Amy Winehouse, 1983 - 2011.
Rod J
Many proper writers of greater skill and audience than myself have written many more fitting tributes than I could come up with, however I thought it appropriate to leave a few lines on our page...
I won't pretend that I know her music well; were it not for my teenage daughters she probably wouldn't even appear in my iPod. We were out driving last Sunday, the day her death was announced on the news. Whilst discussing the event, we decided it would be a fitting tribute to play her album 'Back to Black'. In track 2 'You Know I'm No Good', she softly croons a phrase that could almost be described as the prophetic anthem of addiction - "I cheated myself, like I knew I would".
A very sad and untimely end to the life of a talented young woman with a wonderful gift; the gift of an amazing voice and the ability to move a vast amount of people with her music. One can only hope that her premature demise may serve as an example to others that excess and addiction are not 'cool' but destructive and wasteful. Much as I love rock music and admire the skills and sheer dedication of the people that perpetuate its influence, an event as tragic as this is a reminder that gifts, genius and amazing success are not a always a ticket to wisdom, peace and happiness. Mortality is a mere flinch away.
It has been said that its this willingness to bare her pain and raw emotion that made her so accessible to her many loyal fans. She, like many passionate performers, laid her soul to bare for all who cared to take a look, and perhaps muse on how closely her tortuous situation resembled there own.
Sadly however, it seems that it was that storm of passion that she could no longer navigate that caused her to founder and slip beneath the waves forever.
RIP, Amy...
Reader Comments (4)
Amen to that...from the opening bars of the Frank album it was clear that despite what Amy became...and the demons that she fought...this was someone with amazing talent and soul...two things sadly missing in much of the music produced by her peers today....
I'll have to listen o that one, haven'y heard it yet..
I just read this post for the second time. It is so well written and very touching. Well done. :)
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback :)