About Us
A penny for your thoughts indeed. Around here that would be a raise.

What makes a good blog? I think thematic consistency, a little exhibitionism, and honest writing. I can promise you the last one.

Most of my posts seem to be about music or politics. Some of them are funny. But all of them would love to hear a comment from you.

Oh-- and please welcome God to the APW team. We're thrilled and humbled to serve as His earthly vessel.

My Photo
Name:
Location: NYC

I was born at a relatively young age. Growing up consumed the better part of my childhood. As a young man I chased a lot of girls. But they kept getting away. Then I got older and even slower, so I got married. I've lived in New York City almost since before I moved here. I summer in Manhattan, which is like New York City, but with more humidity.

Here's me, without baby, thinking big thoughts. (Actually, what I'm thinking is, "Hey, these aren't Pringles!") I think I look better with baby.


Email Me

Recent Posts

Archives

Site Info
Powered by:

Blogger

Designed by:

Blog Design: E.Webscpaes


Terror Alert Level

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar
I Believe the Children Are Our Future...
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Allow me to be the only person in all of social media who never cared for Whitney Houston.

I first heard of her around 1984 or so, when my friends Dan and Tracy were working at Sweetwater, a club on the Upper West Side in the '60s that catered to an upscale African-American clientele. Cissy Houston used to sing there all the time; then Dan and Tracy started reporting that "Cissy Houston's daughter" was performing there. I remember them saying she sang great, but that she was a total prima dona bee-yatch.

That first giant album came out in 1985, and I spend most of 1986 and '87 doing stand-up comedy in and around Manhattan-- mostly trying to break in at dives on audition night. Plenty of these places put up both comedians and singers, and I can't tell you how many earnest young singers I saw back then, performing songs off that record. It was a thing. I swear, if I saw one more girl that I was trying to hit on hand the pianist the sheet music to "The Greatest Love of All" I would have screamed.

From this I grew to pretty much hate every song on that record, and by extension the singer. And honestly, to me she always came off as a monstrously great voice, but with a thick plastic shell of veneer. All technique, no real soul. Do people really enjoy the air raid siren way she butchers Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You"? I remember an old girlfriend telling me that she saw Whitney in concert in the late '80s or early '90s, could see her right before the show began, and Whitney just threw this faux icy smile across a troubled face like throwing a switch and stepped onstage.

Based on the things Dan and Tracy told me back then, I'm pretty sure Whitney was actually living a lie a lot of her life. I can't help but wonder if that had anything to do with the drug abuse that, I'm guessing, killed her.

OK, flame away. I'm braced.

Posted by: --josh-- @ 3:38 PM  1 comments


My Friend Flickr
www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called layne. Make your own badge here.

Blogs

Toonz

Political Crap

Recent Tracks
Advertising

Take me back to the top!
© 2005 A Penny's Worth| Design by: E.Webscapes