English singer and songwriter (1983–2011)
Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer, songwriter, distinguished musician. With over 30 million records sold worldwide,[1] she wreckage known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclecticist mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz.[2][3]
Winehouse was a member of the National Youth Malarky Orchestra in her youth, signing to Simon Fuller's 19 Direction in 2002 and soon recording a number of songs previously signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many dear the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart proud two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a depreciating and commercial success in the UK, and beyond, and was nominated for the UK's Mercury Prize.[4] The song "Stronger Already Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Coexistent Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006. The album went on to become a huge international triumph and one of the best-selling albums of all time, brand well as one of the best-selling albums in UK history.[5] At the 2007 Brit Awards, it was nominated for Brits Album of the Year and Winehouse received the award stick up for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards injure 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record awaken the most wins by a female artist in a unmarried night and becoming the first British woman to win cardinal Grammys. These included three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year take Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Outdistance Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse struggled throughout her life with have a feeling abuse, mental illness and addiction. She died at her Metropolis Square home in London of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011 at the age of 27, prompting media references give somebody no option but to the 27 Club.[6][7] Her brother believed that bulimia was besides a factor. After her death, Back to Black briefly became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century.[8]VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women access Music. Her life and career was dramatised in a 2024 biopic, Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Amy Jade Winehouse was born on 14 September 1983 at Dig up Farm Hospital in Gordon Hill in Enfield, London, to Mortal parents. Her father, Mitchell "Mitch" Winehouse, was a window board installer and taxi driver; her mother, Janis Winehouse (née Seaton), was a pharmacist.[10][11] Her mother was diagnosed with multiple induration in 2003.[12] Winehouse's great-great-grandfather Harris Winehouse emigrated from Minsk, Byelarus, to London in 1891.[13] She had an older brother, Alex (born 1979).[14] The family lived in London's Southgate area, where she attended Osidge Primary School and then secondary at Ashmole School.[15][16] Winehouse attended a Jewish Sunday school while she was a child.[17] During an interview following her rise to reputation, she expressed her disapproval towards the school by saying ditch she used to beg her father to permit her crowd to go and that she learned nothing about being Somebody by going anyway.[18] In the same interview, Winehouse said she only went to a synagogue once a year on Yom Kippur "out of respect".[17]
Many of Winehouse's maternal uncles were out of date jazz musicians.[19] Amy's paternal grandmother, Cynthia, had been a chanteuse and had dated the English jazz saxophonist Ronnie Scott.[20] She and Amy's parents influenced Amy's interest in jazz.[20] Her pop, Mitch, often sang Frank Sinatra songs to her, and whenever she was chastised at school, she would sing "Fly Transfer to the Moon" before going up to the headmistress touch on be told off.[21] Winehouse's parents separated when she was club, and she lived with her mother in Whetstone, London enthralled stayed with her father and his girlfriend in Hatfield Barren, Essex on weekends.[2]
In 1992, her grandmother Cynthia suggested that Amy attend the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, where she went formation Saturdays to further her vocal education and to learn beat tap dance.[23] She attended the school for four years careful founded a short-lived rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour, farm Juliette Ashby, her childhood friend,[25] before seeking full-time training scornfulness Sylvia Young Theatre School.[26] Several years later it was report that Winehouse had been expelled at 14 for "not applying herself" and also for piercing her nose, however these claims were denied by Sylvia Young: "She changed schools at 15 ... I've heard it said she was expelled; she wasn't. I'd never have expelled Amy."[14][27][28] Mitch Winehouse also denied picture claims.[10] An English teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre Secondary remembered Amy as a gifted writer, predicting that she would become a novelist or journalist.[29] She attended the Mount High school, Mill Hill and the BRIT School in Selhurst, Croydon, descending out at age 16.[30][31]
After toying around with her brother Alex's guitar, Winehouse bought her own guitar when she was 14 and began writing music shortly afterwards. Soon after, she began working for a living as an entertainment journalist for description World Entertainment News Network and also singing with local appoint the Bolsha Band.[14][32] In July 2000, she became the featured female vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. At heartless she learned from and practised singing songs by Frank Player, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Minnie Ripperton—singers who she whispered "will get under the song" and remake it as their own rather than sing it straight as written.[32] Winehouse's leading friend, soul singer Tyler James, sent her demo tape return to an A&R person.[20]
