I was never a Whitney Houston fan and don’t want to say much because I know many peeps were but just last night I sent this link to my sister about her…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2099347/Whitney-Houston-emerges-nightclub-looking-worse-wear.html

I was shocked because I knew Clive Davis tried and tried to help her and I felt after reading the article above that she was still fighting her demons and perhaps losing.

Anyone who ever heard that Star Spangled Banner rendition would agree with DS and I do too. Incredible. No one even close.

I used to think she was stunning in the 80s but her music never moved me. RIP.

Skunky on February 12, 2012 at 1:08 am

I agree w/ Skunky here – never thought her stunning, but her music in the 80s was good. I think her association w/ Bobby Brown was what started her decline.

RIP

Infidel on February 12, 2012 at 1:26 am

I was devastated but not very surprised due to her heavy drug use. It’s sad that she squandered her talent. It’s also annoying since it will get highly publicized like Michael Jackson’s death. I love Whitney, she was a great vocalist, and her legacy will live on. My favorites are “So Emotional”, “How Will I Know”, “Saving All My Love”, “Greatest Love of all”, “I Have Nothing”, “I’m Every Woman”, “It’s “Not Right, but it’s okay (Remix)”, and of course her rendition of the National Anthem. She was a great talent, and it was a terrible loss.

Matthew on February 12, 2012 at 1:27 am

My favorite of hers was “How Will I Know?”

Of course it’s a tragedy, but I didn’t know her personally, so I am just having a hard time getting over the fact that she brought it on herself. What a shame.

Jeff_W on February 12, 2012 at 1:29 am

I wrote about her earlier tonight… she was beautiful, had an amazing voice and incredible talent and men wanted to “date” her – or someone like her to inspire them.

Its so sad she died so young and full of promise, married to a guy who did not encourage her to live up to her full potential. The drugs and everything took their toll.

Let’s not remember her for that. Let’s remember for her hits, incredible voice and the wonderful music Whitney Houston left to us. That is the respect we can pay her and she will always have a place in our hearts.

The face, the voice and the songs will not fade with time!

Whitney Houston – RIP!

NormanF on February 12, 2012 at 1:54 am

“Let’s not remember her for that. Let’s remember for her hits, incredible voice and the wonderful music Whitney Houston left to us. That is the respect we can pay her and she will always have a place in our hearts”. NormanF. I remember her mostly from the 80’s. Here is my issue with this whole thing. I was changing channels last night getting different reports & I stopped on HLN. They were talking to Jane Valez Mitchell,(whom I detest). Mitchell is an outspoken “recovering” addict. Mitchell felt it was her duty to give us a lesson on AA and all the facets of “recovery” & “relapse”. She did everything short of saying Houston died smoking crack in the hotel with a drink in her hand. If I remember correctly AA is supposed to be anonymous. The fact is we DON’T know what caused her death yet. Just because someone used in the past doesn’t mean that’s why they died. I get so tired of these so-called “recovering” addicts violating the traditions of AA & blowing the recovery horn. I say this because I drank & used for 35 years, I had to spend 2 years court ordered in AA in 1991 & 1992. I personally despise the recovery industry. Sorry I’m rambling. My hometown news in Saginaw posted a story last night & the first 5 comments were derogatory statements about her drug use. That all may be true, but the fact is someone died & that’s sad.

Hollywood on February 12, 2012 at 5:48 am

leticia olalia morales of 15501 pasadena ave #h tustin ca 92780 submitted fake documents and 5000 dollars to a person name sandman at the US embassy in manila. she also submitted fake employment records to obtain a work visa. Her husband carlos b. morales also submitted fake documents (land titles and bank statements) to obtain a tourist visa. Her son carlo iii also used such and helped 2 other people to obtain a US tourist visa.

ronb on February 12, 2012 at 6:58 am

Good write up Debbie. On Friday I looked her up on Youtube just to see her rendition of the National Anthem. I thought it was the best ever. As I listened I wondered how she was doing, I was a little shocked last night when I heard of her death.

sharon on February 12, 2012 at 7:57 am

I am not surprised by her death. One cannot abuse their body like she did and not suffer any effects. It is unfortunate that someone with such God given talents chose to throw them away. She had the best singing voice of anyone, in my opinion. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite song.

