Amy Winehouse

Latest News: Amy Winehouse Inspires 2024 Movie Back to Black

In the newly released biopic Back to Black, British actress Marisa Abela has embraced the “obligation and responsibility” to accurately portray the life of iconic singer Amy Winehouse. Now in theaters, the film features Abela, 27, as the late artist and delves into Winehouse’s tumultuous journey, highlighting her remarkable music career alongside her struggles with drug addiction and bulimia. To prepare for this role, Abela underwent extensive vocal training and a significant physical transformation, resulting in noticeable weight loss to authentically embody Winehouse’s presence.

Abela expressed her understanding of the importance of portraying all facets of Winehouse’s story, stating, “When you are a different size, you take up a lot less space, and that just changes how you interact with the world and how the world interacts with you.” She acknowledged Winehouse’s legacy, emphasizing the duality of her power and talent while recognizing the harsh realities of addiction and eating disorders, which undeniably influenced her physicality. “I didn’t feel like it was my place as an actor to say that we don’t need to tell that part of the story. It’s her story,” Abela added.

With nearly six years in the making, Abela hopes that Back to Black captures the essence of Winehouse’s soul and artistry.

Who Was Amy Winehouse?

Amy Winehouse, a British singer-songwriter, garnered international acclaim and multiple Grammy Awards for her 2006 album Back to Black, which includes the hit single “Rehab.” She began her music career at age 16, gaining attention when a classmate shared her demo tape with a music manager. Her 2003 debut album, Frank, received critical praise, but it was her sophomore effort, Back to Black, that solidified her status as a music icon, becoming one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century in the United Kingdom. At the 2008 Grammy Awards, Winehouse won five awards, including Best New Artist.

However, as her career flourished, personal struggles with drug and alcohol addiction overshadowed her immense talent. Known for her distinctive beehive hairstyle and cat-eye makeup, Winehouse was forced to cancel concert dates and faced legal issues beginning in 2007. Tragically, she passed away from accidental alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27.

Early Life and Parents

Born on September 14, 1983, in Southgate, London, Amy Jade Winehouse grew up in a musically enriched environment. Her father, Mitch, worked as a cab driver, while her mother, Janis, was a pharmacist. Many of her maternal uncles were professional jazz musicians, and her father had a passion for singing. Winehouse’s familial connections extended to her paternal grandmother, who once had a romantic relationship with renowned British jazz musician Ronnie Scott.

From an early age, Winehouse was immersed in a variety of musical genres, drawing inspiration from folk artist James Taylor and jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. By age 10, she began exploring American R&B and hip-hop, forming a short-lived amateur rap group named Sweet ’n Sour.

At 12, she was accepted into the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she honed her talents. After receiving her first guitar at 13, her musical journey took a significant turn at 16 when she was expelled for “not applying herself” and for piercing her nose. Nonetheless, that same year proved pivotal when her close friend Tyler James shared her demo tape with his manager, Nick Shymansky, leading to Winehouse’s ascent in the music industry.

Music Career: Songs, Back To Black, and More

Amy Winehouse’s collaboration with manager Nick Shymansky was pivotal in her signing with Island Records in 2002, when she was just 19 years old. Initially recognized as a jazz vocalist, her musical style evolved into an eclectic blend of jazz, pop, soul, and R&B. Winehouse’s first two albums, Frank (2003) and Back to Black (2006), garnered critical acclaim and established her as an international award-winning artist. Her third and final album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures (2011), was released posthumously.

Frank

Winehouse’s debut album, Frank, was celebrated for its unique fusion of jazz, pop, soul, and hip-hop. Released in 2003, the album received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize and garnered two BRIT Awards nominations for Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban Act. The lead single, “Stronger Than Me,” earned Winehouse an Ivor Novello Award. The album achieved platinum status in the United Kingdom and peaked at No. 3 on the Official Albums Chart.

However, during this period, Winehouse began to gain a reputation for erratic behavior, often arriving intoxicated at performances. Her relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, her then-boyfriend, introduced her to hard drugs, contributing to her public struggles.

Back to Black

By 2006, Winehouse’s management company suggested she enter rehabilitation for alcohol abuse, but she instead opted to terminate her contract and channeled her experiences into her critically acclaimed second album, Back to Black, released in October 2006. The album achieved remarkable success, becoming the best-selling album of 2007 in the United Kingdom. The lead single, “Rehab,” addressed her refusal to seek treatment for substance abuse and became a top 10 hit in both the UK and the US.

