The Queen of Pop

It was only a matter of time - wasn't it?

I was on the computer the night my son called me for news that is still difficult to believe three days later. He said it, I repeated it in a question. It took one click of the mouse to see what was spread on the front page of every search engine. Still staring at the picture, my son and I were silent. We hung up the phone still in disbelief. Why? Why Whitney? Who would you ask that question to? God or Whitney?

There wasn't much I could focus on the computer after hearing such news. I went to my apartment and felt like I lost a family member. When turning on the television, the pictures kept coming and specials so that even if you didn't want to believe it the media was going to do away with that.

I watched the Diane Sawyer special and saw the difference in her from 10 years ago as opposed to the interview Oprah had with her last year. Didn't anyone else notice a speech impediment that she didn't have back then. What did that mean? Why didn't anyone ask Bobby why his face twisted to one side a continuous expression he didn't have when he was single? The signs were already there. What could anyone have done?

I stopped listening to the favorite icon's music some years ago after The Bodyguard. That song was one hit that had the tears flowing. I just didn't want to cry. With all of the medleys of Whitney's they are playing now, its like a grieving whether you want to or not. Its so understood why she was labeled as the queen of pop.

The King of Rock and Roll passed away in the 70's. For at least a decade or more, we were reminded of Elvis Presley and all of the hits he created. Even the impersonators have made a financial living off of that legend.

The King of Soul passed away just a few years ago. His mashed potato dance, the splits, and the cape which has been made into a parody now and again was remembered in The Grammy last night with Bruno Mars' impression of James Brown.

The King of Pop left us stunned at the hearing of his passing. Much like the king of rock and roll, he has impersonators that keep us reminded of his life's work. The entertainment industry lost an immense talent in Michael Jackson.

The Queen of Pop wasn't a thought until I heard them label, the music icon, Whitney Houston. I suppose that's exactly what you become when the singing of such range is as effortless as she made those songs seem. Crystal clear pitch with such emotion able to be transferred over and over again to anyone that that could hear it. That's a gift that not too many people have. It is why the label is placed on the select and not the masses.

Who will take the place of those that have gone. Who will not only be that special talent but go beyond that and not make the same mistakes for the sake of the fans. There are some things to remember for anyone who decides to fill those shoes:

-Take time out for yourself. When all of your efforts is to please everyone else especially making sure your fans don't forget you, you will forget you. You need to take some time and relax no matter what the agent, publicist, and manager tells you. You are their investment and all they are concerned with is making money. Let there be a bigger talent than you and all of their concern that was doted on you is gone. When you take time out for yourself, all of that attention gone won't hurt as much.

-Don't get caught up into the hype. Fans are as fickle as the manager, publicist, and agent. They will love you as long as you are dishing out what they like. The moment you start doing what you have to, you might hear some boos. But children do the same thing when given veggies instead of dessert. Get over it and do what is best for your health and welfare first.

-There is one greater then the shoes you attempt to fill. Always keep the faith. It has never failed when a person thinks that they have to do it all and either doesn't know how to delegate or know that there is a higher power watching. If you don't know how to do anything else, take some time to acknowledge the Giver of Life.