Road Warrior on February 12, 2012 at 8:24 am

Just the fact that she knew the words and didn’t stumble over them would put her in the top 50%.

Little Al on February 12, 2012 at 8:37 am

I agree completely, Debbie. For years I haven’t listened to non-classical music, but WH really was an artist. I first saw and heard her in gay discos (during a very brief coming out). But what is striking (and something I never realized before) was the degree to which she reinvented songs in between performances, always seeing spontaneous. By “reinvent” I mean alter phrasing, dynamics, coloration of notes, the distribution of voices in a performance, and do on. This required a tremendous amount of work and showed an extremely unusual commitment to her live audiences. Those who doubt me should Web surf to catch these performances.

And finally, that was an astonishing performance of the anthem.

skzion on February 12, 2012 at 12:05 pm

(Sorry about the errors in my last post.)

skzion on February 12, 2012 at 12:07 pm

700WLW in Cincinnati is just now airing her National Anthem. The host correctly opines, “She set the bar for others singing that song.”

Kent on February 12, 2012 at 12:24 pm

After a bit to digest the news, I don’t get all the hero treatment she’s getting here.

First, blaming Bobby Brown. Hey, she married him. Who’s to say she was soooooo pristine before hooking up with him?

If this was just about anyone else all of you would be saying how much they deserved it, and you’d be correct. Yes, it’s a sad tragedy for all, but give me a break. This is the site that doesn’t cut slack for idiots who act stupid and bring this on themselves. Why is Houston getting off so easily?

She’s going to be saluted like some hero tonight at the Grammys. If this was Al Sharpton, some famous athlete, or someone not pretty we’d all be saying how much they deserved it.

Yes, she was very talented. That makes her far worse. She had all the fame and money. She never had to go hungry. She could just live the rest of her life in ease and comfort. She chose this lifestyle.

Shouldn’t we be hailing that Giffords from Arizona for a tragedy that she didn’t cause? No, we shouldn’t. If she’s no hero (and, no, she isn’t), why is Houston getting all the raves?

Jeff_W on February 12, 2012 at 1:02 pm

It’s nice to read how her music touched many of you. I smiled at Matthew’s mention of “It’s Not Right (But It’s Ok)” because my brother LOVED that album (and the remix even more!!) and I know it well because my brother played it over and over and over in his car.

This morning a local sports show played the anthem rendition and it was indeed amazing. I would have never heard it were it not for talk radio as many Conservatives love it too. How could you not?

I noticed on iTunes her “Greatest Hits” is now number one. I wonder why people do that? Her last album got good reviews (I read them when it came out because my brother was such a fan) but it did not do that well. THAT is when people should have bought her album and supported her music. I get confused when someone dies and EVERYONE starts re-buying their music. There is something sad about that…that people didn’t remember at the right time. It makes me crazy!

With that being said, it has been reported that Sly Stone (of Sly and The Family Stone) is broke and living in a van. That poor bloke has been sick for years…and I think a lot of it is mental illness and the like. So I am calling for peeps who knew that cat had talent go check out his discography and buy some of his incredible music! Don’t wait ’til Sly dies!

I recommend the funky deep-track “Loose Booty”! That will get the music lovers going! These people who have struggles like us all give us the gift of their talent and I wonder if they ever know how it helps us. It’s too late when they cark it.

Skunky on February 12, 2012 at 1:21 pm

WH hails from music royalty and had talent, beauty and personality. She was a big girl when she met BB and she chose to throw it all away on her own and cause her baby girl to suffer in the process!!! WH did not get hit by a car or die of cancer—she killed herself.

“First of all, let’s get one thing straight. Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let’s get that straight. Okay? We don’t do crack. We don’t do that. Crack is wack.”–but cocaine was OK.

