You are forewarned that this entry has nothing to do with motorcycles. It does have to do with sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Okay, not rock & roll per se, more like the blues but that doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

A few weeks ago, Amy Winehouse was found dead. I was not surprised when she joined Club 27, and even though the cause of her death has not been determined, I feel confident that it will end up in some way being caused by substance abuse. After she died, there was much talk on TV about her music and the depth of it. Since I'd only ever heard one song, Rehab, I thought that I should take a listen to what else she was about.
I got her Back to Black and Frank albums, and also found several bootleg live performances on the internet and gave them a listen. Part of what I found enjoyable about her music is the choice of songs. Both albums featured songs that were original as well as some covers.
The first thing that strikes you about Amy Winehouse's music is her voice. It has some of the same qualities that Nina Simone and other torch singers of that era possess. An emptiness that seems to float on top of great passion. Amy's voice has a smoky quality that never seems to have any effect on her range or the clear quality of her singing. It is unique and I appreciate that uniqueness not only for the voice but also for what she has chosen to sing.

I do like the fact that Amy recorded some songs that show dark humor and biting commentary. To my way of thinking, Rehab is meant to be a fun song. However, Amy's song Fuck Me Pumps is actually a better and much deeper song with dark humor. It never received any airplay, to my knowledge, but given the title, I can see why not. The song deals with a 30 something woman who was still hanging out at the bar looking for Mr. Right but settling for one night stands. The song is almost cruel and mean. It uses snide commentary but if you've ever met or seen one of those types of women, there is also great truth there.
As I mentioned before, Amy did several covers of other torch songs and ballads. Her cover of Cupid is excellent. She took a very basic bubblegum song and turned it into something totally her own and at the same time kept it uplifting and fun. I Heard It Through the Grapevine, a soulful duet with Paul Weller-- recording I heard was live and you could almost smell the stale beer and see the smoky haze. Awesome.

Where Amy's voice, style, and personal passion really shine is when she is singing the blues. Back to Black, one of the title tracks, is what torch songs are supposed to be. He was fooling around with someone else, treats her like crap, and then dumps her to go back to his woman – in the end she finds herself seeking the numbness of going back to black. There is much discussion online about what is meant by this – – Was it drugs? Was it just depression? Was it loneliness? My response to all of that is: Who cares? – – here is a woman in deep pain who is seeking an escape. I feel like Amy's voice through the whole song should echo because it sounds so empty and alone -- so full of pain it is impossible not listen.

Of course, Amy tells it the way she sees it in Stronger Than Me. Her older man doesn't act manly enough for her; she says exactly how she feels about it. For a little variety, her song Hey Little Rich Girl has a light reggae feel that there is no mistaking the distinctiveness of her voice in the duet with Zalon and Ade.
The bottom line of all of this is that I have enjoyed everything of hers that I've heard. Amy Winehouse has a unique voice that makes you want to listen to what the lyrics are saying -- she has a way of twisting the blues on its head. To me the blues is not only about the music itself but also about the lyrics. Amy had a great way with lyrics.
When I was done listening to all the music and listening to such an abundance of talent that is no longer with us, I was left with only one comment: Damn, Amy. Why?
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