Hot on the heels of her successful season in the City of Gold, Belinda Davids is back to bring The Greatest Love of All to Durban.
A phenomenal vocalist, world traveller and all-round fierce South African woman, Belinda has wowed fans across the world with her tribute show to the late, great songstress Whitney Houston. The award-winning entertainer, whose roots lie in the small coastal town of Port Elizabeth – and a little bit of Durban – is returning for two nights of glitz and glamour that’ll see her take family, friends and local fans on a joyful journey of nostalgia featuring some of Whitney’s greatest hits.
Energetic and infectious, Belinda knew, by the time she was eight; she wanted to be a singer just like her idol! Dreams do come true, and now she shares her amazing voice with audiences around the world through The Greatest Love of All: a Whitney Houston Tribute Show that (for the last two years) has already wowed fans across Scandinavia, Singapore, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, America, Philippines, Iceland, Dubai, Canada and Australia, and it continues to get glowing reviews as she never fails to leave a great impression in the hearts of the people she performs for.
“I was born into music. As family of seven children, we spent much of our time in church, singing and surrounded by gospel music. I was always singing around the house and humming to music on the radio. My earliest memory goes back to when I was about five.”
Belinda says it was the responses she got from people who heard her sing that first ignited her passion. Enduring youth as a coloured girl in a difficult, apartheid-ridden South Africa, she found solace and empowerment in music – it was an equalizer, of sorts, for someone devoid of equality in her life and surroundings, an expression and a pastime that needed no resources, no special education, no permissions, just her own God-given voice.
“One of my very first LP’s was a song called Hold Me by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston. The quality and style Whitney portrayed in this song struck a chord with me, and my fascination with her grew. When I saw her for the first time in her official video recording of How Will I Know, I realized that I didn’t just want to sing like her, but I wanted to be like her. So vibrant, so innocent. Whitney made me realise my dream. I wanted to be seen by the world, just like she was and I was determined to work hard to get there.”
Fast forward 25 and along came the show Belinda believes she’d been rehearsing for her whole life. The 46-year-old single mum of two boys (Joshua and Blake) who describes her own original music as a mix of RnB and neo-soul, makes a living celebrating the memory, vocal range and heart of Whitney Houston in her worldwide tribute show while remaining distinctly herself.
“I bring myself to every performance. If you’re going to pay tribute to Whitney Houston, you have to be either as good or better. In order to do 21 songs five nights in a row and do her songs justice, I have to take care of my body. Especially on a vigorous tour, meditating is essential. I do my sun salutations every morning, and before the show some more yoga. I am very spiritual. I love inspirational books. I love to read about teachings I can pass on the others. I am also a jogger. Long jogs clear my mind as much as yoga does.”
And just what can Durban fans expect from Belinda’s tribute show at Suncoast this December?
“We have been doing this show for so long and have done nothing but grow. It’s so much better than it was the last time I was in Durban. It’s still a musical concert, but the costumes, the repertoire, the musicians and my tech team are better than ever before so it’s going to be epic!”
With family and friends still living in Durban, Belinda spent many a holiday, and has enjoyed more recent staycations, here soaking in the beautiful weather (and some much-needed Vitamin D) and laidback vibe.
“Whenever I’m in Durban, I always look for a trendy restaurant to try; I love a good shopping spree, and you’ll definitely find me at the beach. I’d love to bring my boys to Durban with me. They are total water babies!”
With a ton of obligations to fulfill before she can actually take any quality time off, Belinda says she’s most looking forward to being back at home, which is currently in Cape Town, and Christmas, a day spent with all those near and dear over lots of champagne.
“I’m a full time cook when I’m home. The kitchen is my space, my therapy. I’m also a movie buff. I’m obsessed with a good documentary. When it comes to Christmas in my home, a tree is key, decorations are key, music (Boney M and Mariah on repeat) is key, but you don’t touch my kitchen. I cook every Christmas. That’s my tradition. I like to change it up, so I might do a spit braai this year.”
Belinda recalls the holidays as a child with fond memories of her first Barbie Doll, church concerts and her grandmother.
“At the end of each year, our family would gather at my grandma’s house to read reports see who passed or failed and, if you failed, you didn’t get any gifts. Needless to say I never failed. These days, Christmas is about the freedom of the holidays, eating as much as we want, toasting to another special family gathering and giving thanks for the fact that we survived another year together.”
She’s put in a good word with Santa this year, as she’s hoping for a baby blue Bentley and busy working on her resolutions.
“Bigger is always better. That’s my focus – in my personal life and my career. My resolutions for 2023 are to be better, kinder and calmer. To go to a silent retreat, run a marathon, work on building a school, so watch this space!”
Don’t miss The Greatest Love of All: a Whitney Houston Tribute Show at The Globe at Suncoast on December 27 and 28 at 8pm. Details: ticketpros.co.za
