Whitney speared

Do pop icons have a shelf life? The short answer is 'yes' if they don't re-invent themselves.

After her lacklustre performance at the O2, Whitney Houston has some work to do: she can either choose the Andy Williams route of performing in her own theatre; she can go the way of Shirley Bassey and collaborate with younger acolytes; she can hone her own repertoire until it comes back into fashion, like Tony Bennett; or she can try to compete with time with multiple image changes in the style of Madonna,

My guess is that she may not have the inclination or the energy to carry on as a world icon on the same level. But maybe she doesn't have the temperament to sit around at home counting her money.

Perhaps she should go back to her gospel roots, like her cousin Dionne Warwick? Or set up her own record label and spend ages laying down new material, like her godmother Aretha Franklin.

There'll always be a Lady Gaga coming along to be the next big thing, so Whitney Houston may as well accept her limitations, identify her strengths and play to them.


Search Amazon.com for whitney houston