Amy Winehouse?

[Dudley]

I can't think of a better example of the "Why are they famous?" question.

I remember first hearing of her 2-3 years ago when she entered rehab, which many news channels treated as "breaking news." I'm usually pretty up on Hollywood players (actors, singers and music) and I really had no idea who Amy Winehouse was. I thought I had a bit of amnesia going on. Then I thought, "well, let's see what she's famous for. Ah, she's a singer. Let me hear what she sin... wait, what? what the fuck is this? THIS is singing? This is considered music? She's famous for THIS?" Then I discover that she's immensely popular and lots of people dig her music.

I just read on CNN that she's been charged with assault. Still in the news. Why? How did this person become so damn famous?

Questions...

1. Do you like Amy Winehouse's singing?
2. How long have you known about this person?
3. Are followers generally concerned for her well-being or is she just another trainwreck that's fun to watch?

[hilarity n. suze]

The first I heard of Amy Winehouse, I was driving my kid to camp a couple of years ago (summer of 07 I think, could have been 08) and listening to the radio. We got to the point at which we can no longer hear the radio and there was this song on, I'd never heard it before and I loved it so much, I pulled the car over to the side of the road so I could continue to hear it and find out who sang it.

Well, the radio fuzzed out, so I didn't. But a couple of days later I heard it again, and that time I found out it was Amy Winehouse.

So, yeah, I considered it something pretty good. It definitely attracted my attention. It stood out from the other songs. It was "I told you I'm no good," not the rehab one. Liked the song, loved her styling.

I think she's got talent to burn, but she's burning it. She is a trainwreck. Wish it wasn't so, but that seems to be the package.

[Fish]

The first I heard of her, she was already a "whatever happened to this girl? she had such promise!" She already looked like the "after" picture of a Brain On Drugs commercial.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Fish

The first I heard of her, she was already a "whatever happened to this girl? she had such promise!" She already looked like the "after" picture of a Brain On Drugs commercial.

Yea, me too. But, there's whole fucking familes of folks that I think fit the OP's

I can't think of a better example of the "Why are they famous?" question.

better than Amy Winehouse - it seemed clear that at one point at any rate, she had some actual gig. Hiltons, Kardashians, Pratts, Hefner ex's/current g/fs all fit this concept much better.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by wring

Yea, me too. But, there's whole fucking familes of folks that I think fit the OP's better than Amy Winehouse - it seemed clear that at one point at any rate, she had some actual gig. Hiltons, Kardashians, Pratts, Hefner ex's/current g/fs all fit this concept much better.

And then there's the "accidentally famous" people: Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Octomom and Balloon boy.

And not to pile on, but Susan Boyle, too.

[wring]

I'd argue that Susan Boyle has some actual talent. As opposed to Hiltons et al.

and you missed another 'accidental' - Levi Johnson. "yea, I knocked up my g/f and her mother ran for VP, so that's a good basis for a career plan, eh?"

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by wring

Yea, me too. But, there's whole fucking familes of folks that I think fit the OP's better than Amy Winehouse - it seemed clear that at one point at any rate, she had some actual gig. Hiltons, Kardashians, Pratts, Hefner ex's/current g/fs all fit this concept much better.

See, those almost make sense to me, why they're in the spotlight. They're all rich. They'll fuck on camera and "accidentally" release it. They'll get drunk and crash their cars in front of the paparazzi (who they called). It sorta makes sense. The Amy Winehouse thing to me, at least a couple years ago, came from absolutely nowhere and was all over the news.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

And then there's the "accidentally famous" people: Sarah Palin .....

How is Sarah Paline "accidentally famous"? She was the governor of a state. Granted she is way over exposed, but she did earn some of it.

[wring]

Originally Posted by DoyleTheLover

How is Sarah Paline "accidentally famous"? She was the governor of a state. Granted she is way over exposed, but she did earn some of it.

I'd agree about the 'accidental' part. I think the average person probably knows the governor of CA, and their own, but who the hell else knows the governor of, say, Idaho?

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by wring

I'd agree about the 'accidental' part. I think the average person probably knows the governor of CA, and their own, but who the hell else knows the governor of, say, Idaho?

True. She earned a little of her notoriety.

[Lucifer]

Originally Posted by Dudley Garrett

Questions...

1. Do you like Amy Winehouse's singing?
2. How long have you known about this person?
3. Are followers generally concerned for her well-being or is she just another trainwreck that's fun to watch?

