Natalie Cole says Amy Winehouse’s wins send a bad message
Natalie Cole is speaking out about Amy Winehouse’s five Grammy wins last night, saying that Amy is sending out a bad message.
“I don’t think she should have won. I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business, the ones who are trying to do it right and really trying to keep themselves together,” said Cole, 58. “We have to stop rewarding bad behavior.”
Of Winehouse, 24, who is currently in rehab in England, Cole says: “I’m sorry. I think the girl is talented, gifted, but it’s not right for her to be able to have her cake and eat it too. She needs to get herself together.”
On the seriousness of Winehouse’s troubles, Cole – who over the years has battled her own substance-abuse problems, successfully – observes, “I mean, she could die. This isn’t something that’s cute and fun just to throw around in the press. The girl really has a problem, and I think for those of us who have been in the business long enough, we know the sacrifice it takes. This is about discipline and hard work, and you don’t get to just do your drugs and go onstage and get rewarded.”
In all, Winehouse won five Grammys – including record of the year, song of the year and best new artist. She also rocked the crowd inside Los Angeles’s Staples Center with a live-via-satellite rendition of “You Know I’m No Good” and “Rehab.”
“Her performance was fine,” surmised Cole. “I don’t take anything away from her talent, but I just feel like she’s stepping into a place that she hasn’t earned yet.”
As for whom Cole, whose new jazz CD will be out in August, would have lavished with Grammy gold, the singer replied, “Rihanna, even Beyoncé. “I just feel like they’re ready to go the long haul. You can tell how hard they work, they’re great people, their heart is in the right place. These are the people we should be praising, these are the people we should be encouraging.”
She added, “And the others, we need to help them.”
February 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I agree with her!!
February 11th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Agreed. To top it off Amy is not even a ‘new artist’ yet she won that Grammy. Makes no sense.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
natlie used to smoke rocks too, so she needs to shut the f up.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Her reasoning makes no sense to me at all. Amy Winehouse should be judged on the music she makes, not her personal life. I’m happy she won, I think she deserved it. Her performances was awesome.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I somewhat agree and disagree. Yes it sends the wrong message but natalie is actin glike after the Grammy’s everyone was going to church to pray and fast.About 80% of those singers are probably on something they just keep it well hidden. And she is a new artist. Dont forget her album was released in the US last year.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
So, in other words, she thinks the black artists should win. Those are the only examples she gave. She just got on my sh*t list.
February 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
What a hypocrite and what a load of crap ! Maybe if she knew a little something about Amy Winehouse she would not have said that. Back to Black is her second album, she’s been at this for years. Amy Winehouse is a talent that blows Miss Cole’s doors off, maybe that’s her REAL problem. What a non classy thing to come out and say, especially an old coke head herself.
February 11th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I agree with her. I thought the same thing.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
HA! My pastor was saying the same thing! And I agree with her!
February 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Natalie Cole, Nat Cole’s daughter, doesn’t think Amy earned her place yet? Natalie Cole once described her family as “the black Kennedys”. Certainly, the road to success for Natalie has not been without hardships, but Amy Winehouse did not have that background; she started in music at 10. She earned a Grammy and whatever “place” goes along with it.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
..I am suspicious of Natalie Cole merely riding the Winehouse
buzz..it’s contrived, but savvy celebs do know what is good for them.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
..was Amy Winehouse rewarded for bad behavior?
I could swear she won those awards for being
unusually talented. Amy Winehouse is worthy of
the monopoly.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Hmm, it almost sounds like she’s jealous or something, doesn’t it? And Rihanna should have been the recipient of some of those awards? How does that jive with Natalie Cole criticizing Amy for not playing the game long enough (’she’s stepping into a place that she hasn’t earned yet’). So Rihanna HAS earned a multitude of Grammys. Is she serious? This isn’t an award for being a good Christian or something - it’s an award based on musical talent. WTF.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Natalie Cole is disgruntled because Amy Winehouse snagged most of the Grammy awards. And she’s telling that Beyonce and Rihana are more desrving of these awards? She must still be smoking cheap rocks! Amy Winehouse IS a very good singer — and that’s why she got most of the awards, not because she’s a bad role model. At least Amy Wino is open about her addiction. But Natalie, because she’s supposed to be A BLACK KENNEDY, hid her drug problems. BTW -she’s no KENNEDY (white or black). She’s a has-been who needs to fade away. She’s no TINA TURNER - who, at the ripe age of 70+, is still very relevant today. Tina rocked at the Grammy’s — much better than Beyonce.
Heck, even Ringo Starr will be in the Grammy Hall of Fame — and Ringo was (and probably still is) a well known drug user.
