Whitney Houston, we have a problem

OPINION - If somebody doesn't pull the plug on this comeback tour soon, it might become her farewell tour...

Jun 9, 2010

Houston, we have a problem — seriously!

If you have been under a rock the last few months, you might have missed it. The once great singer known as Whitney Houston has been on a disastrous, comeback world tour, which has been marred by the singer’s alleged substance abuse. The diva’s problems were seen prominently during her Australian opener in Brisbane last February, where many fans left before the show ended, complaining of her cracked voice and her not remembering lines for songs.

“She couldn’t entertain a dead rat,” said one Australian fan.

And as the tour continued into Europe, so did the complaints. Allegations that Houston was back on drugs arose when she canceled some of her shows, claiming a respiratory illness. Her weight has also fluctuated greatly throughout the tour, from very thin to significantly overweight.

If she can’t even sing her own signature song right, then it might be time for Houston to call it a day.

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This is sad to say because two decades ago she was considered our black American princess. She was the slender beauty with the angelic voice that could do no wrong. Now, I don’t even think Houston would make it pass the tryouts for American Idol.

Many critics blame her turbulent, 15-year marriage to Bobby Brown for her downward spiral into drugs and career disaster. The first signs of her erratic behavior were seen when Houston participated in her husband’s reality show, Being Bobby Brown. It was painful to watch the once seemingly debonair Houston screeching “Hell to the no” and “Kiss my ass” on national television every week. There is a lot to be said when more people felt more sympathetic towards Brown, who was accused of instigating the physical abuse in the marriage, than Houston on the show.

But she is not the first and unfortunately not the last entertainer to be ruined by the lure of addiction and inner demons. Folks like Billie Holiday and more recently Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse all have something in common; they are people with ridiculously superior talent who had substances and other personal pains corrupt them.

What they also have in common is their entourage of enabling “yes people” who care more about the entertainer’s money and nothing of their well-being. Unfortunately, when one reaches a certain level of celebrity, there are always vultures around ready to take advantage of any vulnerability. These same vultures seem to be exploiting Houston by allowing this sham of a world tour to continue.

Some celebrities are able to turn their train wreck lives around and become role models, like Mary J Blige, who credits her husband and manager Kendu Issacs for helping her take control of her inner demons and continue a great career.

He was the first person to ever challenge what I did,” Blige said of Issacs in a 2006 Parade Magazine interview. Why are you drinking? Why do you hate yourself? You dont need to be around people who tear you down. Youre beautiful, Mary. He was the first man to ever tell me that.

Houston could also be a role model and take control of her life by not only ending this tour promptly, but also by retiring from the singing game altogether, thus regaining what is left of her respectability.

The angelic voice we grew to love is long gone, and we only have our memories of the princess now. There is a reason why some people should go out while they are still on top of their game. If somebody doesn’t pull the plug on this comeback tour soon, it might very well become her farewell tour.

Whitney, I will always love you, but not like this.