She was one of the most unique voices in popular music, melding together jazz and hip-hop to create her sound all her own. Today marks seven years of Amy Winehouse’s tragic passing and in order to celebrate the Grammy Winner’s incredible life and work, we have compiled a collection of seven stellar moments that reflect her singular talent.
‘Back to Black (Live Acoustic – SXSW)’
One of the best break-up songs ever written, ‘Back To Black’ demonstrated Winehouse’s talent for taking the influence of music’s past, in this case, all-girl groups of the 1960’s such as The Ronettes and channelling it through her own unique vision and writing style. This acoustic version, taken from a 2007 session at SXSW festival, demonstrates not only the excellence of the songwriting but the passion of her live performances.
‘Teach Me Tonight’ (Later….with Jools Holland 2004)’
This cover of an old jazz standard made popular by Dinah Washington was performed by Winehouse on Later…With Jools Holland at the tender age of twenty. Already her voice demonstrated not only an incredible range but a distinctive tone that incorporated modern soul and hip-hop affectation with a timeless, jazz elegance. When the nation turned on to BBC Two that night, there was a general consensus that a major new talent had been unveiled.
‘You Know I’m No Good’, Back To Black
A sordid tale of love set to sultry R&B beats, ‘You Know I’m No Good’ was reflective of Winehouse’s ability to not only write a catchy pop that you can get down to, but that had the same lyrical genius and maturity of spoken word or poetry. Mark Ronson‘s production on the album via Phil Spector‘s Wall of Sound created a sonic offering of delicious proportions.
‘Valerie’ – AOL Sessions, 2007
Originally written and recorded by The Zutons, Winehouse’s retro-soul take on this standard indie-rock tune couldn’t be further from the original. Everything she touched sparkled with a uniqueness of vision. Her covers were as iconic as her self-penned track.
‘Love is A Losing Game’, Mercury Prize 2007
Amy Winehouse could make even the largest of arena shows feel intimate. This particularly gorgeous rendition of ‘Love Is A Losing Game’ performed at the 2007 Mercury Prize award ceremony, is one of the most heartbreaking and delicate performances you will ever watch.
‘Stronger than Me’, Frank
Winehouse’s debut album Frank, released in 2003, beholds a wealth of songwriting gold. Even on her first release, she was demonstrating a writing talent beyond her years. ‘Stronger than me’ has her calling out an older lover on his emotional immaturity. The sounds are sultry with the right amount of sass.
‘I Heard Love Is Blind’ – Live on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
It is all tii easy to dismiss Winehouse as a purely tragic figure. Although the vast majority of her back catalogue dealt with heartache and a gallery of unsavoury lovers, her writing could be incredibly sharp and witty. ‘I Heard Love Is Blind’ is a great example of her ability to breathe new life into songwriting tropes via a dash of cutting humour.
