The Death of Whitney Houston

This is very sad news, and shocking news at that. Whitney Houston was the Michael Jackson of soul and R and B female singers - that is, one of the world's greatest entertainers - a superstar. Houston was not to all tastes - her soaring ballads are mawkish at times - but her talents were strikingly superb. She was an actress, a model, a singer, a performer - in sum, a truly rare combination of beauty and artistry.

Many singers will attest to her being a major influence, and that her vocal skills were second to none. One of the top-selling recording artists of all time, and the most awarded female singer in history, she easily takes her place in the pantheon. Her death in a hotel bath reminds us, too, of another drug-doomed genius, Jim Morrison of the The Doors. Houston was so clean cut and ubiquitous in the 80s and early 90s that her downfall was upsetting and discomfiting. It was always hoped she would pull out of her death-descent.

This seemed possible, for, unlike Winehouse - a far less important musical figure in comparison - Houston did not seem totally self-destructive; she had friends such as Oprah, and a world of goodwill. It may be her death was an accident, brought about by an inadvertent overdose. The African-American Marilyn Monroe, in terms of cultural impact, this great beauty with the huge voice left the world stage too soon. She needed better bodyguards, perhaps.

Comments

Poetry Pleases! said…

Dear Todd

We heard the news on the World Service at around 2 am on Saturday morning and I was so shocked that no further sleep was possible. I actually think that she's an even greater loss to popular music than Michael Jackson whose sound I never particularly liked.

Best wishes from Simon

Mon Feb 13, 11:13:00 am 2012

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