Lately, I’ve been totally engrossed by Britain’s crop of talented and attention-demanding female artists. While Lily Allen is engaging with her music/persona in her own way, there is something incredibly addictive and absorbing about Amy Winehouse that separates her from the pack. Is it because she is more of a train wreck? A paparazzi wet dream of booze, brawls, and possible drug usage? I’d be lying to myself by saying the shaky public persona isn’t a tad bit fascinating. In fact, googling her name will result in thousands of gossip sites devoted to her latest exploits.

Her latest album Back To Black was finally released here in the States last month and it debuted at #7 on the top 200, the highest ever debut position for a British female artist at the time (Joss Stone’s new album peaked at # 2 recently). The album is a ’50’s girl group throwback with a hip-hop twist of attitude and spirit. Her voice is classic and nostalgic but yet it’s the furthest thing from dated.

Naturally, most of the album’s issues deal with the ebb and flow of relationships and the aftermaths that arise from the ashes of her destructiveness. The album’s title track is an gutwretchingly honest take on the perils of infidelity. “Just Friends” describes the sometimes painful measures that are taken to be friends with an ex. “Rebab,” is about her reluctance to get treatment, and how she would rather spend the time listening to Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway. “Me and Mr. Jones” is the album highlight. The track talks of yet another bump in the road with a fling and how they made her “miss the Slick Rick gig.”

The latest controversy was caused by a recent Q Magazine feature on Ms. Winehouse. The in-depth article in great detail describes a handful of situations involving Ms. Winehouse. For example, how on her ex-boyfriend’s 21st birthday, she threw a bottle of Jack Daniel’s at his head (an empty one she assures). “I’m fucking horrible when I’m drunk,” she added.

Some have said that she is the Britain’s female answer to The Libertines Pete Doherty. She has equated relationships to daily soaps ; “Going out with me is like ‘EastEnders’, ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘Hollyoaks’ all rolled into one.” She showed up a recent US performance with a noticeable amount of scratches on her arm. She battles depression and ends up “slapping herself” on occasion. She explained,“Not punching myself in the face, but slapping. I drank a whole bottle of champagne and then just got depressed. I didn’t feel like I looked good.”

The shit storm that is Ms. Winehouse’s life doesn’t seem to be on it’s final laps just yet.

But with all of her talent, would people really be paying $500 dollars on ebay to go see her upcoming NYC performance if her persona wasn’t so shaky? The first thing I ever heard about her was how she was a “drunk bombshell” so I can’t say I would have initially. Regardless, Ms. Winehouse has incredible talent. She’s classic but dangerous. We can only hope she doesn’t go the way of Pete Doherty. Unlike other pop stars around today that peak people’s fascination with their fucked up tendencies, I care about Amy Winehouse because I feel like she has actual and genuine talent. Asking yourself why we care so much about the drama is useless at this point. Rehab or not, just enjoy the music.

Amy Winehouse

Tags: Amy Winehouse, essay //