Whitney Houston dead!!!!

[hustle4alivin]

I just keep thinking "her poor mother."

Thing is, Cissy Houston makes music I love, music with soul. Whitney had the greater vocal talent but was perhaps a lesser spirit in the end. I DO believe that addiction is an often incurable disease, so I don't condemn Whitney for her drugging. But the bland musical pap she wasted her stunning voice on for decades? THAT was a crime. Consider Elvis, Amy, or even Michael Jackson (love him or hate him, I'm in the latter camp BUT)--these people left incredible musical legacies.

One thing does make me choke up a bit, though. I remember with great vividness the first time I ever saw her--singing "How Will I Know" on MTV back in '85. That video's peppy beat, bright colors, cheerful androgyny and fabulous purple eyeshadow...so quintessentially 80's. But then there was this gorgeous young woman, so beautiful and bright, such a great voice, absolutely riveting. I instantly knew she would become an immense star. I just never thought she'd end up like this. It IS sad.

I kind of want to smack her for putting such an ugly punch line on her life's story.

Whitney recieved a lot of flack back in the 1980's for her music from people who felt her vocal talents were wasted on pop material. When she first came out, Clive Davis marketed her music directly to Adult Comtemporary stations rather than urban adult contemporary stations in order for her to hit it big in the mainstream. It's a fine line for a lot of R&B stars who hit it big to cross - sing with too much "soul" and risk alienating your mainstream audience (singing too "black") or sing too "pop" and risk alienating your core audience. Luther Vandross tried to go mainstream in the early 90's and it affected his record sales with the audience he started with - he was always a lot more popular in the Urban/R&B world in the 80's.

The only time I felt Whitney sang with soul was when she sang gospel music. I'm not as religious as I used to be, but whenever I hear her version of "Joy To The World" with the Georgia Mass Choir, I feel it. I feel Whitney taking me to Church. I never felt that with her mainstream songs.

There was an R&B singer named Phyllis Hyman who was supposed to have the career that Whitney had. Clive Davis presented her with songs to sing, but Phyllis didn't want to compromise her sound and Clive wanted her to sing with less "soul." Clive fired her, blackballed her in the industry, and the songs intended for Phyllis went to Whitney a few years later. Phyllis did go on to see success in R&B, but never had the success or album sales that Whitney had, and was beset with mental illness, drug addiction, and financial problems, and wound up committing suicide in 1995.

[huntsy_2000]

by Annika:i'm confused about that call if it was within a half an hour before they found her dead and she had gone into the tub and they started knocking to get her out, how long was she in there? usually you give a person 20 min in a tub. anyways. i can see if they found her like 2 hours later or even an hour. giving her time to pass out and drown.

This. Also I bet her camp is going nuts on who was supposed to be watching her. I am surprised they did not go into the bathroom with her. Although I did read she was seen yelling at her assistant on Thursday. So maybe she told them all to fuck off.

[Annika]

It is possible after years of drug abuse the toll on her poor body was too great. Her heart may have just given out.

that's kind of what i think too. they will definitely know for sure if the autopsy shows water in her lungs. i believe she may have died then slid into the water. or slid in on purpose. i don't think she fell asleep and drowned, unless she was drinking and taking benzos (or whatever the found at the scene). if she was getting ready for a part that night i don't know why she would take enough benzos to render her unconscious though. she should know her limits with and without alcohol, she's isn't a noob.

[Laurent]

Exclusive: Whitney Houston Dies: Daughter Bobbi Kristina "Shattered"

Celebrity News February 12, 2012 AT 12:31PM

By Justin Ravitz


Credit: Kevin Mazur/AMA2009/WireImage


Of the millions mourning Whitney Houston's tragic Saturday death at age 48, no one was hit harder than Bobbi Kristina Brown.

"Her world will be shattered," a family source tells Us Weekly of the "Greatest Love of All" singer's 18-year-old daughter with ex-husband Bobby Brown.

An aspiring singer and actress with an impressive voice of her own, Bobbi "wanted to be just like her mother."

Although Houston was supportive of her daughter's dreams -- the pair had started working together on songs in the studio -- things frequently got sidetracked by the Grammy winner's ongoing struggles with addiction, and young Bobbi even took a "caretaker" role with her ailing mom.

