Remembering the pop icons

Such stupendous success will only be tasted by a few in our lifetime. What is significant however is that their lives are a cautionary tale of how fame is won, fortune is lost and life is dissipated.
A few days ago, some Elvis fanatics were marking the death of their icon, who was born on the 8th of January 1935, in the deep South state of Memphis. Raised a God fearing child, Elvis spent his early days attending church in the Assembly of God church which would later recall how he would always try to get on stage and attempt to sing with the choir. His early musical foundation was gospel and later on, in the twilight of his fame, Elvis would be singing gospel songs haplessly in the sin-soaked venues of Las Vegas to tipsy hedonists in the gambling town.
Houston had a voice that had matchless beauty. Critics and peers alike regarded her the quintessential singer – the singer’s singer. Her mezzo-soprano voice described also as a contralto voice stirred the popular imagination and soared to heights hitherto unknown.
I Will Always Love You was the apogee if not the magnum opus of her career. Afterward, it was a downward spiral.
In a month’s time, there will be tributes marking her death on the February 11, 2012. Much will be said that is good. Very little will be said of the lessons that must be gleaned from both Whitney and Elvis: That the devil will seduce your soul in exchange for worldly fame and fortune and afterwards, he will lure you to your death alone without the world that hollered for your name when perched in glory.
Both died alone, just as Michael Jackson, alone, succumbing not to natural causes but to the effects of drug abuse.