Amy is really an extraordinary woman, an extraordinary artist. She didn’t hesitate to raise the problem of alcohol, by saying, “I am exactly like my last name.” With the passion she calls ‘love’, she is even more attached to alcohol and drugs. When she realized that the real addiction was ‘Blake’, it was probably too late.
Amy Winehouse! She’s the diva of soul music! She is an artist, kneaded with jazz in her dough. She is the rebellious queen of jazz! A name that is shown, among those who revive again British music! With her peculiar style, she is a woman, an inspiration for even fashion designers like Karl Lagerfeld!
… And many more things maybe; but if we look at the first “snap” sound of the disappointment within us, Amy is a girl who misses her father and falls in love with him. Moreover, although they are very close to him. I wrote today trying to understand her. In each scandal, I was angry with her and part of me understood her. This is a strange balance! I hope you read her on the side that, is close to understanding…
With love …
Her childhood
When Amy was born on September 14, 1983, in London as the second child of Janis Seaton and Mitch Winehouse, her family named her “Amy Jade.” Their ancestors were Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants settled in London. Amy’s mother, who also has an older brother named Alex, was a pharmacist and her father was a taxi driver.
She spent her childhood in the suburban area of Southgate. There were many jazz musicians in her family, especially among her mother’s relatives. Her grandmother, Cynthia Winehouse, was also a singer. Even her mother Janis, who was next to her, was also an amateur jazz singer, although she was actually a pharmacist. Her father always sang Frank Sinatra songs to her. Music was an ordinary incident in her family, and Amy was to knead with jazz…
When she was 9 years old, she suffered the most pain first trauma of her life. Amy was 9 years old when her mother and father divorced. When her father left the house and left, Amy, as a girl in love with her father, raised herself next age, with a great hunger for her father’s love. After this her life could be described as being dragged down a cliff, and that was the first day on top of that cliff. At a time when she was dragging her life with alcohol and drug addiction, in an interview asked to her: “Why are you hurting yourself? Why are you doing this?” Her answer to the question was like a reflection of the lack of father in her heart:
“I am doing it for my father to tell me not to do it.”
Her education life
Amy went to Osidge Primary School in the Sothgate district. In her childhood, she continued to the Jewish Sunday School.
In her family separation process, Amy started spending more time with her grandmother. This breaking point in Amy’s life, was also same time a turning point. Her grandmother, Cynthia, wanted to encourage Amy to attend art school. As well as Amy’s psychology, she discovered her talent and was also interested in her education. At her suggestion, at the age of 10, she started Susi Earnshow Theater School, which gives education for 4 years…
It isn’t difficult to guess, of course; Amy had never been a student with the required criteria. Although she was very talented, she was a child who always escaped from school with her bored temperament and preferred to be alone. Naturally, she would change school frequently, with her incongruous personality. At the age of 12 she won the Sylvia Young Theater School, with a scholarship. In 1997, she performed here in an episode of The Fast Show. However, she was expelled from the school at the age of 13, because of the piercing she had made in her nose and her behavior incompatible with the school. Next to her piercing, after the first Betty Boop tattoo she had done on a little over her hip, she would have 13 more tattoos over time. She later studied at The Mount School, Mill Hill, BRIT School, Southgate School and Ashmole Schooll.
As the school continued somehow, Amy formed a rap group with her childhood friend, Juliette Ashby, called “Sweet’n Sour.” They were only 10 years old yet, and their group wasn’t take long. When she was 13, had her first guitar, and she started to make her own compositions. During this period, she sang in a local band called Bolsha Band.
Maybe she wasn’t a good student; but her talent was indisputable. By the age of 16, she was the main woman vocalist of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, one of the most respected choirs in the world.
First album in her music career: Frank
Amy started her career journey, too early. School friend with a pop star, Tyler James was just 16 when he sent Amy’s demo to a talent contest in England. Signed an agreement with Island / Universal; but it was not long term. On the other hand, she was performing as the vocal of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
In 2003, when she was 20, she lived the most important times of her life. She was making his debut album, in Salaam Remi, which she met thanks to Tyler James. The first album, named “Frank”, produced by Fugees – Joss Stone – Nas – Salam Remi, mostly jazz, was in their hands, on October 20, 2003. Moreover, she had her signature as a co-author, in all songs. The album is “Almost perfect!” received comments. And from this album, four singles were released, “Stronger than Me”, “Take the Box”, “In May Bed / You Sent Me Flying” and “Pumps / Help Yourself”.
