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Amy Jade Winehouse (born 14 September 1983) is an English singer-songwriter, known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including soul, jazz, rock & roll and R&B.
Winehouse's 2003 debut album Frank did well, both commercially and critically, in her native Britain
. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album Back to Black led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British singer to win five Grammys,[Winehouse, Alex. ''Amy Winehouse's brother on her return to form. Timesonline. 13 February, 2008.] including three of the "Big Four": Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. On February 14, 2007, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She has won the Ivor Novello Award three times, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other prestigious distinctions.
Winehouse has received media attention apart from her singing. Her distinctive style, most notably her signature beehive hairstyle, has spawned imitators and been the muse for fashion designers, as Karl Lagerfeld. The singer's problems with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as self-destructive behaviour, have become regular tabloid news since 2007. She and her husband have been plagued by legal troubles that have led to the cancellation of several tour dates.
In June 2008 it was confirmed that Winehouse has developed early signs of emphysema. Winehouse's father reported in addition she has an irregular heartbeat and said these conditions were brought on by smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine.
Early lifeAmy Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of Enfield, London to a Jewish family who shared her love of jazz music.[Mulholland, Garry. "Charmed and Dangerous." The Observer. February 1, 2004. Retrieved on October 28 2006.] She was raised in a family of four: her father Mitchell (a taxi driver), her mother Janis (a pharmacist), and her older brother Alex.[Eliscu, Jenny. (2007-06-14), "The Diva and Her Demons." Rolling Stone. (1028):58–69. Retrieved 2007-12-14.] Mitchell would constantly sing around the house, often singing Frank Sinatra to young Amy, who also took to a constant habit of singing to the point that teachers found it difficult keeping her quiet in class.[SAnderson, Elizabeth. "Amy Winehouse's mother explains why she feels powerless to stop her troubled daughter’s descent into hell of addiction." Mail Online. August 18, 2007. Retrieved on July 1 2008.]
At the age of nine, her grandmother, Cynthia, suggested she attend the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School for further training.[Sandall, Robert. "Can Amy Winehouse be saved?" The Times. 27 July 2008.] At age ten, Winehouse founded a short-lived rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with childhood friend Juliette Ashby.[publisher=AskMen.com ] She stayed at the Earnshaw school for four years before seeking full time training at Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was allegedly expelled at fourteen for "not applying herself" and for piercing her nose.[ With other children from the Sylvia Young School, she appeared in an episode of The Fast Show in 1997. She later attended the BRIT School in Selhurst, Croydon.]
CareerEarly careerAfter toying with her brother's guitar, Winehouse received her first guitar when she was thirteen, and began writing music a year later. She began working soon after, including as a "showbiz journalist" for the World Entertainment News Network in addition to singing with a jazz band.[ Her sometimes boyfriend at the time, soul singer Tyler James, sent her demo tape to an A&R person.][Rothstein, Simon. "A Frank Interview with Amy." The Sun. 5 April 2004. Retrieved on November 23 2006.] and to a publishing deal with EMI. Winehouse hired New York singer Sharon Jones's longtime band, the Dap-Kings to back her up in the studio and on tour, giving the group its first real taste of the limelight.
Major label successPerforming at the Bowery Ballroom, New York City
Amy Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released on 20 October 2003. Produced mainly by Salaam Remi, many songs had jazz-influences and, apart from two covers, every song was co-written by Winehouse. The album received positive reviews with compliments over the "cool, critical gaze" in its lyrics[Bush, John. Amy Winehouse Frank Review. allmusic.com. Retrieved on November 4 2006.] and brought comparisons of her voice to Sarah Vaughan, Macy Gray and others.
The album entered the upper levels of the UK album chart in 2004 when it was nominated for BRIT Awards in the categories of "British Female Solo Artist" and "British Urban Act". It went on to achieve platinum sales.[Amy Winehouse (official site). Retrieved on October 28 2006.] Later in 2004, she won the Ivor Novello songwriting Award for Best Contemporary Song, alongside Salaam Remi, with her contribution to the first single, "Stronger Than Me". The album also made the short list for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize. In the same year, she performed at the Glastonbury festival, on the Jazzworld stage, and at the V Festival.
After the release of the album, Winehouse commented that she was "only 80 percent behind [1] album" because of the inclusion by her record label of certain songs and mixes she disliked.[Swift, Jacqui. "Wine, Woman and Song." The Sun October 27 2006. Retrieved on October 28 2006] She later clarified this, saying: "I listen to it differently now. I am still really proud of it, I still think it's a great album. But, with hindsight, there are some things I would have done differently... Just because I would do things a bit differently now doesn't mean I don't like what's on that album."
