Showing posts with label Amy Winehouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy Winehouse. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

...Amy Winehouse

When we all heard that Amy Winehouse had died most of us assumed it was from a drug overdose or in some way related to drugs. Some of you change your mind when you heard reports that there were no drugs found at the scene of her death. Today her toxicology report was released and it too confirmed that there were no illegal drugs found in her system at the time of her death, though they did find alcohol. A report read, "Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy's system at the time of her death. Results indicate that alcohol was present but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death. The family would like to thank the police and coroner for their continuing thorough investigations and for keeping them informed throughout the process." A formal inquest into her death is due on October 26. Her father believed that when Amy went cold turkey from alcohol that her body suffered from withdrawals and that may have lead to her death. Doctors told her to gradually reduce her intake but he says Amy gave it up altogether at once. "Abstinence gave her body such a fright, they thought it was eventually the cause of her death." Though I would still rather have Amy alive than dead, this does show that she was trying to change and that she could have changed if she were to have lived. I am giving this report a Digit Up for dignity.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

...Amy Winehouse

Believe it or not I ma still not fully over the death of Amy Winehouse. However she did leave her fans a parting gift, music. Spokesman Chris Goodman said Thursday that Winehouse left behind "plenty" of material, but there have been no discussions yet about releasing anything. The Guardian newspaper on Thursday quoted an unnamed spokesman "close to" record label Universal as saying Winehouse had left the "framework" of about a dozen songs. Producer Salaam Remi, who worked on both Winehouse albums "Frank" and "Back to Black" and was involved with her new material, told DJ Kim Kane of New York's Power 105.1 radio station that there were not large amounts of finished material, and Winehouse's estate had yet to approve the release of anything. I want nothing more than more songs from Amy, an album or two would be nice as well. However if it negates her legacy then I will be okay with her two albums and other songs she was featured on. I am sure her family will allow her music to be released with a large amount, if not all, of the proceeds from that album going to the charity her father is setting up in her name to help people with addiction who cannot afford treatment. Along with this news I found out a little more about Amy's on again off again boyfriend Reg Traviss. The accomplished British film maker on the rise was approved of by Amy's father. He said Amy felt good about life and was looking forward to a future with him. He also said she was happy, the happiest she had been in years. This just adds to the mystery surrounding her death. Still I am going to give this a Digit Up. I see good things for the legacy of Amy Winehouse.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

...Amy Winehouse

Sadly I must report, as if it were breaking news many hours later, the one of my favorite singers Amy Winehouse has died at the age of 27. The 1st British female singer to win 5 Gammys in a night joins Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, just to name a few, to die at the age of 27. There are conflicting reports that say she died of an overdose, though the police have not given an official reason yet. Though I and many others knew this day was coming, we always hoped it would come later rather than sooner. It was just a week ago that my friend and I were talking and I mentioned that I could not wait for her next album to come out, whenever that may be. I hoped it would be soon and was glad that she checked into rehab, yet again. Now that may never be. I am sure there are some unreleased tracks that her label will put into a commemorative album, but it will not be the same. Though there is Adele, a powerful soul singer, she is not Amy. Amy had anger, angst, hurt an pain that you could hear and her voice and sadly you could see it a lot of times when she was out in public. I hope her loving parents are okay, her father especially who has been by her side through it all. My one wish is that Dr. Drew does not mention this on any of his shows at all, but sense that will not happen I hope he does not talk about her for more than 5 minutes. Now she is gone and we will have only her music to listen to. I am going to choose to remember the good by listening to my favorite songs by her. I am giving this news 2 Digits Down.







Amy Winehouse


Amy live on Irish Television station RTE.

Singer Amy Winehouse, 27, has been found dead at her home in Camden Square, North London. A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that a 27-year-old woman had died in Camden and that the cause of death was as yet unexplained. Winehouse had won widespread acclaim, aged 20, with her 2003 debut album, Frank. But it was 2006's Back to Black which brought her worldwide stardom, winning five Grammy Awards.



The troubled singer made her last public appearance on Wednesday night when she joined her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on stage at The Roundhouse in Camden. The singer danced with Bromfield and encouraged the audience to buy her album in the impromptu appearance before leaving the stage. The troubled singer had a long battle with drink and drugs which overshadowed her recent musical career. She pulled out of a comeback tour last month.


This is Amy last Wednesday (20.07.11) @ iTunes Festival 2011 at the Roundhouse in Camden. Dionne Bromfield's performance of Mama Said with Amy Winehouse (her godmother) making a guest appearance.

It is so sad about that Amy Winehouse is dead at 27. I bumped into her when visiting in the London Clinic, Harley Street, December a year ago and she looked so much better as if she was really on the mend. Her drug use had given her chronic emphysema, a lung disease more commonly associated with people who are 40 +. as a result she used to go into the clinic about 4 times a year for treatment.



There is nothing good to say about emphysema, it is serious illness and just does not get better, in fact the opposite is the case. Others have made this point but that night it struck me how small and waif like she was. No doubt she had her demons and the compulsive behaviour which led her into addiction to drink & drugs has been well documented elsewhere as she has been relentlessly pursued by a wolverine and amoral Tabloid industry looking for the latest Winehouse "money shot."

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/11/paparazzi-insight.html

However the girl I exchanged a hesitant greeting with in the cloistered sanctuary of a London hospital that night was a frail, damaged, perceptive and hugely gifted individual whose music and not her lifestyle will be her real and enduring legacy. A great pity too that it is only that for she had much more to give and would have used the years ahead to change and grow. She used to be "hidden" in a corner room on the top floor with her security outside the door, even in these protected surroundings there was no question of a "normal life."


Fan's tributes outside Amy's Camden Square home where she died

Whilst we both exchanged a nervous "hi" the nurses on duty told me she always came down to them when visitors were gone and patients were asleep for a good old natter. She was there again when I was visiting in the Clinic some six months latter. Close up she came across as frail and I wouldn't have compromised her privacy but mention it now to emphasise that whatever the reason she died, Amy's underlying health was poor. As always we should remember addiction is a disease, not a choice. She was a great talent whose resonant songs sprung from the trials of her existence and this is a terrible waste of a talented young life.

Shalom aleikhem, שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011)