My Fascination with Amy Winehouse

Amy by waytoFall (deviantart)

Every since the news broke about Amy Winehouse's death, every gossip blog, news network, magazine, everyone has given their two cents about the artist. Well, here's mine.

Amy Winehouse was extraordinary. She was the singer with that boozey, passionate voice that made jazz great. Amy had talent, style, and was beyond gorgeous; even with the slightly ridiculous, enlarged eyeliner wing.

Amy knew who she was and who she wanted to become. She was the retro bad-ass beauty that could turn out incredible music and look wicked while doing it. Now, anybody born in the last 16 years has obviously heard their share of Winehouse stories. Her wild partying was to be reckoned with. Of course, that's were most people's 2 pennies went: to her recklessness.

Honestly, when all is said and done, I can't totally blame her. I get that she went overboard a bit. The lifestyle of those in the fast-lane is something I can only imagine, if aspire to. If I was in the shoes of someone like Adele or Gwenyth Paltrow, I'm damned sure that I would want a drink at some point. I'm sure even Oprah has downed a shot on a particularly hard "Favorite Things" episode. Snobbish people tend to stick to the opinion of "I could do better".

Well, could you?



Her partying and addictions are not the point of this entry, please understand that much. The point of this was her talent.

Amy's talent was something of Brittney Spears and Bruno Mars' wildest fantasies. She had a voice well beyond her years, and her lyrics spoke of a depth most modern music can't ever seem to reach. Her album, Back to Black, was nominated for 5 Emmy's; all of which, Amy won.

People have singled out Amy's hit, Rehab, as a cry for help. I beg to differ. I believe the song was less about Amy's choice to abandon/refuse help, but about choices in general; the way a choice can effect a life. Amy was reflecting on her choices, but not entirely bringing the spotlight to her less-than-brilliant ones. Amy defined an era where music still meant something to those that were creating it. When Amy felt something, we all felt something; whether it was a smirk, a grimace, or a little tug at the old heart-strings

Escapades aside, I've wanted to be Amy. I have dreamt about being the girl that everybody likes and respects, but can hold her own and be strong in the arena of life. Obviously, Amy may have taken to much and I feel that society is partly to blame, for alot of celebrity has-beens and mis-haps.

We gave Amy alot of un-needed attention for over-doing it and making a fool of herself. I'm almost positive that she wasn't proud of it and didn't mean to go that far! To her, it must have been like that crazy child-hood dream we have when your at school, but you didn't put on your pants that morning. Then, a picture of you in your lucky space-teddy undies (don't laugh!) appears in the school paper the following day. It's one of those "oh God, why me?" moments.

So, as I listen to my worn-out copy of Back to Black, and look at the picture of her above, I wonder what she was thinking there. Was she excited for something? Scared or angry? Maybe she was filled with pride, but was modestly trying not to reveal it?

I also wonder what was going through Amy's mind on her last day. She couldn't have known that was it! There is just this aching thought in the back of my mind, the pounding urge to know what was going through her mind, what she did, what music she listened to, on her last day.

All that is left to say, as Valerie flows through the speakers, is that it's making me smile a little bit more. This song was supremely her; Amy Winehouse is written in neon lights all over it! Bruno Mars and his lighters can go off into their corner, because his cover can't hold a flame to Amy.

Let's just leave it at Miss Amy Winehouse will never be replaced and the music business will be doing 360's in it's grave at a million miles an hour trying to find the next Amy.

I believe it will be hard to recover the era of Black.

Until next time, all!

Carie Lea

listen to Amy's song Valerie here

listen to Amy's song Rehab here

Ever Had Just an "Off" Day?

Ever had a day that you just didn't know what to make of it? Today is one of those days, at least for me. Sadly, it's not always sunny in Philadelphia and Tuesday is no exception. Since I woke up this morning, it's been raining; scratch that- down pouring. All day!

And I'm starting to wonder whose depressive spirit is out to get me. It's cold, rainy and I'm sick. Like, I didn't even get out of my room to post this sick. I've been staring at the ceiling fan in my room and listening to public radio for a good four and a half hours.

While my sister is gallivanting around downstairs, watching tv, eating ice cream and teaching the dog new tricks. The one day I don't have to do chores every day all summer is the day were I could die at any second. Thank god for the magics of the internet!

Hulu and YouTube are my new best friends; Now, I'm starting to feel like I shoudl start a channel for you people (yes all 2 of my followers...) so you can, I dunno, hear my extremly groggy and pre-pubescent-boy sick voice for the first time.

But, I digress. You'll get used to that eventually.

So, to conclude this pointless drabble:

I'm working on a stockpile of makeup tutorials ( 1 tutorial = 1 video + written directions + pictures) before I start posting, so they're coming, I promise.

So, what do you do on rainy days? DO you read, write, watch a good movie?

I usually like a good strong cup of Lady Grey tea and anything to keep me busy. Today I have been watching youtube videos. My top favorites are:

1. JesuOtaku Anime Review- Black Blood Brothers

2. Nostalgia Critic- Carebears in Wonderland

3. Nostalgia Critic- The Legend of the Titanic

4. Laser Pen Freakout by fadingregret897 [click to see]

5. Drops of Jupiter (vocals) by augustmoon14 [click to see]

Hope you all are having a spectacular day elsewhere!

Please, post some pictures of sunshine and flowers on here. I could super use it :)

Rainbows,

Carie Lea

The First Post

The first post; I could skyrocket or kill this entire blog in the first post. I'm feeling a little nervous here, because you all don't know me at all. Yet, you're wanting to read this...
For that, thank you, but I'm sure you'll want to know a little something about me.
I'm Carie Lea, that's lea pronounced lee. Fun Fact: Lea is really pronounced Lee, but since the rise of Lea Michelle, it's become more like Leah.
There's my nerd right there.
Yes, I'm a nerd: I read fanfiction, write fanfiction, and enjoy school. But, my glasses look like Tina Fey's, so it can't be all that bad(they look like hers, but not on me). I'm starting to wonder what classifies someone as a nerd... Okay, readers, your first job, should you choose to accept it: Tell me what you think a nerd is. Winner gets a special shout out in the next post!
This blog was supposed to in conjunction with a now defunct website I designed with my two of my friends. We decided to delete for... actually, I don't know why it was deleted. I got on one day and couldn't find it. Anyway, it has now become my hub for everything: for my photos, videos, tutorials, and anything I spur an interest in.
Just explain the "Pages" a bit: "About Me", "Home", and "Art" are pretty self-explanitory, but if you want to ask any questions, you can zip me a message. "Lea Looks" is the hub for all my makeup tutorials; the only explanation is I needed something to do this past summer and got a 5 dollar makeup palate (36 colours at 5Below!) as a graduation gift to myself. I will do reviews if someone were to ask, but I haven't been up long enough to know.
"Style Diary" is where I post in regards to fashion and trends and my own crazy outfits, maybe even outfits you all send in.  I got the idea from blogger Doe Deere. She has been an inspriation for alot of who I have grown into; inspring me to become myself and enjoy it to the fullest. Also, before I found her blog, I never wore makeup, had short-straight hair, and wore baggy-ish clothing.
Can someone say "androgynous"?
I think that's an okay note to end on. I hope you stick around and see what this will become. I wonder if we could try for Today's Most Popular Blogs, which I will explain when I get the numbers.
Help Carie out and spread the word to everyone!

thank you,
Carie Lea