DigiTales Blog - Mel Carson

Microsoft Advertising's Mel Carson collects stories and insight from the digital media space and brings them back down to earth...
Is ITV Responsible For Amy Winehouse?   

Just watched Amy Winehouse "sing" at the Nelson Mandela 90th birthday concert in Hyde Park.

It's known she's in all sorts of medical trouble, on crack and all sorts. So why was she allowed on stage at what is supposed to be a celebration?

Her interview with Fearne Cotton was incoherent and her performance stumbling and uninspiring.

For Phillip Schofield to set her up saying it was a powerful performace was just plain daft.

She's obviously in trouble, and it's very sad someone with such talent has such a problem, but should ITV have stuck her performance on the box?

Don't TV channels have a responsibility not to encourage youngsters to see drug addicts on TV in such a glorified way?

I don't remember behaviour like that 20 years ago....

Published Jun 27 2008, 10:10 PM by Mel Carson
 

All Comments

Mackenziehead
  June 30, 2008

Absolutely agree that her "performances" at Mandela and Glasto were shocking. Like a bad pub karaoke. And yet the media and fans rave about her. She is proof of the power of brand marketing, even when the product is so poor, if the brand / myth is built well enough. But for how long?

Mel Carson
  June 30, 2008

Even the BBC said her performance was strong! Who decides how they treat a phenomenon like her? Is it all about ratings?

Jocelyn Kirby
  June 30, 2008

I agree with G Shepherd. It was pretty sad to see her in the state she so obviously is in. She's a shadow of her former self and it is a shame to see her talent spoiled by the darker side of fame. I'm not sure that ITV had a choice but to show her performance though - would witholding it create even more infamy and admiration from her younger followers?

Mel Carson
  June 30, 2008

I read on the BBC after I posted that she played two songs and that the second one was much better and more coherent. Just thought it was interesting they aired the rambling interview and the less-lucid of the songs she performed....

Rich Sutcliffe
  June 30, 2008

From Jocelyn: would witholding it create even more infamy and admiration from her younger followers?

It probably would, yes, censorship in music has a tendenacy to do just that. But that wouldn't have prevented the organisers showing a little forethought and just not booked her for the event in the first place. It's one thing not airing a crack-addled performer after the event, but nobody would have batted an eylid had her name never been linked with the show in the first place.

roy marks
  June 30, 2008

she was a very naughty ninner when she was on stage alright and singling wasn't good

Mackenziehead
  June 30, 2008

I've never been a fan. she reminds me of that Mari "Beehive" Wilson from the early 80's. Her whole career has been a triumph of style over substance. (pure branding) disposable posture pop for north london dinner party chatter.

DigiTales Blog - Mel Carson
  July 25, 2008

Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of my first post on DigiTales . In 157 posts, as the tagline says, I

To comment on this post you have to be logged in

Jobs

Directory

 
 

ADVERTISEMENT