Released on August 27, 1988, "" is more than a pop ballad; it is a global anthem of perseverance that cemented Whitney Houston as one of the most powerful vocalists of all time. Produced by Narada Michael Walden and written by veteran songwriters Albert Hammond and John Bettis , the track was commissioned as the official theme for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The Genesis of an Olympic Anthem

Decades after its debut, the song remains a staple for graduations, sporting montages, and personal milestones. Critics often point to its technical difficulty—spanning a vocal range from G3 to F5—and its dramatic key change after the bridge as proof of Houston's peerless "vocal prowess".

: It peaked at #1 in the United Kingdom and Germany. In the U.S., it reached #5 on the Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.