Forget reading this for now. Go ahead and scroll down a little and just push play on that YouTube clip of Amy Winehouse’s startling single “Rehab.”
Back with me? Okay, good, good because I want you to hear me now: Amy Winehouse could be this year’s crossover phenomenon.
As you heard, the British R&B singer is nothing short of a marvel, and the evidence on her stunning sophomore album, Back to Black (released Tuesday), proves she’s more than a one hit wonder. Black has been out for months in the UK, topping the charts there for weeks, winning her an Ivor Novello songwriting award and shortlisting her for the 2006 Mercury Prize. Those of you scoping out Charlie Kraebel’s blog might have already heard “Rehab” in the Britney Spears spoof.
The hype is deserved. Winehouse’s chops already feel legendary. Her voice crackles like Billie Holliday’s, catches like Ronnie Spectors’, and smolders like Etta James’. And her songwriting is top notch. It blends ’50s R&B with Motown - back to back, songs like “Just Friends,” “Back to Black” and “Love is a Losing Game” play like a classic soul album. This album alone probably won’t put her in the history books, but it proves she knows how to use her voice, write a song (and write to her strengths) and emote better than most anyone around right now. In short, it’s set her up for a promising career.
But if you’ve had your ear to the ground, you might have heard a bit more about this blues-ing, boozing songbird. Winehouse is a drunk. Famously drunk. Smashed. Plastered. Blotto. Yeah - Janis Joplin drunk. One story going around says she actually threw up onstage during a show, and continued singing. That’s not soul - that’s punk all the way!
I’m hoping she won’t let her drinking overpower her, because I’d really like this new master of the 3-minute soul raveup to stick around and wipe the slates clean of some half-assed yodelers and American Idol rejects out there.
Enjoy.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 at 5:10 pm and is filed under Raves. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
The “No No No” kinda gets on my nerves. That and her Mole Mole Mole.
I just got finished laughing really, really hard, Travis. (Thanks for ruining the song for me)
I really think it’s the syncopated syncopation on the No’s. I just want her to speed up a bit…but I’m sure the song will get in my head and I will hate you forever.
I’m sure.
In-fec-tious (in fek’shus) - adj. 1) likely to cause infection; containing disease-producing organisms or matter 2) designating a disease that can be communicated by INFECTION (sense 2) 3) tending to spread or to affect others; catching (an infectious laugh) 4) [obs.] infected with disease
Michael, I think you did this just for me.
…and maybe it’s not even so much the “No No No” as it is the hand motion EVERY TIME she sings that part.
Still, thanks.
I wish they weren’t trying to make her sexy. I know it’s music and only sexy people can make good music, but still. She’s singin about bein a drunk. And i know drunks, they dont spend that much time on their hair.
I can take the song alot better than the video. She scares me, like she’s about to eat me. or throw up, then eat the throw up, then me.
scary
Gross.
I bought it last night…I love it already.
It’s so nice to have friends with good taste in music.
Thank you.
Please check out my blog post entitled “The Amy Winehouse Phenomenon”. Thanks. www.formanstore.blogspot.com
Dude- that’s not mole. It’s a piercing. I don’t know about you Travis, but I’ve never seen a mole that was shiny and silver. (fyi, a piercing above the upper lip like that is called a “Monroe”)
amy winehouse is the best thing that happened to urban music im completley in love with this chicks vocals. its rare to find such a force in music today , jazzy,funky, soulful, rich in vibes
WHAT KIND OF FU$%^&RY IS THAT?THE CHICK IS GREAT, GERAT, GREAT…