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R.I.P. Amy Winehouse
- Thread starter allexcosta
- Start date
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I thought I'd share this from Russell Brand's blog about the first time he heard Amy sing. He knew her from the Camden bars before they were famous but hadn't heard her actually sing before.
" Entering the space I saw Amy on stage with Weller and his band; and then the awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius. From her oddly dainty presence that voice, a voice that seemed not to come from her but from somewhere beyond even Billie and Ella, from the font of all greatness. A voice that was filled with such power and pain that it was at once entirely human yet laced with the divine. My ears, my mouth, my heart and mind all instantly opened. Winehouse. Winehouse? Winehouse! That twerp, all eyeliner and lager dithering up Chalk Farm Road under a back-combed barnet, the lips that I'd only seen clenching a fishwife fag and dribbling curses now a portal for this holy sound. So now I knew. She wasn't just some hapless wannabe, yet another pissed up nit who was never gonna make it, nor was she even a ten-a-penny-chanteuse enjoying her fifteen minutes. She was a f**king genius. "
" Entering the space I saw Amy on stage with Weller and his band; and then the awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius. From her oddly dainty presence that voice, a voice that seemed not to come from her but from somewhere beyond even Billie and Ella, from the font of all greatness. A voice that was filled with such power and pain that it was at once entirely human yet laced with the divine. My ears, my mouth, my heart and mind all instantly opened. Winehouse. Winehouse? Winehouse! That twerp, all eyeliner and lager dithering up Chalk Farm Road under a back-combed barnet, the lips that I'd only seen clenching a fishwife fag and dribbling curses now a portal for this holy sound. So now I knew. She wasn't just some hapless wannabe, yet another pissed up nit who was never gonna make it, nor was she even a ten-a-penny-chanteuse enjoying her fifteen minutes. She was a f**king genius. "
This afternoon I read a blog posting in which the author observed that today is the day when many of us pretend that we never made fun of Winehouse and her addictions. I am a casual fan of her work, but I also followed her escapades because I'm fascinated by slow-moving train wrecks (must be why I'm a psychologist). I will admit to having done my share of mockery, for I used to cover Rehab on guitar and change some of the lyrics to reference crack use. It always got a laugh from the audience.
Last Tuesday I attended an open mic with only my bass. I played Rehab along with Summertime and Gail Ann Dorsey's version of Stop On By. It was a little strange because the coffeehouse went from being really noisy to dead silent when I started playing. I suspect that people didn't quite know what to make of someone playing an electric bass solo after listening to folkies with acoustic guitars doing Tom Petty covers for the last hour. The audience seemed to like what I'd done, but what really struck me was that it was the first time no one laughed when I changed the words in Rehab.
I don't think I'll be covering Rehab anytime in the near future. This week I'm going to do Back To Black, for I think it speaks volumes about her troubled life. RIP, Amy.
Last Tuesday I attended an open mic with only my bass. I played Rehab along with Summertime and Gail Ann Dorsey's version of Stop On By. It was a little strange because the coffeehouse went from being really noisy to dead silent when I started playing. I suspect that people didn't quite know what to make of someone playing an electric bass solo after listening to folkies with acoustic guitars doing Tom Petty covers for the last hour. The audience seemed to like what I'd done, but what really struck me was that it was the first time no one laughed when I changed the words in Rehab.
I don't think I'll be covering Rehab anytime in the near future. This week I'm going to do Back To Black, for I think it speaks volumes about her troubled life. RIP, Amy.
There's just no one to fill up her place. Someone who writes 'Tears dry on their own', to name just one song, and has that voice on top of that is simply Talented. Stating the other is silly and sports a lack of taste.
R.I.P. Amy. If God loves a good voice, you'll be singing him to sleep.
R.I.P. Amy. If God loves a good voice, you'll be singing him to sleep.
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I know this sounds shallow, but she was pretty cute when she was fixed up the right way! Any way, it really makes me sad to see a young woman with a great career die so soon. Heck, I've been a college graduate longer than she lived!
I know young people die all of the time, but sometimes a famous person's death puts the tragedy of a short life into perspective.
I know this sounds shallow, but she was pretty cute when she was fixed up the right way! Any way, it really makes me sad to see a young woman with a great career die so soon. Heck, I've been a college graduate longer than she lived!
I know young people die all of the time, but sometimes a famous person's death puts the tragedy of a short life into perspective.
Genius ? I think that`s a stretch; I don`t use that word lightly. Tragic ? Her life was more tragic than her death. Whatever the case, I will miss her. She was a breath of fresh air when she arrived a few years ago. I really wish we`d had more material from her before her passing. R.I.P.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
Just have some patience. There will definitely be some unreleased material coming your way soon.
I know there was an album worth that was scrapped. I`m sure it will see shelves by the end of the year.
my words, bro...her next album is due tomorrow!
RIP Amy, I loved your work, sad you chose the wrong path.
I am inclined to agree.
The words "genius" and "great" are vastly over used these days.
It is a shame she never made it past teenage angst but maybe the next album would have done that.
My stepdaughter met her after a club / theater gig in Atl a few years ago. She seemed really cool. Came out, hung with the fans while the crew tore down. Stepdaughter has a framed pic in her room of them together.
RIP Amy... Had no idea your problem was that bad 
But, thank you for the music and jives and may you find peace in that new land of yours x
But, thank you for the music and jives and may you find peace in that new land of yours x
While I'm not a big fan...... I really don't like Back to Black...... I think Frank is incredible..... IMO, one of the best albums of the last 20 years. There really is some "genius" wrapped up in there. She had a jazz sensibility to her phrasing that you don't normally hear from someone of that age. It's a disc loaded with promise that will go unfulfilled. Really, that is the reason I wasn't a fan........ I got sick of waiting for another 'Frank'.
And since this is a bass player forum, here is a bit of Pino backing Amy at Wembly......
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Amy Winehouses death was not caused by drug use.
It was caused by a severe untreated depression and the inability to control her drug use.
I am not trying to promote or even justify the use of drugs, but I do not believe it was the fact she took drugs that lead to her demise.
You have to look to the reason she personally was taking drugs, unlike many sensible casual users, it was more than just for the narcotic effects.
Depression and other pycological problems caused a lack of control, which ultimately was amplified by the drugs she took.
This cannot be used as a case study of the effects of drugs. As Ms. Winehouse was an unusually disasterous case.
By all means the best choice is not to take drugs, it's also the best choice not to drink. However many people don't make the best choice. If you don't make that choice, just be sensible and understand the dangers, don't listen to the hype either way, listen to the evidence.
It was caused by a severe untreated depression and the inability to control her drug use.
I am not trying to promote or even justify the use of drugs, but I do not believe it was the fact she took drugs that lead to her demise.
You have to look to the reason she personally was taking drugs, unlike many sensible casual users, it was more than just for the narcotic effects.
Depression and other pycological problems caused a lack of control, which ultimately was amplified by the drugs she took.
This cannot be used as a case study of the effects of drugs. As Ms. Winehouse was an unusually disasterous case.
By all means the best choice is not to take drugs, it's also the best choice not to drink. However many people don't make the best choice. If you don't make that choice, just be sensible and understand the dangers, don't listen to the hype either way, listen to the evidence.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
The majority of the lyrics in that song were written by the very seasoned songwriting team of Valerie Simpson and Nickolas Ashford along with Amy Winehouse.
Talented. Yes she was.
She was about 20 years old in that clip.
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