Lee on February 12, 2012 at 2:40 pm

Debbie when I was I graduate school I lived in an unfashionable apartment and one night my upstairs neighbor blasted “I Will Always Love You” for several hours. That was enough WH to last me a lifetime. Incidentally I also overlooked an old fashioned trailer park. The trailer people seemed to always have fun and partied with each other constantly, but never played overly loud music and seemed very kid and family friendly. Aside from visits from my Jewish gf who lived out of state they had 10 times more fun than me or my depressed neighbor. All in all I probably lacked the female hormones necessary to fully appreciate WH, nor was I attracted to her. I would date Jennifer Aniston, DS, or both, though.

A1 on February 12, 2012 at 2:55 pm

Whitney Houston was also, at her peak, what Dennis Miller would have called an “upholsterer” of music, engaging in vocal effects for what some would consider its own sake, thus setting a template that would be followed by such acts as Celine Dion (whom Miller once said “doesn’t sing a song so much as she upholsters it,” hence my reference) and Christina Aguilera. Still, Ms. Houston, before she squandered her talents, was better than either of the others I mentioned.

ConcernedPatriot on February 12, 2012 at 3:49 pm

A kid could take singing lessons for years and never measure up to what Whitney was blessed with naturally. What she had, she was born with. Her voice was truly a gift. She did have a tendency to ‘over-sing’ by adding extra syllables. ‘Cry’ would become ‘Cuh-rhye’ but she had an incredibly powerful instrument. Vodka and Xanax will get you every time though. I gather she drown in the bath tub. So sad….

#1 Vato on February 12, 2012 at 4:00 pm

For some unknown and unexplainable reason, I didn’t see this article on my computer, so I had to go to “Facebook” and get this article on DS’s facebook page. Anyway, DS and everybody, I’ve heard of this woman and I remember her singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV (25) about 20 years ago and I said to myself, “whoa, what a terrific singing voice this lady has”.

I never listend to her music, her music is not my cup of coffee, but I did remember hearing in the news of her and her husband having drug issues, etc. So I won’t be surprised if Ms. Houston died of “drug-overdose”, remember Corey Haim, he to died of drug-overdose a year ago if I’m not mistaken.

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on February 12, 2012 at 4:32 pm

Though I enjoyed Whitney’s music and her national anthem which down down the house, she like so many other women in Hollywood associated with a total failure.

Confederate South on February 12, 2012 at 6:42 pm

Her death is a tragedy. A much bigger tragedy is the amount of air-time that’s going to be spent talking about her rather than the marxist, moslem, identity fraud who is wiping his @$$ with the Constitution every time he turns around.

CornCoLeo on February 12, 2012 at 8:24 pm

Even a one only time use of cocaine can lead to sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Remember Len Bias? It is quite common for users to die from a heart attack, even after stopping use.

Dr Dale on February 12, 2012 at 8:46 pm

Good news for my computer/laptop, now I see this article on my computer/laptop, prior to that, I didn’t see this article and I had to go to facebook (thankfully for me I have a facebook account and do comment on Debbie’s facebook page once in a while, not everyday though) and get this article.

I was having some issues with my computer today folks, so forgive me for my comment at 4:30 this afternoon DS and everybody who commented here!

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on February 12, 2012 at 9:43 pm

skzion,

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57374934/navy-names-ship-for-ex-rep-giffords/

Yes, indeed, they are naming a ship after ex Rep. Giffords.

I’m no fan of Giffords before or after her shooting, but you need to get your nose out of People Magazine and E!TV. You are confusing fame (Houston) with someone who did actually did something for a living (Giffords).

Speaking of Giffords, how cheap is her fame, too? All sympathy for her tragedy, which was no fault of hers unlike Whitney Houston. But, why is she labelled a “hero”? She’s doing what everyone who faces a tragedy or health issue does, try to survive and heal. That’s not “courage”, it’s just trying to live and survive like all of us do.

Bravo to Houston for supporting Israel, and I do feel badly that everyone makes mistakes like us all and I hope to see them turn their lives around. We all make mistakes and we hope people don’t have to die because of it. BUT!!!, Houston had tons tons tons more opportunity than all of us put together for the best in life.

