back to black

i really wasn't going to mention Amy Winehouse's death in detail here, but i'm really upset. not only did we lose an amazing, if troubled, singer, people are just being extremely ignorant and disrespectful. i'm not one to campaign around, but i couldn't let this slide.

just yesterday, Amy Winehouse died of unexplained causes. after years of addiction, substance abuse, health issues and mental illness, she had still climbed the ranks of gifted performers and earned her own place near the top. she was famous. she was infamous. 

ever since she came into the public eye, there have been whispered slurs, plenty of gossip, and media jabs. society is quick to put down anyone with a history of drug use and especially mental illness. mental illness is something very dear to me no matter how severe or painful it is to me. people cite Winehouse as crazy, of having poor impulse control, and was voted the second most hated person in the UK. i think that's just not fair.

look:

we live in an age where if you have the eensiest bit of talent the paparazzi stalk your every move. so think about if you had, say, depression, an eating disorder, self-harm issues, poor lungs, an irregular heartbeat, a little emphysema, a dick of an addict for an ex-husband, and addiction issues. a lot of shit to deal with, right? now imagine the paparazzi is publicizing all of your personal matters either in relation to those problems or not, and twisting the truth as they always do. then there is the general public and/or society making rash judgements. there is a lot of problems on her checklist that are things that aren't her fault. yes, addiction does come from substance abuse, and although there is a percentage of people who do drugs for the hell of it, there is an even larger portion who use it to dull the pain. it has pretty much been established that her substance abuse problems occurred after the death of her grandmother, who was a large influence to her. i'm not condoning drug use, but i can easily see why so many people turn to it. and her drinking? - i don't know a soul alive who doesn't drink. again, even though alcohol is a depressive, it dulls a little pain. 

i don't think it's fair to generalize about her substance abuse - she checked into rehab, didn't she? numerous times. it worked for a while, but the important part is she tried. she really did. she had a hell of a life, and that can explain her social interactions with press, police, and those with the easy life (i.e. spitting at Pippa Midleton. i actually am  fine with that. she's a socialite from a rich family. i often think of doing the same.. i mean i'm jumping to conclusions of people's personal lives but really... haven't you? they say there's always someone who has it worse than you.. well there's always someone who has it better, too.) she's been tortured by society - how would you respond? it has to be incredibly frustrating. 

appearance? i think she is very beautiful. often disheveled, i can see why people think she isn't.. but i think she looks absolutely stunning in the back to black video - a video perfectly appropriate for her death, it's almost ironic/scary. i do love heavy cat eye liner and a monroe piercing. the beehive i could do without, but hey, it's her hair.
not only that, but she became a style icon - karl lagerfeld thought she was wonderful. karl lagerfeld. if karl lagerfeld says something about style, you know it's true. if she's a muse for the head designer of Chanel, there's got to be something good about her look. and she had a great look. people considered it unusual and some say just terrible, but honestly i loved it. Gaga has even said that Winehouse made it easier for unconventional women to rise up as musical sensations - and we all know Gaga is the queen of unconventional style.  not to mention Amy Winehouse pioneered a path for a lot of UK artists.

i'm getting to the point where i ramble again.. i just wanted to address this.

thanks for reading.

ps. you all should join pneumonia white in wearing white for amy. details here.

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