It was certified platinum by the Swedish Recording Industry Association. In Iceland, it peaked at number two and also in Sweden, where the song spent 19 weeks on the chart. It reached number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also hit the top ten in many other countries, and attained Gold status in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland. The song was successful internationally, hitting number one in several countries worldwide, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. Entertainment Tonight aired the world premiere of the video on June 22, 2000.Ī young Krysten Ritter appears as an extra in the video. The video for 'Could I Have This Kiss Forever' was directed by Francis Lawrence. In 2012, it was placed at number 1 on Idolator's list of 'Whitney Houston's 10 Best Songs That Radio Forgot' because 'this slow-burning mid-tempo number brims over with a sexy vibe, thanks to the singer's duet partner Enrique Iglesias and an understated-but-effective remix by then-hot production team Metro'. Digital Spy in its review for Iglesias' Greatest Hits collection wrote that Iglesias has recorded 'truly horrendeous' duets, 'Could I Have This Kiss Forever' being 'the worst offender'.The review continued negatively stating that 'it's rather disappointing to hear that this Latin-tinged, sickly-stringed sob of a ballad is where she's at musically', 'we get an insipid drip of romantic gormlessness and a catalogue of cliche as deep as a river, as high as a mountain, that you'd have to be really serotonin-deficient to find affecting'. NME wrote in reference to the song title that there might be 'hygiene issues' but 'if it puts a stop to their singing, then it should be encouraged - although, as someone appears to be strangling Enrique here, yet still he ploughs on, an eternal kiss with Whitney would probably be no barrier to song'.

Christine Galera of The Orlando Sentinel was of the opinion that Houston's 'bad' duet with Enrique Iglesias 'sounds like every other Iglesias single I've heard'.Elysa Gardner of Vibe said that the song is 'sinuous' and 'latin-flavored' and that 'Houston easily outclasses' her duet partner.Jim Farber of the New York Daily News wrote that the song 'makes cynical use of the Latin crossover craze.'.LA Weekly in its review for Whitney: The Greatest Hits commented that 'Iglesias pants and sighs his way through his lines, trying to smolder but whimpering instead'.Smith stated that Houston 'brings out the vocalist in Enrique with the sterling duet'. Considine of The Baltimore Sun felt that 'Could I Have This Kiss Forever' is a song on which Houston is 'desperately trying to out-emote Enrique Iglesias'. Iglesias is, of course, right at home, sounding as sensual and breezy as ever, while Houston delivers a restrained performance that perfectly captures a romantic moment made just for champagne and dancing.' Billboard wrote that 'While the pairing of evergreen pop/R&B superstar Houston with blossoming Latin sensation Iglesias may seem a curious combination at first, go once through this midtempo Spanish guitar-laced crowd-pleaser and the magic is crystal clear.Clive was very nice about letting Whitney sing with me - I'm not even an Arista artist.', Iglesias explained. And he says, 'Why don't you do it with Whitney?' So we did, and it turned out fantastic. ' Clive Davis and I were talking about this song that I'd heard a demo of and loved. It is also available on his Greatest Hits compilation released in 2008. For Iglesias, the song was the fourth single (third in the UK) from his album Enrique.

The new version was released by Houston's label as the first US single (second UK single) from her greatest hits collection Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000). The two eventually met in the studio when the song was being re-recorded for single release by Metro, resulting in the new version being mid-tempo. Houston and Iglesias had never actually met in person, as both of them originally recorded the song in separate studios: Houston in Hamburg, Germany and Iglesias in Los Angeles, California. Enrique Iglesias talking about what was his most special collaboration in his career. I was so young and extremely nervous, but she made it so easy.

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