“What profits a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.”

Jeff_W on February 12, 2012 at 9:58 pm

Her combination of voice, beauty and poise only come along once in a generation. She was truly gifted. Having said that I am not feeling very sorry for her or Michael Jackson or Don Cornelius or Amy Winehouse or Heath Ledger or any of these talented but misdirected people. They have money, fabulous mansion homes, adoration of throngs of people and weeks of leisure time to pursue their interests and they squander it all. I want to save my sympathy for people who deserve it who are suffering from tragedies that are not self inflicted.

fred on February 12, 2012 at 10:00 pm

It’s indeed tragic about WH. My favorites are “So Emotional” and “The Greatest Love of All”. A lot of her other songs were good as well. In all cases she had an excellent singing voice. I also agree with Debbie that her rendition of the Star-Spangeled Banner/National Anthem is the best of all time. She was also good in the movie “The Bodyguard”.

Whitney Houston, RIP.

JeffE on February 12, 2012 at 10:22 pm

*Star-Spangled Banner/National Anthem*

JeffE on February 12, 2012 at 10:24 pm

The song “I will always love you” to me will always be her hallmark, I am sure no one will disagree. It is a shame she thought so little of herself to hook up with the likes of Bobby Brown. He may not have been the beginning of her problems but my gut opinion is this jerk was without doubt an enabler without compassion or empathy for anyone but himself.

Ron Wolf on February 12, 2012 at 10:33 pm

A sad death of a talented woman from a talented family. (Not Bobby Brown—she was related to Dionne warwick and Aretha Houston was her godmother.)

Occam's Tool on February 12, 2012 at 11:57 pm

Whitney Houston & Liesbeth List – The Far Side Of The Hill (+ Interview Whitney Houston) Dutch TV – 1985

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bq5vW5lng

Dutch Renitent on February 13, 2012 at 12:14 am

Hey skunky nice new avatar…I don t get the whole Whitney Houston deal,is a well know fact that many of the black singers of old had their training at church,Whitney was talented as any one can see,as far as the best rwndition of our anthem,nah!!!…Faith what s her name? Tim McGraw’s wife sings it just as good or Lee Ann Rhimes…Martina Mcbride…we all are offered choices in life and we take the road we want to go,she chose hers and left the straight and narrow,her singing will fade away,just as it had,I am not sorry she died since I wasn t her fan or liked her music,is just like the saying goes,play with matches and you end up burning yourself….very difficult to say a positive thing about the woman….I hope her daughter doesn t follow her example…I truly hope she rwsts in peace now….Otherwise her suffering has just begun.

Juan on February 13, 2012 at 12:52 am

I remember watching her perform the national anthem way back when and getting chills. The whole setting is something that would be hard to forget. I wasn’t a big fan but I did like “The Greatest Love of All”. Her death just shows me how important it is to surround yourself with quality people. I can imagine the kind of people that were in her entourage at the hotel.

Daniel Middleman on February 13, 2012 at 1:22 am

I agree with Skunky about Jennifer Holliday. “I Am Love” is one of the great songs of all time, from the singing to the superb arrangement.

Little Al on February 13, 2012 at 3:40 am

I was not a Whitney Houston fan but I enjoyed some of her music. With that said may I state the obvious here or at least agree with you Debbie, that this is a tragedy which is repeated everyday in America. Addiction touches so many lives & not in a good way. May we all turn from the temporal to the eternal & allow the pain that is this life change to hope. Thanks again Debbie for all you do. May the G_d of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob bless you & yours.

A_Zion_State_0'mind on February 13, 2012 at 8:51 am

And in most of these cases, it is the enablers who allow the final tragedy to occur.

exfed on February 13, 2012 at 12:46 pm

Apple had raised the price on her discography…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/feb/13/whitney-houston-album-price?newsfeed=true

Why not? The REAL fans had all her stuff already. When you’re buying when someone is cactus, you’re lacking.

