Why Is Amy Winehouse Important

I chose to read the biography, “Amy Winehouse: The Biography 1983 – 2011” by Chas Newkey-Burden. Amy Winehouse is an inspiration to me because she stood out from others right from the start. Even though she had guidance from others, Amy always seemed to act upon her thoughts and hers only. This allowed her to become big in the business. Although some of Amy’s habits were completely and utterly unhealthy, her drunkenness on stage seemed to be what everyone loved. Amy was rebellious, volatile, and wild. Amy’s style of music was down to earth and democratic. Her voice so unique and she proved herself to have talent through all of her years of performing. Amy never let anyone get in the way of what she wanted to do. This quality brought her fortune but was also the cause of her death.
The early years of Amy involved jazz and discipline. Amy was born on September 14, 1983, in Southgate, North London. She was Jewish, but even though she dressed for the Jewish festivals her family wasn’t

excessively religious. However, she did attend synagogue on Yom Kippur. Amy was brought up in an organized, polite home with her parents Mitchell and Janis. Her father Mitchell was a taxi driver and just an amateur singer. He filled the house with singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Amy said the way she learned to sing was by listening. Her best friend was Juliette Ashby, and together they created their own band called, “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” inspired by Salt-N-Pepa. When she was 9 years old her parents split up and her mother believed that this hard experience influenced a lot of Amy’s music. The first school that revolved around music Amy attended was The Sylvia Young Theatre School. It was established in 1981 on Dury Lane. Here, Amy was offered a scholarship. Her first big appearance was on the BBC comedy sketch programme, The Fast Show. Her next step was given to her by a friend named Tyler James, who she had done a duet with. James landed her a spot at the BRIT Performing Arts & Technology School in Croydon. All of whom that enroll here are between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. Amy was eventually spotted by someone who would be the start of her career, Simon Fuller.
Simon Fuller was in charge of shows such as American Idol and Pop Idol. He even launched S Club 7. Amy had a different idea in mind, though. She stated, “I wouldn’t have gone on one of those shows in a million years because I think that musicality is not something people should judge you on. Music’s a thing you have within yourself.” This led her to be managed by Nick Godwin at age 19. Godwin was involved with the Spice Girls.
Although she was managed by Nick Godwin, Fuller was still a big part of her career. Fortunately, Amy and Fuller split and she was recruited by Raye Cosbert. Not too long after, Amy signed her first record deal with Universal/Island Records. Her first album released on October 23, 2003, called “Frank”. It was produced by Salaam Remi, a hip-hop producer. The opening song was ‘Stronger Than Me’, about a man one of the artists. Another song on Amy’s album was ‘You Sent Me Flying’ was a piano ballad beautifully put together. The Birmingham Evening Mall gave ‘Frank’ 84/100. After releasing ‘Frank’, it earned her first serious nomination for an award The Mercury Prize is an award given to the best album from the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. In 2004, she was also nominated for 2 BRIT awards; British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act. That night Amy didn’t win either award.
Along with nominations, her music continued to land her articles and interviews in papers and magazines such as the Observer Music Monthly which had the first major feature of Amy. She once fell asleep while the magazine ‘Blender’ was interviewing her. While Amy was out and about with interviews, she managed to write a new album, ‘Back to Black’. This album had a darker background than ‘Frank’. Something about this new album made it an immediate hit with fans. It was described as despairing but beautiful. The opening song ‘Rehab’ is the most recognized song and has been covered by Girls Aloud, Paolo Nutini, Justin Timberlake and Taking Back Sunday. Her song, ‘Love Is’ was even released as a single in December 2007. Amy’s beautifully written and performed song, ‘Tears Dry on Their Own’ was the best-known track of the album.
EMI’s Guy Moot once said, “There are only two pivotal moments in Amy’s career: the introduction of Mark Ronson and of Raye”. Raye Goshert had been funding Amy’s concerts since 2003 and she always could turn to him after leaving at age 19. In October 2006, Amy was scheduled to appear on the Charlotte Church Show. She also was seen in March 2004 and November 2006 on BBC Panel Show Nevermind the Buzzcocks. Amy’s career was expanding more and more as each year went by. On January 6, 2007, she was heard to perform at G-A-Y. This was the gay night at London’s Astoria venue. This same night, as Amy stood in front of a crowd she began holding her stomach and wobbling. She had to be escorted off stage.
The G-A-Y night only being the first of many drunken appearances on stage. These occurrences were mostly influenced by her fiancé Blake in Amy’s last years. When Amy arrived at Heathrow Airports, she and Blake when on a three-day binge including Amy’s drug overdosing fortunately surviving. Another detail about Amy’s relationship with Blake is that it was a very violent one. With most fights taken place in hotels. Here and Blake were once arrested for possession of cannabis. Even though Amy continued down a drug and alcohol filled path, she still won plenty of awards for her albums. The MOBO gave her the Best Female Singer Gong. She also won the Vodafone Live Award. After winning 5 awards at the Grammy’s and being nominated for almost any event, Amy’s death was a shock to all. She died of alcohol intoxication in July 2011. The Amy Winehouse Foundation was set up the day she was supposed to turn 28 years old, September 14, 2011.
Amy Winehouse was an inspiration to many people all over the world.

She symbolized a free spirited woman who was only in it for the music. Amy overcame many obstacles and had many amazing opportunities in life. It’s a shame she fell short of her true potential. Amy created music unlike no other only influenced by jazz singers she grew up listening to. She was a very well-rounded person and knew what she wanted. Amy showed a very independent character, especially when it came to the decisions she made while in the beginning of her career and during her drug spree era. She was unique because she never really focused on the amount of money she was making; only the goal to make music people would enjoy listening. Instead of using fake lyrics written by a producer, Amy wrote her songs with words straight from the heart. This quality made her songs that much more relatable. Although her choices that she made towards the end of her life weren’t ones to follow, the crowd loved Amy for

Amy.
Amy’s life had both a negative and positive influence in the environment leading up to her death. These include the negative aspect of being under the influence while performing or binge drinking with her fiancé, not being able to arrive at shows or interviews the following day. At the same time though Amy had a positive effect to her environment which would be that she spoke through her lyrics and proved herself to remain strong after breakups and substance abuse. She also fought her way up in the business when it came to going to school and making sure someone would recognize her talent. A way Amy’s life relates to my life is that she was very stubborn. Even if what she was doing was bad she wouldn’t listen to what anyone else had to say. She was very strong minded and so am I. Being that Amy was suffering from addiction; her mind was very foggy as to what would be best for her. This is a major area that Amy and I differ. I am very determined to be the best I can in my life and I don’t need the influence of drugs and alcohol to weigh on my shoulders. All in all, I believe Amy Winehouse was a fantastic woman. Her music contributed to the various genres of the world and still remains in fans hearts to this day.