"She idolized Whitney, which made always seeing her mom in disarray that much worse," the insider explains. (Houston, who finally divorcedBobby Brown, 43, in 2007, entered rehab last spring.)

"Bobbi was always by her side in everything she did," the source adds. "She was really her mom's caretaker and biggest cheerleader and biggest fan...I don't know how she will be able to go on."

Houston was found unconscious in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday afternoon; after unsuccessfully performing CPR, paramedics pronounced her dead at 3:55 p.m. Her cause of death is still unknown, but authorities said "no foul play" is suspected.

Read more: Whitney Houston Dies: Daughter Bobbi Kristina "Shattered" - UsMagazine.com

[rollo]

But why should they go into the bathroom with her? I'm guessing she didn't need a minder every step of the way like John Travolta's son ...

[huntsy_2000]

But why should they go into the bathroom with her? I'm guessing she didn't need a minder every step of the way like John Travolta's son ...

True, I was just thinking if they knew she was a hot mess. I am wondering if they assigned a minder to her.

[marmar]

Lol I may have had a little too much Jack last night... Although Whitney does represent some of my favorite memories from childhood. I also can't help but think back to my own friends who've been lost to drugs. Shit, I still lose it when thinking about Heath Ledger. You can judge me all you want, I'm not ashamed.

why you explains why you cried?? it is very normal to cry over someone death you liked/admired even if you don't know him/her personally...people emotions/reaction are different and variable...

[BBDSP]

Whitney recieved a lot of flack back in the 1980's for her music from people who felt her vocal talents were wasted on pop material. When she first came out, Clive Davis marketed her music directly to Adult Comtemporary stations rather than urban adult contemporary stations in order for her to hit it big in the mainstream. It's a fine line for a lot of R&B stars who hit it big to cross - sing with too much "soul" and risk alienating your mainstream audience (singing too "black") or sing too "pop" and risk alienating your core audience. Luther Vandross tried to go mainstream in the early 90's and it affected his record sales with the audience he started with - he was always a lot more popular in the Urban/R&B world in the 80's.

The only time I felt Whitney sang with soul was when she sang gospel music. I'm not as religious as I used to be, but whenever I hear her version of "Joy To The World" with the Georgia Mass Choir, I feel it. I feel Whitney taking me to Church. I never felt that with her mainstream songs.

Well, that's the problem with Whitney, she felt so packaged sometimes. I'm a huge R&B fan (though total honky myself) and I'd rather listen to a perhaps lesser vocalist sing with more soul and texture--not to mention a little funk. Plus, you can only just imagine where she could have taken her voice if she had chosen that kind of material or that kind of style. I always wondered what Whitney was really like, and if the music she sang was really the music she wanted to sing. Still, she had a voice like no other and she is gone way too soon.

[dallison]

Sad that an 18 year old girl had to become a caregiver for her mother.

[ana-mish-ana]

TMZ is reporting that Bobbi Kristina has been rushed to hospital :S

[rollo]

^ Poor thing. Where is her Dad????

[Bluebonnet]

Poor little girl. She's probably in shock. Where the hell is Bobby Brown?! I hope he's right there for her.

Report: Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina rushed to hospital

Published February 12, 2012

| TMZ

• 

• 
  
  AP
  
  FILE - In this photo, singer Whitney Houston, right, sings with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown during a performance on 'Good Morning America' in Central Park in New York.

Whitney Houston's 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was just rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, TMZ reports.

According to TMZ's sources Bobbi was taken on a stretcher out of the Beverly Hills Hilton, where her mother died yesterday.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ police and fire responded to a call for a medical emergency, but would not confirm who was transported.
Bobbi Christina is Whitney's only child from husband Bobby Brown. Houston and Brown were married in 1992 and divorced in 2007.

Read more: Report: Whitney Houston's Daughter Bobbi Kristina Rushed To Hospital | Fox News

[maryk]

I really hope she's okay and didn't do some thing drastic. I totally understand if she's buckled under the stress.

[dallison]

Oh yikes.... poor girl. I really hope she's ok.

[maryk]

Oh and apparently Bobby B still performed in Mississippi last night, hopefully he'll spend some time with his daughter, but I think her grandmother was around?