Whitney Houston: N.J. governor stands by decision to lower flags February 16, 2012 | [size=130%]11:39 am
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, no stranger to controversy, is standing firm in his decision to fly flags at half-staff on behalf of Whitney Houston, despite complaints that the late pop singer should not have that recognition because of her history of drug problems.
The governor has ordered flags at government buildings to be flown at half-staff Saturday, the day of Houston’s funeral at the Newark, N.J., church where she sang as a child. The body of the 48-year-old musical icon was found Saturday in the bathtub of her guest room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
There has been no ruling on the cause of death, but officials have said there were “no obvious signs of criminal intent.” Toxicology tests are under way to determine if drugs were involved.
Houston, in television interviews, had acknowledged past drug and alcohol problems and the fact that she had been in rehabilitation. Such problems were one reason for complaints about Christie’s decision to lower the flags.
Christie, who has built a national reputation for his pugnacious charm, refused to give ground to opponents. He told critics that Houston had made significant cultural contributions to the state.
“For those people who say, ‘I don’t think she deserves it,’ I say to them, 'I understand that you don’t think that. I do, and it’s my executive order,' " Christie said this week.
“I’ve seen these messages and emails that have come to me disparaging her for her troubles with substance abuse,” Christie said. “What I’d say to everybody is: There but for the grace of God go I.”
On Thursday, Christie’s decision was backed by FOX News commentator Bill O'Reilly, who has been outspoken about Houston's death and her use of drugs.
In an interview on NBC’s “Today” show, O’Reilly said it was right to lower the flags and also urged society to deal more forcefully with drug abuse.
“I think we should respect the life and talent of Whitney Houston. I said a prayer when I heard she died. This isn't a personal thing. This is a preventive thing. I want society and media to tell the truth about drug and alcohol addiction,” O’Reilly said. “Let's stop exploiting it and start explaining it.”
The other argument levied against the governor is that a pop singer doesn’t have the standing in society to merit the lowering of the flags.
In response, Christie noted that he has ordered flags flown at half-staff for all 31 fallen New Jersey soldiers and every slain police officer during his time in office.
He also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Houston’s funeral will be private, but the Associated Press will have a video camera inside and will stream the service.
Analysis: Whitney Houston's Billboard Chart Records February 11, 2012 By Gary Trust, New York
Following the news of Whitney Houston's passing today (Feb. 11), here is a look back at the many chart achievements that the gifted vocalist accomplished.
* The Houston-led soundtrack to "The Bodyguard" stands as the longest-reigning album by a woman in the 56-year history of the survey.
Here is a look at the elite albums by solo females to have spent the most time atop the tally:
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Year Reached No. 1
20 weeks, "The Bodyguard" soundtrack/Whitney Houston, 1992
19 weeks, "21," Adele, 2011 (*currently at No. 1)
15 weeks, "Tapestry," Carole King, 1971
14 weeks, "Whitney Houston," Whitney Houston, 1986
13 weeks, "Judy at Carnegie Hall," Judy Garland, 1961
12 weeks, "Jagged Little Pill," Alanis Morissette, 1995
12 weeks, "Fearless, " Taylor Swift, 2008
11 weeks, "Mariah Carey," Mariah Carey, 1991
11 weeks, "Whitney," Whitney Houston, 1986
10 weeks, "Forever Your Girl," Paula Abdul, 1989
10 weeks, "The Singing Nun," the Singing Nun, 1963
Houston is the only woman to have tallied reigns of more than 10 weeks with multiple albums. While no other woman has more than one such set, Houston had three: "The Bodyguard" (20 weeks), "Whitney Houston"(14) and "Whitney" (11). Whitney Houston's 20 Biggest Singles on the Billboard Hot 100
With Houston also leading for a week in 2009 with her last studio album, "I Look to You," her 46 total weeks at the Billboard 200 summit are the most among women.
* Four years before the practice became the norm upon the advent of Nielsen SoundScan electronic point-of-sale data, Houston scored the first No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 for a female performer.
The week of June 27, 1987, "Whitney" launched at the chart's top spot, where it held for its first 11 weeks. It remained in the top 10 for its first 31 weeks, through Jan. 23, 1988.
* Houston holds the Billboard Hot 100 record for most consecutive No. 1 singles, having tallied seven in-a-row from 1985 through 1988.
Here is a look at her unequaled chart-topping streak:
Date Reached No. 1, Title (Weeks at No. 1)
Oct. 26, 1985, "Saving All My Love for You" (one)
Feb. 15, 1986, "How Will I Know" (two)
May 17, 1986, "Greatest Love of All" (three)
June 27, 1987, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (two)
Sept. 26, 1987, "Didn't We Almost Have It All" (two)
Jan. 9, 1988, "So Emotional" (one)
April 23, 1988, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" (two)
Even when her streak ended, Houston's next four solo singles all reached the Hot 100's top 10. (She missed only with "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be," a sassy superstar duet with Aretha Franklin).
With 11 career Hot 100 No. 1s each, Houston and Rihanna trail only Mariah Carey (18) and Madonna (12) for the most among women. Janet Jackson rounds out the category's top five with 10 leaders.
* Houston's "Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)" is one of only 13 songs by women to have debuted at No. 1 in the Hot 100's history.
The song, from the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack, opened atop the Nov. 25, 1995, Hot 100.
"Exhale" also led Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for eight frames, becoming one of her eight No. 1s on the tally.
Houston additionally notched 10 leading titles on Adult Contemporary, making her one of just seven artists to reach the double-digit mark in the chart's 51-year archives.
* When Houston's remake of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" wrapped its 14-week run atop the Hot 100 in 1993, the song stood as the longest-leading title since the chart's Aug. 4, 1958, inception.
To-date, only Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" (16 weeks, 1995-96) has surpassed the reign (also matched by five other songs).
Said Parton, who wrote "Always," upon Houston's passing, "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song.
"I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you.'
Whitney Houston's boyfriend: Ray J emotionally reaches out to her coffin at the end of her funeral. The rapper put his hand out and touched the casket as it passed him down the aisle of the church, before collapsing into his seat overcome with emotion
High-profile guests: The tragic star's former husband Bobby Brown, left, arrives at the service with friends and family members, who were moved by security.
Post time 17-2-2012 06:15 AM
Post time 17-2-2012 09:29 AM