Rihana - mediocre singer
Beyonce - lip syncher, yells most of the time when singing
February 12th, 2008 at 4:01 am
I am psychiatrist and you are music.You should talk about music.If she is talented has to win.Psychological problems do not give grammy.Be honest with you yourself and do not mix the things.
PS.It is anti ethical You could not tell that.Because you represented Grammy in that night
February 12th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Shut up you stupid wench
February 12th, 2008 at 5:18 am
I totally agree - what kind of example does she set for they youth in the world. If she wants to kill herself - that is her business, but we should not put her a pedastal and think she is great. There were more artist out there that deserved it more and want to do what is right. Doen’t anyone she is BREAKING the law? I will tell you now that if it was you or me doing the drugs she is doing we WOULD BE in jail, not going to a nice rehab center.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:19 am
All in all I just think Grammys should be given to people with TALENT. There is not really any talent in the music industry today and I cannot believe that people think certain artists are talented. Amy Winehouse is just a cheap knock off of music from another time, so is Christina. Its all the same bs recycled over and over again, the people who deserve these awards are the people who break boundaries, who are innovative and who have their own style. Emulating something which has already been done can hardly constitute as ‘talent’. Stop buying the bs the industry is selling there is TONS of REAL MUSIC out there that is deserving of the type of credit people like Kanye and Amy get. To me it just a sad sad time for music, when people say Rihanna is a great singer all it does is make me loose a little more hope. I am involved in the music industry I guess this is why it bothers me more then it does most people. Congrats to those who won but winning a Grammy doesn’t translate into talent. Britney Spears also has one.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I agree with her 100%. I know that the awards are based on your talent but being in the spotlight also makes you a role model to many. Why should we be rewarding someone with such problems? It tells others that they can do drugs and be successful. I think Amy Winehouse is a horrible singer and she needs to get her life back together. We have all see pictures of her a few years ago, it is obvious that she has major issues. She needs to focus on her health and well being and then she can be a musician. She gives a bad name to the music industry.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Uhhhmmm…the Grammies is about SINGING TALENT!!! It’s not about your personality or your character…if it were…
NO ONE WOULD BE NOMINATED!!!
And I think that’s the MOFO POT…calling the KETTLE BLACK…especially when SHE was getting ALL of her awards…she was higher than the sun!!!
Stop choking on the “hateraide”!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 7:22 am
I can’t believe Natalie is being like this. Did she forget her drug days?? Natalie, have you ever heard the saying ” people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”??
February 12th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I completely agree with her. It is wrong to reward people who OPENLY have serious drug issues for songs ABOUT serious drug issues. It is ridiculous. And it’s a farce to say that you should only be interested in the music and not the person - hello, get a freaking clue - that’s what the business is about. Selling the whole package, and Amy Winehouse’s package SUCKS.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Amy won those Grammys fair & square. Bc she has talent. I am not about to go and smoke some crack bc I saw Amy do it and she won some Grammys. I personally think that these wins should be the incentive for her to get better. Give her a flipping chance to get better!
February 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Amy won because her music and her talent, since when ther give Grammy for life style.
Natalie was addict when she won her Grammys, so I guess it is ok hor her.
No offence but I think Amy is much talented than both Rihanna and Beyonce.
Just hope that this awards makes Amy think about her life and opportunities she has.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I agree with her 100%!
Amy has a great talent, but with her winning the grammys and all, its showing a bad example for others. It shows yea you can get coked out and go against everyone and still get rewarded!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
In 2000, Cole released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which described her battle with drugs during much of her life. In the book, Cole admitted to using LSD, heroin and crack cocaine. Cole said she began recreational drug use while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She also disclosed that she was arrested in Toronto, Canada for possession of heroin in 1975. Cole continued to spiral out of control - including one incident where she refused to evacuate a burning building, and another where her young son Robert nearly drowned in the family swimming pool while she and her first husband, the late Reverend Marvin Yancy, were on a drug binge.[5] She did eventually enter rehab in 1983.
Hypocritical sore loser with ZERO class = Natalie Cole
February 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
There are some ignorant people here I’ll tell yea.
The Grammy’s are a MUSIC award. They have NOTHING to do with lifestyles or personal examples.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
So people who cheat on their partners should be fired from their jobs? Actresses that party shouldn’t win Oscars? DUI offenders shouldn’t get a promotion at work? This logic is really “fuzzy”. If we were to base meriting people on their actions or behaviors, we would all be in the shithouse. But then again, I’m sure Natalie was one of the ones that thought Clinton couldn’t be President for getting BJ’s in the oval office…
February 12th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Natalie Cole needs to get a life! She has to much time on her hands and a short memory about her own behaviour.