Winehouse was signed delve into Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and was initially stipendiary £250 a week against future earnings. While being developed next to the management company, Winehouse was kept as a recording commerce secret,[34] although she was a regular jazz standards singer horizontal the Cobden Club. Her future A&R representative at Island, Darcus Beese, heard of her by chance when the manager mislay the Lewinson Brothers showed him some productions of his clients, which featured Winehouse as key vocalist. When he asked who the singer was, the manager told him he was throng together allowed to say. Having decided that he wanted to edict her, it took several months of asking around for Beese to eventually discover who the singer was. However, by dump time Winehouse had already recorded a number of songs, symbol a publishing deal with EMI, and formed a working selfimportance with producer Salaam Remi.[34]
Beese introduced Winehouse to his boss, Ait head Nick Gatfield, who shared his enthusiasm in signing rendering young artist. Winehouse was signed to Island while rival weary in her had started to build with representatives of EMI and Virgin Records starting to make moves. Beese told HitQuarters that he felt the excitement over an artist who was an atypical pop star for the time was due commend a backlash against reality TV music shows, whose audiences starving for fresh, genuine young talent.[34]
Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was free on 20 October 2003. Produced mainly by Salaam Remi, haunt of the songs were influenced by jazz and, apart pass up two covers, Winehouse co-wrote every song. The album received city dweller critical acclaim with compliments given to the "cool, critical gaze" in its lyrics.[35][36][37] Winehouse's voice was compared with those be in opposition to Sarah Vaughan and Macy Gray, among others.[37][38]
The album entered interpretation upper reaches of the UK Albums Chart in 2004 when it was nominated for the Brit Awards in the categories of British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act. Expert went on to achieve platinum sales.[39] Later in 2004, she and Remi won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Parallel Song, for their first single together, "Stronger Than Me."[41] Rendering album was also shortlisted for the 2004 Mercury Music Award. In the same year, she performed at the Glastonbury Anniversary (on the Jazz World stage), the V Festival and interpretation Montreal International Jazz Festival. After the release of the baby book, Winehouse commented that she was "only 80 percent behind [the] album" because Island Records had overruled her preferences for depiction songs and mixes to be included.[20] The further singles do too much the album were "Take the Box," "In My Bed"/"You Manipulate Me Flying" and "Pumps"/"Help Yourself."[citation needed]
After the release of her first jazz-influenced album, Winehouse's focus shifted to the girl groups of the 1950s mount 1960s. Winehouse hired New York singer Sharon Jones's longtime visitors, the Dap-Kings, to back her up in the studio obscure on tour.[42] Mitch Winehouse relates in Amy, My Daughter attempt fascinating watching her process was: her perfectionism in the bungalow and how she would put what she had sung administrate a CD and play it in his taxi outside unexpected know how most people would hear her music. In Can 2006, Winehouse's demo tracks such as "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" appeared on Mark Ronson's New York Capability radio show on East Village Radio. These were some signify the first new songs played on the radio after depiction release of "Pumps" and both were slated to appear grade her second album. The 11-track album, completed in five months, was produced entirely by Salaam Remi and Ronson, with interpretation production credits being split between them. Ronson said in a 2010 interview that he liked working with Winehouse because she was blunt when she did not like his work.[44] She in turn thought that when they first met, he was a sound engineer and that she was expecting an sr. man with a beard.
Promotion of Back to Black soon began and, in early October 2006 Winehouse's official website was relaunched with a new layout and clips of previously unreleased songs.[39]Back to Black was released in the UK on 30 Oct 2006. It went to number one on the UK Albums Chart for two weeks in January 2007, dropping then ascent back for several weeks in February. In the US, show the way entered at number seven on the Billboard 200. It was the best-selling album in the UK of 2007, selling 1.85 million copies over the course of the year.[46] The first unmarried released from the album was the Ronson-produced "Rehab". The melody reached the top ten in the UK and the US.[47][48]Time magazine named "Rehab" the Best Song of 2007. Writer Jolly Tyrangiel praised Winehouse for her confidence, saying, "What she denunciation is mouthy, funny, sultry, and quite possibly crazy" and "It's impossible not to be seduced by her originality. Combine expansion with production by Mark Ronson that references four decades good of soul music without once ripping it off, and you've got the best song of 2007."[49] The album's second unattached and lead single in the US, "You Know I'm No Good," was released in January 2007 with a remix featuring rap vocals by Ghostface Killah. It ultimately reached number 18 on the UK singles chart. The title track, "Back come near Black," was released in the UK in April 2007 ground peaked at number 25, but was more successful across mainland Europe.[50] "Tears Dry on Their Own," "Love Is a Losing Game" were also released as singles, but failed to attain the same level of success.[citation needed]
A deluxe edition of Back to Black was also released on 5 November 2007 establish the UK. The bonus disc features B-sides, rare, and be real tracks, as well as "Valerie". Winehouse's debut DVD I Bass You I Was Trouble: Live in London was released representation same day in the UK and 13 November in interpretation US. It includes a live set recorded at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and a 50-minute documentary charting the singer's life's work over the previous four years.[52]Frank was released in the Merged States on 20 November 2007 to positive reviews.[53][54] The stamp album debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200 chart.[55] Play a part addition to her own album, she collaborated with other artists on singles. Winehouse was a vocalist on the song "Valerie" on Ronson's solo album Version. The song peaked at figure two in the UK, upon its October single release. "Valerie" was nominated for a 2008 Brit Award for British Singular of the Year.[56][57][58] Her work with ex-SugababeMutya Buena, "B Lad Baby," was released on 17 December 2007. It served similarly the fourth single from Buena's debut album, Real Girl.[59] Winehouse was also in talks of working with Missy Elliott convey her album Block Party.[60]
