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DALLAS- Whitney Houston, long regarded as one of the most talented but troubled musicians of the last half-century, experienced an unprecedented and unexpected spike in her popularity over the weekend. Industry experts, while shocked, were happy to see the diva getting her due, but this reporter remains skeptical as to why the world suddenly decided to sweep her drug problems under the rug to shower her with adoration.
Houston’s resurgence was especially prominent in social media, where the usual mocking and ridicule gave way to plaudits about her wonderful career. In recent weeks, data tracking services indicated that over 93% of references to Whitney Houston were either links to articles about her drug addiction or usage of her name in a metaphorical sense (ex: “The price of these blueberries is higher than Whitn
ey Houston. LOL”). Over the weekend, these references were crowded out almost exclusively by plaudits about her wonderful voice and her positive influence on her fans’ lives. She was also mentioned as a “motivation” more than 400,000 times in 2 days on Facebook, presumably meaning something other than motivation to become a crack head.[RIGHT: I don't care what anyone says, Whitney. This is how I choose to always remember you.]
Without releasing any new music or performing at any events, Houston also saw her popularity rise in individuals’ rankings of their favorite musicians. While many pop music fans had rated her as one of their five or ten favorites from the 80s and early 90s, Houston seized the number one spot on innumerable lists over the weekend. For example, Carrie Steenen of Kenosha, Wisconsin tweeted “Whitney I luv U. U were my 1st tape as a kid. U R my Fav!!” In the past three weeks, Steenen had also listed Bruno Mars, Madonna, and Jennifer Hudson as her favorite musician, but had made no reference to Houston.
Even the producers of the Grammys worked Houston into their show on Sunday night. The producers had to be especially careful to plan around the Houston powder keg in the wake of the Super Bowl Halftime Show fiasco in which M.I.A. offended no one by pointlessly flipping off the camera. As such, the Grammys producers agreed to respond to the popular outcry in favor of Houston by including several references and tributes to her throughout the show, but they did so only after receiving assurances that she would not personally be in attendance. The producers made this move because they feared that if Houston was shown briefly on camera, there was at least a 50/50 chance that she would be snorting or free basing cocaine, which would earn the network a hefty fine.
Possibly the most startling development in the nation’s sudden love affair with Whitney Houston has been the kid-glove treatment given by morning radio hosts. These hosts, who are normally known for being slightly zany and for gently pushing the boundaries of the PG ratings, have spoken in reverential tones about Houston. Few have even made the obvious jokes about her drug addiction, and if there is one thing radio morning hosts are known for, it is making obvious jokes. More on this story as it develops.
UPDATE: This just in- apparently, Whitney Houston is dead. That sort of explains why everyone was gushing over her for the last three days. I take full responsibility for printing this article not knowing that she was dead, although that still doesn’t explain why everyone is suddenly in love with her. If people had been this nice to her when she was alive instead of harassing her and rumor-mongering about her, maybe she would not have become addicted to drugs and died.
Without releasing any new music or performing at any events, Houston also saw her popularity rise in individuals’ rankings of their favorite musicians. While many pop music fans had rated her as one of their five or ten favorites from the 80s and early 90s, Houston seized the number one spot on innumerable lists over the weekend. For example, Carrie Steenen of Kenosha, Wisconsin tweeted “Whitney I luv U. U were my 1st tape as a kid. U R my Fav!!” In the past three weeks, Steenen had also listed Bruno Mars, Madonna, and Jennifer Hudson as her favorite musician, but had made no reference to Houston.
Even the producers of the Grammys worked Houston into their show on Sunday night. The producers had to be especially careful to plan around the Houston powder keg in the wake of the Super Bowl Halftime Show fiasco in which M.I.A. offended no one by pointlessly flipping off the camera. As such, the Grammys producers agreed to respond to the popular outcry in favor of Houston by including several references and tributes to her throughout the show, but they did so only after receiving assurances that she would not personally be in attendance. The producers made this move because they feared that if Houston was shown briefly on camera, there was at least a 50/50 chance that she would be snorting or free basing cocaine, which would earn the network a hefty fine.
Possibly the most startling development in the nation’s sudden love affair with Whitney Houston has been the kid-glove treatment given by morning radio hosts. These hosts, who are normally known for being slightly zany and for gently pushing the boundaries of the PG ratings, have spoken in reverential tones about Houston. Few have even made the obvious jokes about her drug addiction, and if there is one thing radio morning hosts are known for, it is making obvious jokes. More on this story as it develops.
UPDATE: This just in- apparently, Whitney Houston is dead. That sort of explains why everyone was gushing over her for the last three days. I take full responsibility for printing this article not knowing that she was dead, although that still doesn’t explain why everyone is suddenly in love with her. If people had been this nice to her when she was alive instead of harassing her and rumor-mongering about her, maybe she would not have become addicted to drugs and died.
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