(this post can also be found on the huffington post)
if you’ve read “WHATEVERLAND” or listened to my radio show, you probably already know that i grew up with a dad in the music business. i spent many a day in a recording studio, met many recording artists, vacationed with barbra streisand, spent time with dolly parton, sat on stage with elton john, and hung out back stage with i can’t recall how many performers.
but really no performer sang my emotions and my thoughts like whitney houston did. i did get to meet her once. briefly. it was surreal.
in 1985 when whitney released her debut album “whitney houston”, i remember singing along to “saving all my love” with my best friend leslie. and i remember giggling at the part “…we’ll be making love the whole night through…” it was exciting to hear her sing that line. and to sing along with her. boys were on my brain ofcourse! but they were NOT in my pants. making love! ha! but dreaming about the who and when… you betcha.
and when i was feeling down, insecure and like a loser with no crushes liking me back… “greatest love of all” became my anthem. in 1986 i recorded my (shoddy) karaoke version of it in a sound booth in a florida amusement park. (have to search my attic to see if i can find it!)
i had longed to be a singer back then, and i didn’t sound a thing like whitney.
but i was certain i felt like her.
as a 17 year old experiencing heartache, i listened to “all at once” dozens of times, in a row. she captured completely what i was feeling in a 3 minute song. “all at once, i’m drifting on a lonely sea, hoping you’d come back to me… and it hurts me more than you know, so much more than it shows, all at once”
i still hear that song in my head when i am sad about something.
or i have a pang of longing for what used to be.
my friend leslie and i would be goofy in 1987- still listening to that same tape from 1985- while we danced along to “how will i know”… i think we’d scream when it came on at a party and jump on the dance floor and do our best whitney impression.. she was NOT known for her dancing.
whitney houston’s rendition of “the star spangled banner” at 1991 superbowl was unforgettable. we all learned the lyrics to that song finally because it was played on the radio constantly. and as much as we tried to sing along to her version, none of us could belt it like whitney did.
soon came the body guard. and whitney houston’s freaking amazing cover of “i will always love you”. mind blowing. insane. incredible.
when whitney married bobby brown in 1992 after meeting him in 1989, i remember the hubbub- she was such a glorious princess… remarkably beautiful on the outside and talented beyond all rational understanding. and she was marrying a punk. it felt disappointing in a way. and incredibly humanizing in another- she, like us, could make bad choices too.
and sadly her bad choices continued.
addiction became her new career.
it seemed like a reprieve from the drugs and darkness when whitney released “i’m every woman” in 1993. and a true whitney houston fan can admit this was the only time whitney showed dance ability and rhythm in a video.
im convinced it was because she was pregnant with her daughter and full of hope and excitement. whitney’s joy was infectious. her hope was contagious.
the late 90s and up until now whitney houston has been in and out of the press. and mostly for stories unrelated to her musical ability.
but tonight. we are talking about her music and her talent.
because she’s gone.
xo
jenny
It’s so sad 🙁 she will be missed
Jennifer – this is amazing
I am so sad (I can’t believe she is gone)
I will share this blog on facebook tomorrow – this is so touching.
I can’t believe how sad her passing makes me feel – I am glued to the tv – gosh I am devastated.. such a great talent…
All I can think of is singing her songs in your bedroom and re-enacting her videos and how beautiful she was (still is – can’t accept it) And I totally remembered her lyrics and how silly we were – “saving all my love” hello!!! I didn’t even know what “making love” was..lol … Remember going to her concert at Jones Beach?? It was the highlight of my summer!! She was a let down but we still loved her – so unbelievably talented ..so sad
Whitney was a GIFT – there will never be anyone like her EVER!
I was also a fan. I made a cassette tape of her songs that had the perfect beat to do sit ups to and every night before bed I would play the three songs…such memories.
I just loved this read. Bless Whitney’s daughter and family. And thank you for articulating so well what so many of us are feeling and thinking tonight. So many of us have memories associated to her lyrics.
Jenny, couldn’t have said it better myself.. tragic story, awesome talent and a great loss..
I’d rather hear more about your vacation with Barbra Streisand.
Well said Jennifer! xo
What was the beautiful Whitney song you played at the end of your show?
i believe in you and me…
Thank you!
Well said Jenny. I listened to your radio show today and heard your appeal for compassion toward her inability to conquer her addictions. Sadly, it has robbed her of a beautiful life. Keep on speaking your mind and giving advice. The callers are asking for your opinion or they wouldn’t be calling or writing in to you and your show.
I’m right there with you Jenny. I was in 5th grade listening to Whitney thinking, this is what grown up love is like. Yup loser! LOL. I found out about her death while at dinner celebrating my birthday 🙁
WOW. Only YOU could actually have the self-absorbed shallowness to make someone’s death about YOU. Seriously, you need to get OVER yourself. All you had to do was say a few kind words, not turn it into some diary entry of an immature Long Island housewife and the memoirs of an overpriveged brat. You really are a piece of work… and not in a good way. Yuck!
wow . . . why do you care – ugh
Why come to Jenny’s site if you don’t like what she has to say? Go F yourself Babs.
I agree with Barbara, once again, you managed to turn the death of WH into a really STUPID, INCREDIBLY JUVENILE story about YOU!!!
You’re such a creep!