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Posts Tagged “amy winehouse”

happy birthday, mr. president

Mandela B-Day Party To Feature Amy Winehouse And Leona Lewis--But No Eminem?

Amy Winehouse with a bloody nose and a tit out singing "Happy Birthday" in her best Marilyn Monroe—what 90-year-old man wouldn't be flattered by that? Winehouse and/or Leona Lewis will hopefully turn a former political prisoner's dream into reality when they perform at Nelson Mandela's birthday jam on June 27. Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, and Sun City entertainers Queen will also perform, but there's still no confirmation of Eminem's rumored performance. Allegedly the organizers "want to take both Mandela and the audience by surprise." Ooh, think Shady will jump out of a cake? More »

Amy Winehouse will not be singing the theme to the next James Bond movie, Quantum Of Solace, because producer Mark Ronson is "not sure she's ready to work on music yet." Winehouse's spokesperson is disputing this claim, saying that the recording sessions fizzled because of "artistic differences." Whichever side is right, the Web producer who put together the linked article and its photo should get some sort of "Not Very Subtly Indicating Which Side Of The Argument He's On Through Photo Editing" award for today. Yeesh. [Press Association]

Amy Incarcerated (For Now, At Least)
Amy Winehouse has been arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of assault after stopping by the police station to be interrogated about a pair of incidents: "The 24-year-old has reportedly been accused of headbutting a man who tried to help by hailing her a taxi outside a bar. She was also alleged to have punched a second man in the face in the early hours of Wednesday." [Sky / Photo: AP]

people who have more money than you

The Young Music Millionaires List: Being The Son Of A Beatle Really Gives You That Added Boost

I'm not sure what the motivations behind making these lists were—maybe they just want to turn everyone off of feeling like they need to pay for music ever again?—but the UK's Sunday Times has released its lists of Young Music Millionares and Britain's Top Music Millionaires, and boy do they make me feel crummy about my bank balance. Perhaps fittingly, given these tough times for the biz, topping the Young list is George Harrison's son/Wu-Tang collaborator Dhani (pictured), who seems to have something of a head start on his competition and is worth £160 million, while behind him is Vanessa-Mae Nicholson (£32 million), a violin player who calls her music "techno-acoustic fusion" and who turns 30 this year so if this list was made after her birthday she wouldn't even make the big list, where the bar for entry is £125 million. Also in the top ten of the under-30 list: the three non-Chris Martin members of Coldplay, each of whom is worth £30 million (Martin is 31 so he's disqualified from the big board, alas); Karen Elson and Jack White, who bring in a combined £25 million; Katie Melua, who I mainly know as "that woman who did that stupid underwater concert stunt" but who parlayed that into an £18 million fortune; Amy Winehouse, whose presence on the list causing everyone to break out the "at least crack is cheap" jokes; and, separately, Joss Stone and Craig David, which just goes to show you that at least the Brits are loyal. Both lists after the jump, if you want to get really depressed (just thinking about how big the pile of money Andrew Lloyd Webber is sitting on is not helping my morning). More »

As if she hasn't been battling herself enough these days, Amy Winehouse will face off against Amy Winehouse in the "Best Song Musically & Lyrically" category of this year's Ivor Novello Awards, which are given to UK songwriters and composers who pass muster with their peers. Going up against "Love Is A Losing Game" and "You Know I'm No Good" is the very Rod Stewarty "Let Me Out" by Ben's Brother, which could win if Winehouse splits the vote, Lord help us. Other nominees include Kate Nash, Klaxons, a band named Cherry Ghost that could pass for Coldplay in a blind taste test, and that awful ringtoney Beyonce/Shakira collaboration. Click on Amy for the list of nominees that have been announced so far.

casting calls

Amy Winehouse To Sully British Favorite

As the saying goes, "When you fail at maintaining a career in music due to substance abuse problems, there's always long-running BBC science-fiction shows to fall back on." It's an oddly specific saying, but it seems as if Amy Winehouse has taken it to heart. The perpetually frazzled singer will play The Rani, "a rogue Time Lord," in the season (or series, if you're British) finale of Doctor Who, the beloved BBC show that's kind of like Star Trek, but with more sweater vests. More »

From the "Your Continuing Existence Actually Refutes Your Own Claim" department: "The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards has warned Amy Winehouse off drugs, stating that she 'isn't going to be around long if she doesn't stop." [NME]

the biz

Perez Hilton Fiddles While We All Burn

Perez Hilton will one day be a nice shorthand for something fundamental about these heady years before the economy finally crashes and burns. For now, however, dude is just really annoying.

