Heartbreak Hotel

"I Will Always Love You" is the mournful cry of Whitney Houston fans as the music world still reels from the superstars sudden demise.

On Saturday, February 11, the world lost a music legend with the unexpected death of Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston was only 48 years old, and died in her hotel room after a rehearsal for the Grammys.

Whitney Houston was a marvelous talent, with a flawless voice. She inspired countless other singing talents that came after her. She was so amazing and paved the way for others in the industry. Her incredible singing prowess was displayed throughout her career, but can be clearly displayed in her 1991 Superbowl rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.

Houston was not only a singer, but also an actress, producer and model. One of her most famous roles was in the 1994 movie The Body Guard where her infamous song "I Will Always Love You" was featured.

Unfortunately, her career was plagued with controversy. Although her voice was amazing, her personal life had many ups and downs. After she married Bobby Brown, her frequent drug use was publicized. The hard partying, alcohol, and drugs, took their toll on the singer, as her voice was not quite the same in her later years.

While the cause of death has still not been discovered and reported, many fear that drugs and/or alcohol played a role. This is not an illogical assumption, as Houston had a famous past of drug and alcohol abuse. However, she had been trying to get clean in recent years.

I would not want to speculate on her cause of death, but if it were due to drugs and alcohol, maybe Houston could be an example or an inspiration one more time.

Countless artists have used drugs and alcohol, shortening their lives and ruining their talent. This is not the first time this tragic fate has been bestowed on a legend, but maybe it could be the last. Talented artists of today and the future hopefully will use this tragedy as a reason to stay clean, preserve their talent, and make positive, constructive life decisions.

When I first heard the news, I was totally shocked. I am a pretty big fan of her music, and own her greatest hits album. I discovered Houston when I was a child, and I was mesmerized by her beautiful voice. It is incredibly sad that this huge talent will no longer be able to sing another note.

Even in death, Houston is not quite allowed to be at peace. There has been a firestorm over photos that were published from her funeral service. The National Enquirer printed photos of Houston in an open casket, displaying her lifeless body to the masses.

This seems to be an invasion of privacy and all kinds of morbid. This is not the first time that photos like this have been taken and shared, as similar photos of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson (two other music icons who met tragic ends) were also circulated. However, despite the precedent, family, friends, fans, and the funeral home are outraged at this invasion of privacy.

The National Enquirer stands by their decision, stating that the photos were artistic and beautiful.

Personally, I don't think the world needed to see these photos. It seems distasteful and taking advantage of someone's pain and grief. Let the woman rest in peace.

As generally happens in life, the good memories greatly outweigh the bad over time. Hopefully, all of the negative aspects of Houston will fade, and she will be remembered for her incredible talent and the good she did for music and society.

However, I also hope that her struggles are remembered, so that people know that fame and fortune aren't everything. Everyone has their issues and no one is immune. Fame has its price, and people need to be extra careful not to fall in with a bad crowd, as sadly Houston did.

After I heard the news, I started playing all of the Houston songs I owned. I was not alone, as I could hear many Houston songs being played throughout my residence hall.

To honor her, I will end this blog post with another classic Houston song. May Whitney Houston finally  be at peace and join the angels in Heaven with her angelic voice.