London: Funnyman Russell Brand became serious at the MTV Video Music Awards when he kick-started a tribute to his mate Amy Winehouse.
Brand, 36, said, he initially thought Winehouse was nothing but "a crazy person" but he was stunned when he heard her singing at a Paul Weller show in London for the first time, Contactmusic reported.
"First time I met her, she was kind of a daft, dopey person, like, just wandering around, a little bit crazy. She just seemed like an ordinary girl with extraordinary hair. The first time though I heard Amy Winehouse sing, I thought, 'This isn't just another London chancer, not just another person milling about, trying to be famous'... I didn't even know it was her... I thought, 'What is this incredible sound, like a timeless sound, like a roar from the guts of humanity; the kind of voice that Billie Holliday sung with, the kind of voice that Ella Fitzgerald sung with... I turn into the arena and I see Amy Winehouse singing," he said.
The Arthur actor then introduced Tony Bennett to the VMAs stage for the first time since 1993.
"Of all the young artists I've ever met in the last 20 years she was a true jazz artist in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday; she had the gift," he said.
Brand, 36, said, he initially thought Winehouse was nothing but "a crazy person" but he was stunned when he heard her singing at a Paul Weller show in London for the first time, Contactmusic reported.
"First time I met her, she was kind of a daft, dopey person, like, just wandering around, a little bit crazy. She just seemed like an ordinary girl with extraordinary hair. The first time though I heard Amy Winehouse sing, I thought, 'This isn't just another London chancer, not just another person milling about, trying to be famous'... I didn't even know it was her... I thought, 'What is this incredible sound, like a timeless sound, like a roar from the guts of humanity; the kind of voice that Billie Holliday sung with, the kind of voice that Ella Fitzgerald sung with... I turn into the arena and I see Amy Winehouse singing," he said.
"Of all the young artists I've ever met in the last 20 years she was a true jazz artist in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday; she had the gift," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
With Mouni Roy Enjoying Moulin Rouge In London, 5 More Amazing Musical Shows To Add To Your Bucket List Gen-Z's Video Craze: 65% Identified As Content Creators In YouTube's Latest Report YouTube Music Spotted Testing AI-Generated Custom Radio Station Feature Virat Ordered Special Birthday Cake For Anushka. Courtesy Bengaluru Baker Ranbir Kapoor's Day Out With His Little One Daughter Raha Bigg Boss OTT 3: Adnaan Shaikh Asked To Leave For Breaking A Major Rule Byju's Faces Insolvency Proceedings For Failure To Pay BCCI Rs 158.9 Crore India Reaffirms "Consistent" Support To Mauritius On Chagos Islands Issue 'Hashim Baba', Gangster Behind Delhi Hospital Shooting, Faces 16 Cases Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.