It's exactly a month today, Whitney Houston passed away. It's still so hard to accept such a loss. During this period I read so much more about her, listened to some of my favourite songs, and kept lamenting that my dream of meeting her in person will never happen.

Last night Joy gifted an online copy of the Now magazine which has the entire edition on Whitney. It was so lovely to see the amount of love and admiration she got in her life! It's sad that in India people hardly knew her; even the newspapers and a few news channels just did their bare minimum to pay tribute to her. I don't remember if the Indian media took much interest in her in the last 10 years or so, but suddenly after her death there were suddenly waves of information coming out about her! One journalist in his tribute wrote that Whitney popularised classic and gospel music! Her death was compared to Guru Dutt's by a very popular site; I didn't understand the connection!

Why am I even getting into this! There are just too many jokers in this world, and they need not be given a lot of importance. The fact remains and will always remain, I loved Whitney Houston's voice, her songs, and yes, I loved her for the lovely person she was. One doesn't need to know a person to love. She may have left the earth, but her legacy will carry on. The only diva, a true icon, Whitney Houston... you will always be missed...

Whitney Houston, I will always love you!

Last night I was up very late, trying to sleep. I was humming Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love of All' and remembering how beautifully she hits those high notes, something I'd never ever be able to, so effortlessly. I woke up late this morning and had to rush a little as there was someone expected to come over. I wore a long top and a pair of leggings without actually looking at the combination; they were both black and I usually don't wear all black! When the lady left I just casually changed the tv channels only to hear that my Demigoddess was no more! Was I sensing something... I don't know! I was shocked, completely speechless, I didn't cry! I am still not crying but I am weeping inside...

I am not going to tell everyone what a wonderful singer she was (writing was hits me very hard!) or anything about her as a performer because the world knows it all. What the world doesn't know is how much I have always loved her. I heard her first in 1988 when I was 13 years old and I have grown listening to her. I have so many times pretended to be her, and sang her songs in the bathroom and thought I was just like her! I dared to sing her songs on stage just a few times and always realised after each performance how pathetic I was to even attempt her songs. She was a Demigoddess and you cannot reach or touch a Demigoddess!

The only artist I dreamt to see perform live was she. When I was really young I used to dream of sharing the same stage with her. With her gone, my dreams are gone forever.

My daughter was barely a month old when one day she was crying endlessly, and nothing could comfort her. My husband played 'I Look To You' and my baby was quiet immediately. When she was about two and half months, one evening, she heard the song  four and a half times before she stopped crying, and gradually fell off to sleep! Later, every time she cried like crazy we'd play the song, and Whitney's angelic voice would do the magic!  

Whitney has had a  great, yet a very difficult life. While she enthralled her fans with her music she suffered deep within. Her untimely death is shocking and the cause of her death is still not known. 

"She has gone from the earth to a better place I know... I hear the gentle voices calling Whitney Elizabeth Houston...."

May her soul rest in peace...

Yet another surprise from Joy! A great way to begin my autobiography/biography collection of musicians!

Down memory lane, it's music once more!

A friend came over day before, and as usual our conversation was mainly on different aspects of music. While talking about different artists, albums etc. he asked me to get a copy of The Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends and listen to it. He said, I will love it! My husband promptly downloaded the video yesterday and brought it for me. These are some of the nicest things Joy does for me, even before I ask!

This afternoon I got some time and played the DVD. My memories came alive! Kenny Loggins, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, All-4-One, Michael Bolton, Seal, and many more belting out 1 hit after another. I don’t remember when was the last time I heard 'I Can't Love You Like That’ or ‘I Swear’, but today, when I heard All-4-One singing the songs I had goose bumps and I was transported back to 1994. The year of 1994 was a very special one in my life for a variety of reasons; hundreds of memories are etched on my mind. Getting back to the band, after 17 years they sound as good if not more mature! Michael Bolton still sings ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ as passionately and beautifully as he did almost 20 years ago!

I have known David Foster’s name mainly because of Whitney Houston’s album Bodyguard.  It was only when I started watching the video that I realized what a great and accomplished musician and producer he has been, and what great artists he has been working with!

To watch a concert like this is so rare these days with the way music has changed over the years. Any concert I watch on DVDs etc. are at least 10 years old; hence, this 2011 concert is a treat for music lovers like me. I was so ecstatic watching it on a DVD, wonder how it would’ve felt live!

The backup band was amazing, the string section, the brass section - in short, a very well organised and an extremely well-rehearsed band! Usually, these musicians are studio musicians; therefore, you can‘t expect anything but the best! If I am not mistaken Nathan East was playing the bass, but Joy kept saying it had to be someone else and not him. I googled to check but I did not get an answer. I will check again at a later time. Kenny G made a surprise appearance from amongst the audience in one of songs and he played just as well.

The concert had a very large audience and most of them seemed to be above the age of 35, some may have been in their 50’s! It was wonderful to see the excitement in their eyes, and it was even more wonderful to see how the well-dressed, sophisticated ladies were on their toes dancing to their favourite songs; probably they were trying to relive their past. Chaka Khan even made the men dance when she sang one of Whitney Houston’s biggest hits ‘I’m Every Woman’! That’s the power of music I guess.

I end my little write up here as I think I cannot share my excitement and happiness anymore by means of writing. In the next few days I know I will watch this concert over and over again, and celebrate the moments I left behind!

These are a few of my favourite things...