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Amy Winehouse

MTV and [V], play Amy Winehouse now! You can thank Desi Dabba later that you did!

Both media giants, among other music channels, stick to music that is mass marketable. Its prime time rotations are all occupied by TV friendly videos and catchy pop music. Bully for them, I’m not complaining. But would they make space for a genuine artist who is a rising talent and who just served us notice with a terrific second album?

Amy Winehouse, whose new album Back to Black is so powerful and sublime a collection of 60’s jazz and soul inflected songs, that it would make anyone sit up and take notice.

And I would like to suggest that MTV and VH1 should break the mould and promote her music in India. There is no better way to maintain your street cred than to mix great artists with popular music. Even the masses are a discerning lot.

So what makes Amy’s album so good? For one, it’s full of chutzpah and personality. Winehouse is a perennial bad girl – her alcohol fuelled misadventures have been well documented in the UK. And on this collection of songs, Amy sings songs that reflect that tumultuous personality.

It also helps to have a really strong voice. Amy’s voice is not just strong but also versatile, constantly morphing to convey the emotion of the song. Her voice can be steely as on the ode to cheating “I’m No Good”, vulnerable on the heartbreaking “Back to Black” and defiant when refusing to mend her addicted ways in “Rehab”. It all makes for great listening. You also get a feeling that Amy goes through life taking all the hard knocks but she is far from being jaded or tamed.

Earlier this year, the album won Amy Best Solo Female Artist at the Brit awards. Until Winehouse comes to the desi music channels, beg, borrow or invade the stores if you have to and dig up the album and give it a listen.

In one song, Amy laments “I told you, I was trouble. You know I’m no good”. Ms. Winehouse, we humbly disagree! You might be trouble to get to, but you’re worth it!