10 votes

Help: Similar songs to Back to Black? Funk, pain and bravery.

Posted by jdsalaro
Tags: ask.recommendations, amy winehouse, back to black

Hey peeps !
Having quite an Amy Winehouse phase right now :)
The vibe of Back to Black is just phenomenal!
Can y'all recommend similar songs? With similar I mean raw in their portrayal of pain, funky and enjoyable musically while at the same time remaining hopeful and powerful due to the sheer honesty and "few amount of fucks given" :D
Thanks !!

10 comments

  1. [9]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    IMO, the obvious place to start is with the R&B, Vocal Jazz, and Soul music that clearly inspired Winehouse. E.g. I suspect these three artists in particular were a huge influence on her: Etta...

    IMO, the obvious place to start is with the R&B, Vocal Jazz, and Soul music that clearly inspired Winehouse.
    E.g. I suspect these three artists in particular were a huge influence on her:
    Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind, At Last, Stormy Weather
    Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You, Sinnerman, I Wish I Knew
    Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit , Blue Moon, I'm a Fool to Want You

    And if you dive into their discographies, you'll find a lot more similar tracks to Winehouse's.

    7 votes
    1. [7]
      jdsalaro
      Link Parent
      Thank you, I will do some spelunking and see what I find under those genres. I've always been fond of Soul and so-called Slave Music such as Field Hollers and Work Songs. What I like about Back to...

      IMO, the obvious place to start is with the R&B, Vocal Jazz, and Soul music that clearly inspired Winehouse.

      Thank you, I will do some spelunking and see what I find under those genres. I've always been fond of Soul and so-called Slave Music such as Field Hollers and Work Songs.

      What I like about Back to Black though is how Jazzy, in an old way, and modern it feels!

      E.g. I suspect these three artists in particular were a huge influence on her: Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind

      I'm digging this one, though it's a tad too slow and melancholic. It's beautiful, it truly is, but lacks a bit on the powerful and "no fucks given" side of things :)

      Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You
      Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra - Strange Fruit

      Have loved those two since forever !

      I'll keep listening to Etta James !

      1 vote
      1. cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        YVW. BTW, I was still editing my comment while you replied... so I added a few more recommendations from each artist. ;) Yeah, Winehouse was pretty unique in her very strong DGAF attitude. Her...

        YVW. BTW, I was still editing my comment while you replied... so I added a few more recommendations from each artist. ;)

        too slow and melancholic... lacks a bit on the powerful and "no fucks given" side of things

        Yeah, Winehouse was pretty unique in her very strong DGAF attitude. Her music was also much more modern so is more fast paced, high energy, and less overwhelmingly melancholic. But I think the spirit is still similar.

        2 votes
      2. [5]
        jdsalaro
        Link Parent
        "Something's Got A Hold On Me" was from Etta James?! :D

        "Something's Got A Hold On Me" was from Etta James?! :D

        1 vote
        1. [4]
          cfabbro
          Link Parent
          Heh, yep. She has been a huge influence on a lot of female artists, Aguilera included. ;) p.s. Dua Lipa has a great cover of I'd Rather Go Blind.

          Heh, yep. She has been a huge influence on a lot of female artists, Aguilera included. ;)

          p.s. Dua Lipa has a great cover of I'd Rather Go Blind.

          4 votes
          1. jdsalaro
            Link Parent
            This is breathtaking, amazing cover!

            This is breathtaking, amazing cover!

            1 vote
  2. geiko
    Link
    I think Solange's A Seat at the Table has a different but similarly raw energy. Different topics and mood, but same. Christine and the Queens - Tears can be so Soft Corinne Bailey Rae - He Will...

    I think Solange's A Seat at the Table has a different but similarly raw energy. Different topics and mood, but same.

    Christine and the Queens - Tears can be so Soft

    Corinne Bailey Rae - He Will Follow You With His Eyes

    This is probably the closest that I've provided so far. You can listen to the whole album. Saw her live last year and it was amazing.

    Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole

    Maybe a bit too raw?

    1 vote