What We Talk About When We Talk About Amy Winehouse

It's very confusing keeping up with the latest Amy Winehouse news. Some say she canceled her August tour because of exhaustion, others claim she overdosed on a heroin-infused cocktail of ecstacy, cocaine and horse tranquilizers. Insiders claim Amy stumbles about like a dead-eyed zombie while others prefer to focus on her singing talent. Has she checked into rehab or not? No one knows. Other discussions involve Amy's shocking skeletal frame, or her tendency to wear the same old pair of filthy ballet slippers everyday, or her missing tooth. Oh, and the hair, let's not forget the hair. Will Amy get her act together and go on to enjoy a successful career? Or will she end up in the gutter, clutching an empty bottle of vodka while a family of rats wait patiently for her to slip into unconsciousness so they can build a warm winter nest in her hair? Only time will tell. Medium: acrylic on board.

Comments

[DonnaJEM]

What a complete freak of nature this one is.
That crazy bouffont/bride of frankenstein hair, of which you have made into black snake moan, and the cleopatra/hep-cat eyes.
FREAKIN YIKES.

You are a true treasure 14, Faboo!!!

[Elena]

well I hope she doesn't get herself killed because she's an awesome singer... she's going the Janis Joplin way alright...

[kiki]

Those eyes will haunt me in my sleep! Brava.

[midevil]

Well, when guys like Pete Doherty go to bat for her and tell the press and critics to layoff, you know she's having a Really Rough time of it. I really like her music. I hope she pulls through and doesn't end up down Karen Carpenter lane.

[c1ph4]

I really like what you do, but don't blame amy! she is a very young talented girl with a lot of soul in her voice. it would be a mess if she would go down because of drug-cocktails. she's very unique and I really hope that she will conquer her demons. she's growing up, geez, what do you want!?

[Mickey Anonymouse]

I think the picture is honest and flattering in a way. Not as brutal as your other work.

She put out a great album. She's an interesting person. So what if she's a mess? Rock n' Roll should be messy.

[Fairlady Z]

I think she would actually be very pretty if not for that white trash-looking missing tooth, tattoos and over-the-top eyeliner. And when her hair isn't looking like a rat's nest, the whole beehive thing is cute and different. She definitely DOES need to go to rehab though.

[arepita]

Great work once again, 14! Poor Amy, though! I do actually think she's very talented. I hope she gets her at together soon.

[14]

Thank you for the comments.

For the record, I enjoy Amy's work. In fact, because I listened to her music while I painted her, she herself influenced the outcome of this illustration. I hope she finds freedom from addiction and continues to create.

xoxo
14

[Viper Tetsu]

That laconic soulful voice, those dark eyes, the ace songs (almost all of which she wrote or co-wrote)...I just want to grab every Britney, Joss Stone, and Whitney by their lapels, shove Winehouse's debut CD into their mitts and shout,"THIS is how the fuck you do it, people!"

Conversely, when I read all of the stories about yet another genuine talent getting sucked into the cliche vortex of rock star excess, I just want to grab said talent by the lapels and shout, "This is what the fuck NOT TO DO!" Damn.

Funny no one's pointed out Winehouse's resemblance to Maggie Wheeler (Janice from FRIENDS). I've never seen 'em in the same place at the same time, come to think of it...

Great, scary, resonant work, as if I/we'd expect any less from you.

[langtry]

Love how you changed the tattoo on her bicep to be the new, anorectic Amy. Brill, as usual 14!

[Chansmom]

I really like her work, as for her, she needs help now. She's cancelled her tour, cancelled an opening date for the Stones too. Absolute career suicide. Next year we'll be saying, Amy Who?

She's a hot mess.

Nice work, 14.

[gn]

I still don't know who is she! (not that I want to)

[jenner]

I HAVE to know - when did drug addiction, multiple visits to rehab, ODing, etc become the new "growing up"??????

"she's growing up, geez, what do you want!?"

Where the hell have I been that this has become as normal a part of growing up as, say, pimples, embarrassing body odour, or one or 2 ill advised binges?!!???

