Search - Amy Winehouse: The Girl Done Good on DVD

For Winehouse Fans - and for the curious

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 04/24/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"For Winehouse Fans - and for the curious

With Winehouse all over the tabloids due to her drug rehab problems and marital difficulties, the lady with lots of "attitude" and "big hair", plus one hell of a powerful voice has lots of US folks wondering about her life before the mega-hit album "Back To Black".

This late-2007 "analysis" of here career is the latest from the UK company Chrome Dreams in their "Under Review" series. Each of these features six or seven music journalists discussing specific albums from an artist, with video excerpts (I emphasize the word "excerpts") of the songs discussed.

Winehouse started her recording career in 2003 (with the UK album "Frank", which jazz vocal influenced (think Billie Holiday or Dinah Washington). Her next, and only other album was 2006's "Back to Black", which hit the US market in 2007.

With only two albums (both 180 degrees different from each other) in a five-year career, a full 80-minute analysis is a bit of overkill. And, unlike previous "Under Review" discs, not one of the "talking heads" has a bad thing to say about the performer or hints at even one track "might be weak". This is a true "Amy Fan Club".

Still, I was curious about her pre-"Back To Black" days and, while I didn't learn when, or why, she got all her tattoos, or how she met her musician husband, I get find the disc interesting to watch once. The production qualities are of the high standard I've seen in other recent Chrome Dreams DVDs.

If you are looking for a performance video, this is not it. If however, you want to learn more about Winehouse's music career, you'll get what you are looking for. Add a "star" if you are a true Winehouse "fan".

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
"

Excelent Overview of The Winehouse Phenomenon

Lonely Boy | New York | 05/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
I had to buy this DVD when i saw it adverstised, but was somewhat concerned it was going to be a hatchet job like the recent books that have come out on Amy. If you were thinking the same, then put your mind at rest, it's actually an intelligent well made documentary about Amy and her music - with very little time given to the media perception. It features lots of very nice and otherwise unavailable live footage from various concerts, going right back to the beginning of her career. It also has interviews with many who have worked with her like the guy who tutored her at the Jazz school she attended, members of her band and others who have toured with her. There's also the prominent Jazz musician Steve Davies showing the arrangments Amy uses, and showing the parallels in her music with the likes of Billie Holliday, Peggy Lee and others. There's plenty of archive of Amy's influences and inspirations too, and a lot of archive interviews with the girl herself. After all the nonsence in the papers every day, this DVD is a breath of fresh air and the producers should be commended for a first clas job -"

Will shed light on where it all springs from...

D. Hinson | atlanta, ga usa | 07/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this half expecting to be disappointed, but ended up absolutely enthralled for the entire program.

For those who can't really articulate the special something that she has that so many find so appealing, this dvd offers several experts who really know music to dissect it all. I found that I appreciate her even more after understanding the roots of her sound and style. It's hard to believe at 24 that she has absorbed enough musical history to be such a petri dish of artists past. It is all articulated in a way that allows someone like me who doesn't even read music to understand her influences and appreciate her amazingly prodigious musical acumen.

There are also many clips of Amy as well as her many influences performing that serve to connect the dots. I think anyone interested in Amy in particular, or just music in general, will not be disappointed."

For the hardcore Amy Winehouse fan

Amy Fan | USA | 02/06/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you really really really like Amy Winehouse than you will enjoy this DVD. You certainly will enjoy it more than "Amy Winehouse Revving @ 4500 rpm's & justified" The girl done gone includes interviews with people who have worked with her in the past. What I really liked about it is that it breaks down WHY this lady is such a musical talent."