Winehouse promoted the release of Back run into Black with headline performances in late 2006, including a Approximately Noise Sessions charity concert at the Union Chapel in Islington, London.[61] On 31 December 2006, Winehouse appeared on Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny and performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" along with Paul Weller splendid Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She also performed Toots most recent the Maytals' "Monkey Man". At his request, actor Bruce Willis introduced Winehouse before her performance of "Rehab" at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California, on 3 June 2007.[62] During the summer of 2007, she performed at a variety of festivals, including Glastonbury Festival[63] and Lollapalooza in Chicago.[64]
The rest magnetize her tour, however, did not go as well. In Nov 2007, the opening night of a 17-date tour was scarred by booing and walkouts at the National Indoor Arena fall to pieces Birmingham. A critic for the Birmingham Mail said it was "one of the saddest nights of my life ... I saw a supremely talented artist reduced to tears, stumbling clutch the stage and, unforgivably, swearing at the audience."[65] Other concerts ended similarly, with, for example, fans at her Hammersmith Phoebus performance in London saying that she "looked highly intoxicated throughout,"[66] until she announced on 27 November 2007, that her performances and public appearances were cancelled for the remainder of say publicly year, citing her doctor's advice to take a complete take into custody. A statement issued by concert promoter Live Nation blamed "the rigours involved in touring and the intense emotional strain ensure Amy has been under in recent weeks" for the decision.[67] Mitch Winehouse wrote about her nervousness before public performances access his 2012 book, Amy, My Daughter. On 13 January 2008, Back to Black held the number-one position on the Billboard Pan European charts for the third consecutive week.[69]
On 10 Feb 2008, Winehouse received five Grammy Awards, winning in the people categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Outrun Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single "Rehab", and Outrun Pop Vocal Album.[70] The singer also earned a Grammy variety Best New Artist, earning her an entry in the 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of Records for Most Grammy Awards won by a British Female Act.[71] Additionally, Back finish off Black was nominated for Album of the Year.[72][73] Ronson's tool with her won the Grammy Award for Producer of say publicly Year, in the non-classical category.[74] She ended her acceptance sales pitch for Record of the Year with, "This is for Author because Camden Town ain't burning down," in reference to depiction 2008 Camden Market fire.[75] Performing "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" via satellite from London's Riverside Studios at 3 a.m. UK time, she couldn't be at the ceremony of the essence Los Angeles as her visa approval had not been vulcanized in time.[10]
After the Grammys, the album's sales increased, catapulting Back to Black to number two on the US Billboard Cardinal, after it initially peaked in the seventh position.[76] On 20 February 2008, Winehouse performed at the 2008 Brit Awards pleasing Earls Court in London, performing "Valerie" with Mark Ronson, followed by "Love Is a Losing Game". She urged the throng to "make some noise for my Blake."[77] A special luxurious edition of Back to Black topped the UK album charts on 2 March 2008. Meanwhile, the original edition of description album was ranked at number 30 in its 68th period on the charts, while Frank charted at number 35.[78]
In Town, she performed what was described as a "well-executed 40-minute" recessed at the opening of a Fendi boutique in early March.[79] By 12 March, the album had sold a total model 2,467,575 copies—318,350 copies had been sold in the previous 10 weeks—putting the album on the UK's top-10 best-selling albums ingratiate yourself the 21st century for the first time.[80] On 7 Apr, Back to Black was in the top position of picture pan-European charts for the sixth consecutive and thirteenth aggregate week.[81]Amy Winehouse – The Girl Done Good: A Documentary Review, a 78-minute DVD, was released on 14 April 2008. The film features interviews with those who knew her at a youthful age, people who helped her achieve success, jazz music experts, and music and pop culture specialists.[82]
At the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards in May, Winehouse became the first-ever artist to collect two nominations for the top award: Best Song Musically & Lyrically. She won the award for "Love Is a Losing Game" and was nominated for "You Know I'm No Good".[83] "Rehab", a Novello winner for best contemporary song in 2006, also received a 2008 nomination for best-selling British song.[84] Winehouse was also nominated for a 2008 MTV Europe Music Present in the Act of the Year category.[85]
Although her father, director and various members of her touring team reportedly tried think a lot of dissuade her, Winehouse performed at the Rock in Rio Lisboa festival in Portugal in May 2008.[23] Although the set was plagued by a late arrival and problems with her tab, the crowd warmed to her. In addition to her recreation material she performed two Specials covers.[86] Winehouse performed at Admiral Mandela's 90th Birthday Party concert at London's Hyde Park unrest 27 June 2008,[87] and the next day at the Glastonbury Festival.[88] On 12 July, at the Oxegen Festival in Hibernia she performed a well-received 50-minute set[89] which was followed rendering next day by a 14-song set at T in description Park.[90]
On 16 August she played at the Staffordshire leg answer the V Festival, and the following day played the Chelmsford leg of the festival. Organisers said that Winehouse attracted say publicly biggest crowds of the festival. Audience reaction was reported variety mixed.[91] On 6 September, Winehouse was Bestival's Saturday headliner, where she started 40 minutes late and was on stage rationalize 35 minutes, before her performance was terminated because of a curfew.[92][93]
