Amy Winehouse's best collaborations
- Text by Alex Robert Ross
The first full-length trailer for Asif Kapadia’s long-awaited Amy Winehouse biopic Amy dropped online yesterday. It’s already received heaps of critical acclaim at Cannes and if you get as choked up after two-and-a-bit minutes as Huck HQ did, your chances of sitting through the whole film without bawling are slim.
Hounded for years by a nasty press that swiftly moved to revere her in death, Winehouse’s story, it seems, will only be given full voice through Kapadia’s exploration. That seems fitting for an artist never afraid of a creative alliance. Here are some of the late singer’s best collaborations:
‘It’s My Party’ w/ Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones’ first met Amy Winehouse backstage at Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday celebrations in London where Winehouse was so thrilled that she got down on her knees and kissed Jones’ hand. When Jones asked if she’d like to collaborate on a new record, Winehouse asked to remake Jones’ breakthrough hit as a producer, ‘It’s My Party’. Winehouse inevitably brings a bratty charm to the track that Leslie Gore’s innocent 1963 track lacked in hindsight. Jones’ production, of course, still stands up.
‘Little Smoke’ w/ Nas
Winehouse had already dedicated a song to Nas before meeting the Queens rapper. The slow swing of Back to Black‘s ‘Me and Mr Jones’ got the two of them talking and eventually led to two solid collaborations: ‘Cherry Wine’ and ‘Little Smoke’. Both tracks hold up well, but ‘Like Smoke’ is the superior track. Nas is on much better form, Winehouse’s vocals are given relatively free reign and, most importantly, the track has the feel of a genuine collaboration rather than a decent remix.
‘Love Is A Losing Game’ w/ Prince
It can’t be easy to collaborate with Prince. First of all, he might be the greatest rock musician of all time (go listen to Dirty Mind, don’t even try to disagree.) He’s also a notoriously difficult individual who plays huge stadiums, so getting up on stage and playing one of your own songs with him is probably intimidating. You can hear some of that in Winehouse’s voice at the start of ‘Love Is A Losing Game’, but she’s over it pretty quickly, bringing a soft touch to the diminutive genius’ brash arrangement. When she leaves the stage, Prince tells the crowd ” I got tears… I’m gonna have to get my shades on.” Amy Winehouse made Prince cry. Muse on that for a while.
‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ w/ Jools Holland & Paul Weller
Admittedly, this collaboration shouldn’t make half as much sense as it does. Jools Holland, though, does have a certain talent for bringing unlikely, talented folks together. Holland’s piano is inoffensive and Weller’s voice even brings some soul here, but the stage belongs to Winehouse, in perfect control of her voice, ducking and diving each bar, joyously drifting through the whole thing as if oblivious to the presence of anyone else on stage.
Latest on Huck
“I refuse to accept child poverty is a normal part of our society”: Apsana Begum MP on voting to scrap the cap
After seeking to “enhance” the King’s Speech by voting for the scrapping of the controversial two child benefit cap, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse lost the Labour Whip.
Written by: Apsana Begum
Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?
With skate’s inclusion in the Olympics, Kyle Beachy asks what it means for the culture around the sport, and whether it’s possible to institutionalise an artform.
Written by: Kyle Beachy
Autism cannot be cured — stop trying
A questionable study into the ‘reversal’ of autism does nothing but reinforce damaging stereotypes and harm, argues autistic author Jodie Hare.
Written by: Jodie Hare
Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition
After the success of it’s inaugural run, the festival returns this autumn with exhibitions, education and community programmes exploring a world in constant motion through still image.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence
New photobook ‘Say Less’ is a complex yet humanising look into a life wrecked by gun violence and organised crime.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography
A new exhibition brings together Janette Beckman’s visionary and boundary pushing images of an era of cultural change and moral panic.
Written by: Miss Rosen