International successIn contrast to her jazz-influenced former album, Winehouse's focus shifted to the girl groups of the 1950s and 1960s. In an interview, Winehouse explained, "After Frank I didn’t write for 18 months but when I met Mark [2] I pretty much wrote the album in six months — he was so inspiring."
Back to Black was released in the UK on 30 October 2006. It went to number one on the UK Albums Chart numerous times, and entered at number seven on the Billboard 200 in the United States. By October 25, the album was approaching 5x platinum in the UK, making it the best-selling album of 2007 and the top iTunes album in the UK in 2007.
The album spawned a number of singles. The first single released from the album on 23 October 2006 was the Ronson-produced "Rehab".[Amy Winehouse - Rehab - Music Charts. acharts.us. 2007-12-18.] and the Ivor Novello award for best contemporary song. "Rehab" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of June 21, shortly after a performance of it on the 2007 MTV Movie Awards. Time magazine named "Rehab" one of the 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at number one. Writer Josh Tyrangiel praised Winehouse for her confidence, opining, "What she is is mouthy, funny, sultry, and quite possibly crazy" and, "It's impossible not to be seduced by her originality. Combine it with production by Mark Ronson that references four decades worth of soul music without once ripping it off, and you've got the best song of 2007."
The album's second single, "You Know I'm No Good" was released on 8 January 2007 with a remix featuring rap vocals by Ghostface Killah. It ultimately reached number 18 on the UK singles chart. Back to Black was released in the United States in March 2007, with "You Know I'm No Good" as its lead single. The title track, "Back to Black", was released in the UK on 30 April 2007 and peaked at number 25. A deluxe edition of Back to Black was also released on 5 November 2007 in the UK. The bonus disc features B-sides, rare, and live tracks, as well as "Valerie". Winehouse's debut DVD I Told You I Was Trouble: Live in London was released the same day in the U.K. and November 13 in the U.S. It includes a live set recorded at London's Shepherds Bush Empire and a 50-minute documentary charting the singer's career over the previous four years. On December 10, 2007, the final single from Back to Black, "Love Is a Losing Game", was released in the United Kingdom and U.S.
Frank was released in the United States on 20 November, 2007 to positive reviews. The album debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Winehouse's tour, however, did not go as well. In November 2007, the opening night of a 17-date tour was marred by booing and walkouts at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. A music critic for the Birmingham Mail newspaper said it was "one of the saddest nights of my life...I saw a supremely talented artist reduced to tears, stumbling around the stage and, unforgivably, swearing at the audience." Other concerts ended similarly, until she announced on November 27, 2007, that her performances and public appearances were cancelled for the remainder of 2007, citing doctor advice to take a complete rest. A statement issued by concert promoter Live Nation blamed "the rigours involved in touring and the intense emotional strain that Amy has been under in recent weeks" for the decision.
In addition to her own album, she has collaborated with other artists on singles. Winehouse was a vocalist on the song "Valerie" on Ronson's solo album Version. The song peaked at number two in the UK, upon its October single release. The song was nominated for a 2008 Brit Award for "Best British Single". Her work with ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena, "B Boy Baby," was released on 17 December 2007. It served as the fourth single from Buena's solo debut album Real Girl.
By year's end, Winehouse had garnered numerous accolades and awards. The singer won 2008 Grammy Awards in the categories of 'Record of the Year', 'Song of the Year', and 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance' for the single "Rehab", while her album Back to Black was nominated for 'Album of the Year' and won the 'Record of the Year' award. Producer Mark Ronson's work with her won the award in the Producer of the Year Non-Classical category. The singer also earned a Grammy in the 'Best New Artist' category. She performed "You Know I’m No Good" and "Rehab" at the awards ceremony on 10 February 2008 via satellite, as her visa approval came through too late for her to travel to the U.S. She said "This is for London because Camden town is burning down," in reference to the Camden Market fire. The nominations, announced in early December, led to a 48 percent increase in the sales of Back to Black in the United States. Post Grammy Awards, album sales increased by 368 percent over the prior week, to the number 2 position in the United States.
On 13 January 2008, Back to Black held the number one position on the Billboard Pan European charts for the third straight week. By the end of January 2008, Universal Music International reported that total sales had reached 3.4 million copies and that it believed there was a correlation between that figure and the extensive media coverage the singer has received.
