Amy Winehouse (RIP): anybody here a fan?

[RLP4ever]

I first heard her at around the same time I joined this forum board, i.e. back in 2006 when her multiple Grammy award-winning album, 'Back to Black' made huge waves in the fan charts, and among music critics, worldwide. And although I'm generally no great fan of R&B, soul and jazz, there was something fiercely original, constantly provocative and interesting about Amy Winehouse's music, her playing and singing, her persona and her presence at performances that I found a pretty engaging experience. I have both her highly praised albums: the bombshell 'Back to Black' and the debut 'Frank'. She's been in Australia a few times, but I've only seen her 'live' once, very briefly, in 2007, I think.

While Amy's long-standing, heavily-publicised serious drug and alcohol woes make her sudden demise seem somewhat inevitable, I just think that it's still awfully sad to see anybody ---especially such patently gifted and alluring music artistes like Amy Winehouse--- go out so painfully prematurely. Gosh, to think she was only 27.

Anybody here any kind of fan of the departed Amy Winehouse (Sep 14, 1983 - July 23, 2011) ?

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

@RLP4ever
Couldn't agree more. Not entirely to my musical taste but there was something which set apart from others of her ilk, a certain class and presence I can't quite put my finger on, but which I must respect.

As you point out she was only 27. That age when "troubled geniuses" come to an untimely end, she joins Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix to name the ones I immediately remember.

RIP Amy

[kamikazetom]

Nice post RLP - while not a fan of her music my neice was & I always thought she had a good voice - very sad to see her fall prey to her addictions instead of making more music - 27 is way too young

I did see this on Blabbermouth - didn't know that Geezer was a fan but very cool that he appreciated her voice & music - http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=161083

[devstorm]

Im saddened by the news. I really like the Back To Black CD. It's classy and soulful; but hard boiled, and edgy in its own way at times. I've never heard the previous album but I really enjoy the one I have quite a bit. Her voice just sounded like it had lived a thousand lives before this one. Its a shame she left us.

[IommiRules]

Agreed with the above posts. Not MY personal cup of tea, but an undeniable talent nonetheless. Anyone who can come into the music scene with the same 7 notes plus flats and sharps that everyone else has to choose from and finds a way to make it fresh, I give them all the respect in the world on that basis alone.

As a Father, I mourn for her parents and the unbelievable pain they must be enduring. My oldest is less than 3 years younger than Amy. He too is a musician with what I believe to be a drinking problem. I hope the loss of a modern day icon will serve to wake up my child and others battling addictions so that they seek out the medical help and counseling which they so richly need.

If you know someone battling these types of demons, LOVE THEM ENOUGH to say no! It is NOT ok for you to do this to yourself. Your Mom loves you, I love you, your step- parents love you, your brothers and sisters love you, all of your Grandparents love you... Have a clear conscience when dealing with US addicts, we need to know that there are boundaries to acceptable behaviors. Though I never spent a dime on this woman's music, I weep for the loss of a young life.

[Franklin]

I had never heard of her before she died. That having been said, I am sorry to hear of her untimely and early death.

[Sahand]

I didn't like her music... of course she was very good singer... but I feel sorry for her dying so soon... she destroyed her life by her own hands, she looked like lately... but Keith was 40 years older and even i see keith really looking better...

[RLP4ever]

Good to see you guys drop by and express your own feelings of sadness and regret at the sudden passing of such a uniquely talented artiste like Amy Winehouse. Again, it's a true testament to Amy's immense, compelling musicianship , cutting across genres and fan circles, that even when some of you weren't exactly fans of her music, you still have a certain admiration and respect for her talents and achievements. I've admired and enjoyed very many female musicians over the years; Amy Winehouse was definitely on my A-list all along. I've also heard how Amy's popularity had spurred many people to pay more attention to female artistes, in general. Amy was destined for bigger things, I'm sure. That's why her self-defeating surrender to severe drink and drug abuse leading to her untimely death, is made all the more piognant and deflating. Though it doesn't help to read and hear reports of her death being "unexplained".

