Paying homage to the talented but troubled singer, a truly gifted artist whose life was tragically cut short - RIP Amy x.
The award winning singer, Amy Winehouse was found dead at her London flat on the 23rd July 2011. At the time of going to presss it was confirmed that the cause of her death was alcohol (she was five times over the drink-drive limit). Mick Winehouse has expressed his desire to have the troubled Girl Aloud singer Sarah Harding to be an ambassador for his late daughter's charity "The Amy Winehouse Foundation". A toxicology report last August showed that there were no illegal drugs in her system. We take a closer look at the life of one of the most influential singers of our time.
Winehouse had an outstanding career and was one of the most talented and successful singers in the UK over the past decade, although her success was marked with controversy, one could not deny her talent. Amy was influenced by jazz, R ‘n’B and Soul and was an excellent songwriter, but her private life was under constant public scrutiny. Her drug addiction, alleged abusive relationship with former husband Blake Fielder-Civil and alcohol dependency, made her a constant target for paparazzi. So much so that she obtained an injunction against a leading paparazzi agency, under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Photographers were subsequently banned from following her within 100 metres of her home, and from photographing her at home or at the homes of her friends and family.
Her life
Amy’s extraordinary life started off very ordinary, the daughter of a taxi driver and a pharmacist, she grew up in Southgate along with her brother, Alex. It was her grandmother who spotted her talent and sent her to the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, she also later attended the famous Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was allegedly expelled at the age of 14. She started writing music aged 15, using her brother’s guitar. She also worked as a showbiz journalist shortly after and was then signed in 2002 by Simon Fuller. Her success bourgeoned from there, and didn’t stop until her abrupt death. In her short career, she got Best Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards in 2007, 5 Grammys in 2008 and the MOBO award for best UK Female in 2007. Despite her addictions and troubled mind, Amy was still an inspiration.
Her Style
Winehouse will always be remembered for her iconic style and influential taste. Her stylist Alex Foden used the popular 1960’s beehive hairdo, and the Cleopatra make-up used by New York girl group the Ronettes to create Amy’s unique image. Winehouse was a beacon of style and collaborated on a 17 piece fashion collection with the Fred Perry label, which was released for sale in October 2010. Amy had a lot of input in creating this vintage-inspired line, which featured a trench coat, pencil skirts and an argyle sweater. Amy’s influence even went as far as to inspire Dior and Chanel 2007 and 2008 runways.
Lasting Legacy
Amy’s talent sometimes got lost amongst the controversy surrounding her troubled private life, but what made her such a unique and inspirational artist was that she wrote through the pain. The rawness of her performances came from the fact that her lyrics were taken from the real battles she faced. Her 15 year old goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, an up and coming singer whose latest record “Spinnin for 2012" features Tinchy Stryder, said of Amy:
“She was an amazing singer. She was not only my godmother, but she was my mentor and my boss as well.”
Funny man and close friend, Russell Brand wrote a moving article on her in the Guardian Newspaper, published Sunday 24th July. He reflected on their personal relationship and the nature of addiction;
“Now Amy Winehouse is dead, like many others whose unnecessary deaths have been retrospectively romanticised, at 27 years old. Whether this tragedy was preventable or not is now irrelevant. It is not preventable today. We have lost a beautiful and talented woman to this disease. Not all addicts have Amy's incredible talent.
A sculpture of Amy Winehouse entitled ‘Excess’ was featured in the Mall Galleries exhibition in May 2008. The piece had a miniature of Amy lying on top of a cracked champagne bottle, with a pool of spilled liquid underneath her. The sculptor Guy Portelli had covered her body in what seemed to be tiny pills and had one of her hands outstretched holding a glass. It shows in a very real way the image that is left with some of the public. Madame Tussauds also displayed a wax sculpture of Winehouse on 23 July 2008, her parents attended the unveiling, but Amy did not.
Also see our read our holiday hot spot St Lucia – an exotic holiday destination where our Virgoa, n sister found succour and peace two years before her untimely death (this was where she fund the strength to kick the drugs).