On 20 February 2008, Winehouse performed at the 2008 BRIT Awards, performing "Valerie" with Mark Ronson, followed by "Love Is a Losing Game". She urged the crowd to "make some noise for my Blake."
A special deluxe edition of "Back to Black" topped the UK album charts on 2 March 2008. The original edition of the album resided at the number 30 position, in its 68th week on the charts, while "Frank" charted at number 35. By 12 March, the album had sold a total of 2,467,575 copies, 318,350 of those in the previous 10 weeks, putting the album on the UK's top 10 best-selling albums of the 21st century for the first time. On 7 April, "Back to Black" was residing at the top position on the pan-European charts for the sixth consecutive and thirteenth aggregate week..
In Paris, she performed what was described as a "well-executed 40 minute" set at the opening of a Fendi boutique.
"Back to Black" was the bestselling album in the worldwide during the first half of 2008 selling 3.67 million copies for an overall total of nearly 10 million copies.
At the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards, Winehouse became the first artist to receive two nominations for the top award, best song, musically and lyrically. She won the award for "Love Is a Losing Game" and was nominated for "You Know I'm No Good". "Rehab", a Novello winner for best contemporary song in 2006, also received a 2008 nomination for bestselling British song.
Amy Winehouse - The Girl Done Good: A Documentary Review a 78 minute DVD was released on 14 April, 2008. The documentary features interviews with those who knew her at a young age, helped her gain success, jazz music experts, as well as music and pop culture specialists.
A wax sculpture of Winehouse went on display at the London Madame Tussauds on 23 July, 2008 as part of a new music area at the museum. The detailed sculpture is nearly six feet tall. The singer did not attend the unveiling, although her parents did. The museum manager noted that Winehouse is "a real icon in modern music" and the display had been widely requested by guests.
Future recordingsAfter a surprise duet with Prince at the end of a London appearance, he proposed that she fly to his Minnesota home to work on a musical collaboration. Meanwhile, George Michael wrote a song with which he wants to duet with Winehouse. Michael said "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."
The singer expressed interest in working with Damian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, in Jamaica.
Winehouse has begun work on songs for a forthcoming album, in collaboration with Mark Ronson.
Pete Doherty said that Babyshambles had begun collaborating with the singer on a song entitled "You Hurt the Ones You Love".
In May 2008, Doherty announced that he will duet with Winehouse on a track for the forthcoming Babyshambles album. Winehouse is writing the song with Babyshambles guitarist Mick Whitnall. In addition Doherty said that Winehouse was "recording loads of new stuff" and that he is taking a "back seat" in the collaboration process.
According to a newspaper report Winehouse plans to start her own record label when she has fulfilled her contractual obligations to her current label Island Records.
Club NightOn 10 July, 2008 Winehouse launched her own club night Snakehips at the Monarch in the Camden Monarch venue in London. Although billed as a DJ battle between her and another DJ, she stayed behind the decks swaying as another person actually spun 1960’s music.
TouringAmy Winehouse performing at the Bowery Ballroom, 2007 Winehouse toured in conjunction with the album's release.what? She performed headlining gigs in September and November 2006, including one of the Little Noise Sessions charity concerts at the Union Chapel, Islington. On 31 December 2006, Winehouse appeared on Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny and performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" along with Paul Weller and Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She also performed Toots and the Maytals' "Monkey Man". She began a run of another fourteen gigs beginning in February 2007. During the summer of 2007, Winehouse performed at various festivals, including UK's Glastonbury Festival, Chicago's Lollapalooza festival, Rock Werchter and Baltimore's Virgin Music Festival. However, Winehouse cancelled her appearance at Provinssirock in Seinäjoki, Finland on 17 June 2007, citing a sore throat. Amid controversy surrounding her health, drug use, and her husband, in October 2007, she cancelled her tour dates for the remainder of the year.
Although her father, manager and various members of her touring team reportedly tried to dissuade her, Winehouse performed at the Rock in Rio Lisboa festival in Lisboa, Portugal in May 2008.[ Although the set was plagued by a late arrival and problems with her voice, the crowd warmed to her. In addition to her own material she performed two Specials covers.]["Winehouse performs gig in Lisbon." BBC.co.uk. 31 May, 2008]
Winehouse performed at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party concert at London's Hyde Park on the 27 June. and the next day at the Glastonbury Festival.. On 4 July she performed at the Rock in Rio festival in Madrid where she gave what was describes as a "strong vocal performance" but was unsteady on her feet. On the 12 July at the Oxegen Festival she performed a well received 50 minute set which was followed the next day by a 14 song set a T in the Park. Other performances scheduled include the Rock en Seine,
Winehouse's father announced on 12 July that Winehouse would not be performing at the five remaining live shows she is contracted to do until 5 September 2008. After that she will not perform “for the foreseeable future” because of health problems related to her lungs.
