Feb 18/12

Whitney



By now, I guess everybody knows: Whitney Houston is deceased. From what I gather, she died last weekend. I don't know the details, but I don't need to. Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, now Whitney...that pop superstar business, it's obviously tough. I guess she was 48.

I don't know much about Whitney, but even if you've lived in a dungeon for the last 25 years, you know her: she's famous! Her singing first reached my attention, I think, with "You Give Good Love". I also remember "Saving All My Love for You" and "The Greatest Love of All". My personal favourite from that same album (Whitney Houston, 1985) is "How Will I Know?"

From 1992 I recall the release of "The Bodyguard" with Kevin Costner. I never saw it then, since I was in university and too poor for movies. About ten years later I finally did, and was surprised: I thought it was charmingly underdone and sweet. There was an innocence about the movie that steeped both Houston and Costner.

Although I didn't follow Whitney week to week, I think I knew her well. She always seemed an innocent to me. I heard tell of problems she had later on, but they were only rumours to me. They didn't change my perception; I already knew her from her video "How Will I Know?" I don't think she ever changed much from then.

Suppose Whitney had never been famous, but instead just a regular person, working a job and making ends meet. Likely, she'd be alive today. You can't deny it: the "ordinary" people have a savviness about them that keeps them safe. Their knowledge and talents are more common, but not to be underestimated. When you live outside of the everyday world, you may not develop that awareness.

Whitney, you'll always be part of the world I knew. Rest in peace. I still can't believe you're gone.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikipedia.

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