AAAAAAAAAAAnyway, I too hope she cleans up. But as much as it pains me to say it, she's your number one choice on the Death Pools for a reason.

Excellent work as always 14! LOVE the hair ;)

[Karin]

Nice work (as always) 14 !!!! Amy Winehouse is a fabulous train wreck.

[Elizebeth]

I think there is more life in the eyes of your drawing than I've ever seen in her eyes in photographs of her. She's a truly sad person and I hope she finds the help she needs.

[superblondgirl]

Love it. It looks more like her than the real thing does.

[Matt]

She's creepy her hair is silly looking and I can't fathom that thing being her real hair, her make up is kinda cool but it looks horrible with what she wears, especially the random ballet slippers (I think she should walk on her toes). I think the tooth thing is kinda likeable, if not one of the ONLY things I like about the her. I like her style music-wise but her singing gets a tad obnoxious sometimes. I don't see Amy cleaning up I mean just look at "rehab" she's practically telling everybody, "Screw you I ain't ditchin' the drugs!" Which is kinda cool in a rocker way but it's not very good for her. She's just plain a mess.

[Pablo Vazquez]

Awesome!!

[Khromie]

Her hair amazes me as much in this picture as it does in real life! I still cannot figure out if the beehive/rat's nest/wad-of-hair-in-the-drain thing that she has been sporting for the past year is an hair-piece, or her actual fro. I think her hair is the 8th World Wonder. She should be taken to a facility to be studied. I just want to know what's up with the hair, that's all. Once again, 14, you have outdone yourself.

[Kyle]

I love her music, but I just do not get her crazy ratted hair...its kind of like she was in a B52s tribute band and just let herself (and her bee-hive) go.

[Eize]

I only heard of her very recently, and her signature song just hit our airwaves here last month. I didn't particularly care, but her ginormous hair and knobbly knees were quite eye-catching (nicest thing I could say). 14, I'm surprised you haven't put your creative powers into making something about "Wino" and her reported feud with Lily Allen. I still don't know what THAT was about!

[Herb Sewell]

Faces of METH. That ain't alcohol. That ain't cocaine. (It's 2007 and people are still using the "exhaustion" bullshit line?) PUH-LEASE ! That's CRANK, baby. CRANK makes heroin and coke look like friggin' PEPSI ! It will take you from CEO, Rockstar, Soccer Mom, Whatever, to SCAB COVERED, Stealing from your Mom, SUCKING-DICKS-IN-THE-ALLEY-WHORE in a MONTH! (feel free to edit or delete, 14. It's harsh but so true)

[Addiction]

Here's a website you may find useful. http://www.addicted.com is a site for friends, families, and those who suffer from various addictions.

[Worker B... itch]

Sad, really. I weep for her. And I'm the only one on the planet who digs her 16-foot hair. It makes me laugh. I hope she finds her way.

[Jenn F.]

Khromie, the beehive is a wig and the rest of it is her own.

c1ph4, drug addiction is not a normal part of growing up. Similar to some of the well-known young Hollywood celebs, it's more a matter of young star-on-the-rise being taken advantage of by greedy gold-digging soul suckers.

Viper Tetsu, you'd think that parents/close friends would do that when they're on their way up the ladder, wouldn't you? Maybe they did though. Maybe it didn't matter. The drugs are probably more powerful than any sensible advice that has been offered. I've thought the same thing with regards to Janice on friends... in fact, more than once I've heard Janice's voice sing in my head "What kind of fuckery is this..." and it makes me start snickering to myself.

Chansmom, I don't think next year we'll be saying "Amy who?" She's far too strong of a talent. Whether she o.d.'s or manages to get her shit together, she's made her mark in the music industry far more deeply than all of the prefabricated bubblegum packages that are being cranked out each year.

Incidentally, she has two albums out ~ but the second one is the one that really placed her on the map in North America. The first one, entitled "Frank", is absolutely worth buying as well. Amy and Lily Allen also both claim that all of the feud rumours are false, just crap made up by the tabloids.