Personal lifeOn 18 May 2007, Winehouse married on-off boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil in Miami, Florida. Fielder-Civil was a grammar school dropout who moved to London at aged 16 from his native Lincolnshire.[ In a June 2007 interview, Winehouse admitted she could be violent towards Fielder-Civil when she had been drinking. In a July 2008 interview Winehouse said her marriage is not an open one and she would like to have at least five children.][Singh, Anita. "Amy Winehouse: I want five kids and to appear on Countdown." The Telegraph. 22 July, 2008.]
Substance abuse and mental health issuesWinehouse's battles with substance abuse have been the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she has admitted to having problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders.["Profile: Amy Winehouse." BBC.com. August 29 2007.] During a visit with Mitch Winehouse at the prison in July 2008, Fielding-Civil reportedly said that he and Winehouse would cut themselves to ease the pain of withdrawal.[ In 2005, she went through a period of drinking, heavy drug use, violent mood swings and weight loss.][ People who saw her during that fall and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with the writing of Back to Black.][ Her family believes that the summer 2006 death of her grandmother, who was a stabilizing influence, set off a free fall into addiction.]
Her husband's attorney testified in court that for over half his life Blake Fielder-Civil has had a "intimate relationship with drug addiction" including heroin and cocaine as well as a history of self-harm and suicide attempts.["Winehouse husband must stay in jail, judge rules." The Times. 21 July, 2008.] In August 2007, Winehouse cancelled a number of shows in the UK and Europe, citing exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalized during this period for what was reported as an overdose of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.
Soon after, Winehouse and her husband were photographed, bloodied and bruised, in the streets of London after an alleged fight, although she contended her injuries were self-inflicted. Winehouse's parents and in-laws publicly reported their numerous concerns, citing fears that the two might commit suicide, with Fielder-Civil's father encouraging fans to boycott her music.[Fans Urged to boycott Winehouse. BBC News. 23 August 2007.] Winehouse's father commented that when he had made public statements regarding her problems, he was using the media because it seemed the only way to get through to her.
On 2 December 2007, images of the singer outside her home in the early morning hours, barefoot and wearing only a bra and jeans, appeared on the internet and in tabloid newspapers. In a statement, her spokesperson blamed paparazzi harassment for the incident. The spokesperson reported that the singer was in a physician-supervised program and was channeling her difficulties by writing a lot of music.
The British tabloid The Sun posted a video of a woman, alleged to be Winehouse, apparently smoking crack cocaine and speaking of having taken ecstasy and valium. Winehouse's father moved in with her, and Island Records, her record label, announced the abandonment of plans for an American promotion campaign on her behalf.[ In late January 2008, Winehouse reportedly entered a rehabilitation facility for a two week treatment program.]
On 23 January 2008, the video was passed on to Scotland Yard, Metropolitan Police,["Winehouse may be charged over drugs video." The Times. 24 January 2008.] who questioned her on February 5. To date no charges have been brought.
On 26 March 2008, Winehouse's spokesperson said she was "doing well" and denied a published report in a British tabloid that consideration was being given to having her return to rehab. Her record company reportedly believed that her recovery remained fragile.[Sherwin, Adam. "Amy Winehouse nominated for three Ivor Novello awards." Timesonline.co.uk. 21 March 2008.]
By late April 2008, her erratic behaviour, including an allegation of assault, caused fear that her drug rehabilitation efforts have been unsuccessful, leading to efforts by Winehouse's father and manager to seek assistance in having her sectioned.
