Yesterday morning I awoke to the news that Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, had passed away, and I found myself saddened by yet another music icon’s passing. Losing our music icons seems to be happening a lot lately. Or is that just how things seem when we get to middle-age and it’s the music icons from our youth that are now dying? Or is it perhaps that icons’ deaths are just bigger news these days, and the internet has made news so much more accessible, so we’re more aware and affected by it all?
Whatever it is, it saddens me to see so many music artists not being afforded the luxury of growing old. I mean, 76 just doesn’t seem old enough to die. (And yes, I do think growing old is a luxury, especially when you come up against killer diseases like cancer, or in other cases, depression.)
Another reason I’m saddened by this kind of news is that it highlights my mortality. Yes, I know that sounds a little morbid and self-absorbed, but that’s how I feel. It scares me a little that I’m getting older and my time on this earth might end too soon. But luckily this constant ‘awareness’ also makes me want to enjoy my life all the more – because life is so good, for the most part!
Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using, to the highest degree possible, the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that. – Aretha Franklin
Just look at those two legends up there – their musical talents were such great gifts to the world. They gave me so much joy.
So…Prince, Michael Jackson, David Bowie? Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Chris Cornell? Which music icon’s death affected you the most?
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