Compared to many artists of her status, British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse had a short music career, releasing only two studio albums and five EPs. Despite this, her music is eminent, with about 30 million records sold worldwide.
This year marks 20 years since Winehouse’s second album “Back to Black” was released. To celebrate this milestone, a 20th anniversary edition was released on Friday, Oct. 23. Comprised of 42 tracks sorted into three discs, the album has many songs for listeners to enjoy, with demos and love versions of the original tracks.
The first disc has nothing new since its tracks are from the original album. However, they’re great to listen to. According to Pitchfork, they act as a window to the beginning of Winehouse’s relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil.
A memorable song from the disc is the popular hit “Rehab.” Full of brass and serious vocals, the song is about people trying to convince Winehouse to cure her drinking problem by going to rehab. Despite the persuasion, Winehouse refuses.
Another hit from Disc is the title track “Back to Black,” which symbolizes Fielder-Civil, who returned to his ex-lover less than a year after he began dating Winehouse. In the song, Winehouse repeatedly states that she became depressed the moment Fielder-Civil went back to his ex.
A third song I like from the disc is “Wake Up Alone.” In the tune, Winehouse dreams of Fielder-Civil loving her while being her significant other. However, when she wakes up, Fielder-Civil is not there. What I like about the song is its poetic lyrics, which bring out the heartbreak that Winehouse was enduring at the time. Two of my favorite lyrics are “he swings in my eyes” and “he’s fierce in my dreams.”
The second disc features songs that aren’t on the original album that were previously released as bonus tracks. One is “Hey Little Rich Girl,” which features Ade Omotayo and Zalon Thompson. The song is a jazz tune that showcases trumpet and piano melodies.
Another is “You’re Wondering Now,” a fast-paced tune about breakups and the uncertainty of the future. Memorable lyrics I admire are “You’re wondering now what to do / Now you know this is the end” and “You’re wondering how you will pay / For the way you misbehaved.”
Other songs from Disc 2 are “Do Me Good” and “Monkey Man.”
Disc 2 also has alternative versions of some of disc one’s songs. One is “Some Unholy War – Down Tempo.” While the original is a rap tune with sweeping lyrics, the down tempo version has bolder vocals and darker background music.
Another alternative version is “Love is a Losing Game – Original Demo.” While “Love is a Losing Game” has drums and background voices, “Love is a Losing Game – Original Demo” only has vocals and a guitar, making it sound like a country track. What I like about the demo is its sorrowful mood. While the original’s rap and club-like vibes make it a pleasant song, it doesn’t bring out the lyrics’ heartbreaking theme as much as the original unreleased version.
Disc 3 is comprised of 14 tracks from a 2007 concert that Winehouse hosted in Paradiso, Amsterdam. Most of the tracks’ background music and vocals are consistent with the originals. Many of them also feature applause and cheers from the audience.
Overall, this was an excellent album. Before listening to it, I’d never heard of Amy Winehouse, so this was a great way for me to learn about her music and its ties to her romantic life. It’s a shame that Winehouse lived such a short life. If she was still alive, she would’ve released many more astonishing albums like “Back to Black.”
Rating: 4.5/5