In times of darkness—or really, if I'm being honest, at any and all times—nothing cheers me up like going down a Whitney Houston YouTube K-hole. As if you need a reason, today marks the 34th anniversary of Whitney's seminal ballad about self-love and self-care, "Greatest Love of All."

While this has never been one of my favorite Whitney songs—it's a bit schmaltzy for my tastes—it is one of her signature tunes, and until "I Will Always Love You" perhaps the song she was most identified with. Like that latter hit, "Greatest Love of All" was also a cover, of a song written by Michael Masser and originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson.

Arista head Clive Davis heard a young Whitney belting out Masser's song at Sweetwater's club in New York and was immediately blown away; he was determined to sign her. Still, Davis didn't want Whitney to include "Greatest Love of All" on her debut album, 1986's Whitney Houston. Masser, a producer on the album, and Whitney convinced him otherwise, and it was released as a B-side to "You Give Good Love."

A moderate hit for Benson, Houston's version rocketed to the top of the Billboard charts, where it remained for three weeks, becoming her third consecutive No. 1 single. And all these years later, the children are still our future. So let's take a walk in Whitney's shadow and wrap ourselves in her greatest live performances of "Greatest Love of All."

Welcome Home Heroes, 1991

Whitney was nearly upstaged by an adorable little fan who refused to get off the stage (I mean, same) during this performance at her iconic 1991 Welcome Home Heroes concert, which has some of my favorite live Whitney performances, bar none. If you feel like going off on a tangent (what else are you doing?), stick around and check out her gorgeous take on "All the Man That I Need."

Wembley Stadium, 1988

You know what a goddamn star is? Someone who can command an entire stadium of people with nothing more than a spotlight, a microphone, and a sequined jacket that I want in every color. Nothing short of brilliant.

Unknown Live Performance, 1989

At what looks to be a private ceremony—or at the very least a family affair—Whitney, introduced by cousin Dionne Warwick, sings to her mother, Cissy, whom she credits for teaching her "how to love" before blowing the roof off the sucker.

Muhammad Ali's 50th Birthday, 1992

It's a room full of the greatest! As Whitney serenades Muhammad Ali (may they both rest) for his 50th, she is in full diva mode. This is what all singers on reality competition shows think they're doing, but Whitney's control of her melisma and the entire stage were true rare gifts.

The Grammy Awards, 1987

At the 1987 Grammys, Whitney was nominated for Record of the Year for "Greatest Love of All," having won her first trophy the previous year for "Saving All My Love for You." Already an industry darling, she snatched her crown that night as pop's newest princess.

Honorable mention:

And let's never forget Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate's unforgettable rendition from Coming to America.

Sexual! Chocolate!