‘CAN I BE ME’…..
10th May 2017
“Can I Be Me,” is what Whitney Houston would say during her early days in music, so it seems the perfect fit as the title of a new documentary on the music icons life.
Acclaimed director Nick Broomfield and Filmmaker Rudi Dolezal tell the story and share never-ever seen before footage of one of the most successful female artist that lived.
Whitney Houston died at 48 in tragic circumstances that left me at the time feeling so very sad and even worse when her daughter a few years later also was found dead. You ask yourself ‘But she had everything why ?? Watching this doc left me feeling like she didn’t have the one most important thing, true happiness and love for herself.
We see rare behind the scenes footage of Whitney as a teen to her later days with ex husband Bobby Brown and life on the road. I felt I knew everything about this amazing, beautiful troubled woman but this documentary left me feeling very sad and reflective plus learning more. You hear from her close friends and people that worked with her daily on what she was really like and how much she relied on drugs and drink to keep it all going.
Earlier in the day I had been at a studio to interview Lethal Bizzle for my new podcast. While I waited my turn in the green room the conversation had somehow spread to “Who is the worse person you have ever interviewed Max” ? There would have been a time I would have got sucked into a long negative almost gossiping type of conversation about this subject but not now.
Why couldn’t the question of been ‘Who has been your fav person to interview’?
I have so many friends that are musicians and in the public eye who struggle with fame and being judged. It can make them feel so uncomfortable and sometimes paranoid resulting in being quieter and less social. Having said that I do believe being polite and professional is not difficult so we all have to work on being at-least that. I feel like we hero worship musicians so much that we don’t allow them to make mistakes or have bad days.
Watching the Whitney doc made me really think about the characters she created to live up to the expectations that the world had of her, but also her own. How incredibly sad that the love she wanted to share with her daughter, husband and family almost became something she had no time or energy for.
What I took from watching this documentary was not only what a tragedy it was and how the world lost such an amazing musician but also how she was more then a star. This was a woman that was funny, kind, loving and full of so much energy. She had so many issues and took drugs and drink rather then counselling and having chill out time with loved ones. You see a hint of her wanting to change and take time out for her well being but always getting dragged back into the world of fame and success to provide the lifestyle she wanted to give to everyone around her and herself I think.
Everything isn’t about money and success, happiness is so underrated but so very important. I will always remember Whitney as an incredible singer and a lady that has contributed so much to music, but she was also a loving mum, daughter and friend to many. This documentary may have showed the drugs but it also reminded me that we should not remember or define her by just that memory. Whitney ( Nippy as she was affectionately known) as a young black teenager from New Jersey changed the world of music and opened the doors for the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna. “Can I Be Me” is out now all across the UK and I strongly recommend you watch it?
Love Max xxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OSHq-k2CdY&feature=youtu.be