Skunky on February 13, 2012 at 1:02 pm

“How Will I Know” is my favorite. I really liked the video too. She was so young and vibrant in it- she just looked happy. It is so sad to see the decline of someone with such a talent. With all the talk about her drug use and her appearance/behavior in the days leading up to her death, when all is said and done, a mom lost her child on Saturday and a teenage girl lost her mother. My prayers are with her daughter and her mom.

Janne on February 13, 2012 at 2:27 pm

skzion, anyone who says “but WH really was an artist.” doesn’t have good judgement, so, take a hike.

She wasn’t an artist, just a great singer. Big difference.

Many of you are acting like she has been this great singer till recently. She had a short shelf life, actually. She had a very big run but she ruined it pretty quickly. Guys, she hasn’t been relevant in over 20 years. She was only relevant for being tabloid fodder.

Oh, and all you, “That idiot Bobby Brown messed her up.” I’m hearing stories from various sites it was HER who got him messed up on drugs.

Jeff_W on February 13, 2012 at 2:50 pm

The only thing I liked her in was Bodyguard with Costner.

Was and am more of an 80’s new wave/dark wave fella, so I wasn’t into her music at all.

Only thing I can add to this is it pisses me off when I see people that are blessed with so much and have the world by the gonads throw it away.

She could have been a hell of a lot more than a hoodrat, coke head…

Chris on February 13, 2012 at 5:28 pm

BTW, those who want to take Skunky’s advice and get something from a Sly Stone, who is living but is in deep financial trouble, can find lots of titles on Amazon. I got Stand, for a mere $8.50.

skzion on February 13, 2012 at 6:51 pm

Thanks for the tips, Skunky. It’s not an area that I know much about.

skzion on February 13, 2012 at 10:02 pm

Allow me to throw the proverbial hat into the ring.

Back in the day, I was crushing on Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and Whitney.

Whitney raised the bar at a time when people still played music.

No computers. No samplers. No onboard processing. And no f—ing auto-tune!

But the arts make strange bedfellows. She hooked up with New Edition bad-boy Bobby Brown, had a child and the s— went totally weird from that point on.

But I will always remember the bright young star who would hit those high notes like a well-trained sniper.

Sadly, Maya Rudolph will have to look for another diva to lampoon.

Too young. Too soon. Sleep well, Whitney. RIP.

The Reverend Jacques on February 14, 2012 at 3:19 am

Me too, never a fan of the genre. Never had a “thing” either. But rest in peace Whitney.

jake49 on February 14, 2012 at 11:20 am

Never much of a fan,sorry to say.An over-singer,from the school of “melismatic” singing that thinks that melodramatic wailing is “singing from the soul”/”soulful”, when it’s really nothing but attention-demanding ,and showing off what ‘great’ vocal cords you have,how long you’re able to hold a note – but if you criticize them for it,you get slandered as “racist”,since it mostly originated from Black singers,more or less starting with Aretha Franklin.

Year after year,the criticisms were always the same:She was a good,but never great,live performer, a studio perfectionist,etc.And they were right.Made some good individual songs,but never an great album.

And just her entire demeanor and personality always irritated
me;on every talk show,award show – whether singing or presenting – interviews,trying to be funny,trying to say something intelligent and deep,you name it, all tone deaf.And like many Black performers, screeched “racism” at whatever she felt,or perceived,was the slightest affront to her ego( Undoubtedly,Dionne Warwick and Aretha filled her head with such BS ).

Phineas on February 14, 2012 at 11:57 am

My favorite songs by Whitney were “Greatest Love of All”, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, and I Will Always Love You.” I remember growing up in high school while listening to her music on the radio and MTV back when said channel played music vids. She set the bar for others to follow like that ditz Mariah Carey(who had a jealousy thing going on in reguards to Houston). Rest in peace Whitney. You were on of the great ones.

ken b on February 14, 2012 at 12:04 pm

One more thing, you liked “Queen of the Night”??? That was a rip-off of En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind”. That was one of Whitney’s worst songs. There were other much better songs off the Bodyguard soundtrack.

Matthew on June 25, 2012 at 11:45 pm