BACK TO BLACK - Discovering Amy Winehouse on Netflix

I hadn't paid much attention to Amy Winehouse before, largely because her remarkable music career was often overshadowed by her struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction. Despite her numerous successes—five Grammy wins, chart-topping hits, best-selling albums, and sold-out shows—her personal battles seemed to eclipse her achievements for me. As a DJ and journalist focused on contemporary African music, I was more interested in genres connected to my work, and her Camden punkish image didn't resonate with me.

However, discovering her cover of Grover Washington’s "Mister Magic" opened my eyes to the profound soul and jazz influences in her music. I realised how unfairly I had judged her and how much I had missed out on appreciating a genuine musical genius.

Watching Back to Black on Netflix gave me a deeper understanding of Amy Winehouse. The film, written by Matt Greenhalgh and directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, explores her life in detail, highlighting her Jewish upbringing and the influence of her father's and grandmother’s love for soul jazz. Starring Marisa Abela, with Eddie Marsan, Leslie Manville, and Jack O’Connell as Blake Fielder-Civil, the biopic is aptly named after her second album, which won her five Grammys in 2008.

If you, like me, have overlooked Amy Winehouse's music, Back to Black on Netflix is a must-watch.

- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy