THE REVIEW: Amy Winehouse’s ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’

Amy Winehouse passed away five months ago and her posthumous album, ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ will be released December 6, 2011.

The album includes twelve tracks recorded throughout her career. Her producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, who both worked on ‘Back to Black,’ helped to select the songs along with Winehouse’s family. The album displays her unique sound and vocal versatility.

“Our Day Will Come” is the first song on ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures,’ which is a remake of the 60’s hit song from Ruby & The Romantics. Amy recorded the song back in 2002 for her first album ‘Frank,’ covering the record in her soulful manner with an added reggae vibe.

The headstrong Amy comes alive in the second song, “Between the Cheats,” where you don’t want to come between her and her lover.

She ditches the Motown sound on the third song, “Tears Dry On Their Own.” The song was featured on ‘Back to Black’ but the original version was released for this album. This version is slower and sensual as she sings about heartbreak and love lost.

Continuing down the track list, Amy optimized the Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” slowing down the tempo and adding jazz backgrounds.

Nas assisted Winehose on “Like Smoke” where she sings the hook and he takes control of the verses. The Queensbridge rapper positioned the pair as players, as she lust on the chorus for a friend; nothing more nothing less.

“Valerie” tries and successfully recreates the late sixties sound. Another version was released on Ronson’s second album.

The fallen singer writes her own review for the next song “Halftime.” She begins by crooning, “Simple sweet guitar, humbled by the bass.” Her third line should be taken literal, “When the beat kicks in, everything falls into place.”

Honest Amy sings on “Wake Up Alone.” It’s the first song recorded for ‘Back to Black.’ She sings about making herself busy throughout the day but as soon as she hit her bed, thoughts about her lover floods her thoughts and dreams. The song ends with a dreamy echo of her repeating, “And I wake up alone.”

“Best Friend, Right?” is fun and simple, talking about the downs of a best friend relationship but ends with wanting to smoke together.

The unforgettable duet with Tony Bennett is the eleventh track where each surrenders their body and soul to the other. They compliment each other’s vocal style.

Pianist Leon Russell originally recorded the last song on the album, “A Song For You” in 1970. Winehouse grabbed the tune and completed the song in studio in just one take with just her guitar. Her words fade in and out as she makes love to this record.

‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ gets a 4 out of 5.

Amy Winehouse’s legacy continues to affect us all. The iconic singer-songwriter, who tragically passed away in 2011, has left a lasting impression on the music industry and won numerous awards for her songs that have touched millions of people around the world. Now, shortly after what would’ve been her 35th birthday, fans can hear some never before released material from Amy with ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’. This album is sure to excite any fan of hers looking for something new as well as those just discovering her music alike. Let’s take a closer look at this release in our review.

Amy Winehouse was one of the most revered singers of modern times. Her talent was undeniable and she had an incredible ability to translate emotion into song like no other artist could. Even though it’s been nearly eight years since we lost Amy, her influence lives on through her many hits such as ‘Rehab’, ‘Back To Black’ and more recently ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ which were featured in the documentary ‘AMY’ which followed Amy’s life story up until her untimely death.

Now comes ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’, a collection of unfinished tracks thankfully saved by producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi so that they could be shared with us all now – giving us insight into the creative genius behind Amy Winehouse herself. With production from these two major artists plus guest appearances from Nas and Tony Bennet – there’s plenty here for fans old and new to enjoy! In our review, let’s discover if this posthumous release does justice to Amy’s brilliant career or not…

Overview Of Album

Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album, ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’, is a collection of never-before-heard songs that were recorded during the singer’s lifetime. Released in 2011, it features some of her most popular work as well as previously unreleased material. The compilation showcases Amy’s powerful vocals and her signature soulful sound. It was put together by producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, who had worked closely with the artist throughout her career.

The album contains twelve tracks which range from ballads to upbeat pop songs. While many of them are covers or reworked versions of older tunes, there are also original compositions written by Winehouse herself. Most notably is ‘Body & Soul’, a duet between Amy and Tony Bennett which was released as a single in September 2011. Other highlights include the funky jazz number ‘Halftime’ and the poignant love song ‘Like Smoke’.

Overall, this album is an excellent representation of Amy Winehouse’s incredible talent and artistry – showing how she could effortlessly blend genres such as jazz, soul and pop into her own unique style of music. Her passionate lyrics about heartbreak, yearning for love and embracing life are still relevant today; making Lioness: Hidden Treasures an important addition to any fan’s record collection.

Critical Analysis

When it comes to Amy Winehouse’s ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’, listeners are met with an array of exquisite sounds and passionate lyrics. The songs feature a variety of different styles, from the upbeat pop vibe of ‘Halftime’ to the heartbreakingly emotive ballad ‘Like Smoke’. Each track showcases Amy’s vocal range and lyrical depth – something that was always a hallmark of her work.

The original compositions on this album provide insight into Winehouse’s creative process, allowing us to understand how she could go from writing powerful love songs such as ‘Body & Soul’ to fun-filled numbers like ‘Our Day Will Come’. Although some may not be familiar with her earlier works, they still benefit from listening to these great tunes which were created during studio sessions or live performances in the past few years before her death.

It is clear that Lioness: Hidden Treasures has been carefully curated by Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson who have done an amazing job at showcasing Amy’s talents and paying homage to her legacy. With its mix of covers, reinterpretations, and never-before-heard tracks, this compilation stands out as one of the singer’s most important releases and serves as a fitting tribute for any fan who appreciates great music.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Amy Winehouse’s ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ is a remarkable posthumous album that showcases her immense talent and creativity. It features some of the best tracks from her career as well as previously unseen material that demonstrates Winehouse’s ability to write great lyrics with catchy melodies. This collection of songs perfectly captures the soulful sound she was known for and it serves as an important reminder of what made her so special.

The production on this album has been carefully crafted to bring out the best in each track and the result is spectacular. Every song has its own unique vibe but they all work together to create a cohesive whole that pays tribute to one of music’s greatest talents. The legacy left by Amy Winehouse will remain strong long after her passing and this album is further proof of just how much potential she had when she was alive.

Overall, Lioness: Hidden Treasures is an essential listen for any fan of Amy Winehouse or anyone who wants to experience classic R&B at its finest. It’s a beautiful testament to someone whose life was tragically cut short but whose influence will forever be remembered in music history.