Along with her vocal swagger and onstage charisma, Amy Winehouse was one of the proficient artists in a era. The amalgamation of her soulful Nineteen Seventies vocals, bouffant hair, and thick cat-eye make-up gave her a commanding presence that helped thrust her into the music scene within the early aughts. The UK songstress was capable of make a splash by mixing soul, jazz, and hip-hop into pop hooks, and her public persona – and the controversy that surrounded it – helped flip her right into a family identify.
Regardless of battling private points and tumultuous relationships within the media, Winehouse made an infinite affect on the music scene all through her brief life. And it wasn’t ignored: For her 2007 album Again to Black, she amassed six Grammys – together with Album of the 12 months – for her brutally sincere, self-critical songwriting and expressive vocals. From musing about her turbulent love life to arguing about why she gained’t go to rehab, Winehouse produced a melancholic, horny, and self-confident catalog of pop songs which have remained timeless.
The Hits
Rehab, You Know I’m No Good, Again to Black, Tears Dry On Their Personal, Love Is a Dropping Sport
Whereas Amy Winehouse had dropped her debut album Frank in 2003, it wasn’t till the discharge of her 2006 sophomore LP Again to Black that the singer-songwriter had landed her first Prime 10 hit. A part of what made Winehouse such an alluring artist was her unwavering candor, and her first Prime 10 single, “Rehab,” supplied simply that. Winehouse’s fervent defiance about her substance points paired along with her syrupy pop hooks helped “Rehab” land at No. 9 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart.
It wasn’t lengthy till Winehouse’s momentum took over with “You Know I’m No Good,” which shortly grew to become a radio staple. The buzzy observe – which magnified the self-loathing and desolation she discovered herself in as her relationship went from dangerous to worse – earned reward for its brassy vocals and playful horns, in addition to a spot at No. 77 on the Sizzling 100 chart.
Impressed by the cut up from her then-husband, “Back to Black” finds Winehouse spiraling into nihilistic abandon however wrapped in 60s woman group harmonies and symphonic strings.
Leaning into the Motown sound, Winehouse crafted the fourth single from Again to Black across the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 traditional “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for the wistful, mid-tempo “Tears Dry On Their Own.” Whereas her ultimate single, “Love Is a Losing Game,” marked the end result of her heartache, however it has since lived on as a favourite for artists like Prince and Sam Smith to cowl within the years since her passing.
The Covers
Valerie, Will You Nonetheless Love Me Tomorrow?, Cupid, It’s My Get together
Not each artist can pull off the artwork of creating a canopy pretty much as good (if not higher than) the unique. However Winehouse’s gritty, powerhouse vocals and appeal pulled it off. With “Valerie” – a track initially recorded by English indie rockers The Zutons in 2006 – it was near-impossible to consider that the track wasn’t her’s, not to mention Mark Ronson’s cowl with an help from Winehouse. Because of the singer’s bluesy vocals, Winehouse and Ronson’s rendition of “Valerie” soared to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 2007.
Although Winehouse may make any cowl sound prefer it got here straight out of Phil Spector’s studio, she did rework a woman group traditional along with her cowl of The Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” The singer’s skill to make a traditional sound like an authentic was as soon as once more put front-and-center with the stripped-down rendition of the observe in 2004.
For the deluxe model of Again to Black, Winehouse delivered a slow-burning ska cowl of Sam Cooke’s 1961-penned observe “Cupid” that was a departure from the R&B-tinged pop songs she had turn out to be synonymous with.
Her ultimate single earlier than her passing was a twist on Leslie Gore’s 1963 pop hit “It’s My Party,” which appeared on Quincy Jones’ compilation album Q: Soul Bossa Nostra. Backed by daring horns, Winehouse reworked the observe’s vocals to have much more of an overdramatic aptitude backed by daring horns.
Relationship Entanglements
Between the Cheats, Stronger Than Me, Some Unholy Struggle, In My Mattress, You Despatched Me Flying, Me & Mr. Jones
All through her temporary profession, she perfected the artwork of the kiss-off, as one of the best Amy Winehouse songs attest. Whether or not it was a dishonest ex or somebody attempting to inform her what to do, the singer by no means held again her emotions. “Between the Cheats” – a track from Winehouse’s posthumous assortment Lioness: Hidden Treasures – is an impassioned, doo-wop-soaked ditty stuffed with contempt for a dishonest lover and Winehouse’s crippling despair.
However years earlier than this observe was launched, Winehouse proved she was clever past her years with the biting “Stronger Than Me,” as she laments an older lover who isn’t the sort of associate who can maintain her.
As a foil to “Stronger Than Me,” Winehouse admits to having her ego bruised when she met the identical, older man on “You Sent Me Flying.” However the track is a standout for the way Winehouse was capable of put her personal spin on the normal piano ballad, including hip-hop aptitude to the beat.
The smoky, gospel-tinged “Unholy War” is Winehouse’s stream of consciousness at work as she particulars the helplessness she felt whereas watching her husband battle his personal psychological well being points.
On the opposite aspect of the spectrum, the UK-exclusive single, “In My Bed” sampled Nas’ 2002 hit “Made You Look” to create an R&B observe flanked with brass about two lovers who can solely agree once they’re in mattress. Winehouse’s affinity for Nas is a throughline in her profession. On “Me & Mr. Jones,” Winehouse concedes to being one of many rapper’s many side-chicks and regardless of that, nonetheless stays loyal to him.
Hip-Hop Collaborations
B Boy Child, Cherry Wine, Like Smoke
Winehouse was clearly a scholar of jazz and hip-hop and her playful means with phrases mirrored her love for each. Her jazz-inspired phrasing and antagonistic spirit made her many followers within the hip-hop neighborhood because the Lioness tracklist signifies, that includes contributors like Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Jay-Z, and extra.
Although she wasn’t formally credited, Winehouse additionally lent her vocals to Mutya Buena’s single “B Boy Baby” in 2007, which borrowed melodies and lyrics from The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” The 2 shared a typical collaborator, with Salaam Remi producing the previous Sugababe’s debut album.
Whereas Winehouse’s lithe vocals have been posthumously featured on Nas’ 2012 observe “Cherry Wine” after her passing, the video featured photos of Winehouse projected onto a bar wall and the track earned a Grammy nod for Finest Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2013.
Unsurprisingly, the primary single from the posthumous assortment of Winehouse’s work was one other track with Nas, “Like Smoke.” Whereas the rapper takes the lead on the mid-tempo hip-hop observe, Winehouse’s theatrical prospers dangle off the refrain.
Playful Tracks
Addicted, F__k Me Pumps
Whereas most of the greatest Amy Winehouse songs spoke of romance gone flawed, co-dependency and dependancy, she additionally had a depraved humorousness that shone by means of lots of her self-deprecating lyrics.
Winehouse pokes enjoyable at herself for her love of weed within the drum-flanked “Addicted.” There’s a playfulness to how she conflates her want with weed to intercourse that enables Winehouse to let herself not be taken so significantly.
On the bouncy “F__k Me Pumps,” she makes use of her jazzy lilt to take a break from the ruminations of her thoughts to indict all the ladies who gown up simply to chase Footballers on the membership. Co-written by Rami and Winehouse, she joked the track was the results of “two bi__hy people in one room.” Winehouse may sling lyrical barbs with a sure dexterity, however she was typically caught in her personal crosshairs when it got here to her lyrics.
Within the brief span of her life and profession, Winehouse solid a soulful pop template that has spawned numerous imitators, however there is just one Amy.
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