Answers...

1. Yes
2. Late 2006 or early 2007. Don't exactly remember
3. I wouldn't call myself a 'follower' ('fan' is good enough - I haven't been a 'follower' of anyone since I stalked Alanis Morrissette 'back in the day), but I think it's sort of tragic that Winehouse is such a mess.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by wring

I'd argue that Susan Boyle has some actual talent. As opposed to Hiltons et al.

and you missed another 'accidental' - Levi Johnson. "yea, I knocked up my g/f and her mother ran for VP, so that's a good basis for a career plan, eh?"

I don't argue that Susan hasn't got talent--- that voice is incredible--- but she'd still be living in seclusion if not for the show that gave her a break.

And Levi is just a "hanger on," like Kato Kaelin.

Originally Posted by DoyleTheLover

How is Sarah Paline "accidentally famous"? She was the governor of a state. Granted she is way over exposed, but she did earn some of it.

If she'd not been picked by McCain, she would've been just another governor of Alaska. How many of those can we remember?

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

If she'd not been picked by McCain, she would've been just another governor of Alaska. How many of those can we remember?

There's a certain degree of fame from being a governor and she wasn't accidentally picked by McCain. Maybe wrongly, but not accidentally.

Don't you have a house to be guarding?

[Zeener Diode]

House is fine. All's quiet.


I'm getting bored. Time to step outside and kill something.


Just kidding. But if I popped a few caps it might leave an impression, so to speak, on any would-be thieves.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

House is fine. All's quiet.


I'm getting bored. Time to step outside and kill something.


Just kidding. But if I popped a few caps it might leave an impression, so to speak, on any would-be thieves.

The gang could be closing in any minute.

[Zeener Diode]

A few rounds of scatter shot should change their minds.

[Islander]

Winehouse is, like Paris Hilton, Sarah Palin and others, famous for being famous. Plus we like seeing people crash and burn; it makes us feel sanctimonious.

[HongKongFooey]

Amy Winehouse is (or at least was) a very capable singer and performer. She's a wreck but she's more like Whitney Houston than Paris Hilton.

[Satellite^Guy]

Dudley, what did you hear by Winehouse? Was it studio work, or a live performance?
Most of the live performances I've heard of hers, yeah, I'd agree with your initial assessment. She was quite often under the influence of one substance or another (more likely many at once)
Her studio work, on the other hand, shows much talent. If she could perform live, the same as in the studio, her story would be much, much different.

[Joey P]

I don't think I heard of her until the trainwreck stories started showing up on the news, but I love her. I think she has a great voice and her style sounds like it's right out of the fifties, love it. I hope she gets herself back together and puts out some more music, IMHO she's damn talented.

[Bojangles]

I find this conversation bizarre!

I guess this must reflect the different exposure that Amy Winehouse has had in the US to the UK. She has an immense voice. Most of the comments above are bewildering to me. She is clearly a deeply troubled and very flawed character with very poor taste in friends and husband. Both sets of parents seem sometimes to be acting against her best interests, and the media will not leave her alone. Comparing her with Hefner’s girlfriends though is just incomprehensible. Does she only appear in the pages of gossip magazines over there? Does she get no airtime on the radio? How can anyone compare this to Paris Hilton?

This woman is not just a good singer - she is outstanding. She didn't arrive from nowhere and she isn't famous for being famous. She's worked her way up to the peak of the UK music scene and she's famous because there is a ghoulish interest in watching someone squander and burn such a fantastic voice. It’s true that she makes some of her live performances in a state but even then her singing is easily the match of almost any other singer one could name.

She takes a lot of drugs, drinks a lot of booze and punches one or two provincial theatre managers, and anyone that cares for real ability and values effortless talent will wish that she would just calm down a bit and grow-up a bit... and maybe she will. If she makes it through her thirties I’d expect to see her as a world class star every bit as big as Shirley Bassey or Aretha Franklin.

That’s a big if though.

[Lo-Slung Denim]

1. I love Winehouse's singing. I love the lyrics - Stronger Than Me is my personal favourite.
2. Since the release of her first album, Frank, but I don't remember when that was. Several years anyway.
3. I'm concerned for her wellbeing. She's pissing away her life and that's always sad to see.

I agree with everything Bojangles said and the Whitney comparison upthread. She's very young, maybe 26, and has the wrong people around her.

