Whitney Fan #smed12

It’s Sunday morning 12 February 2012. I just woke up switched on my phone to check my messages and facebook. Then I read the most devastating news about Whitney Houston’s death. I was still in bed, could not believe what I was reading. I just shouted “Oh my word Whitney is dead, this can’t be.” At first I thought it was just a sick joke. I was so shocked and emotional as if I knew her personally. Yes, we have never met but I was a Whitney fan.......

This pop star and Diva has reached out to so many people with her incredible music and tunes. Growing up and listening to Whitney’s music was so much fun. I memorised the lyrics of her songs at such a young age even though the words had no meaning to me, I was too young to know what it was really about. That didn’t matter though I just loved Whitney’s music. The best was completing my songbook with the Whitney lyrics and playing my mom’s Whitney cassettes. That made the sing along so much better. Singing I’m every woman with a brush in my hand while I’m dancing in the lounge.  :) Not forgetting how I made my hair frizzy to look like Whitney did in her music videos. She was truly a remarkable vocalist therefore her death came as such a shock to the world.

At every karaoke someone always sings a Whitney song. All the young artists always start off with Whitney Houston impersonations. Whether it’s at a talent show or idols. That’s the level of inspiration she had on young singers. 

Currently there are so many negative remarks about her death and the reasons for her death. Is this really the right time to make all these negative remarks about her or the choices she made? She didn't have a perfect lifestyle. But should that even matter right now? While we should be remembering her talent and music? Can’t we just remember Whitney for the remarkable contribution she made to the music industry? Everyone has made wrong choices in life, no one is perfect.

Whitney has made many mistakes but she kept going trying to turn her life around. She worked hard to release her remarkable album I look to you in 2009. She was truly telling her story with this album. After her death I listened to the words of I didn’t know my own strength. It was sad to hear how she was trying:

“Survived my darkest hour, my faith kept me alive

I picked myself back up, hold my head up high

I was not built to break

I didn’t know my own strength."

So who are we to judge?

You will always be remembered Whitney may your soul rest in peace.