@IommiRules
You make a thoroughly relevant, cautionary, and empathetic comment about the perils of drug and drink dependence among our loved ones. You're right about the things you describe in your post; sadly, too many musicians, for example, seem unable to cope and succumb to the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse. And when it comes to your own siblings, children or others in the family, the situation is made more complicated still, fraught with guilt, indecision, helplessness and despair. It needn't be that way. So yea, those of us who are free from "those types of demons" must do everything in our powers to rescue the ones we love from the ruination that abuse of drinks and drugs inflicts on its victims.

@devstorm
I'm guessing that you'd quite like 'Frank'. It's differently cool, comparative to the outstanding 'Back to Black'. dev, your concluding sentence strikes a chord, in the sense that I've often felt similarly about the bewitching, almost otherworldly quality of Amy's voice and her singing.

@kamikazetom
Oh Tom, thanks for saying that my OP was a "nice post". I just wish it was also about something 'nice' and not the death of such a gifted young woman. And hey, that was a neat piece on what a Metal legend feels about a very different sort of musical legend. Geezer nailed it with "Her voice will live on longer than all the crap written about her." Touche, touche.

@KiloDeltaCharlie
We're on the same page, mate. The abrupt ends to the lives of what you call the "troubled geniuses" has been a very troubling trend, down the decades.

I had never heard of her before she died. That having been said, I am sorry to hear of her untimely and early death.

All the more reason, then, Franklin, that you might wanna now check out her music, and find out why so many fans, (myself included), mourn her passing so much.

[Gardener]

When I first heard "Back to Black", I thought "This girl has everything it takes to be the next Janis Joplin". Unfortunately, she kind of became the next Janis Joplin, except Janis gave us three albums. What a waste :(

[DiosSword]

I wasn't a fan but I think it is so horrible that this young woman with so much potential for the rest of her life, ended up like far too many others...destroyed by chemicals.

Bon Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Bonham, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Kevin DuBrow...way, way too many to list.

If you look at pictures from her in her early days, she was quite a looker. Then compare those images to more recent ones where she looks so wasted and emaciated.

I think it is so tragic that this young life had to end this way.

[Wicked Cricket]

First I heard of it here... not the least bit surprised or as some people on the news have bene quoted "shocked" (give me a break, the woman was a train reck) very talented, but weak, smack will do it, last I heard of her she had cancelled her Euro tour about a month and a half or so ago.. there's YOUTUBE clips of her staggering around on stage drunk/drugged... she had everything Lady Ga Ga has except fortitude and inner strength, a belief in herself... even Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison lacked an inner confidence, Jimi I think had it the most together, I think his OD was pure accident, he wasn't a heavy drug user, didn't mess with Heroin, Janis was a little bit accident / don't care, just get me some smack... kind of thing and Morrison was a flat out drunk and druggie... at least she's better off now than the Hell she was in.

You can fact check this, but Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, and now add Winehouse, were all 27 YEARS OLD when they died. Weird....

Wow, I happen to see this and didn't realize Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones (Stones) were also 27... the "27 Club".

From "TV & SHOW BIZ"

The singer's tragic death at the age of 27 puts her in a pantheon of famous musicians who have all died at the same age.

Amy follows now joins the notorious 27 Club, also known as Forever 27, which is a group of musicians who have all died at the age while struggling to cope with fame.

Club members: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison are among those who died at the age of 27
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was the most recent victim and in 1994, pumped with heroin and valium, he turned a gun on himself.

Decades earlier Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones all died at 27.

Rolling Stone Jones drowned in a swimming pool in 1969; Hendrix choked to death in 1970 after mixing wine with sleeping pills and singer Janis Joplin suffered a suspected heroin overdose the same year.

Doors star Morrison died of heart failure in 1971.

[Never Satisfied]

Back To Black is a great album. I really dug her voice and music. It is so typical.....one pop star I actually enjoy and she has to go and die. I remember the same thing happened with Nirvana, I didn't care for the whole grunge thing but really liked them. Same thing happened.

