It was a lovely day on the University of Vermont
college campus. Bill (teammate and
roommate) and I were relaxing at our apartment, enjoying one of our rare days
off from basketball practice. Unbeknownst to me, Bill had purchased Whitney’s
first album after I mentioned it.
Upon first seeing the cover of her 1985 debut album, I
remember thinking, wow, this woman is gorgeous! The album design and colors were equally as
stunning. We couldn’t wait to hear it.
That Voice. That Voice. That Voice.
We quickly forget about the cover after hearing a few songs
and focused on her magnificent voice. It was like no other - Powerful, Flawless,
Soulful, Eloquent, Strong, Fierce and Tender. Many of the songs were terrific including “You
Give Good Love”, which is still my favorite Whitney tune. We knew that she
would be a major superstar as I’m sure most people did who heard that first
album.
A few years later, I had the pleasure of seeing Whitney live
in Boston. The
show was fantastic as she was near perfection despite the concert being outside.
Her presence was joyful and that voice rocked the entire crowd from start to
finish. People in the audience were deliriously happy as they knew this new
talent was something special.
In the early 1990’s, I saw her show again. This time, the
venue was Madison Square Garden (MSG) and she was a major superstar. Once
again, the show was great and she was on top of the world. Her voice boomed
brilliantly inside the walls of the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Before the show, I was given a few post-concert backstage
passes. My guests and I were excited as I rarely got this perk even when I
worked at MSG in the mid 90’s. When we got backstage, it was a scene like no
other. The hysteria around Whitney was crazy.
We could see Whitney yet even with our VIP access, we
couldn’t get anywhere near her. There were celebrities around us and near her
along with fans that were overly excited. In addition, security wasn’t tight
enough and not even close to what it would be today.
We were only able to get within 100 yards of the circle
surrounding this twenty-something beauty. I’ve experienced numerous surreal moments
although this was high on the list. It
was easy to see that this kind of chaos wouldn’t benefit anyone who had just
poured their heart and soul out on stage. Whitney disappeared shortly after and
finally the crowd began to disperse.
The final time I saw her live was in early 2001, when she
appeared at a concert of Wyclef Jean’s at Carnegie Hall. My wife and I both
remember how unhealthy and uncharacteristically skinny she looked. By this time, she had been married to the troubled
singer Bobby Brown for almost 10 years. She still sounded good that night though!
Since 2002, I only saw snippets of Whitney as her musical
career was virtually non-existent. There
was a 5 minute TV clip on the ridiculous show of her husband called “Being
Bobby Brown”. Whitney was walking
through a mall wearing sweatpants and clearly high on something. Sad was the
only word to describe it.
The other moment was from an Oprah Winfrey show, where she
gave the impression that she was clean and in full recovery from her troubled
life of addiction. In that interview, I felt
that she was only fooling herself. In
addition, she was promoting her comeback album so she sang. Her
voice was good yet not the Whitney I expected.
After a 2010 performance in Sweden, a friend (who had the
misfortune of attending), described the show as “awful”. As it turns out, my wife and I had the good
fortune of selling our tickets to the aforementioned concert; being
uninspired not long after purchasing them.
Whitney was one of a kind. She had a
gift that touched and impacted millions around the world.
When any life (famous or not) is taken away too soon, I
always look for the lessons we can learn. There are many lessons including but not limited to:
1)
Every Decision
(i.e. Bobby Brown) One Makes Has Consequences
2)
Addiction
(small or BIG) Can make life difficult, miserable or deadly
3)
Irresponsibility
Typically Leads Down a Dangerous Road
4)
Having
and/or Listening to a “Voice of Reason” is Essential
The case of Whitney Houston is tragic yet not unexpected. If
there is a positive with her death, it may be that she will now be remembered
for her music and that golden voice, not the pathetic figure she became in the
last decade.
These words from Whitney’s version of “The Greatest Love of
All” are telling:
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
(Written by songwriters Michael Masser and Linda Creed)
THEY didn’t take her dignity away. Whitney did.
More lyrics…..and in my mind, gives us the most important life
lesson:
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
If only Whitney had
adhered to those inspiring words and loved herself, things might have turned
out differently.
Fortunately for us, her music will endure.
Happy Swede Sunday!
