13. Amy Winehouse
I think the media had almost written Amy Winehouse off before Back To Black came out. It all went a bit quiet after Frank, and when she came back the first thing I saw was her appearance. The rumours had started in the tabloids and it was quite obvious that she was having issues. It was very, very sad. But the media couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s the album of her career and there could have been so many more.
I never met Amy, but she seemed so sweet natured and at the same time did not give a fuck. From all accounts she was so much fun and so kind and so generous, and always will be so tragic to lose her the way that we did. But the musical legacy she’s left behind is unparalleled. It’s incredible to think that she was capable of writing, recording and touring most of Back To Black in the depths of addiction. Music was her life, and I think that really came through in her songwriting and her artistic choices. She was so influenced by jazz and blues but then brought it so into a modern sound – even lyrically, it was so seamless. Back To Black is full of wonderful songs – “Rehab” “You Know I’m No Good” “Tears Dry On Their Own” “Love Is A Favourite Game”… it’s pretty much impossible to pick a favourite. She was so vulnerable, bless her heart, and it was just sublime what she did with her voice. I don’t think anyone will ever match her, really. She was one of a kind.
