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Whitney Houston

My bright and shining star, Whitney Houston, made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week. It was the first time the authorities had nominated her. She rocketed past Chaka Khan--who has seen several nominations flicker...and sputter....and die....

Not that everything is a contest.

I really like one of Houston's last major songs--"I Look to You." The author is the now-disgraced R. Kelly; since the song is about a soul at war with itself, one wonders if R. Kelly was really describing his *own* disastrous life. (My money is on YES!)

A speaker prays to God via three main images. One: Whitney, like a child, is in bed, thinking, "As I lay me down....Heaven, hear me now....I'm lost without a cause...." Two: the image of bad weather. "Winter storms have come.....and darkened my sun...." Three (very chilling): the image of someone drowning. "About to lose my breath....There's no more fighting left...."

At moments, Whitney imagines a brighter future, via her surrender to God: "I look to you....After all my strength is gone, in you I can be strong...."

There isn't a resolution, and it's striking that (1) Whitney, who began her career in gospel music, turns back to God at the end of her career; (2) Whitney can still be compelling, via phrasing, even after her high notes are gone; and (3) the physical struggle of making music, a struggle you can hear in every line, seems to match the spiritual struggle Whitney is laying out with help from R. Kelly.

This is simple, direct writing. It's good writing. R: Kelly: a bad man, with talent.

Happy (?) listening.....

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