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.
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.
