Posts Tagged ‘Amy Winehouse’

September 14th would have been Amy Winehouse’s birthday, and in her memory, her “Body and Soul” duet with Tony Bennett debuted on what would have been Amy’s 28th. In our salute to Ms. Winehouse, we have the beautiful song and video here. We also look at songs from artists whose collaborations were released after their passing. Happy Birthday, Amy, and Happy Birthday to me (shameless plug…Amy and I have the SAME bday)!

Around about the same time Diddy became the Master of Music Sampling, he rocked hip hop with “It’s All About the Benjamins” remix. Released 3 months after The Notorious B.I.G.’s murder, Biggie’s finale verse provides the perfect ending to a rap classic.

Singer Natalie Cole honored her late father by remaking timeless tune, “Unforgettable,” as a duet with her dad.

Nat King Cole’s soothing voice can never be duplicated, but the daddy-daughter collaboration is a precious reminder of the late jazz singer’s lasting legacy.

Lisa Marie Presley had her own daddy daughter duo when she teamed up with Elvis in 2007 to remake his 1969 hit, “In the Ghetto.”

No matter how old the song, Michael Jackson hits have an energy that make you dance and sing as if they were newly released.

Mike’s feel-good music influenced singer, Akon, to record “Hold My Hand” in 2008. Unfortunately, the King of Pop died before the track’s release, so the song was included on Jackson’s posthumous album, Michael.

What are some of your favorite duets from artists – past and present? Comment below, and be sure to check back often for more of the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity.

Now that we’ve all come down from our Twitter high, let’s recap last night’s VMAs using more than 140 characters!

Not to specify names (ahem, my very own sister), but there are some hardcore anti-Lady Gaga people among us. Beware because the anti-Gaga faction has as much steam behind it as do her little Monsters. And after her VMA performance last night, the chasm has officially widened.

Whether you consider Gaga’s VMA, male alter-ego submersion to be ridiculous or genius, it was certainly engaging.

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s performance of single, “Otis,” was about as uneventful and uninteresting as its video. C-. But since I love Otis Redding, used to be slightly obsessed with Jay, and respect Kanye’s music, I’ll grade it a (reluctant) B. However, Jay-Z is X months away from being a new daddy and Beyonce’ is his baby’s mama, so okaaaay…I give it an A+.

Nicki Minaj has assumed lots of roles lately; Hip Hop’s newest Princess, YMCMB Sweetheart, and the music biz’s very own life-sized cartoon character. She’s got a shiny new Moon Man to decorate her colorful world since “Super Bass” snagged the award for Best Hip Hop Video.

I tip my pink-colored wig to Katy Perry and Kanye for winning Best Collaboration for “E.T.” This confirmed that I’m not the only one who gets upset when the radio plays the original version instead of the remix. Attention Radio Stations: It’s a remix for a reason. Play it.

Whenever I start making enough money to pay someone to sing my emotions to me, Adele is so hired. She brought the house down with nothing but a microphone, a piano accompaniment, and years of raw emotion. Simply dynamic.

Full of theatrics and several minutes of aerial acrobatics, Chris Brown’s set was one of the night’s most superb performances. But did anyone else find it curious that TLC’s “Scrubs” was the song the house band performed immediately after C Breezy performed?

By the way, Jessie J and her ensemble were a positively fantastic house band! Whenever I can afford to pay a live cover band to sing the soundtrack of my life, I’m ringing Jessie J, and I will demand she bring that white chair.

I will not apologize for having a crush on Russell Brand. He was very matter-of-fact but charming and compassionate when introducing Amy Winehouse’s tribute. “Valerie” is one of my fave Amy Winehouse songs, so kudos to Bruno Mars for his excellent rendition.

The competitors didn’t stand a chance against Katy Perry’s “Firework” in the Music Video of the Year category. And using YouTube view counts as my parameter, Perry won fair and square (Bruno Mars’ YouTube views of “Grenade” were a mere 202 million, about 27 million short of Perry’s).

Leave it to MTV to ice the cake with a MONSTER of a closer by Lil Wayne. His performance, complete with animal print skinny jeans and skater kid shoes, makes it clear that “Toonchies” is a rock star trapped in a rapper’s body. Although, according to Wayne, I’m not supposed to call him Toonchies. Wonder what happens since I did.

A lot of cool moments from this year’s VMAs. What were some of your faves? Comment below and be sure to check back often for more of the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity!

Like it was yesterday, I remember quite vividly falling in love with Amy Winehouse’s sound and music.

