The Rehab Grammys

Amy Winehouse performs via satellite from London for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, California February 10, 2008.
REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

It was Amy Winehouse night at the 50th Grammy Awards. It's too bad she couldn't be there.

LOS ANGELES -- Trapped half a world away by the place she promised to never "go, go, go," a vibrant, exuberant Amy Winehouse dominated the Grammys on Sunday night, winning five awards and delivering a defiant performance of her autobiographical hit "Rehab" via satellite from London.

Winehouse, nominated for six awards, lost the final prize in a shocker when Herbie Hancock took album of the year for "River: The Joni Letters."

...For a while it seemed impossible that Winehouse would perform at all. She recently entered a drug rehabilitation center after months of erratic behavior and canceled performances, not to mention the anthemic "no, no, no" resistance of her hit song.

As the ceremony approached, suspense built over whether her drug troubles would cost her a work visa. When her visa application was rejected Thursday, Grammy producers arranged for her to perform remotely. On Friday, the U.S. government reversed itself and approved the visa, but it was too late for her to make the cross-continental trek.

So she took the stage at almost 4 a.m. London time before a small cabaret audience, wearing a sly smile as she performed a sultry, soulful rendition of the hit that has defined her recent fall from grace. She looked just as coy as she sang the song "You Know I'm No Good" — almost reveling in the irony of her words.

Shortly afterward, Winehouse seemed dumbfounded when she was announced as the record of the year winner. She was immediately enveloped by her band, then her mother and father, who have publicly worried whether the 24-year-old artist would survive her demons.

"I am so proud of this album," Winehouse told The Associated Press in a statement. "I put my heart and soul into it and it's wicked to be recognized in this way. I feel truly honored to be mentioned in the same breath as many of the artists present tonight and to win is even more amazing!"

Her five awards were the most of the night, and included wins for best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance.

It's really impossible to separate "Rehab" from Winehouse.

I can't erase the connection between the song and her messed life.

There's something a little bizarre about the whole thing. She's screwed up. Her erratic behavior and her abuse of drugs and alcohol have caused her parents to fear for her life.

She couldn't accept her multiple Grammys for "Rehab" in person because of her stint in rehab.

So what did being a mess get her?

She was rewarded many times over by the music industry. I'm not suggesting that she didn't deserve the recognition or that she isn't a talented woman. It's just strange. The look on her face when it was announced that she won for Record of the Year was so odd. She held on to her beaming mother as she gave her acceptance speech.

Is this life? Is this art? Is this life that passes for art that passes for life?

It's just surreal on all counts.

So "Rehab" joins the illustrious list of winners of the Grammy for Record of the Year.

Some past winners:

1960 - Mack the Knife

1962 - Moon River

1963 - I Left My Heart in San Francisco

1971 - Bridge over Troubled Water

1979 - Just the Way You Are

1985 - What's Love Got to Do with It

1986 - We Are the World

1993 - Tears in Heaven

1994 - I Will Always Love You

2001 - Beautiful Day

2008 - Rehab

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go


You can't compare apples and oranges, but it's hard to believe that "Rehab" and "Moon River" received the same award.

Congratulations to Amy Winehouse. I sincerely hope she gets her life together so that she can really enjoy her success rather than stumble and stagger her way through it.
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Natalie Cole: "I don’t think she deserved it."