In 2007, Winehouse’s accolades began to multiply. She won the BRIT Award for Best Female Solo Artist, and Back to Black was nominated for Best British Album. In May of the same year, “Rehab” earned her an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song. When Back to Black made its American debut in March 2007, it became the highest-charting debut by a British female artist in history, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and selling over a million copies by that summer. By March 2008, the album had been certified double platinum and won several Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Rehab.”

Following Winehouse’s tragic death in 2011, Back to Black experienced a resurgence in sales, briefly becoming the highest-selling album of the 21st century in Britain before being surpassed by Adele’s 21. Over its 17-year lifespan, Back to Black has spent six weeks at the top of the UK album chart and has remained in the top 100 almost every year since its release.

Top Songs

“Rehab” remains Winehouse’s only top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2007. By December of that year, it was certified gold in the US and achieved platinum status in 2010. Another significant hit, “Back to Black,” became the third-highest-selling UK single of 2007 and was later included in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Beyoncé and André 3000 performed a cover of the track for the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Winehouse’s rendition of the Zutons’ “Valerie,” produced by Mark Ronson, reached No. 2 in the UK and remained in the top 20 for 19 consecutive weeks. Other notable singles include “You Know I’m No Good” and “Tears Dry on Their Own,” both of which were also top 20 hits.

Performance Problems and Attempted Comeback

As Winehouse’s fame grew, so did her struggles with substance abuse and legal issues, which adversely affected her live performances. An August 2007 drug overdose led to the cancellation of her planned North American tour, though she continued with her European tour that fall. In October 2007, she was arrested for drug possession in Norway, and the following month, she appeared intoxicated at a performance in Birmingham, leading to boos from the audience. She subsequently canceled all performances for the remainder of the year.

Winehouse entered rehab in early 2008, which coincided with a visa denial that prevented her from attending the Grammy Awards. However, her visa was later approved, allowing her to watch the ceremony, where she won five awards and performed live via satellite. Despite these accolades, her erratic behavior persisted, culminating in an incident at the Glastonbury Music Festival where she appeared to punch a fan.

In 2009, Winehouse announced plans to start her own record label, Lioness Records, signing her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield as her first artist. She indicated that her next album would reflect the style of her previous work, but recording had not begun before her untimely death in June 2011. Her final recording, a collaboration with Tony Bennett titled “Body and Soul,” won a posthumous Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and was included on Lioness: Hidden Treasures, which debuted shortly after her passing.

Ex-Husband Blake Fielder-Civil

In 2005, Winehouse began a tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, a music video assistant she met at a pub. He introduced her to hard drugs, and their public arguments often escalated into physical confrontations. Despite these challenges, they became engaged in April 2007 and married in a private ceremony in Miami a month later.

Winehouse cited her tumultuous relationship with Fielder-Civil as inspiration for many songs on Back to Black. Their legal troubles, including arrests for drug possession and interference in each other’s legal matters, took a toll on her career. By the end of 2008, their marriage had ended amid tabloid speculation of infidelity. Divorce proceedings began in January 2009 and were finalized that July.

Substance Abuse: Arrests, Rehab, and Career Ramifications

As Winehouse’s fame grew, so did reports of her erratic behavior and substance abuse. On August 8, 2007, she was hospitalized following a drug overdose. Initially citing exhaustion, she later revealed she had consumed a cocktail of illicit drugs and alcohol during a night out in London. This incident led to the suspension of her North American tour.

In October 2007, Winehouse was arrested for marijuana possession in Norway alongside Fielder-Civil. The following month, she canceled all public appearances after an intoxicated performance. In January 2008, a video surfaced allegedly showing her smoking crack cocaine, prompting another brief stint in rehab. Further legal troubles ensued, including an altercation with a fan at a charity event in September 2008.

By 2009, Winehouse’s health deteriorated, and she was reportedly warned by her father about the consequences of her substance abuse. Despite her struggles, she attempted to continue her career, but her erratic behavior and health issues overshadowed her musical achievements.

Last Performance, Death, and Funeral

Winehouse’s final concert took place on June 18, 2011, at the Tuborg Festival in Belgrade, Serbia. During the performance, she displayed signs of distress, slurring her words and swaying unsteadily, which resulted in negative reactions from the audience. Shortly after this performance, Winehouse was found unresponsive in her home on July 23, 2011, at the age of 27. Authorities later determined the cause of her death to be accidental alcohol poisoning, marking the tragic end of a brilliant but tumultuous career.