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

As inevitable as it seemed, it was still a shocking news to learn about her passing. I wasn't a fan, but it's always sad to see a young, gifted person die. She did have a very distinct voice and style, especially considering the current music scene. My thoughts go out to her fans and most of all her family. Losing your child is the worst thing in this world I reckon.

And yes, there seems to be something mystical about the age of 27 with musicians...

[Ochlocracy]

I wasn't a fan, but it's always sad to see a young, gifted person die.

Pretty much how i feel too. I wonder how many people that young have to die before people see the seriousness of drug or alcohol addiction.

[Nathan]

Pretty much how i feel too. I wonder how many people that young have to die before people see the seriousness of drug or alcohol addiction.

Totally agree! But once someone gets addicted to drug and alcohol abuse it's very hard to get out of, at least from what I've heard..

[Ochlocracy]

Totally agree! But once someone gets addicted to drug and alcohol abuse it's very hard to get out of, at least from what I've heard..

I meant these stories should stop people from starting in the first place.

[H&H]

I am a fan of her music. I own both of her CDs, and they are not normally what I would go out and buy, but there was something about her music and her delivery of it. Frank is a g00d CD, however Back to Black, IMO is out of this world. It has this Motown vibe, sound and feel that just grabbed me.

I am sad to see a human put herself through such a living hell, and also being a father, feel for her family. How terrible to watch a child destroy themselves.

RIP

[Sahand]

They see how their GODS like Steven Tyler, Ozzy and others saying that they were wrong to use drugs, but still they don't get it...

[RLP4ever]

What makes Amy's passing especially devastating for fans like myself, is the fact that I honestly and strongly felt that Amy, despite her awful addiction woes, appeared to be absolutely set to scale ever greater heights as a musician, in the years to come. I'd say that her 'Back to Black' album was nothing short of spectacular. And it's a testament to Amy's soaring star status among fans, and the elevated expectations she continued to generate, that I, for one, still believe that had she lived, Amy would have gone on to surpass even 'Back to Black'. I know that's saying a lot, but I don't say that lightly.

Anyway, if anybody among you wish to revisit and reconsider your take on Amy Winehouse's brief career in music, owing to this thread about her, you just must check out both 'Frank' and 'Back to Black'. I see that H&H has already done that.

RIP Amy 'Angel' Winehouse

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Make of this what you will, I'm sure there will be lots of rumours regarding unreleased songs, but this is from The Guardian which is a serious paper.

12 Unreleased songs

Additionally, I heard on the radio yesterday that she's on at least one upcoming duet, but I forget who the other singer was.

EDIt: Further to this I think the duet is with Tony Bennett

[RobotOfDecay]

I wasn't a big fan but it's very sad news. Geezer Butler made a statement about her death on blabbermouth for those who missed it:

Legendary BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL bassist Geezer Butler has issued a statement mourning the passing of his "all-time favorite musicians" Amy Winehouse.

The 27-year-old singer was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday, July 23. There's no word on the exact cause of death, but Winehouse had been struggling with drug addiction for many years.

"It would be disrespectful of me if I didn’t mention the passing of one of my all-time favorite musicians, Amy Winehouse," Butler said. "To me , she was and is up there with Billie, Bessie, Sarah, Dinah, Ella, and I was so looking forward to her new stuff, but will always love the old stuff. A tremendous talent taken from us. Her voice will live on longer than all the crap written about her."

Butler also commented on the two-act tragedy which rocked Norway — first a downtown Oslo explosion, then a shooting at a youth camp — resulting in more than 90 deaths.

"On yet another sad note, my thoughts go out to the people of Norway after such a terrible tragedy there," he said. "So shocking in such a peaceful, beautiful country."

[kamikazetom]

Hey RLP - because of this thread I have started to check out her music more - listening to Frank & I am liking this one - I will have to give Back to Black a listen soon - seems most people like that one best

P.S. by nice post I really meant it was nice to see some kind words about her instead of some of the crap I have seen written about her since her death

[Gardener]

Make of this what you will, I'm sure there will be lots of rumours regarding unreleased songs, but this is from The Guardian which is a serious paper.