I always think it's sick when a famous person gets into drugs, and then gets the hangers-on; the people around them that keep them on the drugs so they can get their own fix for nothin'. Horrible. I see it on a smaller scale in residential drug projects - when one person gets their giro all the rest are his best friend so when he uses the money to score they'll get a look in too. Next day, forget it. On to the next vulnerable victim.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Satellite^Guy

Dudley, what did you hear by Winehouse? Was it studio work, or a live performance?
Most of the live performances I've heard of hers, yeah, I'd agree with your initial assessment. She was quite often under the influence of one substance or another (more likely many at once)
Her studio work, on the other hand, shows much talent. If she could perform live, the same as in the studio, her story would be much, much different.

Oh that must be it. I've only heard her live stuff. I'll go check out some studio tracks and see what I think.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Bojangles

I find this conversation bizarre!

I guess this must reflect the different exposure that Amy Winehouse has had in the US to the UK. She has an immense voice. Most of the comments above are bewildering to me. She is clearly a deeply troubled and very flawed character with very poor taste in friends and husband. Both sets of parents seem sometimes to be acting against her best interests, and the media will not leave her alone. Comparing her with Hefner’s girlfriends though is just incomprehensible. Does she only appear in the pages of gossip magazines over there? Does she get no airtime on the radio? How can anyone compare this to Paris Hilton?

This woman is not just a good singer - she is outstanding. She didn't arrive from nowhere and she isn't famous for being famous. She's worked her way up to the peak of the UK music scene and she's famous because there is a ghoulish interest in watching someone squander and burn such a fantastic voice. It’s true that she makes some of her live performances in a state but even then her singing is easily the match of almost any other singer one could name.

She takes a lot of drugs, drinks a lot of booze and punches one or two provincial theatre managers, and anyone that cares for real ability and values effortless talent will wish that she would just calm down a bit and grow-up a bit... and maybe she will. If she makes it through her thirties I’d expect to see her as a world class star every bit as big as Shirley Bassey or Aretha Franklin.

That’s a big if though.

Hmm, this is interesting. I don't listen to the radio much, but my general feeling is that she doesn't get the nearly same amount of airplay here as, hmm... Lily Allen.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by Dudley Garrett

Hmm, this is interesting. I don't listen to the radio much, but my general feeling is that she doesn't get the nearly same amount of airplay here as, hmm... Lily Allen.

Huh. I guess you really weren't listening to the radio about three years ago when you couldn't tune in to just about any station anywhere without hearing "Rehab" 24/7. It was on the pop/Top 40 stations, it was on the modern rock stations...it was fucking everywhere, man.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Huh. I guess you really weren't listening to the radio about three years ago when you couldn't tune in to just about any station anywhere without hearing "Rehab" 24/7. It was on the pop/Top 40 stations, it was on the modern rock stations...it was fucking everywhere, man.

I just listened to this song on YouTube. I never heard it before.

Christ, am I out of touch?

[Dudley]

OK, I listened to about 8 songs. I can see its merits, I suppose, but it's not for me.

I will say though that her studio recordings are much better than anything I heard live.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Huh. I guess you really weren't listening to the radio about three years ago when you couldn't tune in to just about any station anywhere without hearing "Rehab" 24/7. It was on the pop/Top 40 stations, it was on the modern rock stations...it was fucking everywhere, man.

There you go. I don't listen to pop/top-40 stations at all.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by Dudley Garrett

Christ, am I out of touch?

Yeah, probably.

"I used to be with it. Then they changed what 'it' was and what I was with wasn't 'it' anymore and what was 'it' seemed weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you, too!" - Abraham Simpson

[Sinfai]

1. Do you like Amy Winehouse's singing?

Yes. I like a lot of her work. Back to Black resonates for me at the moment.

2. How long have you known about this person?

First heard of her a in 2006. Saw the last performance she gave at the Brixton Academy before her meltdown. She was tottering about babbling streams of consciousness between songs and needed a nudge or two from her most excellent support singers to get on with the next number.
I seriously doubted she would hold it together for the gig but each time the band struck up she was transformed. What a voice. Sumptuous, expressive and truly moving.

3. Are followers generally concerned for her well-being or is she just another trainwreck that's fun to watch?

Some are and some not I guess.
I wouldn't class myself as a follower of any entertainer as such. As a fellow human being I'm sad to see her hell bent on self destruction. Now that she is reported to be back with her ex husband Blake I don't doubt that there will be a scrum for front row seats at the inevitable unfolding disaster.