How to Sing Like Amy Winehouse

Rock and R&B singer Amy Winehouse sold millions of CDs in the mid-2000s, including the best-selling "Back to Black" which featured the catchy, controversial song "Rehab." Noted for her rich, soulful voice, unconventional style and sometimes out-of-control personal life, Winehouse caused a sensation and received mostly positive reviews from critics. Here's how to emulate her rhythm and blues style.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn how to sing soul and blues from the heart. Listen to and imitate singers like Martha Reeve, Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin. Take that style and fuse it with a modern, world-weary attitude.

2. Sing lyrics about heartbreak, cheating and sexy shoes. Turn the art of rock lyric writing into poetry with songs like "Wake Up Alone" and "Me and Mr. Jones." Show a propensity for emotional warbling and lyrics that belie your age.

3. Draw from your real-life experiences to write powerful songs like "Rehab." Record the diatribe against being forced into alcohol and drug rehabilitation and turn it into your most famous and lauded song.

4. Use your distinctive stage presence to further accentuate the power of your songs. Wear your jet-black hair in an updo, draw on cat-eyes and wear vampy high heels.

5. Meld the low, smoky tones of a jazz chanteuse with some of the lesser known girl group vocalists of the 1960s. Emphasize this combination to get your vocal sound on songs like "Me and Mr. Jones."

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid paparazzi, especially when you've indulged in fights and other activities with your husband.

Resources

• Read about Amy Winehouse
• Look at the Official Amy Winehouse Homepage.

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on 4/8/2009 Informative and entertaining article