The late Amy Winehouse and Tejano legend Selena may not have much in common musically, but they do share several similarities. And I don’t just mean how they both left us at such young ages.
I put both of them in that elite category of artists whose talent seemed to flow naturally and without pretense. At their best onstage, they captured audiences’ complete attention with charisma and musical magic.
I remember Amy today because of the one-year anniversary of her death. I admit I only became a fan of her music after she died. I had jammed out to the hit, “Rehab,” but I didn’t go further, considering both her and the song as sort of novelties. Now, Amy’s music – both the popular and “B-side” songs – rank among my most-played on iTunes. Her soulful, funky style is unlike any other, and I regret not discovering it sooner.
It used to bother me when I heard people say they discovered Selena only after her death, but it doesn’t anymore. I’m glad they found her music and appreciated it, as I did with Winehouse.
So here’s to the magic of music that lives on; reborn each time a new fan discovers.