Posted on 02/15/2012 4:02:32 AM PST by Kaslin
The media have no bleepin' clue how to cover the death of Whitney Houston. That's because she was slowly dying for years and many in the press simply averted their eyes.
It was ultra-disturbing that a beautiful woman blessed with an extraordinary singing voice chose a self-destructive path in full view of the world. I mean, here is a person who signed a $100 million recording contract, actually sold 170 million albums and commanded high six figures to deliver a 90-minute concert. Houston was a genuine international star, and yet she often was seen in public disheveled and confused, her substance addiction apparent. The media simply did not know what to say.
We live in a time in which addiction is categorized as a disease, and to do what Nancy Reagan once did and urge people to reject narcotics is considered uncool. How many young performers do we see doing public service announcements warning children to avoid intoxication? Right now, I can't think of one.
The national media pride themselves on being non-judgmental unless you are against abortion. Then you are dismissed as "anti-woman" or as a religious zealot. But in the arena of personal behavior, there's an excuse for just about every nonviolent activity and bad decision.
There is no question that some of us have a history of addiction in our families. There are folks who can use drugs casually and avoid dependence, but they are the exception. Once a person decides to dabble in cocaine, or opiates such as heroin and OxyContin, they are putting themselves at grave risk. And they know it. There are legions of famous people who wound up dead just like Houston. From Elvis Presley to Michael Jackson, the signposts are impossible to miss. No matter how rich and powerful you are, drugs can and will destroy you.
The current medical marijuana ruse is a great example of a society walking away from a responsible position. Ask any drug rehab counselor, and he or she will tell you that pot often leads a person to harder drug use and is mentally addictive itself. Yes, most people can function while stoned. But the more you alter your mind the more your perspective on life changes. Believe me, I know people who get stoned or drunk every day. They become incredibly desensitized to those around them.
On the kid front, the situation is dire. Once a child enters the world of intoxication, their childhood is gone. Presto, they are jaded. That's how dangerous drugs and alcohol are to immature minds. Society has an obligation to protect its children, not to tacitly accept or embrace mind-altering agents such as marijuana.
Houston, however, was an adult who made a decision to embrace the drug life. Reports say she tried to rehabilitate herself a few times, but you know how that goes. Once a person enters the hell of addiction, there is no easy way out.
And that's how the Whitney Houston story should be covered. As a cautionary tale. Another life vanquished by substance abuse.
One of my all time favorites. Can you hear me? ;-)
Lisa Gerrard is another.
“cause of death... bobby brown”
Dito.
She’s snail food now....
And by the by, Thanks to all who gave “real” responses. If she was big in the late 80’s to early 90’s that would explain a lot as I was frequently “indisposed” in those days. I like to say that me and the state of California had frequent “failures to communicate.”
i could name a dozen annie haslam tunes that are a cut above. even her christmas album is superior, even in it’s song selection.
The meadia loves a freak show.
They didn’t ignore her addiction...they capitolized on it.
If it weren’t for typo’s, I’d have no communication skills at all.
It was so bizarre that Springsteen was bleating his new song “We Take Care Of Our Own” as the proof stood clearly out, lying on a slab at the morgue, that they do NOT take care of their own.
Why on Earth didn’t someone, somewhere, in the music industry, who had made so many millions from her, step in and STOP her drug addiction???
Ed
Yes, she was.
I listen to Pandora radio at work through my computer. I usually have no idea who or what I'm listening to, but when something I don't like comes up, I can give it a thumbs down so it won't play again.
As it turned out, I was giving a thumbs down pretty consistently whenever a Lady Gaga song would come on. Pandora doesn't play Lady Gaga any more for me.
Personally, Dolly Parton's version is my favorite. Not that there is anything wrong with Houston's version
Oddly, when I was stationed in Spain many years ago, I saw that movie at least ten times. Not that I liked it that much, but because VCRs were fairly new and expensive at the time, and there were only a limited number of movies available. My friend had two movies, and that was the better of the two.
Even after seeing The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas so many times, I did not know the song existed until Whitney sang it. I guess that's because Dolly's version was just another country song, and I don't care for country music. Whitney's version is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Yep, that was a great performance. It’s a shame the video quality is so bad.
Odds are she died because she was an out of control druggie.
She was a druggie entertainer, so that made her the gal on the roof while the crowd chanted “Jump, jump, jump....”
And she did.
Those who care about these poor souls tell them they are killing themselves with drugs, homosexuality, depravity or narcissism. Those who hate them tell them they are cool, their behavior is just fine, and that they really are some kind of aristocracy.
Sorry. I couldn't resist.
If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.
Or you can get raw with these strings.
How about this gamechanger from America's Got Talent (which they SHOULD have won).
And finally, this, dedicated to the one and only rdb2, whose eyes are growing dim.
Either way, the violin is sweet yet LETHAL.
Do it!
thanks for tip
Listen to this ‘I Will Always Love You’ cover in honor of Whitney by Amber Riley February 14.
(on Glee)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqzHwyS6Eso
Wow. Pretty darn good. Sounds almost like Whitney.
Memorable Tribute Performance on Taiwanese Talent Show
"I Will Always Love You"
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7WLWLWNX
What people do not understand is that when you are a notable Christian the demons of hell are out to destroy you because they do not want you to become a role model for Christ. Many people think that they are strong and would not do as Whitney did but they do not know the kind of spiritual attack she was under by the evil one. Neither, I doubt, did she. She didn't realize the stakes nor the battle that went on in the spiritual realm over her demise. If she did she would have seriously sought God every inch of the way.
As it is, most likely as she became famous and rich she placed God on a "back burner", which is not hard to do when life is over whelming you with benefits. Even though Whitney was likely actually a Christian I doubt that she was grounded in life saving doctrine. She was like a lamb in midst of wolves, with little defense, and she became torn apart and eventually died.
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