Remembering Whitney: I Will Always Love You- BFF 167
Every generation has music that they relate to most because that is what was blaring over the radio while they were growing up. For me and countless other teenagers growing up in the 1980’s we had mega stars like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. That is why I was shocked when Michael Jackson died and equally thrown for a loop to learn Whitney Houston had died as well. Like Michael, Whitney was a singer I grew up listening to, singing along to, and dancing to. She was the epitome of glamour and beauty and her smile and laugh was contagious. On this Valentine’s Day with Whitney’s death only days ago, she is on my mind much as she is on others. Her death is especially poignant as it marks just another nail on the coffin of my youth.
To help inspire this post I popped in the old VCR one of my favorite movies starring Whitney, “The Bodyguard”. Somehow I imagine her life being not that much different than the singer she portrays in the movie. I have no idea for sure because I didn’t personally know her. I do know her voice was all powerful and I can’t even name a favorite song she performed, because honestly, I liked all of them.
I was sorry to hear of her passing and equally irritated to see the media making a circus of her death. All the speculation will not bring her back. The media continually speculates about how she died suggesting every sinister possible means. All they can rattle on about is the struggles she had with drugs in the later years of her life. It amazes me that of all the good she brought to the world with her stupendous voice that is all they can comment on. They seem determined to tarnish her memory in their quest for a sensational news story. Sadly the media did the same thing to Michael Jackson, and even to Elvis. All the mud slinging didn’t change anything. At the end of the day, they were still gone leaving behind a spectacular musical legacy.
No one is perfect. No one is fit to judge another. No one knows all the details of anyone’s life. No one can look into a person’s soul and judge them except G0d himself. If you take away the speculation, all you have left is the fact that she was beautiful, had an exceptional singing voice that brought her unbelievable fame and success, and that her music touched anyone who heard it.
How she died or didn’t is really none of anyone’s business. It is always a terrible loss to have anyone’s life cut short and especially shocking to the system when it seems so sudden. She should be remembered simply for the powerful impact she made on the world and forget her mistakes. I will always love the powerful music Whitney Houston left behind and the hauntingly vibrant images illuminated in her movies. She is now at peace and her voice will join the angels until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
Emszee, both of these iconic singers deaths make me feel so OLD and sad. It is another indication that I am getting older and what once was is no more. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
I think there's a belief/hope that if we can figure out how/why something happened the way it did, we can prevent it from happening again. Makes us feel like there is a measure of control in the middle of senselessness.
Such a lovely voice, such a lovely soul shining out of her eyes, who so sadly got lost along the way.
Beverly, I think you are right and perhaps wanting to know how and why is a coping mechanism that helps people through the grief process of a death of someone so young. She had so much sparkle, it is so sad she is gone. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
I was never a huge fan but I won't deny she had talent. She had such a strong voice and when she was in the 'zone' (musically, speaking) she had total command of her audience, this I admired. It is such a sad story and most unfortunate she never found her ground. This is what hurts.
Brenda, I can't honestly say that I was that big of "fan" so to speak either. I never bought any of her albums although I may have had some of her singles on 45's back in the day. I agree that her life seems extremely sad. It isn't for us to question...it is fate. It was her time to go whether she got her act together in the end or not. I didn't know her personally or follow her career exclusively. I do know that hearing her voice belting out her hits on my car stereo is what I remember most. I loved her role in "The Body Guard" and "The Preacher's Wife". Thank you for stopping by to read and leaving your thoughts.
Thanks for your tribute, Kathy. And, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments about the media circus and all the speculation of the cause of death. Why can't we just celebrate her life and enjoy her accomplishments?
Betty, exactly what I was trying to get at with my whole post!! Thank you for getting my point!! YAY Betty! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.
Danneromero, that is what has really bothered me the most about all this. Even though she had an exceptional talent that flung her into super stardom, when it all came down to it she was a mere mortal capable of death just like the rest of us. It is sad that the media can't leave it alone. Perhaps if she had been old her death wouldn't have drawn the sharks to discover anything sinister they can. Since everyone is familiar with who she is people are curious why such a young, vibrant woman just up and died. It is sad. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
I am on the other side of this fence, that seldom happens with us, but this time, I want a lot of talk, when the facts are known. Why? Not to defame this amazing woman, but the opposite. To make the causes or cause of her death KNOWN. If long term addiction is what ultimately took her life, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, LET'S LEARN FROM THAT. First let's know it's true, if it is. The let's talk about it and talk about it some more because out there somewhere is someone who is doing exactly the same thing and MIGHT hear her story and say, "That's my story. I don't want to die at 48. I don't want to lose myself to addiction." I say get to the bottom of the cause of her death and then IF it is drug or alcohol related or both, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I, too understand that drugs are not who she was. But drugs are what most likely took her life. How senseless is that? A choice she made once or twice and then it was no longer her choice. That is something I want everyone who has never taken a nonprescribed drug to understand.
