Simply The Best A Reason To Smile

Simply The Best A Reason To Smile DAN RATHER AND ELLIOT KIRSCHNER MAY 24 It might seem incongruous on a day of mourning to speak of smiles.  But aren’t we sad when we lose someone we love, revere, or cherish because of what they represented in life? Isn’t it their force of spirit that we remember and miss? The joy, comfort, support, inspiration — and yes, the smiles — for which we now ache with an unquenchable yearning? Today, the world lost one of its fiercest, strongest, and most iconic voices. Tina Turner was called the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” And indeed, she was akin to royalty with the way she ruled the art form and inspired fan devotion.  But queens often assume the throne through marriage or lines of succession. Nothing was ever given to Turner save the miraculousness of her voice. She was someone for whom life was full of challenges. She met adversity with resilience, pain with perseverance, tragedy with triumph.  Turner was simply the best. Full stop. No further discussion needed.  And this assessment should not be limited to her music. She was a force of nature, a presence on stage and beyond that few could match. Her energy. Her sense of style. The genius of turning words into notes that could pierce the soul. She shone brighter than any spotlight set upon her. Most know the story of her abusive marriage and musical partnership with Ike Turner and how she emerged from it stronger and more successful. The best obituaries today are those that consign his name to the more distant paragraphs. He tried to control her, and yet it is his reputation that lies in tatters while hers soared. And it will continue to do so. As long as people are listening to rock ‘n’ roll, Turner will be smiling from the pantheon of the greats.  We will miss you, Tina Turner, may you rest in peace. Those you left behind have been enriched by your music and the example you set.  There are too many songs and legendary performances to share. We have chosen a few that give us particular reasons to smile, even amidst the tears. The Best Missing You Proud Mary