Shocked and heartbroken as I was when hearing about the passing of my beloved Tina Turner, it actually took me a while for this to sink in - initially I was just surprised (and don't even know why, since we all knew she was sick and fragile, so this was inevitable) because she was such a symbol of vitality and strength that in my mind she was supposed to go forever and stay immortal. I genuinely expected her to live to hundred. The full sadness hit me the next day when I cried the whole morning and was so distracted that I went to work leaving my keys and phone at home. While the tributes of love, admiration and support are coming from all over the world, I am thinking how interesting is that this lady touched so many lives around the world and people feel genuinely moved by her passing. It is a testament to her charisma that this is not just another celebrity death but a passing of a genuine icon.
Like so many listeners of my generations, I was vaguely aware of Tina from 1970s (I was too young to remember the first half of her career) but witnessed her 1980s explosion and to this day I remember where I was and who was with me, as we saw her strutting her stuff on MTV, proud, sexy and strong - nothing like teenage pop stars of the day, this was a true warrior queen. Everything about her was unique and there was absolutely nobody else like her around - somehow she turned all her characteristics into a weapon and the fact that she was middle-aged, black and raspy-voiced, well it was all part of the package. You could hear her amongst ten other voices and even with eyes closed you knew it could only be Tina. During my formative years, when my head was buzzing with current pop stars, she was a Northern light for me, I celebrated and revelled in her triumph, apparently the millions around the world felt the same because people truly loved her success in spite of adversity.
I collected posters and newspaper cuttings with her pictures. I collected VHS tapes with her live performances. Eventually I discovered the huge recorded back catalogue that introduced me to 1960s soul and chitlin circuit, the golden era of soul music and many other musicians who where there. To get her autobiography, I traveled to another country just to order it and than travelled back to collect it. I have witnessed her live in concert three times in three different countries (and somehow got missed the fourth time, which I still regret). I loved everything abut her - her laughter, her earthiness, her openness and charm each time she spoke and you could tell she was a gracious person. When internet came along, it became my almost daily routine to always check Tina Turner on youtube, something that always uplifted me and put me in right mood - it was like a shot of energy, where others would have a drink, I would watch Tina and click my fingers.
After two days of serious moping and mourning, today suddenly it hit me that I can't listen her music and feel sad - everything about Turner is uplifting, celebratory and exuberant. Because her music was extension if her personality - Tina was ball of energy, she loved life, she loved to laugh and listening to her music is always "joie de vivre". And I am loving the fact that millions around the world - grieving and mourning her passing - still understand that Tina Turner was always about the good mood, spark and light, they celebrate her gift to this world and fire she gave. Farewell my beautiful lady, I loved you always and will for the rest of my life.
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