Amy Winehouse died four years ago today, July 23, at the age of 27. Winehouse may have had her struggles -- she claimed that even at a young age she was kicked out of school for piercing her nose along with "general slackeritude" -- but she represents a persona the world continues to be captivated by. The woman successfully realized her dreams in the only way she knew how.
In remembering the late singer, Lady Gaga once said, "I always felt like Amy had opened a door for girls like me who didn’t fit that exact real pop mold..." Winehouse's talents were one of a generation and she is sorely missed.
1. Growing up, Amy Winehouse was in a Salt-n-Pepa inspired rap duo called Sweet 'N' Sour.
salt n pepa
At the age of 10, Amy Winehouse formed the rap group with her best friend, Juliette Ashby. Winehouse described Sweet 'N' Sour as being the "little white Jewish Salt-n-Pepa" and that she was "Sour."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Newsletter: The Yodel
Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox
See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
The duo also recorded songs titled, "Glam Chicks," "Spindarella" and "Boys... Who Needs Them."
2. Amy Winehouse didn't initially want to be a musician.
TK TK gifs
Rolling Stone's 2007 cover story of the singer revealed, "She didn't aspire to be a musician, though; instead, she fantasized about being a roller-skating waitress like the ones she'd seen in 'American Graffiti.'" A waitress from that film is shown in the image above.
3. Amy Winehouse once carved her fiancé's name into her stomach with a glass shard, in front of a reporter.
amy winehouse black fieldercivil
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
During a photo shoot with Terry Richardson, Amy Winehouse took a glass shard that was meant to be used as a prop and carved "i love Blake" into her stomach. Blake Fielder-Civil was her fiancé of two weeks at the time and was also appearing in the Richardson photographs with Winehouse. In the cover story for Spin, writer Steve Kandell wrote about the incident, "don't be worried for Amy Winehouse. Be happy. She's earned this."
Fielder-Civil and Winehouse ended up marrying, but divorced in 2009. Apparently, this relationship is what introduced Winehouse to crack and heroin. Before 2007, the two would allegedly cut themselves together to ease the pain of withdrawal.
4. Animals were a big part of Amy Winehouse's life, she even befriended a monkey in Barbados.
amy winehouse
Amy Winehouse had as many as 11 cats at one time. An unnamed source even told the Daily Mirror "Amy often claimed she wanted to leave all her money to a cats' home as an ultimate sign of rebellion."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
While visiting Barbados in 2010, Winehouse was apparently followed around by a monkey for a whole week. She fell in love with the primate and reportedly wished to bring him back to the United Kingdom with her.
5. Amy Winehouse's dream super power was "super sexuality."
TK TK gifs
The Guardian had a lengthy Q&A with Amy Winehouse in 2007 where one of the questions was "what would your super power be?" Winehouse answered, "super sexuality." In the same interview, the singer also said "sex" was how she relaxed and that "more sex and more gym" would be the single thing that'd improve the quality of her life.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Her favorite word? "Fuckery."
BONUS: This was what she deemed the most important life lesson she ever learned...
79697202
That quote also comes from the 2007 interview with The Guardian. Right before that question was also an answer of note:
How would you like to be remembered?
[Winehouse:] As genuine.
All images Getty unless otherwise noted.
BRIT Awards 2008 - Show - London
Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson on stage, during the BRIT Awards 2008, at Earls Court in central London.
Advertisement
Advertisement
BRIT Awards 2007 - Show
Amy Winehouse performs on stage during the Brit Awards 2007 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in central London.
MTV Movie Awards 2007
Amy Winehouse arrives for the 2007 MTV Movie awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, Los Angeles.
Winehouse in court
Amy Winehouse arrives with her father Mitch (right) at City of Westminster Magistrates Court in London for her court appearance.
46664 Concert - London
Amy Winehouse leads the celebrations on stage at the 46664 concert honouring Nelson Mandela's ninetieth birthday in Hyde Park, London.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Mojo Honours List Award Ceremony - London
Amy Winehouse and her boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil arrive for the Mojo Honours List award ceremony at The Brewery, east London.
Amy Winehouse at court - London
Amy Winehouse leaving Westminster Magistrates Court in central London, as she stands trial on a charge of assault.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - London
Amy Winehouse spotted out and about in Soho, central London.
Amy Winehouse at court - London
Amy Winehouse arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court on the second of a trial for alleged assault.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Amy Winehouse sighting - London
Amy Winehouse hand in hand with Tyler James in Covent Garden, London.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - London
Amy Winehouse seen in Covent Garden, London.