A talent like Winehouse has been a long time coming. It irks me that there are so many "singers" and "musicians" out there who offer only a mediocre musical ability but happen to be hot so they market well. People are so quick to jump all over someone like Winehouse who's missing a tooth, has horrible looking make-up, crappy tattoos, a bony malnourished heroin-chic looking body, and bizarre hair. This is because everyone has come to expect and demand that musicians (not just pop stars) all look like Angelina Jolie. Although I agree completely that Amy looks pretty odd, I applaud it whole-heartedly... bravo to her for not following the herd, and making a courageous and memorable mark in the world. And this is just her appearance for God's sake... who gives a shit? Why does it matter? Put the damn cd on and listen to what this girl can do. She has a unique voice, a good voice, a strong voice. What we see here is a rare case of raw talent. Forgive her for not looking like Barbie or wanting to. Give your hand a rest and enjoy the break from masterbating to MTV. Allow yourself to be taken back to the time before videos when people appreciated musicians for their fucking music. Yes she's odd looking. Embrace it, allow it. Billy Holiday wasn't known as an exceptional beauty, but no one gave a shit.

This girl's made an impressive start to her career. Now if she can only conquer the horrible substance abuse that's taking her in a downward spiral, she just might become a true legend in her own time. The talent is leading the way, if the body can just keep up.

[Viper Tetsu]

Wow. I didn't know Winehouse put out another CD besides Back to Black. Must get.

Jenn F, your defense of an imperfect-looking but brilliantly-talented person, and your indictment of the music industry's ongoing fetishizing of vapid soulless non-singers, is spot-on. It saddens me that The Kids have been force-fed MTV-ized notions of pop musicians for so long that they can't accept someone who doesn't fit the cookie-cutter, physically. Image has always been a key component in rock and roll, but in these antiseptic, conform-or-die times it's become more of a straitjacket than ever.

I guess it's sorta hypocritical for me to leap to this woman's defense while chortling derisively at Paris Hilton's lazy eye and Britney Spears' obscene junk food consumption. But unlike most of the objects of 14's wicked pen, Amy's got talent to burn (also helps that our fave poison painter is painting the gossip, not the person). The girl's not some mediocre bonus baby, nor is she a child star programmed from conception by an obsessive showbiz mom to become pop royalty. She is something much more rare and precious: The real deal. I hope with all my heart that she can hold it together.

Incidentally, anyone who finds Winehouse's singing 'obnoxious' is, a) on more potent and damaging drugs than she'll ever be, or b) a dumbshit.

[Smile Pretty]

Creepy as Hell-o 14, Oh poor-poor Amy.
You bring out the best in people, like this Jenn F. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You even have wanna-be Social Workers going over your comments...wow not too shabby. It's Art People don't be too Critical Here.
Keep up the good, nah the Greatness.

[Adam Smith]

Biological Field Reports:

The Winehouse:

Given to erratic mood swings,the Winehouse is a tenacious and wiley foe.
When frightened it can grow to up to twice it's size through the cunning use of hair extensions and backcombing.Unlike the
Japanese Pufferfish though,this threat display is mostly harmless.Nocturnal in nature,this creature is averse to direct or
strong light;but it can be lured out,(and trapped),with the promise of some Crack Cocaine,or if it senses it's main
competitor for resources the Allen.This is done using it's powerful sense of smell,at the base of it's detachable jaw.
It emits a quarter tonal howl that is an attempt to imitate Soul and Jazz singers,this is done to blend in with the easily
defined taxanomies created by Holliday and Franklin.Despite having a vocal style more in common with Chinese Opera than Soul
music it could be said to represent an interesting mutation of these forms.This vocal ability was demonstrated in a most
startling way when the Winehouse was able to stun 16 rabbits into submission with a falsetto shriek,then nimbly kick their
furry little faces in,with her characteristic ballet pumps (citation needed).It has yet to create an asynchronous
polychromatic hexagonal mating call.Although their is much dispute over whether this feat is achieavable or even
desirable.Some researchers have also reported reptilian symbiotes in it's coat,but this is as yet unproven.

