People can make fun of Amy Winehouse and mock her death as much as they want. It won't change the fact that she was a remarkable artist who created music that a great many people, including myself, really loved. A month ago I was lamenting that she hadn't come out with a new album in five years and was crossing my fingers that something would be released soon. Now, it saddens me greatly that anything we get... if anything at all... will be released posthumously.
I am not going to deny that she had serious problems and did some crazy shit. Amy was a very troubled and tortured person, and dealt with it the best way she knew how. Unfortunately that involved a lot of abusive behavior that would be tough for anybody to survive. But not one bit of it made me enjoy her music any less. Because no matter how out-of-control and batshit crazy she was in her personal life, in her songs she made perfect sense.
I'd say that I will miss her music, but the truth is her music isn't going anywhere. I just wish so badly she would have stuck around to make more of it. And, on that note, my favorite of so many favorites...
The rest of my day was $600 in repair costs for my car's brakes.
Hanging out with my sister on a flawless afternoon.
Meeting up with some remarkable Pacific Northwest bloggers.
Life is the bittersweet joy and hurt of it all. I am so incredibly blessed to have friends and family to make even my worst days good again.
Oh how I wish Amy Winehouse could have found the same.
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I agree. Back to Black was such a great album by a really talented lady. Too bad/sad that there was no follow-up.
I totally agree with your sentiments about Amy. And about being blessed. 🙂
Tragic. I wish she’d been able to find some peace. I only knew her “Rehab” song, and thought she had a lot of soul in her voice.
Amen! Lovely post about a great talent.
I felt the same way when Heath Ledger died. Every time I watch Monster Ball or any other movie he was in, I can’t believe that someone so young and incredibly gifted is gone from us. As long as Janis Joplin has been gone, I still feel sad when I hear her songs.
I don’t think Mr. Ledger was an addict but a lot of people have been lost to us because they did have addiction problems. However, I can’t say our current methods of controlling substances is working either. I wish I had answers but I only have grief for a life lost way too soon and for her friends and family in their time of great loss.
It’s sad, but it was completely foreseeable.
There was a time when back to black was on constant repeat while I worked. Terrific stuff. I suppose I understand the desire for people to mock her death, but I’m glad there are guys like you around to put this in more thoughtful terms. Twitter is currently id-ridden…
Well said. I love her music, and wish she had been able to make more. She had a wonderful gift.
One of the greatest artists I ever saw was Ray Charles. He was of course at singing and playing, but the remarkable part to me was how he received. When we applauded, he stood there and soaked in every bit of it, loving us for appreciating him. I wish all artists could be fed by our love that way. I wish Amy could have known how special she was, and could have done the loving things for herself that would have kept her with us – for the same reason you wish – so that she could have kept making great music and sharing that fabulous talent.
This was a very compassionate post. I’m glad you wrote it. She was brilliant, and deserved this and much more. I don’t think emotional pain is funny, and it’s difficult to see how others might.
While her music was not my cup of tea at all, there’s no denying that she was extremely talented. I loved Russell Brand’s tribute the other day.
The thing I found myself annoyed with on Saturday were all the “what about those poor people in Norway, how could you even mention Amy Winehouse?” posts that seemed to flood my twitter stream. Like we’re not allowed to be moved by two completely separate incidents. It’s perfectly ok to be sad by the news of Amy Winehouse’s passing, *and* still be upset about the tragedy in Norway at the same time.
I had my own post about her and my love of her music and overall talent. I will miss her and I wish she got the help she needed.
i feel most bad for the parents. i also get angry because addiction was, most likely, the reason she died. i work with addicts every day and until they have admitted they have a problem and start cooperating with treatment, the disease marches on until death.
which sucks so much ass. the problem is, is that addiction is a brain disease. so the very organ we are trying to reach (with nice cajooling salesmanship of our recovery services) or with punishment (well, that’s usually the courts job), is besieged by want to the substance they are addicted too.
but sometimes, just sometimes, miracles happen. patients will say yes, i want treatment. then they show up and cooperate and give it their best shot. and they gain sobriety. and start to put their lives back together. and i am so privileged to witness this.
but there is no rushing them to that point, the point of surrender. Ms. Winehouse had been through treatment but the relapses marched on. Which is so sad. And again, my heart goes out to her family.
🙁