It is rumored that Amy Winehouse's debut on the Billboard Top 10 album charts couldn't have happened without his help — he dedicated more than 30 posts to her talents in the months leading up to her CD's release.

So OK, this is like Idolator taking credit for American Idol's ratings, not to mention the fact that Back To Black sold all of 50,000 units in its first week. But since Perez is the media equivalent of the caricature that makes you realize you have a big nose, this proclamation also points out a flaw in the biz itself.

More »

100 and single

An Amy Winehouse Hit (No, Not That One) Gets A Second Chart Life

Chris "dennisobell" Molanphy, our resident chart guru, looks at the upward, downward, and lack of movement on this week's Billboard charts:

One of the top debuts on this week's Billboard's Hot 100 might look a little old: Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good," which 11 months ago marked her first appearance on any U.S. chart, reenters at No. 77, instantly surpassing its original peak.

Winehouse's return is, of course, sparked by her appearance at last week's Grammy Awards, where she pummeled her way through a nerve-wracking twofer of "No Good" and "Rehab." The winner of the Record and Song of the Year trophies, "Rehab" would seem to be the likeliest post-Grammy chart beneficiary. But the quirks of Billboard chart rules make the Ghostface-backed "No Good" look like the winning jam.

That's because Billboard hates to let big recurrent hits clog up the chart after they've had their turn.

More »

Perhaps realizing that a nu-rave version of "Umbrella" and the Osbournes serving as hosts wouldn't give their 2008 show that much-needed ratings boost from rubberneckers, the people behind tomorrow night's Brit Awards have announced that Amy Winehouse will perform with Mark Ronson on the broadcast. [NME / Photo: AP]

everybody's a winner (except kanye west and amy winehouse and the foo fighters and vince gill)

The Grammys' Album Of The Year Upset: Who Should Have Won?

Judging by the reactions from my living room, my instant-messenger conversations, and the comments section on our Grammy liveblog, people were more than a little surprised when the Album Of The Year winner was announced... and said winner wasn't Kanye West or Amy Winehouse, but Herbie Hancock, whose Joni Mitchell homage River: The Joni Letters took home the night's final prize. I actually wasn't too surprised by Hancock's victory—to quote myself, "if you didn't at least think that Herbie Hancock paying tribute to Joni Mitchell would sway at least half the people who voted for Steely Dan over Eminem a few years back you haven't been paying attention"—but apparently a lot of people were! (Perhaps they forgot that Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae and Tina Turner and Leonard Cohen were also on the album.) So let's put it to all of you: If you had a vote in the Grammy balloting, what would you have chosen as this Grammy year's Album Of The Year? Poll after the jump. More »

breaking

Amy Winehouse Granted Visa, Still Not Coming To The States For Grammys

Now the word is that Amy Winehouse has been granted a visa by the U.S. Government—but she won't be making the trip to Los Angeles for Sunday's Grammy Awards, probably because having to fly halfway around the world 48 hours prior to a big performance won't exactly make her already-rock-solid stage presence all that much better. Her rep does note, however, that she "will still be performing via satellite broadcast from London as previously announced this morning," so those trainwreck-expectant execs will still have something to pin their ratings hopes on. [TMZ / Photo: AP]

basic writing

"USA Today" Shows Us How To Write A Grammy Story Without Using The Words "Amy" And "Winehouse"

Look, we're all weary of the Amy Winehouse saga, but there's something kind of... off in this story about Grammy nominees who allegedly go against the "disposable pop" grain that doesn't mention the six-time nominee once, yet takes time out to giggle about Christopher Freakin' Cross, whose Album Of The Year/Song Of The Year/Record Of The Year/Best New Artist haul in 1980 can be matched by Winehouse on Sunday night. (For the record, the article's "Five For The Future," as picked by an expert panel that includes USA Today's critics: Miranda Lambert, Ne-Yo, Feist, Taylor Swift, and Fantasia.) More »

