a Tribute to amy winehouse R.I.P

A fitting tribute to someone

Joining the 27 club.

This past weekend has been one of loss. The Norwegian massacre was a terrible disaster and my thoughts and condolences are with families. How help never got to them poor souls sooner is something that should really be looked into. Then came the news that one of the talented artists of our generation had died. Amy Winehouse died in her flat on 23^rd of July. Now I know this is not as much of a tragedy as the Norway massacre, it is still a tragedy in its own right. A family have lost a daughter, a friend has been lost, and a talent and credit to the music world has been lost.

Amy has had a tough time recently, and pretty much through her entire career. Her problems being showcased nationally by tabloid newspapers, highlighting her drink and drugs problems. Not once stopping and thinking, how this may affect her family. Ok so she did take a hell of a lot of drugs, and because of this did not use her talent wisely. People should be remembering her for what she used to be not what she ended up as.

Amy had such a talent that has not been seen in long while. Her soul voice and lyrical ability was appreciated all around the world, also known for her powerful contralto vocals. After 2 albums people were aware that they were onto something special, something that they were able to relate to while they were singing along. Amy was amazing at pouring her heart out onto paper, such a shame she wasn’t able to do this and help her through her problems. When she was at her best artists wanted to collaborate with her and make even more beautiful music. “Frank” Winehouse’ debut album was a credit to her in the healthy days before the drugs and record companies took hold.

She won 6 Grammy awards. A British female artist has never won that many, but Amy did. She defied all the critics and created music that was appreciated and that had meaning. Her second and final album “back to black” was an instant hit, with hits such as “love is a losing game”, “back to black”, and of course “rehab”. All of these songs are Amy’s cry for help, but with a catchy tune. This woman has inspired so many people to do what they love the most and the world or music is not going to be the same without her. 

As the whole world has established she had drug problems, but like I have established we should not be remembering her for this. Remember this woman as someone who defied the critics. Who made soul music that took you right back to the 50’s. forget the drugs forget the tool of an ex-husband who will no doubt start cashing in on the death of a woman who would of gone onto bigger things if she had of dealt with her demons.

The media have also been highlighting that Amy has joined what is known as the “27 club”. Now if you are not sure what this is then here is the answer. The 27 club is famous people who have died at the age of 27. It is generally used to show the amount of people in the music world that have died at 27. A few of these are Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and now the wonderful Amy Winehouse. All of these people will be remembered fondly in the hearts and ears of music lovers around the world. It is just a shame that these people have had to go in to this to group. RIP Amy hope you can finally find happiness up there.     

The machine AKA The music industry

Hi everyone

hope you enjot this one. after much thinking and listening to what people thought about the Amy Winehouse shambles it made me think that the whole industry needs a shake up. Highlight what actually goes on and get better rights and conditions for artists. Anyways enough of me ranting enjoy.

The Machine AKA

The music industry.

With the recent and somewhat shocking performance from Amy Winehouse in Belgrade, it is hard to see how management even allowed her to go stage. It has only just come out that it was her management that pretty much just pushed her on to the stage, to make her put on that shambles performance, which occurred. Why would they do that to someone who is troubled and is crying out for help? To her management company she is nothing more than a money earner for them. Another reason they would do this is for press. They knew that all eyes would be on her for returning to the stage, so why not create a story form it in the process. The fact that is inhumane, does not count but the fact she brought herself publicity, means a hell of a lot.

Many managements are known for feeding the musicians habits. It is quite a well-known fact that The Libertines were an example of this, Red Hot Chilli Peppers also, and not mention Guns ‘n’ Roses. To get the artists to be at their best, this is how companies thought they could get it. To me this is not managing a talented person; you are creating a deeper problem, which in the end could cost you more.

Record companies do not care about the artist really; they are out to make more and more money. X factor is good example of this they may not plough them with alcohol and drugs yet. They instead say they are training them for this lifestyle. Before the live shows, you have to go under a grueling process of having your teeth whitened and a whole image overhaul. This is so you are more aesthetically pleasing to people. Sorry I forgot that your image is what sells the records, not your actual talent.

When you get signed you go through this whole grueling process, get your image sorted first, record your material, get a bit of publicity, tour the hell out of your material, maybe a day off, and then the cycle starts again. Everyone is apart of this machine, that is the music industry. Like it or loath it, that is what the whole industry is about. If you cannot hack it then you will not stay in it for very long.

Pink Floyds “Welcome to the machine” hits the nail on the head, right from the title. Maybe if it was not for the “machine” then the amazingly talented Syd Barrett may have stayed with group. Instead, he saw it for what it was and got out. Yet he was still a tortured soul. The lyrics “what did you dream, it’s alright, we told you what to dream. You dreamed of a big star, you played a mean guitar” symbolizes the power that record companies do have over the artists. They big you up make you enjoy all of the benefits, let you experience the nice side, then allow you to crash and burn.

Not all of it is down to the record companies and management. The musicians are people and they do have a mind of their own. They could say no, but they also choose not to. They think this is the life for them, they do not realise what is going to happen, and to their management team they are nothing but money earners. They don’t care if you give yourself a habit or do yourself harm, why should they, they will just find another version of you out there.

My advice to any young band or artist out there, would be keep it small. If this is what you love to do then you will appreciate it for what it is. Appreciate the beginning of that special formation you have, enjoy the small venues, the loving fans and the intimate crowds, for as soon as you start to get bigger and bigger. The Belgrade fiasco could soon be you. The Guns ‘n’ Roses riots could happen to you. Or even if you happen to fall into that bracket through sheer talent, then good on you. Just know what happened to your predecessors and learn from their mistakes. Make your experience your own and more importantly make it count. So many talented people get lost in this industry and it is a crying shame.