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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
I take issue with the writer's position that Amy has to bolster her cred as a white blues artist by playing up her troubles and giving shot outs to black hip-hop/blues artist. Unfortunately, I think her self-destructive behavior is genuine. She claims to be manic-depressive (granted this may just be a self-diagnosis). You combine this with her youth, obviously sensitive nature, and exposure to drugs, and I think it's entirely possible that she is genuinely that messed up. Also, is it not possible for white people to really love and know a lot about "black music"? Isn't it possible that she actually likes the artists that she references in her songs out of respect for them? In all, sadly enough, she seems to be very authentic in both her her tremendous talent and torment.
I think the author's take on the song "Rehab" comes from the wrong critical angle. Sadly, like the author, it seems that many people hear the chorus and think it's the song itself is a defiant stand against rehab.
It makes far more sense in light of the entirety of the lyrics and the soulfulness of Winehouse's singing to interpret the song as a portrait of someone in pain, making the sad conclusion that they're collapsing because they miss their lover. While her music is not that similar, Amy Winehouse's approach reminds me of Billie Holliday.
First off: I can't stand her nasal pseudo retro vocals -"Rehab" is like a nail on a blackboard, its brainbashing chorus repeating over and over and over.....
As for her looks and clothes, well, let's not even go there and it's ultimately not relevant.
Regarding so-called "blue eyed soul": soul isn't a color thing - that's an insult to black people mostly. No one would dare say that a black person is being pretentious for singing opera at the Met. Some of the finest singers of our age have been black and some have been white. Dusty Springfield is the finest female white soul singer hands-down to give just one example. Aretha Franklin of course is the greatest black soul singer. Eva Cassidy was a natural, very versatile and was amazing at both soul and folk. Joss Stone bores me, Nikki Costa screams a bit too much but is pretty cool and Prince likes her so that's cool in itself. Janis Joplin was also screamer but had a unique and natural talent. Some of our finest opera singers have been and continue to be black women.
It's a culture thing, not a question of color: put a white child in a black church and she/he will be singing gospel songs and develop a certain vocal style. Put a black child in a Lutheran church in Minnesota and she/he will be singing hymns which can be quite beautiful but sound very different than gospel songs.
Amy Wino bores me to tears and I don't care if her pain is real or a PR gimmick: her voice makes my skin crawl. The fact that she is nominated for 6 Grammy awards says all we need to know about award shows.
You want to hear what a natural unpretentious kick ass versatile singer sounds like who happens to be white? Check out JOANNA COTTEN (not Cotton) from Arkansas who is going to be a huge name if her major label doesn't screw things up for her. Watch her incredible live acoustic set of her two songs "Humble Town" and "High Maintenance" and you will be blown away like I was last night when I came across her music on the web. She's the real deal.
And no, I don't work for Warner Bros. - I'm just a huge new fan. And I'm white, female and half-Jewish in case anyone was wondering.
JOANNA COTTEN:
www.wbrnash.com/joannacotten/tv/ (cut and paste please)
This is an interesting and engaging rock review, not just an expose or tiresome commentary on celebrity drug and alcohol addiction. This is a far cry from the periodic essays on Britney's trials and tribulations you've published. This is more like it. Keep up the good work.
I'm not sure I'd be so quick to dismiss Mary J. Blige as not a legend. I think she is one of the most talented singers working today. I also think that history will look back on her work favorably, perhaps as an urban, modern Aretha Franklin.
If she'd been truly incapacitated by her husband's absence, she wouldn't have written a damn thing.
The writer has to realize that Amy wasn't abusing hard drugs while writing Back To Black - she was prone to drinking and recreational pot-use, but not much else. She was also dating a man who was not a drug-addled junkie.
The heroin abuse, coke-snorting, episodes of overdosing, battered appearance and cancelled shows all started happening after she re-united with Civil-Fielder earlier this year - who by all accounts, has been her negative influence and enabler.
It's tragic to see a person with so much talent and potential being ruined by an obviously abusive and destructive relationship.
I've never heard her singand my YECCH! reaction to her keeps me from wanting to. My loss, I guess.
I became allergic to addicts and alcoholics after a while. Again, my loss, I guess.
-- SB
Not a loss at all, in my opinion. The recovering addict in me is empathetic for what Winehouse is going through, but I know all the tricks of the trade, and it's hard to be sympathetic when someone doesn't even try to help themselves. (She lasted, what, less than a day in rehab?? Even the most seasoned junkies, me included, make more of an effort than that.) And nothing wrong with being 'allergic' to addicts; when actively using, addicts are intolerable.
However anybody feels about Winehouse, I don't think enough credit is given to her producer(s). Remember that most of what someone sounds like is a product of good production and not necessarily the artist.
HEARING her music is kinda enjoyable but to me, her IMAGE is a manufactured rock-and-roll cliche. Personally, I opt for the sound of her fellow Brits Portishead, particularly Beth Gibbons, who captures the soul but who has never felt the need to demonstrate some sort of paparazzi-pleasing depravity for "street cred." Listen to "Glory Box" off of their first album (1994) and tell me if you don't agree. Now THAT sends chills up the nape of my neck!
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
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Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
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Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
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