Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Amy Winehouse: Winner of five Grammy awards 2008


Amy Winehouse won five trophies, including marquee awards for record, song and best new artiste, but could not receive these in person as she was away in London.

AMY WINEHOUSE, the anxious British soul singer with hit album ‘Rehab’, was unsuccessful to attend the 50th annual Grammy Awards in person on February 10, but she proved being a control figure nonetheless, winning five trophies as electorates kept her in a tight rivalry with the rap king Kanye West.

Winehouse won two awards out of three for the most honoured class of award, record of the year, song of the year, new artiste and two others for writing and recording of her song from her hit album ‘Rehab’, after her treatment for substance abuse. She proved her detractors wrong by performing on Grammy via satellite from London.

Looking astonished and bizarrely sad for not being there at that moment, she thanked her record label, her parents and “my Blake, my Blake incarcerated,” referring to Blake Fielder-Civil, her husband, who has been jailed for his involvement in a pub brawl.

Winehouse also won best female pop vocal performance for ‘Rehab’ and best pop vocal album for her CD ‘Back to Black’. She earned acclaim for her retro-tinged musical style, found herself facing a challenge for the top awards from Kanye West, the pioneering Chicago rapper who had twice before been nominated for album of the year and told viewers that he considered the Grammy Awards ‘his new place of residence’ where he ended up taking home four awards.

It all started by toying with her brother’s guitar, Winehouse got her first guitar when she was thirteen, and from then on she began to write music, due to which she dropped out of school, and started experimenting with drugs.

She started working as a ‘showbiz journalist’ for World Entertainment News Network in addition to singing with jazz band. It was soul singer Tyler James her ex-boyfriend, who sent her demo tape to an A&R person. The tapes gave her first break in signing with famous record label Island/Universal under Simon Fuller's company 19 Management, and to a publishing deal with EMI Music Company. With her first cheque, she moved out with Ashby.

Success was on her toes and by the year’s end, Winehouse had garnered much praise and distinction. The singer won 2008 Grammy Awards in the categories of record of the year, song of the year, and best female pop vocal performance for the single ‘Rehab’. Her album ‘Back to Black’ won the record of the year award and a nomination for album of the year.

Producer Mark Ronson’s work with her helped him to win the award in the producer of the year non-classical catagory. The singer also earned a Grammy in the best new artist category. She performed ‘You Know I’m No Good’ and ‘Rehab’ at the awards ceremony on February 10, via satellite, as her US visa approval come through too late.

It took her a long way to be where she is at present and no matter what controversy she was in, she has still made it on top.

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