July 23rd marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of iconic and eclectic Jewish singer and songwriter from North London, Amy Winehouse. She was the owner of a powerfully unique voice, which made her the first British female artist to win five prestigious Grammy awards. She was the gateway for female artists at the Glastonbury festival. Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women, who have her back. The emblematic style of Amy Winehouse (beehive hairdo and Cleopatra makeup) was in honour of the 1960s American girl band the Ronettes. She was inspired by many big R&B and jazz names, such as Billie Holiday, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. On the other hand, Amy Winehouse is an influence on many current pop divas, such as Adele and Lady Gaga. Her story was brought to life in the following documentaries, Amy (Asif Kapadia, 2015), Amy Winehouse: A final goodbye (Maureen Goldthorpe, 2016), Reclaiming Amy (Marina Parker, 2021) and Back to Black (Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2024).
After Amy Winehouse’s death by alcohol poisoning, many fans blame the press exposure, her father, and her ex-husband. The three aforementioned documentaries give the audience various different angles on her story, each focusing on different perspectives, and suggesting a different “culprit” for her eventual demise. Amy tries to tell her story by using lyrics of her songs, linking with the footage and voiceover from people who were related to her both professionally and personally. Amy Winehouse: the Final Goodbye shows the media perspective (show business reporters) and psychological analysis of her case. On the other hand, Reclaiming Amy shows a version of her that only her family and close friends knew, and shares a collection of unique memories focusing on the family’s mourning.
Before choosing any side, it is important to be aware of the manipulation when watching any documentaries mentioned. The audience can easily fall into the trap of photographic ‘literalism’, which is a belief that the camera can give us the whole truth. It is fundamental to highlight that the truth and reality are uncapturable, especially when the documentaries’ central character is dead. The documentaries can be manipulated by their filmmakers by creating a convincing narrative when they unify reports from interviewees and cherry-pick certain footage which suits their desired narrative. It is noteworthy that part of the editing process is to use particular techniques to cause certain effects on the audience, to make them feel a certain way. Furthermore, it can be tricky to confirm a documentary’s accuracy, especially if it involves other people recounting historic anecdotes, as they are based merely on memory. Also, it is essential to consider that daily technological advancement allows hyperreality to happen.
Beyond the obvious, the documentaries share similar and relevant themes that are important to emphasise such as mental health, drug addiction, self-harming, and food disorder (bulimia). Before Generation Z, such subject matters were considered taboo and lived under the shadows of society, tormenting poor human souls. Amy Winehouse was one of these victims, but she transformed her inner pain into art. Additionally, Amy was bound by her tumultuous, destructive and at times obsessive relationship with her ex-husband, whereby they could not live with or without one another. In some ways, she shares a resemblance with the French well-known Chanson 1940s singer Édith Piaf. Both were vulnerable individuals and used their compulsions to relieve the pain. Besides, Amy lived with the pressure of being famous with unrelenting paparazzi and the pain of mourning her beloved grandma Cynthia. The addition of the elements mentioned above contributed to her death. Furthermore, I would dare to say that she was killed by society in a sense; society’s mistreatment and silence towards mental health and alcoholism proved extremely harmful to many, tragically this extends to Amy. Luckily, Generation Z is more politically and socially progressive, deconstructing countless taboos and prejudices left by previous age groups. For example, during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the American young athlete Simone Biles dropped out of the team final and women’s individual all-around in order to prioritise her mental health.
Unfortunately, Amy Winehouse died at a young age, part of the tragic 27 Club, but her legacy will always be remembered as one of the most influential female artists of all time, renowned for her unique vocal range, original style, and eclectic songs. These particularities allowed her to leave an irreplaceable mark in the history of music, influencing many well-known contemporary artists. Her family created the Amy Winehouse Foundation. It is a British registered charity that aims to help the lives of young people in making informed choices about drugs and alcohol and offering a safe place for women to recover from their dependence. As a result, she inspired many addicted women posthumously. Reclaiming Amy briefly mentions her bisexuality, something she never kept from the public:
“There is something about being with a woman that is very satisfying. I don’t care what people think about me being bi – I do what feels good.” (Pink News, 2010)
A close friend of hers added:
“Most women can appreciate another woman’s beauty but Amy definitely takes that to the next level.” (Hindustan Times, 2010)
In the 2010s, acceptance of the LGBTIQA+ was slowly increasing in many parts of the world and marriage for same-sex couples was a recurrent debate in many nations. Amy Winehouse rightly so revealed her individuality and was not afraid to be herself even if that meant standing out from the crowd. Sadly she lived for only 27 years, but she left her unique sparkle worldwide and that will be alive forever.
In late August 2023, her autobiography "Amy Winehouse: In Her Words" will be published, featuring exclusive pictures from her childhood and teenage years, along with letters, poems, and journal entries.
On January 11, a teaser for a biopic titled "Back to Black" caused a stir on social media, focusing on the 27-year comet that was Amy Winehouse. The preview suggests an approach similar to Asif Kapadia's documentary, establishing from the very first second, "I don't write songs to be famous. I write songs because I don't know what I'd do if I didn't."
The camera is Amy's emotional mindset. The background features the titular song, accompanied by snapshots from her life, creating a poignant connection with the dark lyrics and visuals set in a grey environment. The contrast between chaotic crowds and paparazzi in the shadows versus her paradisiacal immersion in the world of alcohol and drugs bathed in golden hues is striking. Solitude is portrayed in dark lights, while fond personal relationships with family and her former husband are illuminated in bright lighting. Though the bittersweet aftertaste, back to black. However, the movie has been criticised due to its portrayal of Amy Winehouse, scapegoats her, while media, her father and former spouse are free of guilt.
Comments