Where Do Broken Hearts Go

For the similarly titled song by One Direction, see Where Do Broken Hearts Go (One Direction song)
"Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Whitney
B-side "Where You Are" "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful"
Released February 25, 1988
Format CD single, Cassette single, 7" single
Recorded 1986
Genre
Length 4:38
Label Arista
Writer(s) Frank Wildhorn, Chuck Jackson
Producer(s) Narada Michael Walden For Perfection Light Productions
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"So Emotional"
(1987)		 "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
(1988)		 "Love Will Save the Day"
(1988)
Music video
"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" on YouTube
Whitney track listing
"For the Love of You"
(9)		 "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
(10)		 "I Know Him So Well"
(11)

"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" is the fourth single from Whitney Houston's second album, Whitney. The ballad was released in February 1988. The song was written by Frank Wildhorn and Chuck Jackson and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Wildhorn approached Jackson about the opportunity to write for Whitney Houston. He gave him the title, and Wildhorn completed the music and lyrics for the song.

Initially, Houston did not want to record the song, feeling there was no special message to convey. However, Arista Records CEO Clive Davis believed the song would go to number one if she recorded it, so she agreed. It indeed became a number one, Houston's seventh consecutive number-one single in the United States.

Critical reception

Allmusic's Ron Wynn highlighted this track.[1] Robert Hilburn described this song as a ballad "that raises questions without making you care about the answers."[2]

Chart performance

"Where Do Broken Hearts Go," released off Whitney as the fourth single in February 1988, debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, the issue date of February 27, 1988.[3] Within four weeks of its release, the single reached the top ten on the chart, and finally peaked at number one in nine weeks of chart action, the issue dated April 23, 1988, making Houston the only artist in pop history with seven consecutive No. 1 hits.[4] In addition, she became the first female artist to achieve four number-one singles from one album, Whitney.[5][6] To date, only five albums by women including Houston's, have yielded four Hot 100 number-one hits; Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl in 1988, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989, Mariah Carey's self-titled debut in 1990 and Katy Perry's Teenage Dream in 2010. Houston also holds the title for the most number one hits (7) by a female artist in the 1980s, shared only by Madonna.[7] The song stayed on the top for two weeks and spent 18 weeks on the chart.[8] It entered the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (formerly "Hot Black Singles") at number 60, the issue date of March 5, 1988 and nine weeks later reached a peak of number two (behind "Nite and Day" by Al B. Sure!), becoming Houston's ninth R&B top five hit.[9][10] On the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart, the single peaked at number one, the issue dated April 2, 1988, and remained there for three weeks, making it her sixth No. 1 single on the chart.[11][12] It was ranked number 33 and 47, on the Billboard Top Pop and Top Black Singles year-end charts for 1988, respectively.[13] The single also placed at number two on the Top Adult Contemporary Singles year-end chart of the same year.[14] In Canada, the song entered RPM Top 100 Singles chart at number 76, the issue date of March 5, 1988, and peaked at number six on the chart on May 14, 1988, becoming Houston's eighth top ten hit in the country.[15][16]

Worldwide, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" was not as commercially successful as her previous singles from the album Whitney. The single debuted at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart, the week ending date of March 12, 1988, and three weeks later reached a peak of number 14 on the chart.[17][18] In Ireland, it peaked at number two, the highest chart position of the song outside the United States.[19] The song also reached number 48 in Australia,[20] number 24 in Italy,[21] number 47 in the Netherlands,[22] and number 23 in New Zealand.[23] The song was very popular in the Philippines, and it became one of the main focus of the 2014 indie romantic film That Thing Called Tadhana.

Music video

The music video (directed by Peter Israelson) features Houston breaking up with a boyfriend and reflecting on happy memories; asking herself the title question, "where do broken hearts go?" At the conclusion of the music video, the couple reunites.

The video was moderately controversial since the ambiguous ethnic background of Houston's love interest highlighted the racial sensitivities that accompanied Houston's success during the 1980s. The singer had been criticized for "selling out" and "acting white." A mostly-black audience jeered when "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" was nominated for an award at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards.

Charts and certifications

Chart positions

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[20] 48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 28
Canada (RPM)[16] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 2
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[21] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 47
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 23
Spain (AFYVE)[27] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[30] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1988) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 33
US Black Singles[31] 47
US Adult Contemporary Singles[32] 2
US Pop Singles[33] 33

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/whitney-mw0000190356
  2. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (June 1, 1987). "Album Review : Houston: Commercial Sparkle, Artistic Fizz". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of February 27, 1988". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 27, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  4. ↑ Jan DeKnock (April 22, 1988). "Whitney Houston Sets A Record". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of April 23, 1988". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 23, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  6. ↑ Craig Halstead & Chris Cadman (2003). Jacksons Number Ones. hertford: AuthorsOnLine Ltd. p. 78. ISBN 0-7552-0098-5.
  7. ↑ Lisa D. Campbell (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden Publishing Company, Inc. p. 162. ISBN 0-8283-1957-X.
  8. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of April 30, 1988". Billboard. April 30, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  9. ↑ "The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart listing for the week of March 5, 1988". Billboard. March 5, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart listing for the week of May 7, 1988". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 7, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  11. ↑ "The Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of April 2, 1988". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 2, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  12. ↑ "The Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of April 16, 1988". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 16, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  13. 1 2 "The Insider: Music Charts of 1988 (page 1)". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. December 30, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  14. ↑ "The Insider: Music Charts of 1988 (page 2)". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. December 30, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  15. ↑ "The RPM Top Singles chart listing for the week ending March 5, 1988". RPM. 47 (20). March 5, 1988. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  16. 1 2 "The RPM Top Singles chart listing for the week ending May 14, 1988". RPM. 48 (4). May 14, 1988. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive: the week ending date March 12, 1988". The Official Charts Company. March 12, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive: the week ending date April 2, 1988". The Official Charts Company. April 2, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "The Irish Singles Chart searchable database". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  20. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  21. 1 2 "Tutti i successi del 1988". hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  22. ↑ ""Where Do Broken Hearts Go" performances on the Dutch Singles Chart". dutchcharts.nl. April 23, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  23. ↑ ""Where Do Broken Hearts Go" performances on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart". charts.org.nz. June 12, 1988. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Whitney Houston – Where Do Broken Hearts Go" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Whitney Houston – Where Do Broken Hearts Go". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  27. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 693. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Whitney Houston. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Whitney Houston. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ". Billboard.BIZ. 1988-12-31. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  32. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ". Billboard.BIZ. 1988-12-31. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  33. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ". Billboard.BIZ. 1988-12-31. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
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