Amy (song) explained

Amy
Type:song
Artist:Green Day
Album:¡Dos!
Recorded:2012
Studio:Jingletown Studios, Oakland, California
Genre:
Length:3:25
Label:Reprise
Producer:Rob Cavallo, Green Day

"Amy" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released as the closing track on their tenth studio album ¡Dos! (2012). It was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool, and the song was produced by Rob Cavallo. "Amy" is a ballad written in tribute to Amy Winehouse, and marked a departure from the band's typical sound.

Background and composition

"Amy" was written by Armstrong as a tribute to English singer Amy Winehouse, who died of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011. Despite the two artists never having met,[1] Armstrong commented that he was a fan of Winehouse's music and described her death as "tragic".[2] [3] The song was first performed on August 12 at a secret charity show in Costa Mesa, California,[4] [5] with Armstrong commenting he had written "Amy" the week before.[6] The song was later released as the closing track on their studio album ¡Dos! on November 9, 2012.[7]

The song is a mournful ballad incorporating the jazz-inspired styles of Winehouse through "stripped-back guitar work" and "sparse fingerpicking" reminiscent of folk rock,[8] doo-wop[9] and lounge music. It is one of two solo numbers on ¡Dos!, featuring only Armstrong.[10] Lyrically, the song serves as a cautionary tale[11] [12] through its multiple allusions to Winehouse's "troubled" life and death, and speaks about Armstrong's desire to have met the late singer.[13] [14] Because of its acoustic sound and mellow nature atypical of Green Day songs, "Amy" has been compared to "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)".[15] Armstrong explained this difference by stating that the somber tone of the song deals with the "consequences of the party."[16]

Reception

"Amy" has received a positive reception since its release, with critics calling it "heartfelt" and a standout on ¡Dos![17] [18] Rolling Stone described "Amy" as a "mascara-streaked soul ballad... where Billie Joe Armstrong makes like the skate-park Sam Cooke",[19] while Loudwire and Alternative Press stylistically compared the song to The Everly Brothers and Elvis Costello, respectively.[20] The Guardian called the song a "surprisingly poignant tribute",[21] while critics at NME praised the song as "slight but touching." Billboard called "Amy" one of the band's strongest ballads, specifically noting of the song's "unadorned" nature,[22] while Entertainment Weekly called "Amy" one of the best songs recorded in 2012.[23] However, "Amy" has also been described by critics as "uncomfortable",[24] [25] with the BBC calling it a "slightly awkward finale."[26] The A.V. Club commented that "sentiment isn't enough to salvage the song," calling it "listless".[27]

Usage in media

In 2012, "Amy" was included at the beginning of the episode "Unspoken", alongside other songs from the band's ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré! trilogy. Executive producer Pam Veasey chose the song because it "beautifully accompanied the visuals" of the episode.[28] [29]