Jo, it is very senseless. We are actually both on the same side of the fence. I do want to know how she died, I just don't want the media dragging her memory through the mud until we know the facts of the situation. Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as the illegal kind. Awareness is important so another senseless tragedy can be prevented. Thank you so much for dropping by to put in your two cents. Sometimes a person writes and goes off on a tangent in one direction to focus the post and loses all the elements and viewpoints in the translation.
Suzy, thank you so much for stopping in to read my little tribute to Whitney Houston. Some folks really leave their marks on the world, and she did with her unforgettable powerful voice. I am so pleased you enjoyed it!
How she died or didn’t is really none of anyone’s business. It is always a terrible loss to have anyone’s life cut short and especially shocking to the system when it seems so sudden. She should be remembered simply for the powerful impact she made on the world and forget her mistakes. I will always love the powerful music Whitney Houston left behind and the hauntingly vibrant images illuminated in her movies. She is now at peace and her voice will join the angels until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
What a lovely post in memory of Whitney Houston.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenn.
Jenn, thank you! I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeletenice post...the 80s have great singers and 2 of the best i luv had gone,MJ and Whitney..their music and voice inspired everyone..tnx for sharing
ReplyDeleteEmszee, both of these iconic singers deaths make me feel so OLD and sad. It is another indication that I am getting older and what once was is no more. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteI think there's a belief/hope that if we can figure out how/why something happened the way it did, we can prevent it from happening again. Makes us feel like there is a measure of control in the middle of senselessness.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely voice, such a lovely soul shining out of her eyes, who so sadly got lost along the way.
Beverly, I think you are right and perhaps wanting to know how and why is a coping mechanism that helps people through the grief process of a death of someone so young. She had so much sparkle, it is so sad she is gone. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteI was never a huge fan but I won't deny she had talent. She had such a strong voice and when she was in the 'zone' (musically, speaking) she had total command of her audience, this I admired. It is such a sad story and most unfortunate she never found her ground. This is what hurts.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, I can't honestly say that I was that big of "fan" so to speak either. I never bought any of her albums although I may have had some of her singles on 45's back in the day. I agree that her life seems extremely sad. It isn't for us to question...it is fate. It was her time to go whether she got her act together in the end or not. I didn't know her personally or follow her career exclusively. I do know that hearing her voice belting out her hits on my car stereo is what I remember most. I loved her role in "The Body Guard" and "The Preacher's Wife". Thank you for stopping by to read and leaving your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tribute, Kathy. And, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments about the media circus and all the speculation of the cause of death. Why can't we just celebrate her life and enjoy her accomplishments?
ReplyDeleteBetty, exactly what I was trying to get at with my whole post!! Thank you for getting my point!! YAY Betty! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.
ReplyDeleteit is a shame the media can't back off, let them be... news is news, especially when it draws a big audience.... too bad.
ReplyDeleteDanneromero, that is what has really bothered me the most about all this. Even though she had an exceptional talent that flung her into super stardom, when it all came down to it she was a mere mortal capable of death just like the rest of us. It is sad that the media can't leave it alone. Perhaps if she had been old her death wouldn't have drawn the sharks to discover anything sinister they can. Since everyone is familiar with who she is people are curious why such a young, vibrant woman just up and died. It is sad. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteI am on the other side of this fence, that seldom happens with us, but this time, I want a lot of talk, when the facts are known. Why? Not to defame this amazing woman, but the opposite. To make the causes or cause of her death KNOWN. If long term addiction is what ultimately took her life, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, LET'S LEARN FROM THAT. First let's know it's true, if it is. The let's talk about it and talk about it some more because out there somewhere is someone who is doing exactly the same thing and MIGHT hear her story and say, "That's my story. I don't want to die at 48. I don't want to lose myself to addiction."
ReplyDeleteI say get to the bottom of the cause of her death and then IF it is drug or alcohol related or both, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I, too understand that drugs are not who she was. But drugs are what most likely took her life. How senseless is that? A choice she made once or twice and then it was no longer her choice. That is something I want everyone who has never taken a nonprescribed drug to understand.
Jo, it is very senseless. We are actually both on the same side of the fence. I do want to know how she died, I just don't want the media dragging her memory through the mud until we know the facts of the situation. Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as the illegal kind. Awareness is important so another senseless tragedy can be prevented. Thank you so much for dropping by to put in your two cents. Sometimes a person writes and goes off on a tangent in one direction to focus the post and loses all the elements and viewpoints in the translation.
Deletedang that was written too fast...
ReplyDelete*Then let's talk about it and...*
*That is something I want everyone who has ever (not never) taken a nonprescibed drug to understand.*
Jo, understood completely! Thank you for clarifying for those that might not have. :D
DeleteAnother great tribute to Whitney. I will also always love her music.
ReplyDeleteSuzy, thank you so much for stopping in to read my little tribute to Whitney Houston. Some folks really leave their marks on the world, and she did with her unforgettable powerful voice. I am so pleased you enjoyed it!
DeleteAnother lovely tribute by one amazing lady about another :o)
ReplyDeleteMojo Writin, I am so pleased you enjoyed my tribute to such an epic entertainer. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!!
Delete