R.I.P. Amy Winehouse, 1983 - 2011

In an era when there are very few who can be called GREATS, she definitely had the goods to take that title.  Back to Black is one of those albums that when you hear the first few bars of the opening track (in this case the iconic and sadly prescient "Rehab"), you have the distinct feeling of your colon falling through your spincter and you know that you're listening to something truly awesome.

Sorry, Amy.  Sorry it was so hard for you.  Sorry you could never get it turned around to prove it again.  And sorry for the annoying advertisement at the beginning of this YouTube/VEVO video.

Lady Gaga meets Howard Stern

I'm not the biggest Lady Gaga fan, although I do respect her as this generation's icon for gay youth and how far she goes in living up to that, even if the execution often leaves me rolling my eyes.  She may only be an amalgamation of David Bowie, Grace Jones and Madonna, at least she's out there trying to be interesting in a field of pop stars with nothing to say, no individual style, and very little talent.  If I was 14 again, she'd be exactly who I would be looking up to as a hero, if not a role model, the way I did with Madonna when I actually was 14.  And I do happen to be crazy about a few of her songs.

I am however, a huge Howard Stern fan.  Aside from everything else he may be (or may have been at one time), he really is one of the best interviewers around.  I knew that if/when she finally came in, that he'd be able to get a great interview out of her.  And he did.  That was no surprise.  What did surprise me is the performance she gave in the studio:  a stripped-down piano and vocal version of her latest single, "The Edge Of Glory."  It was really quite moving, especially after she told the story of how she was inspired to write it. 

That's the first clip here.  As it's of such terrible sound quality, stop listening at the 2:36 mark and skip to the second video for the actual performance.  Kudos to Howard for getting such a great interview out of her and cutting through most of the fake bullshit.  And kudos to Gaga for opening up to him and also putting on a great performance.  If you're a fan of either, try to seek out the entire interview.  I think the whole thing is somewhere on youtube.