Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: “Whitney Would Have Wanted the Music to Go On” (VIDEO)

I just typed this in the other thread, but maybe MJ wants the party debate to move over?

My two cents is the word “party” is the issue, because in Hollywood, that brings up images of champagne corks popping, drunk dancing, and general misbehavior along with mugging for the camera showing off your Dolce & Gabanna gown.
My guess is from reading the comments inside the event, it turned into more of a gathering.  Perhaps there were a few people that continued on with the normal “party like a rock star”, but most were more subdued.

Blake shelton and Miranda Lambert were there too and Nigel lithgow too. Pictures at justjared. Maybe they can be added.

From these clips, it was a pretty big event for the industry.   I can see why it wasn’t cancelled.   Unfortunately, the invitations and press releases released some time ago probably used the word “party” so that is the word being used to describe the event.   I wonder if next year the invites and press releases will read  “Clive’s industry gathering” to cover all possible contigencies.  

I think it’s unfortunate that people are juding the event based on the word party when it seems to me the event turned into a wake.

I just can’t believe these people would continue to go to this after hearing Whitney Houston died.  A bunch of shallow empty-souled people, if you ask me.

Ronnie, I totally disagree with you. 

They were her friends and acquaintances over a decades long period. It was her family in a literal and metaphoric sense of the word and they grieved her passing together. I agree with those who knew her and loved her personally that Whtiney would have wanted the show to go on. 

Already commented in the other thread. I see no reason for the “party” to have been cancelled. This was one of the scheduled events for the Grammy Awards, and it wasn’t about her in any way.

Yeah, I would have gone to the party as a coping mechanism. Carrie Underwood didn’t go, and that was probably her coping mechanism. We all cope differently.

I disagree too. I’m sure it was a more subdued and somber gathering than it otherwise might have been. Lots of stories and remembrances of Whitney. Lots of wonderful comments about her rare talent and influence, like the ones posted above. The evening wasn’t supposed to be about her but in a sense it became about her.

Here is Clive’s speech last night:

LINK

I just can’t believe these people would continue to go to this after hearing Whitney Houston died.  A bunch of shallow empty-souled people, if you ask me.

I can’t believe they choose to commemorate her at the party thrown by her mentor, with speeches about her. How can they be so heartless?

He seems like an enormous phony pompous ass.
I kind of get it now.
Such a shame.

Heartbreaking. Clive really thought the world of her and thought his speech was eloquent and beautiful. Well done, Mr.Davis. 

I am sure the shock of Whitney’s death will overshadow the Grammys, and probably Clive Davis’ party last night also.   That old saying the ‘show must go on” is very much to the forefront at the moment.  Rip Whitney, your voice will never be replaced!

Everyone handles grief in their own way, even celebrities. I feel like I’m grieving as well. Singers like Whitney are rare, and their music is woven into our lives. So it is a personal loss in some respects, even though not as much as those who personally knew her. It’s funny, because I always hope that on one of these talents shows would find a REAL star like those who turn into Icons. I think that’s what makes singers like Whitney so special, is because they are truly rare and don’t come around that often. 

Whitney was neither hosting, performing or being honored at this event.  But other industry luminaries of equal stature to Whitney were.  While Whitney is a huge star, her death shocking and she will certainly be missed, she is not bigger than this event or the industry as a whole.  Once Clive– with the blessing of her family – decided to continue on with the event, it would have been a snub to Clive and the other honorees if no one attended.  Nothing shallow or empty-souled about it.  And Whitney was remembered throughout the night.

A few years back my closest friend died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. After spending most of the day crying and in shock, I decided to join a bunch of mutual friends for an improptu dinner party — we drank, laughed, cried, reminisced and drew strength from being together. It is not uncommon when suffering a loss to want to gather together to both celebrate and grieve.

Thanks for posting that, Pam.  I believe Clive was totally sincere in his speech and in expressing his feelings for Whitney.

