https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4CmyiG0HUw
It’s been 17 years since the death of Aaliyah Dana Haughton. It still stings. The year was 2001. I had just turned 16 years old and was living in a girls group home in the Bronx.
Aaliyah was everything to me. We had the same name (my middle) and stylewise, I wanted to be just like her. You could not catch me without that iconic side part with hair flowing over the right eye with the bandanna to match the shirt color.
Along with a precious few others, Aaliyah fueled my love for celebrity entertainment culture. When I was 15 I was able to step it up outside of regular fandom and I became a regular on TRL, able to freely stalk my favs, including Aaliyah.
I was cutting school to be on TRL like it was my job. I got busted and was on restriction so I couldn’t leave the house and was assigned never ending chores as punishment. I was stuck to the radio at that point and one day while listening, I heard a breaking news announcement. Aaliyah had died in a plane crash.
Instantly, other girls came out of their rooms to make sure we all heard right; it had to be a mistake. I remember turning on the TV, seeing an Aaliyah video and going numb, still hoping it just a coincidence until that breaking news alert came on accompanied by the crawler on the bottom and I was still unable to process the fact that she had died.
Celebs were my fantasy family, one I felt I rightfully belonged to and I did everything necessary to be around them. TRL was one small step trust me but again different post. August 25th 2001 was a Saturday, and I knew Monday I had to be in Times Square earlier than usual because I knew there would be so many fans there.
Like clockwork Monday comes and I’m up at 5am leaving out by 6am and heading to 1515 Broadway aka Viacom. Finally its time to line up and head into the studio. The air was different. Everyone was sad, the energy was low. Carson looked worn out. The show started and everyone was miserable. Celebs kept stopping by the studio or calling in like Timbaland for example has never been the same. He called in voice almost hoarse, the ever confident Diddy hosted as best as he could but even he was in mourning.
Ananda Lewis’reaction in particular was heartbreaking and visceral; she was actually carried out of the TRL studio.
Missy Tribute To Aaliyah
https://instagram.com/p/Bm6LF1_nSh1/?utm_source=ig_embed
Aaliyah’s music carried me through most of my teen years and her impact is still felt throughout modern pop culture. She truly was one in a million. May she forgive Lifetime for that horrible biopic. I think it’s about time to get a legit Aaliyah tribute performance ft Mya/Ciara/Breezy/Janet/Les Twins although I did enjoy the Breezy Ft Aaliyah Mashup “Don’t Think They Know”
Long Live Baby Girl!