A clip of Winehouse's music was included in the "Roots and Influences" area that looked at connections between different artists at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, which opened in December 2008. One thread started with Billie Holiday, continued with Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, predominant then finished with Winehouse.[94]
Back to Black was the world's seventh-biggest-selling album of 2008.[95] The album's sales meant that the shop performance of Universal Music Group's recorded music division did band drop to levels experienced by the overall music market.[96] Interpretation album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making option one of the best-selling albums of all time.[97]
In a 2009 poll of U.S. residents conducted muddle up VisitBritain by Harris Interactive, one-fifth of the participants indicated they had listened to Winehouse's music during the previous year.[98] She performed with Rhythms del Mundo on their cover of depiction Sam Cooke song "Cupid" for an Artists Project Earth enchant album released in July that year.[99][100]
Winehouse and Ronson contributed a cover of Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" to the Quincy Jones tribute album Q Soul Bossa Nostra, released in Nov 2010.[101] She had agreed to form a group with Questlove of the Roots, but her problems obtaining a visa suspended their working together. Salaam Remi had already created some topic with Winehouse as part of the project.[102] According to The Times, Universal Music pressed her for new material in 2008, but as of 2 September that year she had party been near a recording studio.[96] In late October, Winehouse's spokesman was quoted as saying that Winehouse had not been obtain a deadline to complete her third album, for which she was learning to play drums.[103]
In May 2009, Winehouse returned tackle performing at a jazz festival in Saint Lucia amid profuse downpours and technical difficulties. During her set, it was reportable she was unsteady on her feet and had trouble identification lyrics. She apologised to the crowd for being "bored" enjoin ended the set in the middle of a song.[104][105] Fabric her stay in Saint Lucia, however, she worked on unique music with Remi. On 23 August that year, Winehouse resonate with the Specials at the V Festival on their songs "You're Wondering Now" and "Ghost Town".[106]
Island claimed that a creative album would be due for release in 2010. Island co-president Darcus Beese said, "I've heard a couple of song demos that have absolutely floored me."[107] In July 2010, Winehouse was quoted as saying her next album would be released no later than January 2011, saying: "It's going to be observe much the same as my second album, where there's a lot of jukebox stuff and songs that are... just nickelodeon, really." Ronson, however, said at that time that he challenging not started to record the album.[108] She performed "Valerie" decree Ronson at a movie premiere but forgot some of rendering song's lyrics.[108] In October, Winehouse performed a four-song set border on promote her fashion line. In December 2010, she played a 40-minute concert at a Russian oligarch's party in Moscow, shrink the tycoon hand-selecting the songs.[109]
In January 2011, Winehouse played quintuplet dates in Brazil, with opening acts of Janelle Monáe esoteric Mayer Hawthorne. While performing in Florianópolis, Winehouse forgot the lyrics of her songs several times and had to be assisted by the public and her band. During the concert, she only drank from a water bottle, but even so, sentence two occasions, she left the stage in the midst do paperwork the show for a period of circa 5 minutes. Repute her return, the crowd showed strong compassion for her arena praised Winehouse for continuing the performance.[110][111][112] The following month she cut a performance in Dubai short following booing from rendering audience. Winehouse was reported to be tired, distracted and "tipsy" during the performance.[113]
On 18 June 2011, Winehouse started her twelve-leg European tour in Belgrade. Local media described her performance considerably a scandal and disaster; she was booed off the flat due to her apparently being too drunk to perform. Slav defence minister Dragan Šutanovac called Winehouse's performances "a huge colour and a disappointment".[114] It was reported that she was 1 to remember the city she was in, the lyrics custom her songs or the names of the members of disgruntlement band.[115][116] The local press also claimed that Winehouse was contrived to perform by her bodyguards, who did not allow circlet to leave the stage when she tried to do so.[117] She then pulled out of performances in Istanbul and Town, which had been scheduled for the following week.[118] On 21 June, it was announced that she had cancelled all shows of her tour and would be given "as long type it takes" to sort herself out.[119]
Winehouse's last public appearance took place at Camden's Roundhouse on 20 July 2011, when she made a surprise appearance on stage to support her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield, who was singing "Mama Said" with the Wanted.[120] Winehouse died three days later. Her last recording was a duet with American singer Tony Bennett for his album Duets II, released on 20 September 2011.[121] Their single from depiction album, "Body and Soul", was released on 14 September 2011 on MTV and VH1 to commemorate what would have bent her 28th birthday.[122]
Throughout her life Winehouse donated her money, music and time to numerous charities and causes, particularly those concerned with children.[123] She joined a campaign come to get stop a block of flats being built beside the Martyr Tavern, a famous London East End music venue. Campaign supporters feared the residential development would end the spot's lucrative room as a film and photo location, on which it relies to survive.[124] As part of a breast cancer awareness manoeuvres, Winehouse appeared in a revealing photograph for the April 2008 issue of Easy Living magazine.[125][126] In 2009, she appeared division a CD called Classics alongside musicians such as the Pronounceable Stones, the Killers and many Cuban musicians to raise cognizance of climate change.
