Well, what a super start to 2022 with dash to no Lockdown London to see the latest Amy Winehouse Exhibition – an intimate collection called ‘Beyond the Stage.
A dash to the Design Museum with my darling daughter helped restore my culture vulture sanity, with the big bonus of being unrestrained by the restrictions that ruled Wales. Thanks Boris.
A brilliant Birthday present too for my New Year Eve’s baby who loves the stylish Camden soul singer as much as I do. Top parenting if I say so myself.
(And with the Girl also liking Gallagher, and the Boy being wowed by Weller, I’d also say my work here is done.)
What’s not too love about Amy’s torch-singer voice, life-soundtrack lyrics, and iconic look. An image heavily influenced by her 60’s singing idols – Rest In Peace Ronnie Spector.
I’ve long loved Amy, ever since she burst onto the singing scene, and will never forget the day when she joined the infamous ’28 Club’ in 2011.
Now just over a decade later, I was set to discover the story of behind the story of the Jewish girl who grew up to be one of the most talented, and photographed women of her time.
Beyond The Stage did not dwell on the tragedy of Amy’s demise, or the chaotic chapters of a life lost too young, but celebrated the songs, the style and the swagger.
What a two tone treat it was too.
Mementoes of an early career complete with Camden Road signs and scribbled teenage lyrics, eclectic evidence of her early musical influences, and the cult clothes that shaped the image we all know and love
The Exhibition has been billed as a chance to ‘step backstage with a cultural icon that the world lost too soon’ – and I’ll go with that.
Thank you the Design Museum for organising this delight, in collaboration with The Estate of Amy Winehouse which is waiving its right to royalties in favour of the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
Credit to that personal touch of the Winehouse family, first superbly seen in Camden when we went to the Jewish’s Museum’s Amy Winehouse retrospective in 2017.
That small start to looking at the legacy, has been much magnified here complete with Amy’s stand-out style.
The exhibition has also been kindly supported by John & María Pfeffer – respect.
So why not catch it while you can.
It’s all dramatic display until marvellous May.
Speak soon.
Mrs SVJ
The Voice Of Our Community
Sue Vincent-Jones, blogging as Mrs SVJ, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and communications specialist. She writes about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
Gig Girl Reviews is where Sue shows that the world is wider than just our town by writing about the gigs, the films, the theatre, the exhibitions, and all things arty – all through the eyes of a local girl done good.
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.