Because so many people have been programmed to believe that success can only be visualized in one way. The female vocalist has to be visually stunning, curvy, without a hair out of place, always smiling (with perfect teeth of course), who sings songs of diva-like mentality about loving that man, hating that man, wishing they could break up with that man, wondering why they're still staying with that cheater of a man, contemplating about taking someone else's man... oh yeah, and the quintessential party jam that is attached to some random dance step that makes no sense until the song is played.
We forget that these are musicians. Just about all of them do drugs in some fashion to begin with even if it's not on camera. And we also forget how messed up some people are when they were on stage in the 60s and 70s. Janis Joplin? Jim Morrison? Jimi Hendrix? Anyone with a guitar? Despite their issues with drugs (and some do die of overdoses), their contribution to music is essential.
Sure, Amy Winehouse could use a little help with her public image for those who latch onto that more than artistic integrity. But musically, she's one of the most interesting people making records now. I can look at my niece's toys if I want to see another Barbie doll on stage.
Tell it, brother. Amy Winehouse is no cookie cutter blonde turning out bubblegum music. Her singing style is unique, but borrows heavily from Dinah Washington, and sometimes even Bessie Smith. Her musical style shifts constantly, but manages to pay homage to multiple eras of music simultaneously.
Tell me an artist these days who can win Grammy awards with tunes that sound like they came right out of Phil Specter-ville and backed up by The Shirelles. Like Jason Mraz, and others recently, they have dragged modern pop music over to the altar of jazz and made them like it.
Finally, although my heart goes out to her dealing with her self-destructive demons, she has managed to mine them for some of the best songwriting that has come around in a long time. "My Tears Dry On Their Own", "Love is a Losing Game", etc. These are no bubblegum airhead pop tunes. They bear the marks of painful realities in the spirit of genuine blues.
What astonishes me is how much talent can flow from someone who is so fucked up in her demons, her behavior, and the stultifying affect of the chemistry she consumes.
Take a moment to watch
this performance from last September. Notice that this is not some lip-synching bimbo. Yes she already shows signs of self-destruction with the bee-do, the tatts and the emaciation of an eating disorder and drugs. But notice that this soulful and inspired performance is unassisted by any electronics. It is a naked performance backed up by a quiet guitarists "comping" the jazz chords she wrote, while she sings the words that she wrote.
As I said in a previous post, you might not relate to the style. The secret to understanding it is that this is not so much singing as it is voice as jazz instrument through which emotions are conveyed through poetic words of pain.
The question is, if this is not talent, then how can it sell. It is not packaged or produced or hyped in any way. The words, music and style are not like anything out there today, yet she wins Grammys and such. People like it because it is genuine. And I am sure that her popularity is not due to her lifestyle. People might pretend to admire it, but most people just see a train wreck in progress. It makes good tabloids, but tabloid readers are not jazz fans.
, atleast they knew how to hide it when they were on stage.
