 " Why Does It Hurt So Bad " is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale . It was released on July 7 , 1996 , by Arista Records as the seventh and final single from the accompanying soundtrack . The song was written and produced solely by Babyface . Musically , it is an R&B ballad which features a piano and strings arrangement . " Waiting to Exhale " received positive reviews from music critics , who complimented Houston's vocal performance and its emotional appeal . The song peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 , number 27