BACK TO BLACK -AMY WINEHOUSE

ABOUT THE PIECE Back to Black is a piece written by the late Amy Winehouse. The song is about how her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has been cheating on her. He always would “go back to her” meaning the girl he was cheating on Amy with, and Amy would go “back to black” meaning she would resort to drugs to get her through the tough times. She was saying that it’s killing her that he cheats on her, but she always goes back to Blake. They do have differences in drug preferences, though. Back to Black is a piece written by the late Amy Winehouse. The song is about how her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has been cheating on her. He always would “go back to her” meaning the girl he was cheating on Amy with, and Amy would go “back to black” meaning she would resort to drugs to get her through the tough times. She was saying that it’s killing her that he cheats on her, but she always goes back to Blake. They do have differences in drug preferences, though.

LISTENING GUIDE TimeTextMusical ElementsInstrumentation 0:00- 0:15 N/AIntroduction: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low) Drums, Piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 0:16- 0:29 He left no time to regret, Kept his **** ***, With his same old safe bet, Verse 1: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low), chimes play descending scale, sings in a mid-range Vocals enter, piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 0:30- 0:46 Me and my head high, And my tears dry, Get on without my guy Verse 1: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low), chimes play descending scale, voice is intentionally behind the beat, same notes as 0:16-:0:29 Chimes enter

LISTENING GUIDE TimeTextMusical ElementsInstrumentation 0:47- 1:01 You went back to what you knew, So far removed, From all that we went through, Verse 1: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low), same notes as 0:16-:0:29 Background vocals enter singing chords (3 notes and artists own voice), main vocals, piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 1:02- 1:17 And I tread a troubled track, My odds are stacked, I go back to black Verse 1: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low), bass guitar plays descending scale mimicking the chimes from 0:30-0:46, delayed before saying the word ‘to’ in “I go back to black”, work painting with the word “back” like she’s falling back Background vocals end, marimba/vibraphone enters and improvises

LISTENING GUIDE TimeTextMusical ElementsInstrumentation 1:18- 1:25 We only said goodbye with words, I’ve died a hundred times, Chorus: 8 measures, piano chords (high and low), singer does larger jumps, chimes play descending scale, larger jumps and sings higher Violins enter, Lead guitar enters, chimes enter, backup vocals end, Piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 1:26- 1:39 You go back to her, And I go back to… I go back to us Intentionally behind beat, almost seems to slow down a bit 1:40- 1:50 I love you much, It’s not enough, You love blow, and I love puff Verse 2: 9 measures, piano chords (high and low), harmonies in vocals (artists own voice), intentionally behind beat, same notes as 0:16-:0:29 Violins end, piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure

LISTENING GUIDE TimeTextMusical ElementsInstrumentation 1:51- 2:07 And life, is like a pipe, And I’m a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside Verse 2: 9 measures, piano chords (high and low), harmonies in vocals (artists own voice), same notes as 0:16-:0:29 Piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 2:08- 2:39 We only said goodbye with words, I’ve died a hundred times, You go back to her, And I go back to… (2x) Chorus(2x): 16 measures, piano chords (high and low), chorus is slightly altered with rhythm, lead guitar improvise, violins descending minor scale Violins enter, lead guitar enters, chimes enter mimicking voices, backup vocals end, Piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure

LISTENING GUIDE TimeTextMusical ElementsInstrumentation 2:40- 3:21 Black, black, black, black, black, black, black, I go back to, I go back to Bridge: 20 measures, backup vocals sing minor chords Everything ends save drums, vocals, chimes, backup vocals, violins, piano, and tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure 3:22- 4:01 We only said goodbye with words, I’ve died a hundred times, You go back to her, And I go back to… (2x) Black Chorus(2x): 17 measures, piano chords (high and low), altered rhythm, Violins enter, Lead guitar enters, chimes enter, backup vocals end, Piano (upper), piano (bass line), tambourine every 4 th beat of each measure, baritone saxophone plays final chord