Natalie Cole on Amy Winehouse
Natalie Cole doesn’t approve of Amy Winehouse’s Grammy nods.
“I’m going on record as an artist who is able to critique [Amy Winehouse]. I think she has a great talent, but I don’t agree with the Grammys giving her those nods. I think it sends the wrong message, that even in the midst of her stupor of drugs she can get nominated for all these awards. It’s a slap in the face to musicians and artists who work very hard that they turn around and give it to someone who really obviously doesn’t have a grasp of what she has. I’ve been in this business over 25 years and I sacrificed five years of my own life on drugs and almost lost my life because of it. So I take great offence to almost see someone getting glory out of being in the position that they’re in – she needs to get her life together and embrace her craft, she will lose it if she doesn’t get it together.”
You know, as much as I love me some Amy, I do understand Natalie’s point. Amy Winehouse spent most of 2007 in a drugged out stupor. But are the Grammys here to reward good behavior or good music? Is the award for “Song of the Year” or “drug addict of the year?”
I do agree we shouldn’t glorify people who behave badly, especially those who do drugs or worse. Amy made some very bad decisions this year and I’m not minimizing that at all. She overdosed, was videotaped smoking crack and more. The award is all about the music though, not the drugs. Amy’s love for her music does show through. If she gets her stuff together she’ll be a force to be reckoned with. If the Grammy’s refused to give awards to people with substance abuse problems, 90% of the people who have Grammys on their shelves would have to give them back.
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1 opinion for Natalie Cole on Amy Winehouse
Gerard
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I totally disagree Deb. Amy created one of the best albums a lot of people had heard in ages. I don’t think it’s overstating the point to say Back To Black is a modern classic.
So Amy couldn’t handle the sudden adulation the album brought. She imploded in the glare of a thousand paparazzi flash bulbs. But she’s not being rewarded for that - she’s being rewarded for her creativity.
Looking at it from a positive viewpoint, I’d hope that the recognition of her hard work reminds her why she got into music in the first place and we don’t see any more nasty crack pipe videos!
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