While driving through the city with a couple girlfriends, out of nowhere, one of them starts singing, “No, no, no!”  I recognized those “No’s” as the same ones I’d been skimming past whenever I heard them on the radio. Therefore, I missed the memo that a pint-sized, British misfit with pipes for days was infiltrating the music scene on both sides of the pond.

Within the hour, “Rehab” sneaked its way onto my car radio, and instead of skipping past it, I finally gave the song a chance.

Instantaneously, I became an Amy Winehouse fan.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I was walking into a record store on Hollywood Blvd to buy my very own copy of Back to Black. “Just Friends” and “You Know I’m No Good” became fast faves of mine.

Rugged truthfulness was the color of Amy’s vocals even when she sang covers like, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”  That same sincerity is found throughout her original music as she sings stories of love, personal struggles, and heartache.

Despite our fascination with Amy’s controversy-riddled private life, much respect goes to Ms. Winehouse for turning her turmoil into the brilliant songs that helped revive soul and R&B.

Amy Winehouse

9/14/1983 – 7/23/2011

A stunning Amy Winehouse cleaned up her act when she appeared in court in London. The case stems from a September 2008 incident when 27-year-old Sherene Flash accused Winehouse of hitting her after she approached Winehouse for a photo op.

The judge, however, acknowledged that he could not be certain that the “assault” wasn’t an accident on Winehouse’s part, and dismissed all charges. A subdued Winehouse was dressed in business attire while in court, but immediately changed into a black leather jacket and skinny black jeans before even leaving the courthouse. Hmmm, hopefully this is just a wardrobe change and not indicative of Amy returning to her old ways.

It’s now officially 2009, and you know what that means: New Year’s resolutions. But, we aren’t the only ones who make resolutions – celebrities do too. Most probably want to lose weight or quit smoking like most people do; but, here’s Positively Celebrity’s ideas for how celebrities can improve their lives and careers in 2009.

Expectant moms like Jennifer Garner and “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Chyler Leigh:

Name babies normal names instead of the crazy baby names of 2008 like Ashlee Simpson’s son, Bronx Mowgli, and Gwen Stefani’s son, Zuma Nesta Rock.

Screen Actors Guild members and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers:

Come to a resolution regarding DVD residuals and online video so there will not be another strike like the 100-day writer’s strike in late 2007 and early 2008 that halted production of scripted shows and brought an onslaught of tacky reality shows.

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan:

Follow Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s lead in “Revolutionary Road” by reuniting one of America’s favorite on-screen couples.

Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron:

Take advantage of your fortunate successes of starring in 2008’s “Twilight” and “High School Musical 3” by not screwing up like many other young newly minted movie stars. Ahem Shia LaBeouf and Lindsay Lohan.

The “Friends” cast:

Reunite for a successful big-screen adaptation of their show like the women of “Sex and the City” did in 2008.

Shows like “Heroes” and “Grey’s Anatomy”:

Cut the convoluted and crazy storylines and remind us why we initially loved them.

Mike Myers, Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, Amy Winehouse, and Janet Jackson:

Plan a comeback for 2009. The kind of comebacks that Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Tom Cruise, and Britney Spears all enjoyed in 2008.

Long time couples like Fergie and Josh Duhamel, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, Amy Adams and Darren Legallo, and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ross McCall:

Get married in 2009 and upstage the 2008 nuptials of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, and Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.

Amy Winehouse didn’t show up at a performance in Paris on Friday night, reps stating she was too sick to perform.

Here’s the thing: That just might be true, especially if reports are accurate that she does indeed have emphysema, and if it’s taken a turn for the worse.

But here’s the other thing: one of Amy’s reps is reported as saying (I’m paraphrasing here), ‘It ain’t serious enough to go to the hospital. She’s just in bed and can’t sing.’ To which I say: BOGUS! The rest of us report in for duty when we’re “under the weather.”

Get with the program, Amy! People pay a LOT to see you make an arse of yourself onstage – and you have an obligation not to disappoint.” On the other hand, if by chance you really are sick and end up in the hospital, then disregard anything written here.

What is the most recent news on Amy Winehouse?  Fans of the British singer/songwriter are hoping she is recovering after her recent stint in the hospital.

Winehouse has reportedly been writing songs for her next album and has been working with producer Mark Ronson, who produced her Grammy-winning album “Back To Black”.

There has also been talk of her collaborating on songs with a diverse range of artists like George Michael, British rock group Babyshambles, reggae artist Damian Marley and even Prince.

Winehouse’s legal and medical woes have been well-documented, but she recently characterized herself as “eating loads of healthy food, sleeping loads, playing my guitar, making music and writing letters to my husband every day.”  Her family has also expressed the hopes that she will take some time off to get her affairs in order.

Fans hope she’ll be back in top form sooner rather than later.