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01 August 2007
I don't get Amy Winehouse. Which probably makes me uncool. But her point escapes me. What's her point?
I like the loops she sings over, I'm a lover of old volt/stax and I'm always happy when it's reused for something new. I find her schtick a little too polished and intentional, there are people who are trying to do unabashed soul revival without so much self-consciousness, but I'm always pretty happy to hear a little horn lick and a fuzzy guitar chord blasted out of a car instead of something about a bitch or getting this money, she's a real street hit here in New York, minor so far but still bumpin' like Gnarls Barkley was last year, it's a welcome change. And to her credit she does acknowledge the influence Wu-Tang has had on her. I hope she survives her food and booze issues.
I love her music. Sadly she is missing a lot of shows and seems beset by many issues (bulimia, drugs, booze).
While I don't want to see her come to harm I do love her rock and roll moments: "I'm not in this to be a role model,' she insists" "heckled Bono at the Q magazine awards" You go girl!
She does have some roots "Her grandmother on her father's side dated Ronnie Scott in the 1940s, and her uncles on her mother's side are professional jazz musicians. At home, there would be Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra playing." Quotes from here.
I really don't like her. I love that type of music, but I can't stand the fake American accent she sings in. Why? And her behaviour towards fans at some of her gigs has been appalling. I hope she gets the help she clearly needs.
I'm tired now, and therefore will probably not articulate this well, but the reason my clients love her (and yes, I actually asked some of them) is because she sings in real and non-judgemental terms about how hard it is to choose between a bottle of booze and your baby ("Rehab"), or your man and a better life ("Back To Black").
"Rehab" in particular strikes a chord with my clients who feel like they are singled out by ACS in this city because they're black mothers with substance abuse problems, whereas if they were white mothers with a Vicodin addiction raising their kids on the Upper East Side, they wouldn't have to worry as much.
She makes music. If you like her music, that's the point
it's never _only_ about the music, esp. with cult-ish artists such as Winehouse. I just don't get the appeal of the persona, because the music is frankly nothing to write home about -- I guess even her fans agree on that. there just seems to be a lot of people (that I know) who really like her and the reasons remain unclear to me. even if I don't like them either, I understand the Decemberists success more. hers, not so much -- the music, her look, her persona
I'm with TPS on this, if you like her music then that's the point.
If you want to get all philosophical then what's the point of anything? Except for the basic functions necessary for the life, the rest is expendable. Discuss.
I like her. Her songs are fun to sing along to and her voice is really distinctive. I would even like her boozey persona if it weren't so clearly killing her.
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