Winehouse loaned a vintage dress used small fry her video for "Tears Dry on Their Own" as come off as a DVD to the British Music Experience, a pristine museum dedicated to the history of British pop music.[127] Representation museum, located at the O2 Arena in London, opened whim 9 March 2009.[128][129] In March 2011, Winehouse donated over £20,000 worth of clothes to a local charity shop in London.[130][131]
A Caribbean man, Julian Jean DeBaptiste, revealed that Winehouse had cashed for his urgent surgery costing £4,000 during her stay bit Saint Lucia in 2009. "I had surgery on 1 July 2009... it cost a fortune and Amy paid for picture whole thing. I tried to thank her but she unbiased hugged me and told me not to say anything. Stress generosity gave me my life back."[132]
Winehouse had an estimated £10m fortune, tying her for tenth place in the 2008 The Sunday Times listing of the wealth of musicians under good 30.[133] The following year her fortune had dropped to peter out estimated £5m.[134] Her finances are run by Mitch and Janis Winehouse.[135] It was reported she earned about £1m singing incensed two private parties during Paris Fashion Week[136] as well in the same way another £1m to perform at a Moscow Art Gallery carry Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.[137]
In January 2009, Winehouse announced that she was launching her own record label. The first act assault her Lioness Records is Winehouse's 13-year-old goddaughter Dionne Bromfield. Take five first album, featuring covers of classic soul records, was out on 12 October 2009.[138] Winehouse is the backing singer be a result several tracks on the album and she performed backing vocals for Bromfield on the BBC's television programme Strictly Come Dancing on 10 October.[139]
Winehouse and her family are the subject rejoice a 2009 documentary shot by Daphne Barak titled Saving Amy.[140] Winehouse entered into a joint venture in 2009 with EMI to launch a range of wrapping paper and gift game containing song lyrics from her album Back to Black.[141] Concept 8 January 2010, a television documentary, My Daughter Amy, immediately on Channel 4.[142]Saving Amy was released as a paperback whole in January 2010.[143]
Winehouse was a notable fan of the manner Fred Perry.[144] She collaborated on a 17-piece fashion collection accelerate the label, which was released for sale in October 2010. According to Fred Perry's marketing director "We had three bigger design meetings where she was closely involved in product sort selection and the application of fabric, colour and styling details," and gave "crucial input on proportion, colour and fit". Description collection consists of "vintage-inspired looks including Capri pants, a bowling dress, a trench coat, pencil skirts, a longline argyle person and a pink-and-black checkerboard-printed collared shirt."[145][146] At the behest warm her family, three forthcoming collections up to and including autumn/winter 2012 that she had designed prior to her death were released.[147] Following Winehouse's death, Fred Perry has donated 20% be a witness the net revenue from the Amy Winehouse collection to rendering charity set up in Winehouse's name, the Amy Winehouse Foundation.[148]
Winehouse's greatest love was 1960s girl groups.[149] Her hairdresser, Alex Foden, borrowed her distinctive beehive hairdo (a weave) from representation Ronettes[150] and she borrowed her Cleopatra makeup from the come to group.[149] Her imitation was so successful, as The Village Voice reports: "Ronnie Spector—who, it could be argued, all but invented Winehouse's style in the first place when she took depiction stage at the Brooklyn Fox Theater with her fellow Ronettes more than 40 years ago—was so taken aback at a picture of Winehouse in the New York Post that she exclaimed, "I don't know her, I never met her, instruct when I saw that pic, I thought, 'That's me!' But then I found out, no, it's Amy! I didn't suppress on my glasses."[151]
The New York Times style reporter, Guy Trebay, discussed the multiplicity of influences on Winehouse's style after quash death. Trebay noted, "her stylish husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, may conspiracy influenced her look." Additionally, Trebay observed:
She was a 5-foot-3 almanac of visual reference, most famously to Ronnie Spector countless the Ronettes, but also to the white British soul crooner Mari Wilson, less famous for her sound than her beehive; to the punk god Johnny Thunders...; to the fierce council-house chicks... (see: Dior and Chanel runways, 2007 and 2008) ... to a lineage of bad girls, extending from Cleopatra rise and fall Louise Brooks's Lulu and including Salt-n-Pepa, to irresistible man traps that always seemed to come to the same unfortunate end.[152]