The Libertines gig - London
Amy Winehouse watches the Libertines perform on stage at the Forum in Highgate, London.
Amy Winehouse & Pete Doherty Sighting - London
Singers Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse spotted out in central London.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Amy Winehouse Leaving For Court - London
Amy Winehouse, and her father Mitch, leave her north London home for her court appearance.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - London
Amy Winehouse spotted out and about at 4am. The singer has been keeping some erratic hours of late and last night was no different. After leaving her new Bow home at 4am, Amy hot footed it back to the homeland Camden where she went shopping for ice pops and hooked up with pal Sadie Frost and her pal Tommy.
Blake Fielder-Civil in court
Singer Amy Winehouse arrives at Thames Magistrates Court, east London, to see her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, appear on charges of perverting the course of justice.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - London
Amy Winehouse spotted on a night out in Camden, north London.
Advertisement
Advertisement
BRIT Awards 2008 - Show - London
Amy Winehouse on stage at the Brit Awards 2008, Earls Court, London.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - Camden
Amy Winehouse spotted out in Camden, north London.
46664 Concert - London
Amy Winehouse performs during the 46664 concert honouring Nelson Mandela's ninetieth birthday in Hyde Park, London.
Glastonbury Festival 2008 - Day Two
Amy Winehouse performs on the Pyramid Stage during day two of the Glastonbury Festival, Somerset.
SHOWBIZ Winehouse Launch
Singer Amy Winehouse during her performance at HMV Oxford Street, central London, where she celebrated the release of her new single Take The Box and signed autographs.
Amy Winehouse - Q Awards
Singer Amy Winehouse backstage during the 15th annual Q Awards at Grosvenor House in London's Park Lane. Jonathan Ross hosts the music magazine awards honouring the best in the industry.
Ivor Novello Awards - London
Amy Winehouse wins the Best Contemporary song award for her song 'Rehab' at the Ivor Novello Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in cental London.
Amy Winehouse Sighting - London
Amy Winehouse and Dionne Bromfield seen out and about in Camden, north London.
The 2008 Ivor Novello Awards - London
Amy Winehouse and her dad Mitch during the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards, at Grosvenor House, central London.
Amy Winehouse
FILE - In this July 24, 2009 file photo, British singer Amy Winehouse leaves Westminster magistrates court in London after a judge acquitted her of assaulting a fan who asked to take her picture. Winehouse had no illegal drugs in her system when she died, and it is still unclear what killed the singer, her family said Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011. The family said in a statement that toxicology tests showed "alcohol was present" in the singer's body but it hasn't yet been determined if it contributed to her death. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Amy Winehouse
FILE -- In this Feb. 20, 2008, file photo, Amy Winehouse performs at the Brit Awards 2008 in London. A new album of recordings by the late soul singer Amy Winehouse will be released in December, Island Records said Monday Oct. 31, 2011. It said "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" will contain 12 songs previously unreleased tracks, alternative versions of existing hits and brand new songs recorded by the beehive-wearing singer who died at her London home on July 23. .(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, file)
Amy Winehouse
FILE - In this June 27, 2008 file photo, British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse performs at the 46664 charity concert in honor of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday in London. Winehouse had written all the songs that were to appear on her third album. She even picked out song titles. But music producer Salaam Remi said the singer was not rushing to release that new material. Only two of the tracks Winehouse wrote were recorded and appear on her compilation album, ?Lioness: Hidden Treasures.? It will be out on Dec. 5. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
T in the Park festival 2008 - Scotland
Amy Winehouse performs on the main stage at T in the Park music festival near Kinross in Scotland.
Isle of Wight Festival 2007
EDITORIAL USE ONLY: Amy Winehouse performing at the Isle of Wight Festival in Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight. Picture date: Saturday June 9, 2007.
Mercury Music Prize - London
Amy Winehouse performs during the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London.
Music - Amy Winehouse - Vodafone TBA - Bristol
Amy Winehouse performs during an exclusive Vodafone TBA concert at Circomedia in Bristol.
Amy Winehouse in concert
Amy Winehouse performs at the Union Chapel in Islington, north London during a MENCAP benefit concert.
Amy Winehouse
FILE - In this Friday Feb. 16, 2007 file photo British singer Amy Winehouse poses for photographs after being interviewed by the Associated Press at a studio in north London. British officials say the coroner who oversaw the inquest into the death of singer Amy Winehouse has resigned after her qualifications were questioned. Winehouse's relatives said they were still absorbing the implications of the news. In October, coroner Suzanne Greenaway ruled that the soul singer had died from accidental alcohol poisoning. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
38,398 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?38,398 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
