Amy Winehouse.
Sultry. Sexy. Painful. Pained.
A powerful voice.
So filled with hurt and love and passion.
Amy came from modest beginnings. She studied with her ears. She heard not just the lyrics and progressions of the music of her day, but the complex and intricate voicings of the jazz music revolution that has innovated and challenged the world of popular music.
The dissonant pulling of minor and major tonality, combined with frenetic time signatures and a rebellious subject matter - Jazz was a form that challenged the establishment, before being adopted and watered down by the music industry. In a resurgence of the art, Amy took a struggling genre and breathed life into the form. In the pursuit of revitalizing the energy of the counterculture roots of Jazz, she embraced the form completely. This genre is often associated with a lifestyle that has historically been interlaced with alcohol, drugs, and decadence.
Unfortunately, the rigors of the industry, and the relentless pursuit of the press and paparazzi, stole all of the energy from this rising star. Her support group became increasingly obsessed with their own self interests, and their own financial rewards.
When Amy needed support, all she got was greed. When she needed love, she was pushed to keep giving more of herself than her body and spirit could withstand. In the end, her music, that was once her salvation, could not give her the strength to handle the toll of her lifestyle, and the demands of her schedule that were ultimately beyond her control.
