BY LUCY CAULKETT
Today marks the third anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death. I can recall the exact moment the news broke. A news flash late at night, marred the jollity of a late night bender, a prolonged night of drinks, accompanied by my friends and my best mate’s then girlfriend. All of us were taken aback and shaken in the true measure anyone is when a person quantified by peers and fans as a legend dies. Legend she was, coming from famous musical heritage (her mother a gospel singer and cousin of Dionne Warwick) Whitney’s voice was a force of nature, taking flight from the soul and dragging us all along in a flock of resonating empathy. She also mastered that rarity of musical wonders, releasing a cover song that surpassed the original in emotion, power and quality. “I Will Always Love You,” from the soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard – Houston starring alongside Kevin Costner – eclipsed Dolly Parton’s original for grace, energy and the fervid conjuration of “bittersweet memories” (to quote the song itself). Yet none of her success or acclaim shielded her from personal addiction and ruin and the songstress’ downward spiral played out glaringly before the avaricious whirlpool that is the media eye. Her marriage to Bobby Brown was nothing short of the intensity that Whitney only matched in her high notes, or tried to erase with addiction.
Her dependence on crack cocaine went in tandem almost with her torrid marriage to Brown- a marriage imbued with much of the drama akin to Richard Burton and Liz Taylor. The pair eventually parted ways and it was hoped Houston could clean up her act, yet hope is often misplaced and punches above it’s weight often when pitted against personal angst. Three years ago and several days before the most prestigious music event in the world – The Grammys – were about to commence, Whitney Houston was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Having accidentally drowned in the bathtub, a fatal mishap underscored by heart failure through extended cocaine use, both listed as contributing factors in her death. The music world – and the wider world in accompaniment – reeled in horror at the news and the following awards ceremony honoured Houston’s 30-year contribution to the industry. Any gift to art is felt keenly by the public, but remains as a palpable wound sore and agonising initially, atrophying to a tender ache as time wears down.
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Last year, wounds of losing a parent were apparent when the news broke surrounding the death of Peaches Geldof. Several days before her death, Peaches’ Twitter feed contained many posts and photos mentioning and depicting her late mother, Paula Yates. This year, the critical condition of Bobbi Kristina Brown (Whitney’s daughter) being found in an eerily similar condition to her late mother, continues the harrowing trend.
Bobbi Kristina was discovered by a close friend, face down in the bathtub on January 31st. The 21-year-old’s condition, described at the scene as non-responsive, with no heartbeat, has been placed in a medically induced coma. Despite opening her eyes on February 2nd, she allegedly suffered seizures on the same day. Moreover, a source close to the family has mentioned Bobbi Kristina has injuries that still need explaining. As for the young woman herself, the condition of her brain will remain unknown until the level of her sedatives are reduced.
As of yet, the result of her drowning is all a matter of speculation that only Bobbi Kristina herself can provide any shred of clarity for. However, the circumstances surrounding this tragic set of events, evokes an uncomfortable ghost and a restless poltergeist that seems to run through the psyche of both her parents. When being the child of two parents who have obvious problems regarding drug abuse, added to the fact that one of those parents died in a most tragic and starkly public manner. Such a dreadful bereavement and shock is bound to alter one irrevocably.
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Bobbi Kristina actually featured in Whitney Houston’s single “My Love Is Your Love.” In response to Houston’s opening line: If tomorrow is judgement day.
It resonates heavily with the connection between mother and daughter and is coupled with their suffering. Death is a measure for all of us. It stands as a shadow fringing the light of our life, passing judgement with our lifestyles, demons and diseases as the jury, before the looming or distant gates sundering life and death stand before us. Whitney was “standing on the frontline,” as the proceeding lyric of the aforementioned song details. Scars of our parents often hound our adulthood, an age Bobbi Kristina barely reached. One cannot wonder how far self-destruction is personal, or intrinsic. We all possess free will, however, genes dictate a lot of our dispositions, when that nature is nurtured, we see patterns emerge. This is all conjecture until investigation or first hand testimony yield greater insight. Although the pattern seems to stitch together pieces of a troubled young woman, blinded by the halo from the light cast on her mother, attempting to cope in that haze.
Whitney left an estate of between £10m and £20m, and her daughter is reportedly the sole heir to her fortune. Police have announced that her condition is being treated as a criminal investigation, though not much beyond that has emerged.
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