"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime. You
wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that, for a
lifetime. When one person embodies it all, it takes your breath away." These were the words spoken by music producer Clive
Days last Saturday, February 18 during the memorial of Whitney Houston. As the
whole world knows by now, Houston died last February 11, breaking the hearts of
family and friends and of her fans around the globe.
Houston's ballad, I Will
Always Love You, took people's breaths away. Listening to her sing, The Star
Spangled Banner, stirred within the souls of Americans their love and pride for
their country. Dancing to her song, I Just Wanna Dance With Somebody, provided
everyone an occasion to let loose and just have fun. Whatever song she was
singing, she knew which emotions needed to be tapped within her to make the
song truly memorable. Some of the songs she made famous were not originally
hers. But because she was a singer above the rest, she made those songs truly
hers and hers alone.
Houston owned the voice that
many female and some male singers as well tried to match but with not much
success. Even those who came close to her beautiful vocals were still not
considered at par with her. She lived both a charmed life and one beset by
challenges. Houston had so much more music and love to give but unfortunately,
at the age of 48, her time on earth was cut short. The music that she left
behind will be cherished forever by those whose hearts and souls she touched
with her unbelievable golden voice.
Life, career and untimely demise
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was
born on August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey to John Russell Houston and Emily
Houston. Houston's mother, who was well known by her nickname, Cissy, was not
only a popular gospel singer during her time but also part of the female
singing group called the Sweet Inspirations. The group used to perform backup
vocals for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls and Dionne
Warwick. Franklin is Houston's grandmother while Warwick is her aunt.
Houston began signing at the
New Hope Baptist Church at the age of 11. She often joined her mother on tours
performing with her on a number of occasions. The young Houston did backup
vocals for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and Lou Rawls.
She tasted fame first as a
model. Houston made the cover of Seventeen Magazine in November of 1981 at the
age of 18. Other fashion magazines featured the African American beauty with
the fantastic smile. Houston also did TV commercials.
But she quickly grew tired of
modeling and returned to her first love, singing. Houston played backup vocals
to her Mom's cabaret act. When American record producer and music industry icon
Clive Davis first heard Houston's singing voice in 1983, he immediately signed
her up to Arista Records and the rest was history.
Through the mentorship of
Davis, Houston churned out hit after hit. She made 7 studio albums plus 3 movie
soundtrack albums. All of her albums had gold, platinum, multi-platinum or
diamond certification. Houston won countless music awards. She had 6 Grammy
Awards, 22 American Music Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards and 2 Emmy Awards
to her name.
Houston transitioned to films
via the movie, The Bodyguard, opposite Kevin Costner. Costner was initially
advised to star opposite a more established singer but he would not have it. He
knew that Houston was perfect for the role and waited till she was ready to
take on the project. Other movies followed like Waiting to Exhale, wherein she
starred with three other female African American actors, and The Preacher's
Wife, playing opposite Oscar winner Denzel Washington. Before she died, Houston
finished filming the movie Sparkle opposite American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.
Houston sang gospel, pop,
dance, and R&B songs. Apart from being a singer, actress and model, Houston
was also a songwriter, record producer and film producer. Her career spanned 35
years, from 1977 to 2012.
Her personal life had its ups
and downs. Houston, who was once married to singer Bobby Brown, battled
alcoholism and drug addiction. Her career was greatly affected by her personal
life. And, her once golden voice became dry and hoarse. Brown and Houston had a
child together, Bobbi Kristina, who will be turning 19 in March.
The Voice
Houston, in her prime, was
reported as having a wide vocal range, 5 octaves to be exact. Only a few
singers can lay claim to such an outstanding ability. Some sources report that
Mariah Carey and the late Minnie Riperton had the same range. Whether this
claim is true about Whitney or not is not really relevant at this point. What
is relevant is that Whitney will always be remembered as one of the greatest
singers of all time.
Houston's songs have been
sung by millions of people, young and old, female and male, established
artists, upcoming talents and fans from all walks of life. Many have done
justice to her songs but no one can sing her classic Whitney songs with as much
passion as her. The songs, I Will Always Love You, Saving All My Love for You,
and The Greatest Love of All, can only be sung with perfection by Houston. In
1991, Houston sang the national anthem of the United States of America, the
Star Spangled Banner, at the beginning of Super Bowl XXV. It will always be one
of the best, if not the best, renditions of the national anthem ever.
Untimely demise
Last February 11, Houston was
found dead, underwater, in the bathtub of her room in the Beverly Hills Hotel,
in California. The real cause of Houston's demise is still unknown. The L.A.
County Coroner's Office is awaiting the results of the toxicology report. The
next few weeks will be tough for everyone who loved Houston; this includes her
family, friends in and out of the music industry, and her loyal fans.
The invitation-only memorial
for Houston last Saturday, February 18, was held at Newark, New Jersey, in the
church that she loved, the New Hope Baptist Church. Among those who lovingly
performed for the late pop diva were Stevie Wonder, CeCe Winans, Alicia Keys,
Kim Burrell and R. Kelly. Clive Davis, Kevin Costner, Dionne Warwick, BeBe
Winans, Ricky Minor (Houston's music director) and Ray Watson (the singer's
security guard for over 10 years) spoke during the memorial.
