After hearing repeated references to “Rehab” and wondering what the big fuss about it and her was, I got that CD and … um what’s so great about her? Her voice is kinda meh, there’s nothing especially interesting or profound about the lyrics (I don’t now if she writes the songs or not), and the style made me realize I have heard the song before and thought I accidentally tuned in to a 1957 oldies special. I find her look kind of weird (subjective, obviously) and her personal character is apparently nothing to write home about.
Today on NPR they had some commentator who said “she’s the greatest female singer to come out of Britain since Dusty Springfield.” Well maybe she is; I can’t really think of any British female singers off the top of my head except the Spice Girls, and “singer” is debatable with them; but you know, dog food tastes a lot better than decomposing possum but that doesn’t mean dog food is actually any good.
So what’s so wonderful about her? I listened to Rehab and a few other songs and I have no desire to listen to anything else. Why has she been nominated for all those Grammys?
I thought her album, Back to Black, was outstanding – but music is subjective. I liked her retro-soul sound, especially the Mark Ronson-produced arrangements with all those great horns. It really sounded like a throwback to Motown-era soul, which I realize has been done before, but sometimes a little well-done retro is appreciated. For what it’s worth, I thought “Rehab” was the weakest song on the album, but just happened to become a recognizable single. I greatly preferred “You Know I’m No Good” and “Just Friends”… and just about all the other tracks.
As for female singers out of Britain, if you’re the least bit interested, check out Portishead (with Beth Gibbons), Imogen Heap (also of the band Frou Frou), Dido, and Lily Allen. None of them sound like Amy Winehouse (or the Spice Girls), and they’re all outstanding.
I’m not sure I know any of her music, but I had some picture of her up the other day (flipping through a Yahoo slideshow) and we discovered that my 2 year old somehow knows the phrase “Skanky hoochie!”
“Skanky hooochie, Mama!” she pointed to the screen, “Skanky hoochie!”
Yes, dear, that’s a skanky hoochie. Good job. Now go clean your room.
Maybe I have to listen some more. I do like Motown-style music but this–Amy–just hasn’t grabbed me yet. And I have zero idea of what her sound was before getting the CD. I was not expecting soul at all.
There was one song a couple after Rehab that I preferred but it wasn’t so memorable that I can tell you the name of it. :o
We listened to preview track off her website and thought: “Meh.” When we looked her up on YouTube, the frst video we watched was the one where she was howling and slurring her way in a trainwreck of a TV appearance with Charlotte Church.
She is at the top of more people’s death pool list than even Britney Spears, having been photographed with fresh white powder in her nose, and with a black eye and fresh blood on her shoes from fighting with her now incarcerated husband (who had claw marks on his face from their fight). She’s better known in the U.S. for her drug addled performances and antics that make Courtney Love and Pete Doherty look good in comparisson.
She may not be able to attend the Grammy’s because, UK news reports say, Homeland Security has asked that she pass a drug test as a requirement for entry. I honestly don’t know why the Grammy’s would want her to perform anyway. Britney may do a publicly humiliating performance at the MTV awards, but Winehouse is likely to actually die on live television.
I’ve heard great things about her vocals, but I think she’ll go by way of Janis Joplin. A great diva with incredbily gutsy vocal performances that put a remarkable new spin on old soul sound, but who will ultimately be snuffed out entirely too early.
FTR: One news report quoted her family as saying they are distressed that she is not taking her medication for a diagnosed bipolar condition (which may account for the sobbing in the park episodes and some of her more frenzied behaviour).
ETA: Winehouse had deined she’s bipolar in interviews.
(After the edit window): Interesting, I’ve been looking up various cites and just noticed that Winehouse has publicly stated in 2006 that she refuses to take medication for her clinically diagnosed bipolar disorder… Oh, the conflicting info!
Her first album was horrible, but Back to Black has a few decent songs on it. I honestly don’t see the fuss, either, but to be fair, I like Back to Black more than any concentrated run of Britney or Jessica music I’ve heard.
I don’t know any of Britney’s or Jessica’s songs* but I bet I’d like Amy’s music better too, even though I don’t like it all that much!
*Does this mean I’m a fogey??
I have to say that beehive she had was simply hideous. Why would anyone think that was hip, pretty, cool, attractive, insert positive adjective of your choice here? It made her look like The Elephant Man.
I just don’t understand these youngsters, darn it.
Well, the stupid beehive harido needs to go for starters- from recent pictures I think it has. Her music strikes me not as an a genuine tribute but a gimmick, and I think Rehab is pretty corny. She has a good voice and should really change the type of music she does. Lily Allen is a far superior talent.
Way too much affectation in her voice for me. She is trying too hard to sound American and black. And I see way too many batshit crazy people at work to be entertained by watching her for fun.
And she has the most gawdawful looking tattoos in the world. A half blind prison tattoo artist would be embarassed by that work. Is she supposed to look attractive or repulsive?
Oh I know there are some; a lot, even. I just couldn’t think of any.
I definitely cannot agree with the NPR lady that Amy Winehouse is better than any of those three. Actually I think it’s fairly insulting to them to say she’s better than they are. Well NPR Lady is entitled to her opinion, I guess.
I’m not sure why we’re making fun of Amy Winehouse here. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever heard one of her songs, and I only know her from reading reviews of her albums, which were all positive. She seems to be kind of an obscure, hipster-type of artist. Are the media maybe grooming her to replace whichever of the current crop of bad girls gets a hot dose first?