On first appearance it’s clear how far
holographic technology has come since
previous iterations like Tupac’s holographic stint
with Snoop Dogg at Coachella in 2012, with
little of the flickering unreality audiences expect.
Houston’s appearance in a gold gown looks
magically realistic.
The limits are more apparent as the concert
goes on, with the projection beam visible
and Houston’s movements minimal, but
those shortcomings are unlikely to bother the
hardcore fans the tour is likely to draw.
Houston was never one for elaborate
choreography or flashy moves anyway, and her
small gestures — a quivering jaw on long-held
notes, fluttering fingers for vocal flourishes, are
all captured here.
“Whitney didn’t dance a lot, but when she did do
her little moves, they were so perfectly Whitney,”
said Fatima Robinson, who choreographed the
show. “We did lots of studying her behavior in
her videos. We would study her movements, and
find the best moments in some of the live videos
that just really embody her.”
The show still features plenty of dancing, via
four backup dancers and two moving backup
singers, all of whom occasionally interact with
the hologram.
But Houston mostly preferred to let her voice
do the work, and that part of the show works
seamlessly, through a blend of studio takes
and live performances. Close listeners may
think they’re hearing the album version of a hit
before it swerves into seemingly spontaneous
moments that give it a live feeling.