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Amy Winehouse's Grammy victory slammed

  2. Swiyyah
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Singer Natalie Cole has slammed the decision to award Amy Winehouse with five Grammys, claiming that it rewards bad behavior.

Natalie Cole goes on to say that it sets a bad example for kids trying to get into the business. Further, that "she's stepping into a place she hasn't earned yet."


How much does the character and actions of a music artist matter when the music is good? Should it even matter at all?

Would you stop listening to Michael Jackson, R.Kelly, Prince, and a host of other artist if they did drugs and committed other crimes? Do they nonetheless deserve to be rewarded for their art?
Swiyyah

19 responses // Amy Winehouse's Grammy victory slammed

  • yes. art is art is art is art - i am in no way promoting her behavior and i wish her the best of luck in her recovery, but the music stands alone - just as it is in any artistic venture. it is a tragic truth that celebrity brings with it the temptation to delve into drugs and debauchery but its a truth nonetheless - her music is great and deserves to be recognized as such .
    Jessica_Griffiths
  • As if Natalie Cole--a modestly talented singer who blatantly used her father to try to save her flagging career--can talk about who should get what award. "Unforgettable", anyone?

    Is Amy f***ed up in her personal life? Yes...so were many amazing musicians and artists. She got the award (an award that really doesn't mean jacksquat to anyone and hasn't been relevant for years, if it ever was) because she's a good singer and had a few great songs this past year.
    hollyg
  • She doesn't suck, why shouldn't she have a grammy?
    Joydejavu17
  • hollyg is right. The Grammys haven't been relevant for years. Just think of all the great artists of our days who haven't been recognized. And all the great artists of our past who still haven't been awarded. Who cares anymore? Obviously, the low ratings of the event could tell us that. I'm happy for Amy. She's different and maybe winning a statue or two will help her clean up her act. But honestly, people are seeing past the Academy, the Grammys, and all that bull. We've can decide for ourselves what's talent and what's worthy of recognition!
    MornRail
  • I really don't see how an artist's personal life should factor for an award for talent.
    YoungKREW
  • I think this is a really interesting discussion, one that is difficult to work through in the brevity of comments. There are a couple of different things in play here in my opinion...

    I understand the desire to avoid appearing to condone behavior such as that of Amy Winehouse by awarding her. If you look at any other profession outside the arts/entertainment world, it's hard to see anyone getting rewarded for their work if they have such serious personal issues. I'm sure lots of places would fire Amy Winehouse or not hire her int he first place based on her personal life.

    At the same time, she did create (along with the help of others) quality music that is worthy of distinction and note. It does seem unfair to take away from the work she does if you were to give a Grammy to someone else over her just because she's a psychotic crackhead who is into engaging in violence with her man.

    In an article I read discussing Herbie Hancock's win for Album of the Year and in it the head of the RIAA was asked about whether Kanye's volume of sales should have played a factor at all in the Album of the Year Race. His response was that the Academy does not base its awards on things like sales but focuses on the music.

    Well, I'm sure there are many people who are turned off by Kanye and his antics and I'm sure people would be hesitant to give him an award because he acts out the way he does when he loses.

    I think taking an artists personal life into account is somewhat unavoidable. But it is possible to weigh the art on its own and respect it. I don't think it's that celebrity offers these ridiculous temptations (Winehouse was a nut from the jump off) but I do feel that part of an artist's creativity stems from being different, eccentric, and having a side that can lead to dangerous places.

    At the end of the day, when I personally find someone's music amazing, it's possible for me to at the least compartmentalize that individual. Take Michael Jackson. Thriller is the greatest album of all time. But he seems like a strange dood who I wouldn't want to babysit my kids for me. Still, nothing rocks like P.Y.T.
    looey23
  • Winehouse has had 1 hit song, and suddenly, she's amazing? This reminds me of Norah Jones, where the Grammy awards came out of the yin yang, and she made more albums, but no one can name song from them.

    ...Woo hoo
    image0434
  • Um, does Ms. Cole remember Billie Holiday? Charlie Parker? Miles Davis? Janice Joplin? Jimi Hendrix? Johhny Cash? Elvis Presley? The list of drug-abusing, alcoholic, miscreant musicians who also happen to have legendary talent is not only astoundingly long, it's proof positive that an artist's work should, and does speak for itself. Amy Winehouse is not a murderer, a rapist or a violent criminal. She most certainly has serious personal issues, and more talent than pretty much all contemporary female pop singers combined. Should she not be rewarded for her talent based upon her illness and subsequent behaviour? In my opinion, absolutely not.
    mirimysweet
  • Seems like a publicity stunt by Cole- I hadn't seen her mentioned in the news in ages ...
    belgrade18
  • While Amy Winehouse has a great voice, I think she owes a lot of the musical attention she gets to her band, the Dap Kings, and her producer, Mark Ronson. Her personal problems just add to the spectacle. Just my opinion. Oh and I have the album and think it's great.
    dalan
  • So....who is Amy Winehouse? =/
    rabidlemur
  • Why is this even a conversation? Perhaps because Winehouse is a female. Face it, Cole's comment wouldn't have even garnered attention had a male artist been in the same situation. It has happened in the past...
    Runt84
  • You're absolutely right, Swiyyah. Natalie Cole fails to separate the music from the artist. If children are to take an example from Winehouse's music, it should be that they should never give up on their dreams no matter how crappy their life is. Maybe Amy will look at winning the Grammys as a time to change, to focus on her music and not on the other stuff.
    Alphaholic
  • From the article;

    "Cole, a Grammy Award winner herself who admitted to using the drugs LSD, heroin and cocaine in her 2000 autobiography, said that Winehouse did not deserve the honours."

    Uh, yeah...ok.
    Filmpunk
  • Shes an artist not a politician... she makes her art from the pain and darkness of her life. I think its a tragic beauty, she makes beautiful music but would it be as good if she wasn't on drugs?
    vitingo12
  • Who can name a truly legendary musician who doesn't have a history of chemical use/abuse (alcohol or drugs). That's a much shorter list, I'd wager.

    Anyone want to throw out some names?
    ac
    • ac
    • 6 months ago
  • By her getting that Award,It might just knock some awareness in her head and get her on the right track who knows...
    Day2Day1nSociety
  • i used to not like her very much (not because shes in rehab because who really cares, but just because i thought she was so stone faced and fake) until i was watching the Grammys and i saw her beautiful reaction to winning the best album of the year.
    I will never make this mistake again, with anyone.

    If you didn't see it, i suggest you youtube it or something.
    jigglymilkydoom
  • oh, but on the topic...

    she got caught doing a lot of shit, yeah, but almost every single rapper constantly talks about it and they aren't questioned for nominations! puh-lease!
    jigglymilkydoom
  • I agree that Natalie Cole is the last one to throw stones at somebody. She herself admitted to using drugs.

    However, I have always battled with the notion of Hollywood/music industry glamorizing gangster rapp and featuring artists who are felons and who have killed and are actively engaged in violence. I guess that makes Amy's addiction not any worse than that, plus she brings fresh music to a period where everybody else is the same.
    RogerMiami

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