Audio By Carbonatix
On Saturday morning, July 23, the musical industry and world lost the talented Amy Winehouse. The cause of her death is still undetermined, although it was reported Sunday evening that the singer died alone in her bed. As news of her death flooded the internet, reactions from fans and celebrities were astonishing, including a song by M.I.A. dedicated to her (and others who have passed at the age of 27). Winehouse’s album sales have increased immensely within the 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday, pushing it back onto the charts almost five years after its 2006 release.
In addition to her musical talent and unfortunate addiction problems, Winehouse was known for her signature look, which included a sky-high beehive, heavy Cleopatra eyeliner, and an array of tattoos. Much like her 1960s retro style, her tattoos follow a similar suit, so as the world says goodbye to a troubled soul, we look back on the evolution of Amy Winehouse.
Most of us don’t remember a time when Amy Winehouse was on the brink of her 20s with a voice that came from another era, but this morning an East London cabbie shared a video with the world of Winehouse at age 18.
In 2003, Winehouse stepped onto the music scene with the release of debut record Frank, introducing the world to her Nina Simone-meets-Billie Holiday sound. In an interview with MTV Italy, the singer discusses her sound, influences, the importance of London to her album, and love. At this early point in her career, she still had a very low-key look, seemed somewhat innocent, and came off quite naive to the fame that was just around the corner.
With her debut album, Frank, many of the music videos featured simple concepts, and Amy’s look was still pretty plain, even while performing live.
In 2005, the singer appeared on the Jool’s Holland Show and performed a rendition of Dinah Washington’s “Teach Me Tonight.” Although a cover song, Winehouse’s strong, soulful voice captured the true essence of the song.
