Juan Tomas
Contributor
Whether Amy Winehouse will be popular—not just after her death, but many decades down the road—is a hard question to answer. Her fans will undoubtedly commit to keeping her name alive, while others (who might never have heard the name before her untimely death) will probably shrug their shoulders in response.
But before we begin answering that question, let’s first define popular. Popularity seems to be a very fickle thing. For some, like the dynamic group Outkast, it came and went. For others, it stayed a little bit longer; case in point, James Brown. But would it surprise you to learn that there are people out there who have never heard of the music legend, James Brown or even consider him popular?
Therefore, the question shouldn’t be whether or not Amy Winehouse will still be popular after death, but rather an analysis of why she will be popular, and to whom.
Winehouse had a gifted voice and it was apparent as she belted out low notes that only a true singer could sing. It was her London concert where she sang jazz using her wonderful phrasing and different tones that people began to compare her to legends such as Aretha Franklin and the late Billie Holiday.
It’s not only her voice that is worth mentioning, but her stage presence as well. The visual effects of her retro stage costumes and heavy Cleopatra mascara and the backup vocals reflect the same kind of presence as the 1960s girl group, the Ronettes. And who could deny the chemistry she had with her band?
Most people probably know about her great struggle with substance abuse, making her life story an interesting one. It wasn’t only her struggle against addiction, but her struggle to cope with her husband in jail after he was found guilty for grievous bodily intent.
To some, she became a tainted idol, but for others, it made her real and human. She wasn’t some perfect star or a singer with the best life, but someone who was struggling rather. After all, she is in good company: Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Janis Joplin, and Billie Holiday all suffered from similar afflictions and were still loved by the masses.
Will Amy Winehouse be popular after her death? Yes she will. She won’t be popular to those who have hated her from the beginning all the way to her death, and she will probably not be popular to those who don’t have a taste for R&B music. She will instead be remembered by those who stood by her throughout.
