printRIP, Whitney Houston. She was weird, wacky, and very talented. Born into a deeply religious family, Houston died addicted and deeply conflicted. She was blessed with a refined singing voice—4 octave range. Once a beauty, she faded fast. Still, in an age where the Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson bump and grind are celebrated at the White House (where once Pablo Casals played), Houston deserves to be remembered as a fine singer. Here she is in one of her finest moments, singing, not screaming (as the others all do), “I Will Always Love You.”
In recent years, American “artists” have botched the National Anthem, both the lyrics and the music. Houston gave us the loveliest, most naturally exuberant, musical, perfectly pitched rendition. She wore the right outfit too, no ho couture at a sports event. What a pro. So all-American. Here Houston is, singing “The Star Spangled Banner” before Super Bowl XXV on Jan. 27, 1991 in Tampa.
My sentiments exactly. Perhaps it’s selfish that I will hold tight to the memory of her music inspiring me, or perhaps it’s indicative of the beautiful gifts that even the most troubled souls leave behind.
Whitney was a wonderfully talented singer indeed. On the news this morning I caught about 5 seconds of the Jennifer Hudson tribute and her voice compares in no way to Houstons. Hudson was singing as well as screaming.
Her rendition of the national anthem always gave me goosebumps. This time is no different.
Ms. Houston was one of a long line of women for whom I had a crush – women who can sing do that to me.
“the beautiful gifts that even the most troubled souls leave behind.”
Well said, Ilana and Raeann!!
There are not many singers with the kind of talent that she had. She was in my opinion, a living contradiction. She was, as you say, deeply religious on one hand and on the other wanted to prove to the world she was no “goody two shoes”.
Perhaps this is corny, but I truly mourn her death as if she were a child of mine.
Nice to see a tasteful and talented rendition of the anthem. It’s a beautiful melody, and I’m no jingoist.
As someone who was barely alive at the time, I’m curious how the flag-waving craze endured for four months after the conflict in the gulf began. It’s not as if American interests were even threatened, much less damaged a la 9-11.
Whitney Houston’s problem was Bobby Brown. I don’t think she would have ended up addicted to drugs had it not been for her dysfunctional marriage to Bobby Brown.