B-side "After We Make Love" Recorded 1989–1990 | Released April 16, 1991 (USA) Genre R&B | |
Format CD single, Cassette single, 7" single Length 5:42 (Album Version)
5:00 (Radio Edit)
4:35 (Promo Edit) | ||
"Miracle" is the third single from Whitney Houston's multi-platinum third album, I'm Your Baby Tonight. It was written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. The single reached #9 on the US Hot 100 (becoming her 13th Top Ten hit), #2 on the R&B Chart, and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Contents
Composition
During an interview with Jet Magazine on its June 14, 1991 issue, Houston said that she did not intend the song or the video to be about abortion: “I think about the air we breathe, the earth we live on. I think about our children. I think about a lot of things, things God put here for us to have, things that we need and we take for granted. I think all of these things are miracles and I think we should try to take better care of them,” she notes.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone editor James Hunter praised Houston's performance of the ballad: "when L.A. and BabyFace follow her into ballad-land on the despondent "Miracle," Houston's own moods call the shots more clearly." Allmusic editor Ashley S. Battel called this ballad a high point of the album and praised the lyrics "the powerful verses surrounding a love lost through one's own devices in 'Miracle.'" Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne called the melody of this song "indiscernible" and that the song itself is "nonentity."
Chart performance
"Miracle" entered The Billboard Hot 100 at 63, and stayed on the chart for 14 weeks. On the Radio & Records Airplay chart the single debuted at #39 on the December 4, 1991 issue, after four weeks on the chart it reached and peaked at #12 staying there for two weeks, the song stayed on the top 20 of the chart for five weeks and remained on it for nine weeks.
Music video
The video shows Houston by herself in an empty studio singing the song. As she sings the first verse of the song, sad images of people facing prison sentences, living in poverty and having an abortion are shown. During the second verse, the images shown gradually changes to a lighter tone with pictures of children growing up, winning a competition, graduating school and enjoying their lives as young adults. The video ends with various pictures of children smiling.
Due to the manner of the music video, it was widely believed that the song was about a girl who had an abortion but later feels she made a mistake. Houston, however denied it in during an interview with Jet Magazine.
Track listing & format
Side A: "Miracle" - 7 Inch 45 RPM—5:43
Side B: "After We Make Love" - 7 Inch 45 RPM—4:59
"Miracle" - CD, Single, Promo (Radio Edit)