Even though Amy Winehouse won't be at the Grammy ceremony because of visa issues, she will, according to a well-placed source, appear on the broadcast; she'll perform via satellite and will accept any awards she receives virtually as well. Having witnessed YouTube clips of her recent awards-show appearances, I am really questioning the wisdom behind this decision, but I guess in the post-Britney-at-the-VMAs music industry the bigwigs will try any method for snagging trainwreck-hungry eyeballs. [Hollywood Insider]

Amy Winehouse is a no go for the Grammys thanks to her visa application being rejected by the U.S. Embassy in London. Ah, now we see why Kid Rock all of a sudden rates a performance slot. [Billboard]

yay, journalism!

Someone Figured Out A Way To Make The "Women In Rock" Concept Even More Offensive

I've been trying to muster up a response to this bit of Tony Sclafani-penned nonsense written under the delusion that, since this year's Best New Artist category in the Grammys is made up of female-fronted bands from tip to toe, it's time to trot out the old "Women In Rock Rock!" trope that has brought so much lazy "trend" journalism to the world in recent years. My objections have, of course, been laid out in this space: the whole idea of creating women as Others in music only serves to further cement the old patriarchal ways, if someone like Feist whose persona possesses a lot of traditionally feminine traits succeeds is it really "progress," etc., etc. But every time I try to read the damn thing, I can't get past its first line, which should probably be in some Hall Of Fame for bad lede-writing because of its blend of bubbleheadeness, press-release-ready bland hyperbole, and, uh, schoolyard taunts: More »

everybody's a winner

Michael Jackson To Stand On Stage For A To-Be-Determined Length Of Time This Sunday

With the Grammys only five days away—can you taste the excitement?—more news of who's going to appear on the Sunday night telecast has crossed the transom:

• Michael Jackson will appear onstage at Sunday night's ceremony, but he has apparently "won a stare-down" against the producers, who wanted him to perform a medley of reworked Thriller hits. So instead, he'll just... stand around? Wave his glove in the air? Who knows. The upside: The chance of an Akon appearance just dropped by about 66%. [Rush & Molloy]
• In news that is sure to excite the Oprah crowd, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban are going to duet on a Celine Dion song. Also, Fergie is performing with John Legend and John Fogerty is going to share a stage with Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. [Centre Daily]
• Amy Winehouse went to the US embassy in London yesterday in order to secure a visa for travel to the States; while her dad doesn't want her to perform because of her fragile state, her label and Grammy organizers are hoping she'll show up. Because they care that much. (NB: I don't think reporting this bit of news breaks our Winehouse embargo; Jess disagrees.) [E!]
[Photo: AP]


year-end analysis

The "Village Voice" Remembers Amy Winehouse Put Out A Record In The Last 24 Months

Well, that's it. Tag it and bag it. Unless I happen to notice a late-breaking entry from the Burlington Community Times tomorrow while getting my coffee, the publication of the Village Voice's Pazz And Jop poll marks the last of 2007's year-end lists, headed up by LCD Soundsystem (album) and Amy Winehouse (singles). Now let us never speak of either again.

THE GOOD: 2007 is over! Also Feist and Wilco were both kept out of the albums Top 10, plus an honestly surprising, kinda heartening Winehouse-over-Rihanna singles upset, if only by 4 mentions. (And even if No. 2 Rihanna spanked No. 3 "All My Friends" by a whopping 32 mentions.)
THE BAD: As with the Idolator Pop Critics Poll, Peter Bjorn and John earn a Top 10 placing on the singles list despite the evil "Young Folks" first whistling its way into our lives in 2006. Damned twee Swedes.
THE WHAAAA? Radiohead beats M.I.A. to the No. 2 albums spot despite an equal number of points, thanks to four more ballot mentions that break the tie. Not quite fraud at the polls, but clearly the electoral college is not the only voting system that needs reforming.

More »