Costner, Houston's leading
man in The Bodyguard gave one of the most heartfelt eulogies. At one point he
addressed Houston and said, "You
weren't just pretty. You were as beautiful as a woman could be. And people just
didn't like you, Whitney. They loved you."
Houston's "home coming"
lasted for 4 hours. She was finally laid to rest alongside her father in
Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey, on Sunday, February 19.
The show must go on
Like the death of the King of
Pop, Michael Jackson, Houston's death was felt deeply by members of the
industry where she blossomed. She died on the eve of the greatest night of the
music industry, the night before the 2012 Grammy Awards. Celebrities who walked
the red carpet during the Grammys were asked how Houston's death affected them.
All were saddened and praised Houston to no end.
During the telecast itself,
several artists paid tribute to Houston, some through their performances while
others during their acceptance speeches. The most moving of all was Jennifer
Hudson's tribute to Houston. Hudson beautifully performed, I Will Always Love
You, while trying to keep her emotions in check.
The night she died, Houston
was supposed to attend the star-studded pre-Grammy party hosted by her mentor
Clive Davis. The party went on as scheduled despite Houston's death that day.
Davis talked about Houston's death and he said that she would have wanted the
music to continue. He also said the Houston's family requested that the party
go on as scheduled. Davis had only kind words for her during the pre-Grammy
party (and also during her memorial that occurred days after).
An inspiration to many
A number of African American
female singers credit Houston for paving the way for other female black artists
to enter mainstream music. She broke down barriers just like Michael Jackson
did in the 80s. MTV showed her music videos, radio stations played her songs.
Music fans embraced her because she could jump from pop, dance, ballads, gospel
and R&B with so much ease. Houston was, without a doubt, a phenomenon, a singer
with a voice to reckon with and to fall in love with.
In singing contests across
the globe, female singers often turn to Houston's songs to propel them to win.
Her ballads are often chosen as competition pieces because Houston's songs like
I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You' are not easy to sing.
Her songs can separate the singers from the singer-wannabes.
Essence Magazine' dubbed her
as the 5th Most Influential R&B Stars of All Time. Accomplished artists openly
declare that Houston was a big influence on their careers. Some of these
artists are Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Nelly
Furtado, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé, Destiny's Child, Alicia
Keys, Ashanti, LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Lopez, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, Jennifer
Hudson and Lady Gaga. Many more female artists said that at the start of their
careers, all they wanted to do was to sing like Houston.
The very first time Tony
Bennett heard the woman with the golden voice sing, he told Davis that he "finally found the greatest singer I've
ever heard in my life." Mariah Carey was heartbroken and called
Houston "one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." Oprah
Winfrey said that to her Houston was "THE VOICE." The kind words and
loving praises continue to this day from fellow musicians, music industry
workers, celebrities, politicians, and those who simply enjoyed her voice.
Unlikely tribute thousands of miles away
Whitney's music became part
of a different kind of performance many miles away from the U.S. Her song, =I
Will Always Love You, was featured in one of the Dubai Fountain shows. The
Dubai Fountain is located outside the luxurious Dubai Mall. It is a hi-tech
musical fountain featuring water jets that can shoot out water to up to 150
meters high while in sync with colored lights and music. Billed as today's
largest water fountain in the world, this musical fountain is located in Burj
Khalifa Lake in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Fountain follows in the
footsteps of the majestic Bellagio Hotel's Musical Fountain in Las Vegas and
the Magic Fountain of Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain. Each night, the Dubai
Fountain features a multimedia show with dancing water, music, lights and other
special effects.
Since it's first show in May
of 2009, different types of music from local and international artists have
inspired fountain choreographers. Michael Jackson's 'Thriller,' Lionel
Ritchie's 'All Night Long' and Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's 'The Prayer'
were already featured in the past.
Last 2010, Houston's most
memorable hit, I Will Always Love You, played in the background while the water
danced with the lights in sync. But it is only now after Houston's death that
the water-based extravaganza, which was masterfully choreographed by a group of
English College Dubai students, is being savored and enjoyed to the fullest by
people around the world via YouTube and other social networking sites. The
Dubai Fountain show is a one-of-a-kind tribute to Houston.
Irreplaceable
There is no doubt that there
will never be another Whitney Houston. Her soulful music broke language
barriers because she had the unique ability to make people feel every emotion
that she herself was feeling while singing her songs. Houston sang from deep
down her heart. If her voice were an animal, it would be a butterfly because it
floats effortlessly from note to note without missing a bit or losing an ounce
of grace. It is truly sad that she left the world too early. Her voice, her
grace, her beauty and her legacy will last forever. Technology will make sure
that she is never forgotten and that her music will be known by generations to
come.
Whitney will be greatly
missed. But she will also remembered with so much love and respect for the
beautiful person and the true musical artist that she was.
Photocredit: Wikimedia
Commons
I like her voice the most.
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