CarlM said:

Are you kidding? In case you aren't her dad is a white cab driver and her mother is a pharmacist. Kinda ironic isn't? Her parents are Jewish. And yes she did grow up kinda pampered attending private music schools until she dropped out.
[Edited 2/25/08 12:37pm]

CarlM said:

Define tortured? As far as I'm aware Ella Fitzgerald was not a drug addict. Maybe you're thinking of Billie Holiday. Ella was sexually abused as a child and by her former husbands but led a long productive life and gave a lot back to her community and family and was not self-destructive. So I'd definitely not put her in the same category with Amy. Now, regarding the music, Amy Winehouse couldn't hold a candle to Ella's beautiful voice and artistry, so again, not even in the same category.

SCNDLS said:

The fact Amy's dad is a london cab driver (black or white cab!) i would say gives her more credibility and working class status! Not everybody who goes to sylvia young is pampered and middle class although privileged to be there it shows amy's parent's saw a lot in her ability and wanted to give her a better chance! Amy was expelled from there for not applying herself and for piercing her nose (very rock 'n' roll) and then went to the more grass roots non private "Brit School" in Croydon where you have to take music and theory tests to enter.

SCNDLS said:

I was indicating having recently watched a documentary about Ella that her life was not ordinary and had troubles (truancy,homelessness,police involvement!) and as a jazz singer was able to put some of that into her music which is what Amy is doing also! You can't really compare the two of them literally as they have had different paths but with the music you are aware Jazz brings whatever experiences out! Ella was a fantastic singer and difficult to compare with amy at this point but 5 grammys is not to be sniffed at No pun intended

Blackshowman said:

CarlM said:

Yeah, Ella had a hard life as did most Black folks (and Americans in general) growing up during the Depression. All I'm saying is that despite this she didn't become self-destructive i.e. using drugs to the point of nearly killing herself. Besides, Ella's problems growing up were not of her own doing. She was a victim of circumstance and her terrible environment. Amy on the other hand started using drugs at the age of 14, supposedly because of her parents' divorce, and it's just escalated from there. I just don't see the similarity between Ella and Amy, socially or musically. Now if you say Amy and Billie Holiday that would make more sense.

CarlM said:

I don't know what kind of street cred this gives her though. But did you really think her father was Black?

SCNDLS said:

I think you misunderstood my post i said on my previous thread her dad was a black cab driver in london

This might explain:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...Black_cabs

CarlM said:

Oh damn, I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. I actually rode in those when I was in London and totally missed that. LOL!!!

SCNDLS said:

Perhaps Billie Holliday is a fairer comparison but the point is they all have had something to sing about I don't think Amy has been that involved with drugs really it is all the press so don't believe everything you read

SCNDLS said:

That's ok it is a general term how we refer to them and i thought you meant white cab as there is such a thing as that also

CarlM said:

Being in America somethimes I forget that black can be used in reference to something other than race. LOL!

CarlM said:

Agreed.