When a generation loses its voice, the world mourns.
Whitney Houston was the voice of the previous generation. Her death, while not surprising in light of her problems with drugs and alcohol and tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown, is still shocking and upsetting, to say the least.
Although official toxicology results won’t be out for more than a month, I’m going to assume her death was drug related. Reports have been swirling about her erratic behavior around the Beverly Hilton Hotel before she died, so it’s not a crazy assumption.
In the days following her death Saturday, many artists offered tributes to her memory. Long-time mentor Clive Davis shared heartfelt words at a pre-Grammy party she was supposed to attend. LL Cool J opened The Grammy Awards with a prayer for Houston, saying, “We’ve had a death in our family.”
Twitter was filled with kind words about the R&B songstress, and #RIPWhitney was a trending topic on the day following her death.
Perhaps the best tribute was Jennifer Hudson’s spine-tingling rendition of “I Will Always Love You” during the Grammys. It was fitting, since Houston gave Hudson her first Grammy in 2009.
Even President Barack Obama issued a statement about Houston, saying his thoughts are with the family. Press Secretary Jay Carney said he admired the singer’s “immense talent” and called the death a tragedy, according to the Associated Press.
Unfortunately, not everyone remembered Houston’s life with kind words and song.
Sony Music Increased the price of “The Ultimate Collection” from £4.99 to £7.99 on the British iTunes Store hours after her death, The Guardian reports.
Distasteful? A bit.
I understand music labels are out to make as much money as possible and aren’t known for their morals. But this is so comically evil, it’s hard to believe.
Houston literally died hours before. The first thing to jump to anyone’s mind should not have been, “Let’s make money off of this.” But music executives wouldn’t dare pass up a chance to make a quick buck.
The album was returned to its original price at the end of the day, but the damage was already done.
Houston’s voice is unforgettable. Her 1991 performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during Super Bowl XXV is the best version of the national anthem I’ve ever heard.
Houston will be remembered. Personal issues aside, her youthful spirit and contagious smile will live on. While Sony decided to capitalize on her death, her other tributes paid perfect homage to an amazing singer.
 
____
Contact Taylor Balkom at [email protected]