Health issuesOn 23 June, 2008 a spokesperson for Winehouse confirmed that she has been diagnosed with early signs of what could be early-stage emphysema. Mitch Winehouse reported that his daughter's lungs are operating at 70 percent capacity. In addition he said she has an irregular heartbeat. Mr. Winehouse said these problems were caused by her chain cigarette smoking and crack cocaine use. The singer’s father also reported that doctors have warned Winehouse that continued smoking of crack cocaine will result in her having to wear an oxygen mask and will be fatal. In a radio interview, Mitch Winehouse said the singer is responding "fabulously " to treatment which includes being covered with nicotine patches. British Lung Foundation spokesperson Dr. Keith Prowse noted this type of condition can be managed with treatment. Prowse also said the condition is not normal for a person her age but "heavy smoking and inhaling other substances like drugs can age the lungs prematurely". Dr. Norman H. Edelman, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association explained that if she stopped smoking her lung functions would decline at the rate of a normal person but continued smoking would lead to a more rapid decline in lung function. Photographs of the singer with a cigarette in her mouth, taken 23 June 2008, were widely published. Winehouse was released from The London Clinic 24 hours after returning from a temporary leave in order to perform at the Mandela 90th birthday and Glastonbury concerts, and is now being treated as an outpatient. On 23 July Winehouse described her diagnosis as "some areas of emphysema" and said she is getting herself together by "eating loads of healthy food, sleeping loads, playing my guitar, making music and writing letters to my husband every day".
Legal problemsOn 8 September 2007, Winehouse settled a claim for copyright infringement over the song "He Can Only Hold Her", brought against her by songwriter and producer P-Nut. His lawyer stated that the songwriter would receive a share of the royalties from the song and payment of costs. Previously he had received a "thank you" for his contribution but no songwriter credit on the album.
In October 2007, Winehouse and her husband were arrested in Norway for possession of cannabis. The couple were later released and fined 3850 kroner (around £350). Winehouse claimed she was "duped" into confessing, but police denied the allegation, noting that fluent English speakers handled Winehouse when she signed the confession. A 29 February 2008 court appearance was postponed because of a legal conflict concerning an appearance Fielder-Civil was required to attend.
On 9 November 2007, Winehouse's husband and four other men were arrested on a charge of trying to pervert the course of justice in relation to an assault on a pub landlord in June 2007;["Winehouse is arrested by police." BBC.co.uk. 18 December 2007.] On 6 June 2008, Fielder-Civil and his 3 co-defendants pled guilty to both the pervert the course of justice charge, as well as a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.["Crime: Amy Winehouse's husband pleads guilty to GBH and cover-up." The Guardian Unlimited. 10 June 2008.] Winehouse was rebuked for her behaviour several times by court officials during the legal proceedings in the matter.["Amy Winehouse husband Blake Fielder-Civil 'used her money to pay off victim'." The Times. 11 June, 2008.] The prosecution testified that the money used to pay off the landlord belonged to Winehouse and that the plot began to unravel when a middleman involved in the plot recognising Fielder-Civil's notoriety tried to sell security camera footage of the attack to The Daily Mirror.
Winehouse was initially denied a U.S. visa because of "use and abuse of narcotics", but was later issued one. The decision came too late for her to appear live at the 2008 Grammy Awards show, and she performed via satellite. Meanwhile, on 17 February 2008, Fielder-Civil reportedly was hospitalised after collapsing in prison from what was reported to be contaminated heroin.
On 26 April 2008, Winehouse was cautioned after she admitted to police she slapped the face of a man with her hand, a "common assault" offense. The incident, for which she has apologised, will stay on her record and could be used against her if she is charged with a similar offence at a future time. She voluntarily turned herself in and was held overnight. When she arrived a doctor ruled she was "unfit for interview".
Winehouse was arrested on 7 May, 2008 on suspicion of possessing drugs after a video of her apparently smoking crack cocaine was passed to Scotland Yard in January, but was released on bail a few hours later. The Crown Prosecution Service considered charging her with possessing a controlled drug and allowing her premises to be used for the supply by others of a controlled drug, but was cleared when the service could not establish that the substance in the video was a controlled drug. In reaction to the decision, former Scotland Yard commander John O’Connor said it is an "absolute scandal that nothing could be done" about Winehouse "cooking a snook at the law".["Ex-Scotland Yard Chief: 'Amy Winehouse Getting Away With Drug Use'." Gigwise. 15 May 2008.] Some Members of Parliament also reacted negatively.
Other pursuitsWinehouse joined a campaign to stop a block of flats being built beside the George Tavern, a famous London East End music venue. Campaign supporters feared the residential development would end the spot's lucrative sideline as a film and photo location, on which it relies to survive.
As part of a breast cancer awareness campaign Winehouse appeared in a revealing photograph for the April 2008 issue of Easy Living magazine.
