Amy Winehouse Foundation Plots ‘Back to Black’ Covers Contest
The Amy Winehouse Foundation and Island Records are accepting Amy Winehouse covers as part of a contest marking the 10th anniversary of her acclaimed Back to Black LP. Fans can download the original instrumental tracks for “Back to Black,” “Rehab,” “Tears Dry on Their Own” and “Just Friends” and upload their versions for a chance to record the cover in a professional studio with contest judges Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi.
Island and Vevo will donate all contest funds to the foundation, whose mission is “supporting and empowering children and young adults in need through music therapy and music education and works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people.”
The competition is now open and concludes January 31st, 2017.
To help launch the project, Remi posted a video explaining his role in the contest. Island also released new lyric videos for “Tears Dry on Their Own” and “Just Friends.”
In August, on the fifth anniversary of Winehouse’s death, the Amy Winehouse Foundation announced plans to establish Amy’s Place, a London home for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Winehouse struggled with her own drug and alcohol addictions in the years preceding her 2011 death.
Adele recently honored the late singer during a Boston concert, praising Winehouse as a formative influence during her teenage years. “I feel like I owe so much of my career to her,” she told the crowd on September 14th on what would have been Winehouse’s 33rd birthday. “I know that America really caught on to her with Back to Black, but her first album, Frank … really changed my life.”