“Unforgettable in every way and that’s how you’ll stay.” Nat King Cole.
Remembering Amy Winehouse feels uncomfortable. Dying alone in her Camden home a year ago to the day, at just 27, the supremely talented yet vulnerable singer/songwriter never seemed to know just how incredible she was, or how much the world adored her. A breath of exciting and fresh air, when tiny, tattooed Amy took her last, England lost a modern icon, who will never be replaced. Witty, sexy, intoxicating and breathtakingly fragile, she was raw and real. A product of her own brilliance Amy’s voice and character made her famous, she needed nothing else. Bringing beauty into the world her presence in modern music will continue to influence musicians for generations to come.
A song bird who flew free, only for a short while, may her memory be cherished forever. Here the i-D family share their favourite Amy Winehouse song lyrics and most cherished personal memories of meeting her. Sweet Dreams Amy.
What kind of fuckery is this. You made me miss the Slick Rick gig.
“I was lucky enough to interview Amy a couple of times around the first album, Frank. My favourite memory is going through her Def Jam VHS’s in her Camden flat and trying to play Jenga, unsuccessfully, as the newspaper I had been commissioned by had the ‘wacky’ idea that would be fun. It wasn’t. So we just drank tea and smoked and chatted. She was, of course, brilliantly funny and completely outrageous. What a woman.” Hattie Collins
That silent sense of content that everyone gets just disappears as soon as the sun sets.
“Amy came to my first ever after party in Camden after my SS09 skeleton show. She came over to say thank you for letting her come. I was completely dumb struck. She was full of energy and great fun, she was really beautiful in the flesh.” Katie Eary
Today my bird flew away, gone to find her big blue jay. Starlight before she took flight, I sung a lullaby of bird land overnight.
“Amy was a caring, beautiful, unfathomably talented, wildly funny soul. A year ago we lost a shining star and an amazing person, but her voice, lyrics and music will live on forever. I used to pop round the house late at night and listen to music and we’d make our hair as big as we possibly could – I’ve tried that beehive on and she’s had my wig on several times. At one point her hair got really enormous and there was a sort of scaffolding system built in, it was a bit of a running joke! She’s so missed.” Jodie Harsh
I didn’t get a lot in class, but I know it don’t come in a shot glass.
“The first time I met Amy was back in 2007. Richard Mortimer did a big party at The Great Eastern Hotel. Richard booked us to perform and he also booked Amy Winehouse to sing accompanied by piano on the mezzanine floor. Amy was already gathering speed on her career so it was a bit of a coo to have her sing. You could hear her wonderfully haunting tones echo through the building. Quickly she proved herself within the pop mainstream but back then she was on the verge of stardom. Anyone could tell, Amy was destined for an illustrious career, her charisma and style lit up the occasion and that’s a moment we won’t forget. Some years later I met Amy rather fleetingly at a party thrown on the roof of Harvey Nichols, she was anticipating a late night shop to buy party frocks, rather excitedly she gushed over her acquisitions and rushed off to explore further.” Princess Julia
What kind of fuckery is this? You made me miss the Slick Rick gig.
“The only time I ever saw Amy was one Friday afternoon hustling all the boys at pool in the Hope and Anchor down Mornington Crescent. I took my money off the table and just watched from the bar. So true. So real. Simply doesn’t get better than Wino.” Jeremy Abbott
Text: Milly McMahon
Images courtesy The Amy Winehouse Foundation
