Have you ever wondered how “I Will Always Love You” would sound as a heavy rock song? Erik Grönwall did, and his unique rendition has become one of the most popular covers of this timeless classic.
Erik Grönwall’s career has been remarkable. After winning Sweden’s Pop Idol in 2009, he joined rock band H.E.A.T. for a decade and later became the vocalist for Skid Row, recording their first album in 16 years. Despite battling leukemia and leaving Skid Row, Erik’s pop covers on YouTube have gone viral, including his rock rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Erik Grönwall might seem like an unlikely choice to cover a Whitney Houston classic. However, his innate antithesis to the pop scene brings a refreshing charm, especially evident in his soul-stirring falsettos and captivating, angelic choruses.
Erik Grönwall begins with a tender rendition that showcases his ability to navigate Whitney Houston’s complex vocal runs effortlessly with a unique shine to each note. As he approaches the second chorus, Erik unleashes his rock star flair with a powerful falsetto “Yeahh!” before transitioning into a blissful saxophone solo.
Electric guitars surge during the song’s final chorus, enhancing Erik’s crystal-clear voice with ethereal harmonies. Remarkably, Erik reaches Whitney Houston’s iconic high notes with his powerful chest voice, not relying on falsetto.
It’s surprising that plenty of online viewers, after watching this video, admit to having no idea this man but were mesmerized by his incredible vocals and this unique rendition. Older fans also praised the performance, calling it outstanding and expressing how thoroughly blown away they were.