Credits and personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Golsen . Tyler . November 14, 2021 . The song Green Day wrote about the death of Amy Winehouse . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195104/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/green-day-song-amy-winehouse/ . April 21, 2023 . April 22, 2023 . Far Out.
  2. Web site: Martin . Daniel . July 26, 2012 . Green Day write song in tribute to Amy Winehouse . April 21, 2023 . . August 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805161356/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-131-1262518 . live .
  3. Web site: August 24, 2012 . Green Day dedicate a song to the 'unbelievable talent' of Amy Winehouse . April 22, 2023 . . April 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422210431/https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/green-day-dedicate-a-song-to-the-unbelievable-talent-of-amy-winehouse-8078512.html . live .
  4. Web site: Kaufman . Spencer . August 14, 2011 . Green Day Play New Song About Amy Winehouse at 'Secret' Gig . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421194011/https://loudwire.com/green-day-new-song-about-amy-winehouse-secret-gig/ . April 21, 2023 . April 21, 2023 . Loudwire.
  5. Lipshutz . Jason . August 15, 2011 . Green Day Debuts Amy Winehouse Tribute, 'Amy,' at California Show . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422210431/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/green-day-debuts-amy-winehouse-tribute-amy-at-california-show-467907/ . April 22, 2023 . April 22, 2023.
  6. Web site: O'Donnell . Kevin . August 16, 2011 . Green Day Debut New Songs, Winehouse Tribute . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195104/https://www.spin.com/2011/08/green-day-debut-new-songs-winehouse-tribute/ . April 21, 2023 . April 22, 2023 . SPIN.
  7. Web site: Green Day – ¡Dos! . April 21, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421223237/https://www.discogs.com/release/4021794-Green-Day-Dos . live .
  8. Web site: Bosquez . James . November 12, 2012 . Green Day: '¡Dos!' . January 17, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117062737/https://www.sacurrent.com/music/green-day-dos-2243207 . live .
  9. Web site: Kaufman . Gil . August 16, 2011 . Green Day Debut Amy Winehouse Tribute Song . January 16, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117060739/https://www.mtv.com/news/l5l0mj/green-day-amy-winehouse-tribute . dead .
  10. Web site: November 13, 2012 . Green Day - ¡Dos! . February 19, 2024 . Alternative Press.
  11. Web site: Nicolson . Barry . October 30, 2012 . Green Day, '¡Dos!' – First Listen . January 17, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117062737/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/green-day-dos-first-listen-782660 . live .
  12. Web site: Muston . Samuel . July 29, 2012 . Trending: Green Day light a candle in the wind for Amy . January 17, 2024 . . September 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906023644/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/trending-green-day-light-a-candle-in-the-wind-for-amy-7986171.html . live .
  13. Web site: August 16, 2011 . Green Day unveil Amy Winehouse tribute . August 15, 2023 . . April 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427004734/https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/music/green-day-unveil-amy-winehouse-tribute . live .
  14. Web site: November 9, 2012 . Green Day – '¡Dos!' . August 15, 2023 . . April 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425211844/https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-green-day-13855-319756 . live .
  15. Web site: Pace . Jessica . 2011 . Hear Green Day's Song For Amy Winehouse . April 22, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195105/https://americansongwriter.com/hear-green-days-song-for-amy-winehouse/ . live .
  16. Web site: Copsey . Robert . July 25, 2012 . Green Day explain Amy Winehouse tribute song: "It was a tragic loss" . April 22, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195105/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a395287/green-day-explain-amy-winehouse-tribute-song-it-was-a-tragic-loss/ . live .
  17. Web site: Keefe . Jonathan . November 12, 2012 . Review: Green Day, Dos . April 22, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195104/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/green-day-dos/ . live .
  18. Web site: Golsen . Tyler . February 17, 2023 . The best Green Day song from every studio album . April 22, 2023 . . March 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230316101945/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/best-green-day-song-from-every-album/ . live .
  19. Dolan . Jon . November 12, 2012 . ¡Dos! . April 22, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195105/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/dos-127236/ . live .
  20. Web site: Childers . Chad . November 13, 2012 . Green Day, '¡Dos!' – Album Review . August 15, 2023 . . August 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230815154418/https://loudwire.com/green-day-dos-album-review/ . live .
  21. Web site: Mongredien . Phil . November 10, 2012 . Green Day: ¡Dos! – review . April 22, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195105/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/11/green-day-dos-review . live .
  22. Lipshutz . Jason . December 20, 2012 . Green Day's Album Trilogy: What Happened with 'Uno!,' 'Dos!' and 'Tre!'? . June 7, 2023 . . June 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610164412/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/green-days-album-trilogy-what-happened-with-uno-dos-and-tre-1481291/ . live .
  23. Anderson . Kyle . January 2, 2013 . Green Day announce new tour dates, update on Billie Joe Armstrong's rehab stay . January 16, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117024233/https://ew.com/article/2013/01/02/green-day-tour-dates-2013-billie-joe-armstrong/ . live .
  24. Web site: Roffman . Michael . November 13, 2012 . Album Review: Green Day – ¡Dos! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421195105/https://consequence.net/2012/11/album-review-green-day-dos/ . April 21, 2023 . April 22, 2023 . Consequence.
  25. Web site: Papandreas . Jay . January 18, 2024 . Green Day Albums Worst To Best . February 19, 2024 . Stereogum.
  26. Web site: Lawrence . Alistair . 2012 . Green Day ¡Dos! Review . January 16, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117024233/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/bzvh/ . live .
  27. Web site: Heller . Jason . November 13, 2012 . Green Day: ¡Dos! . June 7, 2023 . . September 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906141342/https://www.avclub.com/green-day-dos-1798174945 . live .
  28. Web site: Stevens . Jenny . October 10, 2012 . Green Day to soundtrack CSI: NY episode . January 16, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117024233/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-95-1253986 . live .
  29. Web site: Tilles . Jay . October 8, 2012 . Green Day To Provide Soundtrack To Intense CSI: NY Episode . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160423175456/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/10/08/green-day-to-provide-soundtrack-to-intense-csi-ny-episode/ . April 23, 2016 . January 16, 2024 . KROQ-FM.

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