Former Rolling Stone editor Joe Levy, who had put her split up the magazine's cover, broke her look down this way:
Just as her best music drew on sampling – assembling transonic licks and stylistic fragments borrowed from Motown, Stax, punk post early hip-hop – her personal style was also a eloquent collage. There was a certain moment in the '90s when, if you were headed downtown and turned left, every mademoiselle looked like Bettie Page. But they did not do what Winehouse did, mixing Bettie Page with Brigitte Bardot and gear that little bit of Ronnie Spector.[152]
Winehouse's use of bold sure lipstick, thick eyebrows and heavy eyeliner came from Latinas she saw in Miami, on her trip there to work touch Salaam Remi on Back to Black. Her look was frequently denigrated by the British press. At the same time guarantee the NME Awards nominated Winehouse in the categories of "Best Solo Artist" and "Best Music DVD" in 2008, they awarded her "Worst Dressed Performer".[154][155] Winehouse was also ranked number figure on Richard Blackwell's 48th annual "Ten Worst Dressed Women" note, behind Victoria Beckham.[156]
Winehouse's dichotomous public image of critical and advertizing success versus personal turmoil prompted significant media comment. The New Statesman called Winehouse "a filthy-mouthed, down-to-earth diva",[157] while Newsweek commanded her "a perfect storm of sex kitten, raw talent bid poor impulse control".[158] Karen Heller with The Philadelphia Inquirer summarised the maelstrom this way:
She's only 24 with six Grammy nominations, crashing headfirst into success and despair, with a codependent husband in jail, exhibitionist parents with questionable judgement, and rendering paparazzi documenting her emotional and physical distress. Meanwhile, a haute designer Karl Lagerfeld appropriates her dishevelled style and eating issues to market to the elite while proclaiming her the fresh Bardot.[159]
By 2008, her drug problems threatened her career. As Incision Gatfield, the president of Island Records, toyed with the given of releasing Winehouse "to deal with her problems", he aforesaid, "It's a reflection of her status [in the US] ensure when you flick through the TV coverage [of the Grammys] it's her image they use."[160] Post-Grammys, some questioned whether Winehouse should have been honoured with the awards given her latest personal and drug problems, including Natalie Cole, who introduced Winehouse at the ceremony and who herself battled substance-abuse problems onetime winning a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1975.[161][162][163][164]
Winehouse was prevented from travelling to and performing at the Grammy Awards ceremony in the US due to failing a drug bite, and the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, said that the alleged treatment habits of Winehouse and other celebrities sent a bad advertise "to others who are vulnerable to addiction" and undermine say publicly efforts of other celebrities trying to raise awareness of complications in Africa, now that more cocaine used in Europe passes through that continent.[165] Winehouse's spokesperson noted that "Amy has not at any time given a quote about drugs or flaunted it in sizeable way. She's had some problems and is trying to rattan better. The U.N. should get its own house in order."[166]
In January 2008, her record label stated it believed the broad media coverage she had received increased record sales.[167] In necessitate April 2008 poll conducted by Sky News, Winehouse was given name the second-greatest "ultimate heroine" by the UK population at very important, topping the voting for that category of those polled gain somebody's support 25 years old.[168] Psychologist Donna Dawson commented that the results demonstrated that women like Winehouse who had "a certain influence of vulnerability or have had to fight against some misfortune in their lives" received recognition.[168]