Even shallow pompous asses have feelings.

I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt because he knew Whitney and we do not. Certainly if the investigation would have been impeded authorities would have asked that it be canceled.

Haggling over the idea of a red carpet seems strange watching how reverent everyone was. I saw no self promotion or personal agendas.

Well said & I totally agree. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don’t feel it was wrong for Clive to carry on with the party.  If he felt it was inappropriate to go through with it, he could have cancelled.  I’m sure he was grieving the sudden loss of Whitney, and this was the way he chose to cope.  Everyone grieves in their own way, so I don’t fault Clive or any of the invited guests for attending his event.

 How did a singer with a uniquely powerful voice who didn’t write her own music, didn’t play an instrument and sang ballads become so highly revered in the world of music?

As you mentioned, her voice was amazing.  There didn’t seem to be a note Whitney couldn’t hit.

But perhaps the biggest thing was her persona.  Clive Davis crafted the perfect image for her.  It reminds you of when Hollywood would handle every aspect of their actors’ lives, down to what they wore and who they dated.  I don’t think Davis was quite that rigid with Whitney—I don’t think he would have chosen Bobby Brown as her husband if given the final say, for example.

In short, incredible talent + princess image = worldwide admiration.  And it remained that way for a long time, until the demons took over.

The coverage should not be glorifying her. Sure she was a great talent but she threw it away with her drug use. Why not make her a role model for kids to show them what not to do? The media is all glossing over how she discarded her career and her daughter in favor of a fix. That is the real story. 

What’s so puzzling about singer with a unique voice being famous for her singing? That’s what singers are known for, their voice, right?

Everyone has their demons.  All of us will pay the price for those demons, one way or the other.  However, that should not and will not diminish the good within us.  Nor should that happen with Whitney.  The addictions are sad, but there is nothing wrong with celebrating her talent and the joy that it brought to millions.

If one wishes to dwell on the negative, so be it.  But there is nothing wrong with focusing on the good at this time.  There will be plenty of time to write Whitney’s full story.

Etta James is highly regarded and respected, and she didn’t write a lot of her own music. There is nothing puzzling about being famous for your singing only. Mark Ronson is mainly famous for producing, why is that not a problem?

How did a singer with a uniquely powerful voice who didn’t write her own
music, didn’t play an instrument and sang ballads become so highly
revered in the world of music? 

The above quote was said with irony. How often do we hear that this or that idol is less than other idols because of the above reasons. Whitney also committed the Idol Bubble sin of singing covers. Funny how the world outside the bubble don’t see any of that as a negative.

Lots of people with great voices aren’t great singers.  Great singers don’t always have great voices. Not all covers are the same.  It’s not such a simplistic formula.

How did a singer with a uniquely powerful voice who didn’t write her own
music, didn’t play an instrument and sang ballads become so highly
revered in the world of music?

you kind of answer your own question here, as you say yourself, she had a uniquely powerful voice.  FYI the human voice IS considered a musical instrument and she could do way more with that voice than most of your WGWG idols can do with their ‘instrument’.

The idea that (often very basic) instrumental skills are the only measure of musical talent is a very idolbubble centric notion. Whitney, Elvis, Pavarotti all true music royalty and not one of them got there from writing their own songs (usually with help from real writers) or plucking a couple of basic chords on their guitars.

I hope you’re not finding that out about Clive Davis right now.  That’s been known for years.

Many people with “good” voices really have nothing to say, because they are empty inside and don’t have any musical ideas of their own.  They have an army of writers, producers, managers, stylists, publicists etc. who create their music and their image and make them appear better than they really are. Whitney had the voice, but was filling up the emptiness with drugs and alcohol that ruined her voice and her life.  

Whitney had the voice, but was filling up the emptiness with drugs and alcohol that ruined her voice and her life.

I think you are confusing ‘something to say’ with ‘an ability to create a nice hook’.  The majority of the lauded songwriters today are actually saying buggar all!