Whitney Houston in Seventeen Magazine, 1983
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of…
From The Bodyguard Soundtrack, 1992
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| Whitney Houston, Seventeen Magazine, May 1983 | She was 19-years-old in this picture. |
Houston’s cause of death is still unknown. Although her passing was not as predictable as that of Amy Winehouse (whose death I wrote about here) or Michael Jackson (whose death I wrote about here), it isn’t altogether a surprise either. It’s so sad to see someone die so young and assumably tragically.
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| 30 years goes by very fast. Her suit reminds me of 80s aerobics and shows like the 20-Minute Workout. |
I passed a billboard tonight advertising an upcoming B.B. King concert at some nearby Indian Casino. The first thing I thought of was, “B.B. King is still alive?!” When you’re a little kid and even a teenager, everyone seems old. I remember when I was in the third grade my sister had an album of Elton John in her bedroom. He was wearing funny glasses, striped pants and platform shoes. Sometimes, I can’t believe Elton is still going strong. Some people get so many years while others seem to have far too few.
RIP Whitney Houston.
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12 Responses to “Whitney Houston in Seventeen Magazine, 1983”
I love whitney shes the best person ever and i think bobby did this to her
I know – Springsteen has aged and his music is odd to me now. I’m not sure why. I haven’t really connected with his newer stuff. I remember Billy Joel saying he didn’t want to become a parody of himself. That happens sometimes. I bet Sparkle, Whitney’s movie, is going to have a huge opening.
I certainly adored her when she was in the height of her career and I do love The Bodyguard, just re-watched it a few weeks ago. It may be cruel to say but I have always felt she simply got messed up by falling in love with the wrong man. Once Bobby Brown entered her life, she was never the same….I am amazed by some of the people who are still around sometimes as well. I have to say I had not seen Bruce Springsteen up close in awhile, and I noted how much he has aged when I saw him on TV opening the Grammys!
I had this issue of Seventeen, too, and I remember this photo spread because they rarely featured Black women and I thought she was so stunning and natural. I will miss her talents and beauty!
Completely untarnished and vibrant. It makes me think she would have been better off not having become famous, but then again, none of us would have been able to enjoy her many gifts. I really feel that she is free now, and this life is short. She will live for an eternity free from the demons of addiction. I pray her daughter’s life will be filled with peace and joy.
Jen, Whitney was SO young and untarnished and vibrant then, wasn’t she? When I looked over this post again, I thought may she was TOO young and unprepared for what fame through her into, you know? On the other hand, B.B. and Elton seemed to have experienced enough hardships and rejection at various points that they were stronger and better prepared to avoid some of the traps waiting for Whitney. Maybe?
This is such a sad death. The disease of addiction (and I presume that Whitney’s long struggle with addiction had something to do with her passing) is cunning, baffling, and powerful, and all-to-often fatal. I hope that perhaps Whitney’s death will lead to others getting help with their disease.
I had this issue of Seventeen.
I remember this photo spread amongst many others she had in the magazine. What a lovely girl she was, and what a lovely voice she had! She was certainly a musical icon of the 80s and 90s.
Rest in peace, Whitney.
You really put Michael Jackson and Corey Hain in the same sentence?
Me either. So incredibly sad. I mean, you hear that these superstars aren’t doing well, but I always think half of it is hype. Then poof. They’re gone. Forever. RIP Whitney. xoxo
What a tribute — can’t believe her amazing voice is gone.
The first Gen X star I remember dying was Rebecca Shafer who starred in My Sister Sam. She was killed by some crazed stalker. It’s very strange when your icons start dying, and we’ve lost some of the most iconic of them all. Somehow, Madonna, U2 and Springsteen have managed to cheat death. Surreal, even when the death is not a total suprise. Sad stuff.
She really was a critical voice and celebrity who was central to the Gen X consciousness. Different circumstances, but Boomers had their lost singers and entertainers – Lennon, Joplin, Hendrix and so on. I feel about her death the way I felt when River Phoenix died, and Corey Haim and Michael Jackson, and Cobain – bright people who shaped our youth with their talents.