Back to Black was released almost five years ago and it catapulted Amy Winehouse to stardom. The husky-voiced singer with her laid-back, bluesy, quirky delivery has since become a global success. The album has rocketed back to the charts since her untimely death aged 27 in July.
The lead single Rehab sets off the album with a bang. The song deals with the troubled singer's refusal to go to a rehabilitation centre with the memorable refrain: 'They tried to make me go to rehab but I said no, no, no!'
As in her other songs, Winehouse brings the wobbly lyrics to life with her magnetic voice.
You Know I'm No Good is jazzy and has a very different feeling. Winehouse's offbeat pronunciation lends the song a classical jazz influence.
Tears Dry On Their Own is another soothing hit, with its down-to-earth enthusiasm. It is a song short on good lyrics but rich in feeling - like a lullaby that soothes the spirit like a warm bath or a cup of luxurious hot chocolate. Beware: listening to it can hurt your motivation to do much work!
Winehouse is sadly gone, but her two albums and several music videos remind us of her tear-jerking and soulful voice. In her music, Winehouse is alive and well.