Greatest Love of All

The harmony of 'Greatest Love of All' reflects Michael Masser's background in sophisticated pop songwriting. The verse's chromatic descending bass line is the song's harmonic signature — a technique with roots in Baroque music and jazz standards that creates an elegant sense of inevitability. The chorus employs a deceptive cadence (V to iii) that delays tonic resolution, building emotional tension before the final IV–V–I payoff. The extensive use of inversions and seventh chords gives the progression a smooth, almost jazz-ballad quality while remaining fully accessible within the pop idiom. This harmonic sophistication elevates the song beyond a standard power ballad, giving Houston's vocal performance a rich, dynamic foundation.

Michael Masser was commissioned to write the theme song for The Greatest, the 1977 biographical film about boxer Muhammad Ali. Deeply moved by Ali's story of sacrifice and conviction, Masser traveled to Jerusalem seeking emotional depth and spiritual grounding for the composition. Upon returning, he partnered with lyricist Linda Creed, who drew inspiration from her own family life and personal struggles to craft lyrics centered on self-belief and the importance of nurturing one's inner strength. Together they wrote the song from the heart, creating what would become one of the most recognizable empowerment anthems in popular music.

Originally written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest and recorded by George Benson, Whitney Houston's 1985 cover transformed the song into a global number-one hit and career-defining moment. Built on a lush piano-led arrangement and Houston's extraordinary vocal range, "Greatest Love of All" became an enduring anthem of self-love and inner strength that transcends generations.