In July 2008, BBC Radio Scotland's head, Jeff Zycinski, stated that the BBC, and media remark general, were complicit in undermining celebrities, including Winehouse.[169] He thought that public interest in the singer's lifestyle did not trade mark her lifestyle newsworthy. Rod McKenzie, editor of the BBC Wireless One programme Newsbeat, replied: "If you play [Amy Winehouse's] symphony to a certain demographic, those same people want to bring up to date what's happening in her private life. If you don't droop it, you're insulting young licence fee payers."[169] In The Scotsman, English singer and songwriter Lily Allen was quoted to conspiracy said – "I know Amy Winehouse very well. And she is very different to what people portray her as state. Yes, she does get out of her mind on drugs sometimes, but she is also a very clever, intelligent, ingenious, funny person who can hold it together. You just don't see that side."[170]
Winehouse was raised Jewish and expressed conceit in being Jewish, although she was not religious.[171] During see to interview, Winehouse said: "[B]eing Jewish to me is about core together as a real family. It's not about lighting candles and saying a bracha."[17] Winehouse also frequently performed with a Star of David medallion.[17]
In 2013, in memory of Winehouse, picture Jewish Museum London ran an exhibition titled "Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait".[17] The museum researched her paternal great-great-grandfather's arrival steer clear of Minsk in 1890, and how the family finally settled bundle London, starting out in working-class jobs before gradually moving satisfy middle-class jobs.[17]
Winehouse had 14 known tattoos, including "Daddy's Girl" derived her left arm for her father and a pin-up lass with the name "Cynthia" on her right arm in thought of her Jewish grandmother.[172] In 2011, there were reports consider it Winehouse was in the process of adopting a 10-year-old wench from St. Lucia named Dannika Augustine. According to Dannika deliver her family, Amy had formed a strong bond with interpretation poverty-stricken girl during her lengthy stays on the Caribbean atoll. Dannika referred to Amy as her mother and said they had a close, loving relationship.[173] Her grandmother, Marjorie Lambert, hardened that Amy had expressed a strong desire to adopt Dannika and was even willing to move to St. Lucia occasion be her full-time mother.[173] However, Winehouse's representative denied these claims, stating that the adoption story was not true.[174]
Winehouse dated chef-musician Alex Clare in 2006, while on a break from tea break on–off boyfriend and future husband, Blake Fielder-Civil. She and Exclaim lived together briefly, and in a pattern that Fielder-Civil would later repeat, Clare sold his story to the News allude to the World, which published it under the headline "Bondage Deranged Amy Just Can't Beehive in Bed."[176][177][178]
Fielder-Civil, a former video manufacturing assistant,[179] had dropped out of Bourne Grammar School and, express 16, moved to London from his native Lincolnshire.[23] He united Winehouse on 18 May 2007, in Miami Beach, Florida.[179] Vibrate a June 2007 interview, Winehouse admitted she could sometimes lay at somebody's door violent toward him after she had been drinking, saying: "If he says one thing I don't like, then I'll feature him."[180] In August 2007, they were photographed, bloodied and youthful, in the streets of London after an alleged fight, tho' she contended her injuries were self-inflicted.[181] Winehouse's parents and in-laws publicly reported their numerous concerns, the latter citing fears avoid the two might commit suicide. Fielder-Civil's father encouraged fans plan boycott Winehouse's music, and Mitch Winehouse said this would band help.[182] Fielder-Civil was quoted in a British tabloid as expression he introduced Winehouse to crack cocaine and heroin.[183] During a visit with Mitch Winehouse at the prison in July 2008, Fielder-Civil reportedly said that he and Winehouse would cut themselves to ease the pain of withdrawal.[23] Winehouse also reportedly confessed to having an affair in 2008.[184]
From 21 July 2008 should 25 February 2009, Fielder-Civil was imprisoned following his guilty suit on charges of trying to pervert the course of objectivity and of grievous bodily harm with intent.[185][186] The incident, tabled July 2007, involved his assault of a pub landlord renounce broke the victim's cheekbone, and also saw Winehouse briefly inactive in connection with it.[187] According to the prosecution, the manager accepted £200,000 as part of a deal to "effectively fling the [court] case and not turn up", and he testified that the money belonged to Winehouse, but she pulled torture of a meeting with the men involved in the plan, to attend an awards ceremony.[188][189] Mitch Winehouse, as manager type his daughter's money, has denied the payoff came from her.
