Video Premiere

A Beautiful ‘Soul’

September 14, 2011 2 Comments

On what would have been Amy Winehouse’s 28th birthday, her final studio recording has been officially released. Proceeds target the just-launched Amy Winehouse Foundation, supporting “charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support or care for young people, especially those who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage, or addiction.”

Recorded last March in London, “Body And Soul” is a duet with the legendary Tony Bennett, who paid tribute to the late singer on last month’s VMAs. A music video of the song, which appears on Bennett’s upcoming Duets II album, was filmed in studio, and also premiered in full today (snippets had previously been shared).

Winehouse is so vivacious here, smiling slyly at her duet partner, and her vocal talent — able to match that of Bennett, a true jazz master — is undeniable. The 85-year-old singer, who, it’s worth remembering, struggled with addiction himself, told Idolator: “Recording with Amy was just so beautiful, and I knew after singing with her what a true artistic genius she was because she performed with total and complete honesty — that is a very rare quality.”

Be prepared to be crushed at the loss of her talent all over again:

There’s also this equally heartbreaking behind-the-scenes clip in which Winehouse discusses her recording session with “Tone,” as she cheekily refers to Bennett.

Read more of Bennett’s memories of his time with Winehouse via Entertainment Weekly.

Purchase Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse – “Body And Soul” (song and music video) via iTunes.