A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
Best friends
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unsurprisingly you hate me too
We only communicate when we need to fight
But we are best friends, right?
You're too good at pretending you don't care
There's enough resentment in the air
Now you don't want me in the flat
But we're best friends, right?
You're Stephanie and I'm Paulette
You know what all my faces mean
And it's easy to smoke it up, forget
Everything that happened in between
Nicky?s right when he says I can't win
So I don't wanna tell you anything
I can't even think about
How you feel inside
But we are best friends, right?
I don't like the way you say my name
You're always looking for someone to blame
Now you want me to suffer just cause
You was born wide
But we are best friends right?
You're Stephanie and I'm Paulette
You know what all my faces mean
And its easy to smoke it up, forget
Everything that happened in between
So I had love for you when I was four
And there's no one I wanna smoke with more
Someday I'll buy the Rizla, so you get the dro
'Cause we are best friends right, right, right, right?
Because we are best friends right?
Because we are best friends right?
Amy Winehouse's song "Best Friends" is about a toxic friendship. The opening lines reveal the singer longing to distance herself from her friend, who reciprocates the same feeling. The only time they talk to each other is when they argue, yet they still refer to each other as best friends. The verse indicates a significant underlying resentment between the two that results in strained interactions. The chorus elaborates on the deceptive nature of their relationship, both pretending not to care and harbouring negative emotions towards each other. They know each other so well that they can tell what the other is thinking, and both find comfort in smoking together.
The second verse highlights the friend's willingness to find fault in the singer and enjoy her misery. The singer feels powerless and cannot voice how she feels or try to understand what the friend is going through. Although they are supposed to be best friends, communication between them is superficial, and the relationship built on pretence, established from childhood. The final lines reveal that the singer still loves the friend and would still smoke together despite the toxic nature of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't wait to get away from you
I look forward to not being around you anymore.
Unsurprisingly you hate me too
As expected, you also despise me.
We only communicate when we need to fight
Our communication is limited to arguments.
But we are best friends, right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
You're too good at pretending you don't care
You're skilled at acting indifferent.
There's enough resentment in the air
There's a lot of bitterness between us.
Now you don't want me in the flat
You no longer want me in the apartment.
When you're home at night
Especially during evenings when you're present.
But we're best friends, right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
You're Stephanie and I'm Paulette
We have our own individual identities and personalities.
You know what all my faces mean
You can decipher and understand all my facial expressions.
And it's easy to smoke it up, forget
It's convenient to get high and ignore everything.
Everything that happened in between
All the events and incidents that occurred during our friendship.
Nicky?s right when he says I can't win
Someone named Nicky is correct that I can't come out on top in this situation.
So I don't wanna tell you anything
Therefore, I don't want to reveal or disclose anything to you.
I can't even think about
It's too painful or difficult to contemplate.
How you feel inside
What emotions you may be experiencing internally.
But we are best friends, right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
I don't like the way you say my name
I dislike the manner in which you pronounce my name.
You're always looking for someone to blame
You habitually search for someone to hold accountable.
Now you want me to suffer just cause
Currently, you desire me to endure pain or difficulty for no valid reason.
You was born wide
You were born into a state of privilege and advantage.
But we are best friends right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
So I had love for you when I was four
I had feelings of affection for you when I was only four years old.
And there's no one I wanna smoke with more
I prefer to get high with you over anyone else.
Someday I'll buy the Rizla, so you get the dro
At some point, I'll purchase the rolling paper so you can have the marijuana.
'Cause we are best friends right, right, right, right?
Reiterating that we still consider ourselves closest pals.
Because we are best friends right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
Because we are best friends right?
Despite everything, we still consider ourselves closest pals.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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