The press had loved both the album and Amy. Frank was on top of her music charts at the time of publication, and Amy Winehouse was recognized as an important jazz artist in her country. The awards were not delayed, of course…
Amy was nominated for the ‘British Female Solo Artist’ and ‘British Urban Act’ at BRIT Awards with Frank. With the song “Strongrer then Me”, he was chosen ‘Best Contemporary Song’ at the 2004 Ivor Novello Lyrics Awards. In addition, with sales figures, was awarded with Platinum in the UK. It became the 13th best-selling album in the UK, 70th in Ireland and 89th in Jamaica. She gave concerts in important cities of Europe…
Everything about her album was going well, yes. Her album was very popular. However, the same was not true for Amy; she couldn’t love her album. In an interview with The Sun Newspaper in 2006, she explained this situation as follows:
“I can’t listen to the Frank album, anymore. Actually, I could never listen.”
In her another statement, she was more optimistic: “Now, ‘Frank’ sounds very different in my ear. I’m still proud of with it, I still think it’s a beautiful album, but if I had my experience and perspective today, ‘Frank’ would be a completely different album.”
Her big love, Blake
2003 was really a turning point in her life. Before releasing her album, in January, she met Blake Fielder Civil in a bar. She would have a marriage with him that would be the subject of scandals. This, is that passionate, blinded one’s eyes; was one of those love who could take you in all directions. Amy was so attached to Blake that, suddenly he became her whole world.
Yes, they were having great love, and everyone in Amy’s life, including her father, was against this relationship. Because Amy had met the heaviest drugs along with Blake. In particular, her father saw Blake as the only responsible for his daughter’s drug addiction. Of course, Amy didn’t listen to anyone. In the next years, they had also taken a passionate place on the magazine agenda with their love for drugs and violence…
Their constant separation was as passionate as their love. They constantly break-up and was making peace. In one of these, Blake left Amy and turned to his ex-girlfriend. Amy was now in the grip of a great crisis. She came out of the crisis, with his “Back to Black” album, where she delivered her depressed mood…
Back to Black
Amy released the ‘Back to Black’ album in October 2006. With this album, she was nominated for 6 Grammy Awards including “Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year” and by winning five of them, she doubled the success of her first album, Frank. “Rehab” song, “Record of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance” awards; she was nominated for the “Album of the Year” award with her album “Back to Black” and won the “Best Pop Vocal Album” award. She also became the “Best Female Artist”. Producer Mark Ronson, won the “Producer of the Year” award. She was the first British singer to win 5 Grammy. It also broke the record for the most awarded female singer in one night…
This is not over. With Back to Black, the Third Best Selling Album of 2000s in the UK, Amy won a BRIT Award on February 14, 2007 in the category of “Best British Female Artist”, she was nominated for the “Best British Album”. In the Ivor Novella Awards, in 2007, in the category of “Best Contemporary Song” with “Rehab”, In 2008, she was nominated for “Best Lyrics and Music Song” with “Love is Losing Game”.
The album was about Amy’s private life. Continuous drunk images in the press, the known drug problem, and for the reason of excess weight loss, was the album’s most interesting song, “Rehab” (Rehabilitation). This album was alive with every word, every note…
Nevertheless, especially Rehab was in the Top 10 in the UK. It also stayed in the Top 10 in the USA for months.
The love that Amy took refuge
Amy and now Alex Clare, who has a good place in the UK music market, they met in 2006 at The Hawley Arms, very close to Amy’s home. That time, Alex was then doing music and cooking at a pub in Camden. Over time, they became inseparable from each other. Actually, at first, Alex had afraid of Amy’s fame. Even so, this relationship continued; Until Amy heals her wounds and heals…
Alex was good for Amy with her sensitive approach. Amy had recovered noticeably. Actually, this was the story of Amy’s asylum, and healing in Alex…
Amy could have pulled herself to the bottom again now that she felt good. She forgot the damage that Blake had caused herself and found herself in a triangle of love. Now, she was meeting with Blake again. One day Alex where they met, saw Amy, kissing Blake in the middle of the night. Undoubtedly, he was also aware of this process. Alex had been Amy’s band-aid. He went quietly…
Amy and Blake got married
After the darkness they lived, they decided to disappear in their darkness again and in May 2007, Amy and Blake got married. Next to alcohol addiction, drug addiction was seriously added during these periods. She was hospitalized with an overdose in early August, she returned from death and Amy was saying that her husband saved her life. It was a relationship, that persisted in a contradiction, the dark side of which could not be covered…
By the end of August, Amy and Blake were in the press this time with a completely different scandal. In the fight at Sanderson Hotel, they missed the dose of violence. Amy, whose dress was covered in blood, had bruises; Blake had scratches on his face and neck… And Amy, kept insisting that Blake didn’t hit her.
