The release of Amy Winehouse‘s posthumous album, Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures, is imminent, and now the first single off the record has made its way onto the Internet. The track, “Like Smoke” featuring rapper Nas, is rather haunting, as Amy’s moody vocal pierces the bluesy, gentle music accompanying her. The song takes on an extra poignancy given Amy’s death earlier this year, and as a never before heard track, it resounds as a testament to the sheer might of Amy’s tonal inflections and organic sultry voice, amplifying the tragedy of her demise.
While Amy’s parts were recorded in 2008, it seems that Nas’ rap was only added recently, as he makes references to the current Occupy Wall Street protests. There’s a certain melancholy to Amy’s voice and lyrics, as she sings the hook, “Like smoke, I hung around in the unbalanced.” Listening to “Like Smoke” is giving us chills, and a heavy sense of loss, but we can’t help but wonder if we’d take the same sentiment from the song if it had have been released during Amy’s lifetime. Either way, we’d still love it, even if it wasn’t weighed with Amy’s untimely passing. Now, we can’t wait to hear the rest of the album in the hopes it will be just as beautifully moving as “Like Smoke”.
Listen to “Like Smoke” [Prefix Mag]
[Photo: Getty Images]
