Amy Winehouse - Wonderful Woman No. 109

Amy Winehouse - 1983–2011
British Singer, Songwriter and Record Label Owner

Added to the album by Gemma, A Wonderful Woman

So much love for Amy XXX
Gemma

That's who i was going to suggest.
Jessica, Another Wonderful Woman

Writing this and thinking about Amy Winehouse, I still feel moved and saddened about her untimely death less than twelve months ago. From Billie Holiday - Wonderful Woman No. 4 to Marianne Faithfull - Wonderful Woman No. 95, I have written in this collection of Wonderful Women many times about how immensely talented women, women who have had the power to influence, inspire and empower other women, have sometimes struggled to control their own lives.

Often, Amy seems defined by her addictions and turbulent personal life. Indeed, this was a huge aspect of the person she was and it would seem foolish not to acknowledge that this troubled life, the dark thoughts and the chaotic moments were poured into her songwriting and, perhaps, she would not have been quite so wonderful if her life had been different. I define her wonderfulness through her amazing and unique musical talent though, and for that unmistakable voice, filled with passion, and melancholy; timeless, beautiful, special.

A voice that was filled with such power and pain that it was at once entirely human yet laced with the divine... She was a fucking genius.
Russell Brand

Amy received a guitar as a gift at the age of thirteen. She began to write songs and not long after, while still a teenager she began to perform at various events in London. She was signed to her first record company in 2002 and released her debut album Frank the following year. Her second album Back to Black was released in 2006, it brought her international success and stardom and a string of top ten singles. Her final album Lioness: Hidden Treasures was only released after her death. Her music and skills as a songwriter has received wide critical acclaim and an enormous amount of awards, including six Grammys, four Ivor Novello Awards and a string of Brit Awards.

In 2009, Amy launched her own record label, Lioness.

When Amy's death was announced on the news, I don't mind saying a shed a few tears for this vulnerable, troubled woman with the powerful, enigmatic voice. I presented a specialist soul music radio show on local radio at the time and featured Amy as a spotlight artist in tribute, the week she died, as I said on the show at the time, someone like Amy never really dies because true talent and a voice like that will last forever. And for that, she was and is truly a Wonderful Woman.

Girls talk to each other like men talk to each other. But girls have an eye for detail.
Amy Winehouse