Whitney Houston's Hologram Will Tour in 2016

Remember when rumors were floating around about a possible Amy Winehouse hologram concert back in 2014? Yeah, I tried to forget about it too, but apparently the creator of "hologram concerts", Alki David, isn't done trying to bring our favorite late musicians back to the stage: According to Rolling Stone, a Whitney Houston hologram tour is now coming in 2016. Personally, as a big Houston fan myself, I can't help but feel irked by the idea: I mean, yes, it would be life changing to see the legend sing live (something I will always lament missing out on), but a hologram version of Houston just wouldn't have, I don't know, the same... soul.

"I was heartbroken when Whitney passed away in 2012,” Alki David said in a press release. He continued, “The opportunity to help share her spectacular gifts with the world again is exactly what I hoped for when I built the hologram business.”

It's a tempting idea to play around with — even if it's an uncomfortable one. But it also poses a pretty heavy question: at what point should we — as fans, and otherwise — let the dead rest?

I'm not the only one reacting with questions. A writer for Wired.com, Tim Carmody, brought up a good point on Twitter:

How would we ever know whether or not Houston would sign off on her image being used in this way? Oh, that's right, we wouldn't.

Other fans are being a little more blunt (and a little more angry):

Houston, of course, won't be the first celebrity to be digitally resurrected. Back in 2016, a posthumous Tupac appearance at Coachella made headlines — and, in 2009, Elvis Presley had a digital duet with Celine Dion on American Idol. Even current celebrities have hopped on this trend: Mariah Carey, Will.i.am, Feist, and Carrie Underwood are just a few performers whose holograms have been used for live events.

There's no denying that a space for hologram performances exists, but maybe it's time to open up a more sincere dialogue about the moral implications behind them.

Images: mbti-on-steroids/Tumblr