[Celebretarded]

Well one thing, at least Amy keeps it real. Look at her profile:

http://www.friendspacebook.com/babsinrehab

[Adam Smith]

Lohan and Spears stare into the abyss.
"That's some drop says Lohan",idly tossing a stone in and waiting for it to hit the bottom."Sure is" say's Spears,"I still have'nt heard it hit the bottom yet".
"Let's play around it some more" says Lohan."Yes let's" says Spears.

A crazy British girl runs up to the edge. Jumping off,she attempts the elegant geometry of an Eagle diving for it's prey,but her planned descent goes slapstick,tumbling over like a toddler in 'America's Funniest Home Video's'.
It has a sort of inevitable comedy to it.

"Shit,this is not the way my glorious, beautiful,agony was supposed to be.This farce,this comedy of errors,this arse over tit nose dive into status of number one fuck-up,lit up in big fucking neon lights for all to see.Curling up into a foetal position to break my fall would seem like the wisest thing to do now".So she does,landing on Anna Nicole's bloated corpse at the bottom.

She sends up the occasional distress call:
From "Amy.Presently presiding in Number one Abyss Lane,Abyss Estates,Abyss City,The Abyss".After a very short time she gets all kinds of letters back telling her everything will be fine.Help is on it's way.

Spear's looks down at the commotion and asks Lohan,"Should we do the same?.It seems to be working for her".Lohan looks at her like she just suggested that Pigs had invented the Internet."Don't be fucking stupid,everybody would just laugh if we did it".

[deanna1104]

i just don't know what to make of this girl. she strikes me as treading in, if not on, the same path as whitney houston and bobby brown. it is simply too difficult to overcome a drug addiction when the primary support system is a drug addict. unless this girl has the will-power of many she will fade away taking her talent with her and from the looks of things if she doesn't get her sh*t together soon she's going to end up taking a chinese dirt nap next to janis joplin.

[Josh Maday]

Good work once again, 14. Love the Raymond Carver reference in the title, too!

[DonnaJEM]

Hey Adam, that effin rocked.

[gilmore]

Hey 14. I love your take on Amy. The Medusa-like snakes are perfect. Remember those old Sinbad and the Sailor movies from the early 70's? (Yes I'm old!) Amy could have been one of those creatures from that series. You captured that drunken bird perfectly.

[Jenn F.]

Hey SmilePretty, I have no interest in being a social worker but, like everyone else, am entitled to my opinions. And incidentally, my tirade was certainly not directed at 14 (who is well aware of this herself, as she knows me outside of this comment section) but the shallow few who judge a musician on their looks as opposed to their musical ability. I think this was pretty clear from my comments. Where 14's art is concerned, it's as superb as it always is, was, and will be.

[TheReallyJamesBond]

" I guess she found the time, 'cause her Daddy think she fi-ine,... So, she just went to go rehab,.. and I say, Go,Go, Go!"

,..And get well n' keep makin' that great soundin' music, woman!

[galactic owl]

Adam, will you marry me?

[Noelegy]

I love the Bride of Frankenstein squiggle in her hair.

[Noelegy]

I never heard of Amy Winehouse before she started showing up on Dlisted. I admit that I haven't listened to popular music on any regular basis since 1996 or so, when I worked at a music store and was sort of forced to hear it (this did introduce me to a few new artists). This is in part due to my conviction that there's nothing really new or different--AND likable--out there.

But I kept coming back to this picture of her when I'd visit this site. And I finally clicked on some of the links, and heard a clip of "Rehab" for the first time.

Man, what a voice. It's as unusual as her appearance. What a waste that she seems to be headed down such a self-destructive road. Here's hoping she gets the help she needs, and that her muse isn't dependent on her being wasted.

[Biscuit]

I love Amy Winehouse. She does seem to have some issues, but she also seems fearless of what others think of her. She's original and rather inspiring in her refusal to just be a good girl and adopt the Hollywood Standard of beauty. Rock on, Amy!