 on hot 100 chart 3 weeks in 1986. single fourth hit (and third number 1) debut album. date, song second longest stay atop chart, behind 1992 s love you. song reached number 1 on both component charts, hot 100 singles sales , hot 100 airplay, second consecutive release so, , stayed 14 weeks inside top 40. on other billboard charts, houston performed well, reaching number 3 on r&b chart. song topped adult contemporary chart 5 weeks, houston s longest stay @ top of chart @ time. song ranked no. 11 on billboard s year end pop singles chart. houston s single fared globally well, reaching no. 8 in united kingdom , top ten or no. 1 in several other european countries. became first no. 1 single in australia. after death, single returned billboard hot 100, debuting @ number 41.

accolades

houston won american music award favorite soul/r&b video single, , nominated grammy award record of year , soul train music award single of year.