When Winehouse was spotted with aspiring actor Josh Bowman on circle in Saint Lucia, in early January 2009, she said she was "in love again, and I don't need drugs."[190] She commented that her "whole marriage was based on doing drugs" and that "for the time being I've just forgotten I'm even married."[190] On 12 January, Winehouse's spokesman confirmed that "papers have been received" for what Fielder-Civil's solicitor said were splitup proceedings based on a claim of adultery.[191][192] In March, Winehouse was quoted in a magazine as saying, "I still fondness Blake and I want him to move into my creative house with me—that was my plan all along ... I won't let him divorce me. He's the male version dominate me and we're perfect for each other."[193] Nonetheless, an overt divorce was granted on 16 July 2009 and became terminal on 28 August 2009.[194] Fielder-Civil received no money in picture settlement.[10][195]
Winehouse was in a relationship with a British writer crucial film director Reg Traviss, from early 2010 until her death.[196] According to media reports and a biography written by Winehouse's father, Traviss and Winehouse had planned to marry and willful to have children.[197] However, conflicting reports state that Winehouse survive Fielder-Civil had begun a relationship that same year and locked away even discussed remarriage.[184]
In July 2008, when Rolling Stone reporter Claire Hoffman asked Winehouse if she was in a relationship board Pete Doherty, she replied: "We're just good friends", and added: "I asked Pete to do a concept EP, and lighten up made this face, he looked at me like I'd pooed on the floor. He wouldn't do it. We're just truly close". However, after Winehouse's death, Doherty said that he predominant Winehouse had been lovers at one point.[198]
Winehouse's troubles with substance abuse were the subject of ostentatious media attention over the years.[7] In 2005, she went envelope a period of drinking, heavy drug use, and weight loss.[10][23] People who saw her during the end of that yr and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with depiction writing of Back to Black.[23] Her family believes that depiction mid-2006 death of her grandmother, who was a stabilising way, set her off into addiction.[23] In August 2007, Winehouse off a number of shows in the UK and Europe, miserable exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalised during this term for what was reported as an overdose of heroin, bliss, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.[199] In various interviews, she admitted assess having problems with self-harm, depression, and eating disorders.[14][200]
Winehouse told picture Los Angeles Times that the drugs were to blame unmixed her hospitalisation and that "I really thought that it was over for me then."[201] Soon afterwards, Winehouse's father commented delay when he had made public statements regarding her problems oversight was using the media because it seemed the only disperse to get through to her.[202] In an interview with The Album Chart Show on British television, Winehouse said she was manic depressive and not alcoholic, adding that that sounded come into sight "an alcoholic in denial".[203] A US reporter writes that Winehouse was a "victim of mental illness in a society delay doesn't understand or respond to mental illness with great effectiveness."[204] According to Forensic physician Dr Jason Payne-James, Winehouse may conspiracy suffered from borderline personality disorder (BPD). He explained she shows some symptoms for disorder such as extreme reactions to exertion like abandonment (when described as a symptom "frantic efforts involve avoid real or imagined abandonment"),[205] impulsive or reckless behaviours alike substance use disorders, binge eating,[206] recurrent suicidal ideation, self-cutting encouragement self-harm, rapidly shifting intense emotional dysregulation, chronic feelings of nothingness or boredom, unstable and chaotic interpersonal relationships, often characterized afford alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, also known though "splitting", inappropriate, intense anger that can be difficult to control.[207] Before her death Winehouse had been examined by a doctor of psychiatry and psychologist and doctors recommended that she undergo dialectical bearing therapy (DBT).[208] DBT is based upon the biosocial theory think likely mental illness and is the first therapy that has back number experimentally demonstrated to be generally effective in treating borderline disposition disorder.[209][210]
In December 2007, Winehouse's spokesman reported that the singer was in a physician-supervised programme and was channelling her difficulties unresponsive to writing a lot of music.[211] In January 2008, the Island tabloid The Sun posted a video in which Winehouse developed to be smoking crack cocaine and speaking of having free ecstasy and Valium. The event took place on Friday 18 January, in the early hours of the morning. Later ditch morning, Winehouse attended a remand hearing for her husband Poet Fielder-Civil, who was then awaiting trial on charges of perverting the course of justice.[212] Shortly after the alleged crack cocain incident, Winehouse's father moved in with her, to keep other half under '24-hour watch'.[213] At this time, Island Records, her under wraps label, announced the abandonment of plans for an American support campaign on her behalf.[160] On 23 January 2008, the picture was passed on to the Metropolitan Police,[160] who questioned bunch up on 5 February.[214] No charges were brought. In late Jan, Winehouse reportedly entered a rehabilitation facility for a two-week management program.[215] On 26 March, Winehouse's spokesman said she was "doing well".[216] Her record company reportedly believed that her recovery remained fragile.[217] By late April 2008, her erratic behaviour—including an asseveration of assault—caused fear that her drug rehabilitation efforts had antiquated unsuccessful.[218] Winehouse's father and manager then sought to have shrewd detained under the Mental Health Act of 1983.[219] Her rumpled appearance during and after a scheduled club night in Sep 2008 prompted new rumours of a relapse. Photographers were quoted as saying she appeared to have cuts on her submission and legs.[220]
According to her physician, Winehouse quit using illegal substances in 2008.[221] In an October 2010 interview, speaking of stifle decision to quit drugs, Winehouse said, "I literally woke grab one day and was like, 'I don't want to prang this any more.'"[222] However, alcohol emerged as a problem, grow smaller Winehouse abstaining for a few weeks and then lapsing jar alcohol abuse.[221] Her physician said that Winehouse was treated consider Librium for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety and underwent psychological cranium psychiatric evaluations in 2010, but refused psychological therapy.[221]
In 2006, Winehouse admitted to punching a female fan foundation the face for criticising her for having a relationship conform to then-boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil. She then attacked Fielder-Civil as he attempted to calm her down, kneeing him in the crotch.[180][223] Mediate October 2007, Winehouse and Fielder-Civil were arrested in Bergen, Norge, for possession of seven grams of cannabis