10 replies to this topic

[SteveV]

There was a thread from 2 6 08 by Crol asking this question, but I couldn't pull it up. I found this clip with Salaam Remi, Mark Ronson and Paul O Duffy talking about their experiences working with Amy. Paul talks about Wake Up Alone and basically says she created the song on her own and sang it as a virtually completed piece in the first take he heard. I wonder why he gets credit as a co-writer. The song is in an unusual 12/8 time signature, so maybe he had something to do with that. I think this song is a masterpiece and a tribute to Amy's genius. Paul comes in at 2:59. Does anyone have any information on Paul's contribution to this song?

Edited by SteveV, 14 October 2013 - 07:50 PM.

[LaPeep]

The demo version is my favorite song. I agree she is brilliant here.

[Uno]

Here's a little bit of info from his wiki page, but it didn't say what exactly he contributed to the song ...

The wiki talked some about him being in a motorcycle accident and then ...
During the first three years after the accident, O’Duffy worked almost exclusively out of the substantial studio he had built at his home in North London. It was here that Amy Winehouse came to spend a month in 2006 to work on tracks for what became the Back to Black album, which features the O’Duffy/Winehouse song "Wake up Alone".

[SteveV]

Thanks @Uno. I know Amy was generous about giving credit to others. Ashford and Simpson (Ain't No Mountain High Enough) are credited as co writers of Tears Dry On Their Own. The A&S song was apparently sampled, but it's the not same melody as far as I can tell. Amy definitely did some creative rearranging.

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I hope it's OK to double post. I came across this interesting music analysis of Wake Up alone. I'm not a trained musician, so I can't follow the details, but the gist of the discussion is the very unusual nature of the chord progression. I was especially attracted to this song the first time I seriously listened to Amy's work, not only to the lyrics, but to the chords. I seems the musical structure resonated with me although I couldn't say why. Now I realize I'm not the only one. One commenter was somewhat negative suggesting Amy was high or drunk when she wrote it. But he/she didn't say it was bad, just unusual. Well, if it's unusual and it works, that alone sets the songwriter apart from the bubble gum pop and processed mediocrity that Amy disliked so much.

http://www.harmonyce...s/td-p/32317518

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Edited by SteveV, 05 November 2013 - 09:54 PM.

[Soul Power]

Every time I learn one of Amy's tunes on guitar I get a big smile on my face, becasue I've gained a little insight into the mind of one of the most gifted songwriters ever. It's my opportunity to appreciate her songwriting ability, since when I listen to her tunes, all I can do is be blown away by her voice and delivery.

BTW, it's been 6+ years since I first started listening to Amy...does that amazement ever go away for anybody? I mean, every freakin' time it hits me like a ton o' lead, the same way it did the first time. I'll never get over it.

So anyway, when it comes to learning a song like Wake Up Alone (not that there is one), I am awed on a different level. That song, according to the "rules" of of Western music theory, should sound like @ss. On paper, it is all over the place and should not sound coherent at all. But we all know it does. It's a work of genius to be able to pull that off so successfully. I also find a lot of her vocal melodies deceptively challenging to sing, yet she made it seem SO easy. -sigh- Thank you, Amy.

[Soul Power]

Thanks @Uno. I know Amy was generous about giving credit to others. Ashford and Simpson (Ain't No Mountain High Enough) are credited as co writers of Tears Dry On Their Own. The A&S song was apparently sampled, but it's the not same melody as far as I can tell. Amy definitely did some creative rearranging.

Just my 2 cents: Amy was generous with the credits, but in a case like Tears Dry on Their Own it's pretty standard to credit the original writers in order to avoid copyright issues. The backing music arrangement is exactly the same as the original version of Ain't no Mountain High Enough. Even though the vocal melody is different throughout, that is enough to open up legal challenges, as I understand it.

(Check out the Stones' "Anybody Seen My Baby"; just 2 consecutive notes of the chorus resemble kd Lang's chorus in "Constant Craving" enough that they felt obliged to give her co-writing credit, even though they're very different songs otherwise.)

It's worth remembering that Amy's original version had nothing to do with the Motown song, and it was only Salaam's suggestion to use that arrangement since he felt there were too many slow/mid-tempo tunes on the album.

[SteveV]

Thanks @Soul Power. That clears up the mystery for me. When I listen to the vocal melody, I can hear how it could blend into ANMHE, but it's not the same melody. So Amy is singing a somewhat different melody than the backing music.

[Michael-19496]

Perhaps we changed a few words or perhaps suggested some lyrics that Amy used as a starting point?

[Birdieava]

:headphones:

who knows what role o'duffy had, but i think it's very nice that he gives all the credit to amy. maybe he just arranged the song? as we know she wrote her own melodies/songs and her producers did their best to embelish them and give them a great sound afterwards. particularly, i really love wake up alone, it has to be in my top three favorites songs of all time. also everytime i hear amy singing the word 'alone', my heart skips many beats.. just wow.

[ancre]

The same here, Amy's singing "alone" gives me the chills.

Edited by ancre, 14 January 2014 - 02:29 PM.

[SarahMermaid]

Bumping an old thread but just curious if Amy spent a month with him, I wonder did they record much else?