Tribute to The Soul Singer Everybody Loved

-

 On a Day Like This: July 23, 2011 

Singer Amy Winehouse passes away age 27 


A Jazz Genius

Amy Jade Winehouse, born in London, September 14, 1983, in a Jewish family, fond of jazz & soul music, marked the 21st century with her incredible, authentic and distinctive jazz voice, transfusing her poignant lyrics. While her father introduced Amy to music, it was her grandmother, Cynthia, a cabaret singer, who sparked her love for jazz. After she passed away, in 2006, Amy tattooed an effigy  of her in memoriam, in the form of old-school pin-up girl. 

A Girl Loved by All      

In her devastatingly short life, Amy Winehouse was loved by all.

Her unique talent, amplified by the originality of her lyrics, left no heart untouched. Her songs and voice carried a universal sentiment appreciated by all.  As noted by Bott: In "Back to Black she made every note-every word- a deeply personal one". 





Her frail figure, her girlish attitude before the public, effortlessly attracted  love and admiration. It was apparent: For a genius of her times, she was disproportionately humble. Or self-destructive.



Unparalleled Music Talent

Her sonorous voice, reminiscent only of the jazz & rhythm-and-blues legends, such as Sarah Vaugham, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday, was the background of our daily lives from 2006 onwards. Mere bliss. “Back to Black” would play and people silently thanked God for creating a miracle of their times. Catherine Bott recalls: “Benett was right: Winehouse had one of those voices that’s instantly recognisable”. 




A genius who revitalized jazz and soul, Amy, on her critically acclaimed debut Album, Frank (2003)-named after Frank Sinatra-proved herself to be a shrewd, caustic lyricist gifted with smoky, evocative vocals.  “Frank” was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, as well as two BRIT awards for Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban Act. The debut single of this album, “Stronger than Me”, earned the artist an Ivor Novello award. “Frank” hit double platinum status.  



Her music blossomed into an eclectic mix of jazz, pop, soul and R & B. Winehouse won five Grammy Awards connected to her 2006 album “Back to Black” and earned acclaim for songs like the title track, “Rehab” and “Love is a Losing Game”.  Her singles “Rehab”, “Back to Black”, “You Know I’m no Good”, except for profoundly confessional, were also the ones that established her unique soul-jazz tunes into mainstream music and mass consciousness.



Allegedly, from 2006 onwards, “Rehab” was playing everywhere. The massive track took Winehouse’s voice into the realms of mainstream pop/R & B. What an incredible display of powerful vocals and soulful expression.

A Losing Game

Her short life was brimming with genuine creation, authenticity and admiration. As testified by Catherine Bott, the week before Amy Winehouse died, Tony Bennet broadcast on the radio what a joy it had been to record with her, acclaiming her as one of the finest jazz singers he’d ever heard. He said he looked forward to future collaborations-but it wasn’t to be.

Later on, her life was forcibly placed under the spotlight. Her already meandering love and family life was plagued by paparazzi.

On July 23rd, in her Camden Square apartment, Amy’s  irreplaceable voice silenced.  She was a one-of-a-kind artist, having left everyone bereft and devastated.  Her unique, vulnerable, sultry tones, her heartfelt ballads reverberate to this day.




Article by: Marina Siskou 

All photos are accessed from Pinterest                                                                  

With information from: 

Biography. (2017). Amy Winehouse. https://www.biography.com/musician/amy-winehouse.

Marain, A. (2021). 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Amy Winehouse. Vogue. https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-amy-winehouse.

Pentreath, R. (2019). “Why was Amy Winehouse’s Voice so Unique? We Ask a Professional Singer”. https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/amy-winehouse-voice-so-unique-analysis/.

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Union Jack

-
Image
"The First Union Jack" by George William Joy The British flag has evolved as the different countries that now make up to United Kingdom came under the rule of England. In the 16th century the flag was known as the British flag or the flag of Britain and included the red cross of St George (England) and the blue saltire of St Andrew (Scotland). The Union Jack is a transnational flag full of historical significance. It represents the union of different countries and the growth of a family of nations whose influence extends far beyond the British Isles. This far-reaching influence is still seen today in the incorporation of the Union Jack in other national flags such as that of Australia. The British flag is called the "Union Jack", an expression that needs to be explained. The Union Jack is a fine expression of unity as well as diversity. The British flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I
Read more

History and Meaning of Curtsy

-
Image
curtsy noun curt·sy \ ˈkərt-sē \ variants: or less commonly curtsey Definition of curtsy plural curtsies also curtseys : an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight lowering of the body with bending of the knees See curtsy defined for English-language learners See curtsy defined for kids Recent Examples of curtsy from the Web But never fear: Meghan did curtsy to Queen Elizabeth. — Lisa Ryan, The Cut, "The Best Gossip From the Royal Wedding," 22 May 2018 Despite concerns and questions online about whether Meghan curtsied to Queen Elizabeth, Meghan did curtsy to Queen Elizabeth at the royal wedding ceremony on May 19. — Ashley Hoffman, Time, "Yes, Meghan Markle Did Curtsy to the Queen at the Royal Wedding. Here's Why People Missed It," 19 May 2018 The British royal family may prefer a subtle genuflection, but events like debutante balls offer occasions for a more flamboyant curtsy like the Texas Dip.
Read more

Idiom "Too many Cooks Spoil the Broth"

-
Image
... So, what might happen when there are too many cooks in the kitchen? Saying (UK): Too many Cooks Spoil the Broth (US) :Too many Cooks Spoil the Soup. This idiomatic expression is said when there are too many perople involved in trying to do the same thing so that the final result is not satisfying. The proverb, ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’, means: When there are a lot of people working on a project, then that project may not be completed to such a high standard. Sometimes one person does a better job than many. At work, a single, streamlined approach can be better to get the desired results. When leaders give us conflicting directions, we can end up more confused. It is better when fewer people are working on a given task. In particular, the proverb refers to a situation in which there are several people trying to take on a leadership role or to control what is going on. In such a situation, everyone may have their own way of doing things and arguments and
Read more