Scandals followed one another in their marriage. This event had not been erased from the memories yet, Amy, Blake and her hairdresser were arrested in Norway with a high amount of cannabis on them. Actually they get rid of this arrest by paying bail, but they had another arrest in London 20 days later. Blake had previously beaten a bartender and was trying to end the case by bribing, he was caught…
Amy’s career
This marriage started to damage Amy’s career, which she had turned into an obsessive spirit. She was on stage for her concert at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham the following week of her husband Blake’s arrest. However, it seemed that there was no much-loved Amy. She was stumbling on the stage and was constantly swearing at her audience. The audience also booed Amy during her performance…
Amy, who couldn’t beat the surprise of living such a scene and decided that she couldn’t be on the stage again in this psychology, canceled all of her next concerts and From the official website, she told her fans that was unable to give herself to the scene while her husband was in this situation. However, the color of the situation changed a month later. Amy was also arrested on the grounds that she was linked to her husband’s investigation. Day after day, Amy was slowly dragging herself, off that cliff on the shore at the age of 9…
In January 2008, images of Amy using cocaine were published on newspapers and televisions. She was arrested and questioned in April. The American visa was canceled on the grounds of drug use. This would be affect the Grammy Award night, which would set a record after Back to Black.
On Grammy’s night, Amy was still one of the most successful jazz vocals in the world. Although his fans criticized him for his addictions and behavior, the jury was supporting Amy’s success. Amy broke a record in Grammy that night. But while breaking this record, Amy was able to connect to the Grammy Award Night via satellite from London. Nothing prevented her from entering the 2009 Guinness Book of Records as a “British Female Artist with the Most Grammy Award” by taking 5 awards at once.
On the other hand, breaking this record, did not prevent her from signing new scandals. As the year started, Amy was sent to rehabilitation with the pressure of her family, her company and media. Considering that was previously linked to her husband’s case and arrested on drug grounds, Amy spent 2008, in the triangle of the hospital, lock-up and rehabilitation center. Now her life and addictions were out of her control …
They divorced
Amy spent 2009 on Saint Luca Island in the Caribbean. They were working with producer Salaam Remi on their album they planned to release in 2010… She could have been excited for her album; but her marriage, which was not celebrated by scandals, was also ending in this period. It was on the agenda that Amy filed for divorce on the grounds that she was deceived. They divorced. Amy also started dating Reg Traviss right after this end. Their marriage would continue until death. Still, she told a magazine that she was still in love with Blake. That obsessive state in his soul never left his collar …
New scandals that cross in Istanbul
Amy spent 2010 away from everyone. The name didn’t interfere with any event. She was in rehab. On her European tour in July 2011, she was previously at a more serious event than her eventfully concert in 2007. Amy was on stage and drunk. Amy has trouble standing up and she was cursing constantly, also had forgotten the words of the songs, even the name of the place where she was…
The next stop of Amy, who was booed at this concert in Belgrade, was Istanbul. The news that Amy Winehouse will give a concert in Istanbul on June 20, thrilled her fans. Tickets were on sale at the start of the year. Everyone was waiting for a great concert. But nothing happened as imagined…
After the Belgrade concert, Amy landed quietly on Atatürk Airport on 19 June with her private plane. And on the evening of June 19, that is, the evening before the concert, she announced that she canceled the concert tour and she returned to London to rest…
Amy Winehouse is dead
Amy couldn’t get rid of drug and alcohol addiction. In fact, Amy had been clean for 3 months, according to her father’s later statement. She had never used alcohol and drugs. However, Amy was found dead on July 23, 2011 at her home in London. And after a long time it was announced that the cause of death was alcohol poisoning. After the funeral that her family and friends attended on July 26, her lifeless body was burned in Golders Green Crematorium.
She was only 27. Amy, who became a diva of soul music at a young age, left behind her exquisite music and millions of fans. There were scandals, of course; but after the death, scandals no longer mattered…
Amy became a member of “Forever 27 Club” as one of the legendary names who died at the age of 27, just like Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrisson, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendric. Now this group is 39 people…
After her death
Her father founded the “Amy Winehouse Foundation” after Amy’s death. In particular, he began to help drug addicted and sick children and work to improve them. Maybe this way, her father is filling the gap that Amy has left in her heart, who knows! In addition, her father, Mitch, published the book “My Daughter Amy” on June 26, 2012, where Amy described her life from her own perspective. The book first appeared in America; England edition was published after a while.
In December 2011, producer Salaam Remi made all previous recordings and demos of Amy from Island Records into an album. He called it “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”. On May 16, 2015, his life was shot in a documentary called “Amy”.
When Amy was at the beginning of her career, she actually made a statement: “I don’t think I will be famous. I can’t also deal with this… If I was probably a celebrity, that would drive me crazy.”
Who knows, maybe Amy had become more and more celebrity and with Blake’s affect, she couldn’t do it. Amy said to “Every bad event expects to be a blues song.” She always experienced something, wrote and sang songs. She made a great reputation and songs in her 27 years of short life. Amy Winehouse has passed through this world; with its enchanting voice, extraordinary life, love, scandals, addictions and passions…
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