We Will Always Love You Whitney Houston 1963-2012
February 19, 2011
WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO: I have been reading about the amazing life and tragic death of one of my favorite singers - Whitney Houston. (Click on the image below to read the Voice of America article Looking Back on the Life and Music of Whitney Houston.)
Lately, I have been listening to her hit song I Will Always Love You.
Whitney Houston's version of the song was a worldwide success in 1992 when she recorded it for the soundtrack to the film The Bodyguard.
It was this song that was played at Houston's funeral yesterday as her casket was brought out of the church.
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way
And I...will always love you, oohh
Will always love you
You
My darling you
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So good-bye please don't cry
We both know I'm not what you
You need
And I... will always love you
I... will always love you
You, ooh
[Instrumental / Sax solo]
I hope
life treats you kind
And I hope
you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy
and happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
And I...
Will always love you
I...
Will always love you
[Repeat]
I, I will always love
You....
You
Darling I love you
I'll always
I'll always
Love You...
Here is a video report from NEWSY about Whitney Houston's funeral. A funeral is also known in the African-Amercan Christian community as a "Going Home Celebration". Going Home expresses the belief that in the afterlife, the soul goes back home to heaven. For Christians, this is a reason for celebration.
Transcript
BY LAUREN ZIMA
Whitney Houston’s funeral services on Saturday were called a going home celebration. Celebrities attended, spoke and performed in her honor. Her co-star from "The Bodyguard" -- Kevin Costner, said Houston always wondered if she was ‘good enough.’
“It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end. ... You were great. You sang the whole damn song without a band.”
R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder were among performers. Music mogul Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime mentor, also spoke. E! has highlights from Davis and Wonder. Davis spoke directly to Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
“Always be proud of your mother. She loved you so very much.”
“No more, Whitney. No more do you have to cry.”
A writer for The Baltimore Sun applauds the ceremony, saying Costner’s speech was refreshingly real, and the numerous gospel performances were appropriately emotional.
“ … watching six hours of cable TV coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral was a spiritual experience, and I am not using that word carelessly. It was profound and elevating, and the way in which media bring us together for such experiences …”
CNN, Fox News and more live-streamed most of the service. The Houston family had asked that the funeral be kept private, but agreed to a camera in the church -- which captured a choir performance. The AP reports Bobbi Kristina and Houston’s mother, Cissy, sobbed, while Dionne Warwick introduced performers and speakers. And -- where was ex husband Bobby Brown? MTV reports …
“... he apparently attempted to bring nine people to sit in the front row at the ceremony and was turned away. A source at the funeral told MTV News that Brown was encouraged not to cause a scene at the funeral by walking out, but the singer reportedly got on his tour bus and took off, saying he loved Whitney but felt disrespected by the church.”
But Brown told People magazine …
“We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us to move. … I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene …”
Aretha Franklin was scheduled to perform at the services, but fell ill. Houston passed away Feb. 11.
M.A. Chester
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