Remembering Whitney

I believe that children are our future

Teach them well and let them lead the way,

Show them all the beauty they possess inside,

Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.

--"The Greatest Love of All," Whitney Houston

 *****

Today, Whitney Houston's funeral will be held and the singer's life will be celebrated by those who loved her. Like so many people everywhere, I was stunned to hear that she had passed away last weekend, and saddened too. What really made me sad was the heavy media focus on her struggles with substance abuse rather than her prolific career.

Let's face it, no matter her personal demons - she had one of the most amazing voices ever heard in pop music. Ever.

Photo from www.inquisitr.com

Her music was a huge part of the soundtrack of my childhood. I remember singing along to "How Will I Know" and "So Emotional" with friends in our yards and rooms, imagining what love was like and pretending we were superstars too. I remember my 6th grade band playing (or more accurately, attempting to play) "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" for our first concert.

As I grew older, Whitney's music still followed me, her incredible voice soaring over remixed beats in the gay clubs I had begun to visit on my journey to self-acceptance. I wanted to "dance with somebody who loves me," to believe that love would really save the day. "Step By Step," one of the songs on a breakup recovery CD made by my best friend, motivated me when I was down.

She claims a number of records and achievements in the music industry, including having the best-selling album for a female artist in the U.S. in the 1980s (her debut, "Whitney Houston") and the highest one-week sales record by a female artist (for "I Will Always Love You" in December 1992). (Statistics from www.inquisitr.com.)

Whitney Houston was inspiring and incredibly talented. She gave us the gift of her amazing voice and her beautiful music, and that is what should be remembered and celebrated. She is gone far too soon.

Photo from www.ksfy.com