12 Unreleased songs

Additionally, I heard on the radio yesterday that she's on at least one upcoming duet, but I forget who the other singer was.

EDIt: Further to this I think the duet is with Tony Bennett

Actually, I remember hearing that the records company was already working on a compilation of unreleased tracks something like two years ago. I remember the music critic who announced this said he felt the record company executives already thought they would not get a new album and that they were already working on a postume compilation at the time. Unfortunately, he was right.

[RLP4ever]

Hey RLP - because of this thread I have started to check out her music more - listening to Frank & I am liking this one - I will have to give Back to Black a listen soon - seems most people like that one best

So good to hear that this thread spurred you to give her music a serious listen, today. 'Frank' got mostly mixed reviews, with some people praising it a lot, while others say it's pretty derivative and ordinary. I thought it was pretty darn good, in its own right. And, of course, everybody who thinks that 'Back to Black' is Amy's finest hour, is absolutely right, cos it's true---that is a remarkable album, a real keeper.

P.S. by nice post I really meant it was nice to see some kind words about her instead of some of the crap I have seen written about her since her death

Oh, Tom, I had guessed just that. This is the second time actually, that I have happened to heap words of praise and admiration upon a deceased artiste (Seth Putnam of Anal Cunt was the other one, recently) who otherwise seemed to attract some of the most despicable and vile comments from others on online blogs and forums.

@Gardener
I know I'd be interested in any compilation release of "unreleased material". Since Amy has put out only two full-length albums, it's obvious how there must be many fans desperate to hear more of her stuff they haven't heard before.

they were already working on a postume compilation at the time.

Gardener, I think you must have meant 'posthumous' compilation.

[nunoni]

my mum was a fan; my wife, sort of as well. I like a few of here songs - I loved rehab!!! the song Back to black is also good. Then the album is 80% filler.

Shame about her death, it's tragic. If she was unable to sing anymore, at least she could have taken care of herself and live a happy life. What a waste of youth.

[Gardener]

Gardener, I think you must have meant 'posthumous' compilation.

Yes, that's right

[Sahand]

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler went out of his way yesterday to comment on two newsmakers. Butler sent thoughts and well-wishes to the families of Amy Winehouse, as well as the families affected by last week’s dual tragedies in Norway.

The 62-year-old Butler calls R&B singer Winehouse, who passed away at age 27 over the weekend, one of his all time favorites. “To me,” he says on his website, “she was and is up there with Billie, Bessie, Sarah, Dinah, Ella, and I was so looking forward to her new stuff, but will always love the old stuff. A tremendous talent taken from us. Her voice will live on longer than all the crap written about her.” Both Butler and Winehouse are native Englanders.

Of the bombings and shootings in Norway, Butler says “My thoughts go out to the people of Norway, after such a terrible tragedy there. So shocking in such a peaceful, beautiful country.” The bassist is known as somewhat of a pacifist. In fact Ozzy Osbourne claimed Butler never “uses foul language” in his autobiography.

Butler tells For Bass Players magazine that he’s working on new music for GZR, his on-again/off-again rock project, and compiling memories for a book that could be out as early as 2012, although he didn’t sound optimistic.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/geeze...amy-winehouse/

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Thought people might be interested to know that a posthumous Amy Winehouse CD Lioness: Hidden Treasures to be released in December, containing 12 previously unreleased songs :

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...ecember-255226

[RLP4ever]

Thanks for this timely tip, mate Charlie. I'm definitely gonna buy that release as soon as I see it anywhere. And, that's such a neat, almost apt album title, too.

[KHH]

Remember seeing a concert of hers on tv. It wasn't something I'd planned but I got stuck while watching it. She was totally plastered, could barely stand on her feet. The interaction with the audience between songs were mostely mumblings of different words you probably should protect your children from hearing and she had to cling on to the mic-stand. But - her singing was totally flawless ans absolutely brilliant!