It's about time I asked, Amy Winehouse?? Really?!

Been a while since I wrote anything on this humble page of mine, but considering im now on the verge of being a university student of music journalism, i should get back into the habit of writing. Therefore, this gives you the reader (all one of you...Dad!) a chance to hear my views on a certain artiste that is clogging up the airwaves, and the press, and for a change its not Mr Doherty!

The singer in question goes by the name of Amy Winehouse. I'm sure you've heard of her. Everyone else has. And oddly enough, they all seem to love her too. Whether its her 'amazing voice', 'brilliant songs', 'daring public image', i dont know. Either way, I'm at a loss. Because I just dont see any of it. Controversial maybe? To openly say that one of the biggest stars in Britain, if not the world, is in my opinion, a bit shite? Hell, thats what this job* is about!

Okay, I admit, if I'm going to make a claim like this, I better back it up with some kind of evidence hadn't I? Well, allow me to begin. Her voice. Brilliant some people say, Refreshing others, unlike anything else. How come then, I find that I cannot understand a word she says because every note has a warble or some kind of...excess, that prevents it being heard? I know that I cant really talk when it comes to not understanding what vocalists are saying with some of my music tastes, but still! At least with even the more common examples of Modest Mouse, or even Dylan, there is some musical intrigue too.

I suppose one of the other things that bothers me, is that, in a similar sense to Doherty a few years ago, there is a media intrigue to her because of public bust ups with family members (Yeah, he wants to send you to Rehab, cos you're on smack and he's looking out for you!) or husbands (you dont need to sing about it, I really do know that you're no good!) and the whole being-on-drugs-and-still-making-music...thing. Dont get me wrong, drugs and music can be a beautiful combination! Just look at Dark Side! But when it becomes more about the drugs than the music, but still they end up on front pages of Magazines, and above headliners on festival t-shirts (as if Amy should have been above Kings and Jay Zizzle!) while everyone else is left in the shadows, then it starts to get to me! Particularly considering the lack of, in my opinion, real talent.

I've heard people say that she is so good because of the uniqueness of her style. It being a sort of hybrid of pop, soul and jazz, which is only really being matched by the likes of Duffy, and that because this style of music was originally only being done by black people, then it shows great creativity or bravery or something, but i dont really see how that makes someone good. I mean, people still dont like Eminem, being one of the very few white artists in his genre. I just dont see how what goes for one person, does not for another, and vice versa. 

I know that to some people who read this (if this was put out to a mass audience) would still disagree. Would still think that she's 'got balls' (as she said about Jay-Z in a field in Pilton recently) But thats their opinion, im not trying to change minds, hell, im not Hitler. I just hope that some people will see the other side of the argument. See that perhaps she is just a smackhead who cant sing and has hair that is taller than her! Or maybe not. Either way, just dont ever play that godawful cover of 'Valerie' near me!

But wait, that was by Mark Ronson wasn't it? *rolls eyes*

*I realise I dont actually have a job in this yet, but hey, I'm practicing!