Earlier in the summer, this video came across my Facebook wall and ignited my current obsession with Amy Winehouse. I’ve loved Amy since one of my favorite students (DC) turned me on to her about 10 years ago, but I guess it was time for me to dive a little deeper into her music.
So, over the weekend I watched “Amy” on Amazon Prime. I’m sure all the cool kids watched the movie when it came out in 2015, but it was new to me and I really gained insight into what a tortured genius she was. The movie used family photos, videos and interviews to provide a portrait of a young woman with huge talent, but even larger issues. I hadn’t realized she had written so much of her own music and learning the stories behind the lyrics gave me new perspective on her life. Watching her perform was absolutely mesmerizing and despite knowing what the ultimate outcome would be, I just kept waiting for someone to save her. So tragic.
With my now full blown infatuation, I’ve been exploring what Amy Winehouse music is available on the various streaming services. I’ve committed to a few months of Apple Music, (because I find their playlists to sometimes be pretty interesting) and I’ve been listening to a few built around the song Valerie. The winner I came up with for today was titled “Lana Del Rey: Influences” and the artists Apple Music tied together was surprisingly awesome. In addition to Amy Winehouse, there are songs by Janis Joplin, Portishead, Lou Reed, The Doors and Billie Holiday featured. And somehow, they all just work together in a fantastic way. Good stuff – check it out.
Who are you missing these days? What performer/musician would you most like to see reincarnated?
