Super Goss: Adele Says Amy Winehouse 'Paved The Way For Artists Like Me'

Monday 25 July 2011

Adele Says Amy Winehouse 'Paved The Way For Artists Like Me'

'Rolling in the Deep' singer writes about being inspired by Winehouse.
By Gil Kaufman

Amy Winehouse
Photo: Getty Images

A common thread in many of the stories about the death of Amy Winehouse is the huge influence the "Back to Black" singer had on a new generation of young vocalists. Many of those singers, from Jessie J to Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Kelly Clarkson have weighed in on their sadness about the passing of Winehouse at the age of 27 from yet-undetermined causes.

And while Winehouse has been mentioned as a touchstone for any number of new British pop crooners such as Duffy and Estelle, the one artist most frequently cited as a descendant of the Winehouse influence is Adele.

With her smash hit 21 album, the year's fastest selling to date on the back of a massive hit single, "Rolling in the Deep," Adele is enjoying the kind of cross-over success that helped Winehouse move millions of copies of her 2006 breakthrough, Back to Black. She's clearly benefitted from the trail blazed by the "Rehab" singer and on Monday (July 25), Adele reacted to the news with a thoughtful, heartfelt blog post in which she wrote about just how important Amy was to her sound and how much her influence will be missed.

Click for photos of Amy Winehouse's life and career.

"Not many people have it in them to do something they love, simply because they love it," wrote Adele in a post titled "Amy Flies in Paradise X." "With no fuss and no compromise. But she knew what she was capable of and didn't even need to try. If she wanted to do something she would and if she didn't she'd say f--- off. It came easy to her and that's why we all loved her so much. We believed every word she wrote, and it would sink in deep when she sang them. Amy paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again whilst being fearlessly hilarious and blasé about the whole thing."

It wasn't just her attitude and heart-wrenching lyrics that made Winehouse so special, though, Adele added. "I don't think she ever realised just how brilliant she was and how important she is, but that just makes her even more charming. Although I'm incredibly sad about Amy passing I'm also reminded of how immensely proud of her I am as well. And grateful to be inspired by her. Amy flies in paradise xx."

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