Winehouse has an estimated £10m fortune, tying her for tenth place in the Sunday Times listing of the wealth of musicians under age thirty. It was reported she earned about £1m singing at two private parties during Paris Fashion Week. as well as another £1m to perform at a Moscow Art Gallery for Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Controversycriticism-section
Winehouse's dichotomous public image of critical and commercial success versus personal turmoil has proven to be controversial. The New Statesman magazine called Winehouse "a filthy-mouthed, down-to-earth diva,"[Rogers, Jude. "Year of the woman". New Statesman. 135 (4822):36–38. 2006-12-11.] while Newsweek magazine called her "a perfect storm of sex kitten, raw talent and poor impulse control." Karen Heller with The Philadelphia Inquirer summarized the maelstrom this way:
She's only 24 with six Grammy nods, crashing headfirst into success and despair, with a codependent husband in jail, exhibitionist parents with questionable judgment, and the paparazzi documenting her emotional and physical distress. Meanwhile, a haute designer (Karl Lagerfeld) appropriates her disheveled style and eating issues to market to the elite while proclaiming her the new Bardot.
By 2008, her continued drug problems threatened her career. Even as Nick Gatfield, the president of Island Records, toyed with the idea of releasing Winehouse "to deal with her problems", he remarked on her talent, saying, "It’s a reflection of her status the U.S. that when you flick through the TV coverage the Grammys it’s her image they use."[ Post-Grammys, some questioned whether Winehouse should have been honored with the awards given her recent personal and drug problems, including her Natalie Cole, who introduced Winehouse at the ceremony. Cole (who battled her own substance-abuse problems while winning a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1975][Sundel, Jenny and Stephen M. Silverman. "Natalie Cole: Amy's Wins Send a 'Bad Message'." People. 11 February 2008.]
In an opinion newspaper commentary, Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, said that the alleged drug habits of Winehouse and other celebrities sends a bad message "to others who are vulnerable to addiction" and undermines the efforts of other celebrities trying to raise awareness of problems in Africa, now that more cocaine used in Europe passes through Africa. Winehouse's spokesperson called Costa a "ludicrous man" and noted that "Amy has never given a quote about drugs or flaunted it in any way. She's had some problems and is trying to get better. The U.N. should get its own house in order." Graeme Pearson, the former head of Scotland's drug enforcement agency, criticised Winehouse and Kate Moss for making going to rehab a badge of honour, thus giving the false impression that quitting drugs is easy, because many can not afford to go to clinics.
Winehouse has become a staple in popularity polls. The 2008 NME Awards nominated Winehouse in the categories of "Villain of the Year", "Best Solo Artist", and "Best Music DVD"; Winehouse won for "Worst Dressed Performer". In its third annual list, Glamour magazine named Winehouse the third worst dressed British Woman. Winehouse was ranked number two on Richard Blackwell's 48th annual "Ten Worst Dressed Women" list, behind Victoria Beckham. In an April 2008 poll conducted by Sky News, Winehouse was named the second greatest "ultimate heroine" by the UK population at large, topping the voting for that category of those polled under 25 years old.[Amy Winehouse Is The UK's 'Ultimate Heroine' Amongst under 25s Gigwise 23 April,2008] Winehouse was voted the second most hated personality in the United Kingdom in a poll conducted one month later by Marketing magazine.
London's Mall Galleries opened an exhibit in May 2008 that includes a sculpture of Winehouse, entitled Excess. The piece has the singer sitting on top of a smashed champagne bottle, a pool of liquid beneath her feet. The body is covered with what appeared to be tiny pills, while one outstretched hand holds a wine glass.
June 2008 brought a report that Winehouse, singing a disparaging chant about blacks, the disabled, and homosexuals, and containing racial epithets about Asians, was taped by husband Fielder-Civil, despite assurances to her that he was not filming.["Amy Winhouse Apologizes." MTV. 9 June 2008.] Winehouse denied allegations that she was a racist, saying "I don't want to play anything down, but I'm the least racist person going."
Speaking at a discussion entitled Winehouse or White House?: Do we go too big on showbiz news? Jeff Zycinski head of BBC Radio Scotland said the BBC and media in general were complicit in the destruction of celebrities like Winehouse. He said that public interest in the singer's lifestyle does not make her lifestyle newsworthy. Rod McKenzie editor of the BBC Radio One program Newsbeat replied that "If you play Winehouse's music to a certain demographic, those same people want to know what's happening in her private life. If you don't cover it, you're insulting young licence fee payers."
Discography- 2003: Frank
- 2006: Back to Black
Awards and nominationsstart box
before=Carrie Underwood
end box
External Links
AskMen.com - Amy Winehouse
Copyright Citations
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