Whitney Houston returns to the stage as a hologram

Months after teasing an ambitious hologram tour, Base Hologram, alongside the Whitney Houston estate, has made its vision become a reality.

 

The L.A.-based hologram company, with the approval of the singer’s family, will be taking a digital version of the late Whitney Houston across the U.K. and Europe early next year for a 26-date trek — the An Evening With Whitney tour.

 

It will reportedly feature performances of tracks like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “The Greatest Love of All.” The hologram will be backed by her original band and backup singers—including Whitney’s brother and Pat Houston’s, the executor of Houston’s estate,  husband, Gary Houston.

 

The Houston-inspired hologram concert won’t be the first produced by Base Hologram. The company launched the North American In Dreams tour last October featuring a hologram of the legendary Roy Orbison.

 

The company was also set to launch an Amy Winehouse hologram tour in mid-2019, but it was delayed in February as it “needed to be worked on delicately and in an extremely respectful manner.”

 

How it works: 

 

It looks so lifelike because of the angle of the light and the reflective material called mylar that creates the holographic effect. 

The mylar screen is semi transparent. The mylar reflects the images where the light falls on it, but where the light doesn't fall on it, the audience can see through it. So it looks like someone is standing on the stage and there is no screen at all. 

 

The projector receives a video signal  and projects it down from the ceiling. 

The image hits a bounce screen on the floor, which then reflects the light back up into the mylar, which then reflects the image at a 45 degree angle into the audience. 

 

Controversy: 

The rise in interest for hologram tours has sparked of controversy among many music lovers, related to issues of consent, ethics and overall quality.

Would Whitney have wanted this? - There was a lot of negative backlash to a hologram of Whitney Houston doing a duet with Christina Aguilera on the Voice. The show ended up nixing the segment. 

Is it exploitative?

What will the quality of show be? 

 

Guest: Claire Allen 

CKNW Contributor

Months after teasing an ambitious hologram tour, Base Hologram, alongside the Whitney Houston estate, has made its vision become a reality.

 

The L.A.-based hologram company, with the approval of the singer’s family, will be taking a digital version of the late Whitney Houston across the U.K. and Europe early next year for a 26-date trek — the An Evening With Whitney tour.

 

It will reportedly feature performances of tracks like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “The Greatest Love of All.” The hologram will be backed by her original band and backup singers—including Whitney’s brother and Pat Houston’s, the executor of Houston’s estate,  husband, Gary Houston.

 

The Houston-inspired hologram concert won’t be the first produced by Base Hologram. The company launched the North American In Dreams tour last October featuring a hologram of the legendary Roy Orbison.

 

The company was also set to launch an Amy Winehouse hologram tour in mid-2019, but it was delayed in February as it “needed to be worked on delicately and in an extremely respectful manner.”

 

How it works: 

 

It looks so lifelike because of the angle of the light and the reflective material called mylar that creates the holographic effect. 
The mylar screen is semi transparent. The mylar reflects the images where the light falls on it, but where the light doesn't fall on it, the audience can see through it. So it looks like someone is standing on the stage and there is no screen at all. 

 

The projector receives a video signal  and projects it down from the ceiling. 
The image hits a bounce screen on the floor, which then reflects the light back up into the mylar, which then reflects the image at a 45 degree angle into the audience. 

 

Controversy: 

The rise in interest for hologram tours has sparked of controversy among many music lovers, related to issues of consent, ethics and overall quality.

Would Whitney have wanted this? - There was a lot of negative backlash to a hologram of Whitney Houston doing a duet with Christina Aguilera on the Voice. The show ended up nixing the segment. 
Is it exploitative?
What will the quality of show be? 

 

Guest: Claire Allen 

CKNW Contributor