After playing one of the first LP records she owned, a song called “Hold Me” by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston resonated with her and so began her fascination with her idol, Whitney Houston. At 14 years of age, she joined a band and started singing in clubs where people remarked on how similar her voice was to that of Houston.
She has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages and gets to live her dream of singing songs of her childhood icon, but few know that when Belinda Davids steps into her home, she enjoys kicking off her shoes and being a mom to her two children.
Davids performed “The Greatest Love of All – a Tribute to Whitney Houston” at the Grand Arena at GrandWest on Saturday 2 December. This was her last performance in South Africa before heading back overseas.
People’s Post had a sit-down with Davids at the Table Bay Hotel on Tuesday 28 November.
Davids says returning to the Mother City after being abroad is always heartwarming.
“It’s always good to be home. I love walking around barefoot. It was nice to get off the plane and see my people. The first thing I do when I return home from a long trip abroad, I hug my kids and become mom.”
Davids explains that while she loves that she gets to live her dream, being away from her children is challenging. But she adds that she keeps in touch with them regularly.
“Technology is amazing these days. It allows me to call them whenever I want to.”
After playing one of the first LP records she owned, a song called “Hold Me” by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston resonated with her and so began her fascination with her idol, Whitney Houston.
At 14 years of age, she joined a band and started singing in clubs where people remarked on how similar her voice was to that of Houston.
Fast forward to today, the 47-year-old has performed on national and international stages.
In 2019, she entered the Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) competition singing Houston’s “One Moment in Time”. She went through to the semi-finals; but unfortunately, did not make the finals.
Before Britain’s Got Talent, she participated in the BBC’s Even Better Than the Real Thing, where she won.
Speaking about her BGT performance, she says: “It happened when the world just went into lockdown. That was an incredible experience to just be there and experience the first-ever virtual audience. I was nervous, not because it was BGT, but because I was representing something much bigger than me, that was special.”
Davids explains that her favourite Houston song is “Greatest Love of All”.
“That song is a full-circle moment for me from the first time I did it in primary school to the time when I performed on the same stage Whitney performed ‘Greatest Love of All’ at the Apollo Theatre. Every time I perform it on stage, I go through all those moments.”
The mother of two has opened for many international acts performing in South Africa including Michael Jackson’s History Tour, The Manhattans, The Temptations and Peaches and Herbs.
She explains that getting to live her dream still feels surreal.
“I was in Paris, and it was a sold-out show at the Salle Pleyel. It’s a historical venue and we sold it out. I went live on TikTok, and I had a moment and got emotional because never did I think that I would be in Paris in places that you see on TV only.”
Davids explains while she still gets nervous, she uses it to her advantage.
“When I get to perform in new places, I get nervous. But it’s good nerves, nerves that you used to make your performance just a little better.”
The star explains that she still has a few plans this year before the year ends.
Sharing a New Year’s message Davids says: “Be better for yourself. Be more kind, do more for yourself and take care of yourself.”
