Amy Winehouse: A Princess of Ska

[Historian]

Like several other other young music superstars, Amy Winehouse’s untimely death still has some of us pondering what could have been.

I hope you enjoy this ska rendition of “Our Day Will Come” by the late, talented Amy Winehouse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYRbzGi8Rg

(This song, by the way, was originally a Number One hit in 1963 for Ruby and the Romantics.)

[Historian]

Correction: Reggae

Now, this rhythm is interesting because it has a distinct ska feel (the rhythmic accent by the drummer and also the horns being an integral part of the rhythm section), but at the same time it is much slower than ska. A close listen will reveal a distinct early reggae feel.

Here’s a different Amy Winehouse video of the same song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EChd0L3xutE

[Peter R]

ah ohh! I was wondering where the ska ting came in... ALWAYS loved Amy Winehouse's rendition of this song!

[Historian]

True

ah ohh! I was wondering where the ska ting came in... ALWAYS loved Amy Winehouse's rendition of this song!

True, Peter . I also remembered that either you or Exile posted a link for Amy Winehouse’s version of Toots’ “Monkey Man” (live performance backed by Jools and his Orchestra) after we learnt of her death.

That was the first time I was hearing her version of that song, and I loved it. Her life was so tragic!

Looking at this thread, I’m not sure why I got confused between ska and reggae (lol)! This is so unlike me.

I haven’t seen Exile post in quite a while, I hope things are okay with him.

[Historian]

Friday Night Party

I’m currently listening to Bob Marley & the Wailer’s “Concrete Jungle” (from the excellent “Babylon By Bus” live album), but I nevertheless want to “start” this evening’s Friday party with a replay of the Amy Winehouse record above.

Real music lovers only are invited!

[Peter R]

Exile finally working for a living! what a ting when you retire!!! Seriously, Exile de bout and only lives less than ten minutes drive from me but we hardly link these days... last time we "limed" was during WC in the qualifying stages...

[Peter R]

You would also like her version of "Cupid"... here is a live performance of it at minute 11:30, at Glastonbury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6J8GaheKw

You and Mosiah might like this with Adele :http://www.youtube.com/embed/ic-YfB9zw8g?autoplay=1

[Historian]

Thanks, Boss

You would also like her version of "Cupid"... here is a live performance of it at minute 11:30, at Glastonbury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6J8GaheKw

You and Mosiah might like this with Adele :http://www.youtube.com/embed/ic-YfB9zw8g?autoplay=1

Thanks for this Amy Winehouse link, Peter! In addition to “Cupid” (which I enjoyed) I listened to all of the other songs on this live set.

I’ve loved this girl’s work since I first heard her many years ago. On this live performance she appears quite a bit…. Well let me not say it.

Such a tragic loss!

Also, I sometimes wonder if mainstream reggae has lost a possible international leading force. Sure, we have truly gifted female reggae singers, people like Etana, Marcia Griffiths, Kris Kelli, Tanya Stephens, Pam Hall, and others, but they have nowhere near the international reach that Amy Winehouse has!

[Peter R]

..you could say "tipsy" I had a link to another of her Glastonbury concerts and "tipsy" would have been putting it mildly... the back up singers had to be supporting her; which makes you wonder at her musical genius as she still delivered her material albeit with some help to keep her vertical... BTW that link was deleted for copyright, and not this one? anyway...

So much of genius is "flawed" or "troubled" (dare I say Robin Williams?); I believe though that those flaws in many cases go hand in hand with the persona; "judge not lest ye be judged"

[Sir X]

Nice concery by Amy, she has always been a ska/reggae lover.I was impressed when she did that cover.