There are a few things that I wish happened differently in my 28 or so years on this green(ish) earth, such as texting less around my parents’ dogs or being less of a jerk to my Sims characters.
But arguably one of my biggest regrets was not catching an Amy Winehouse concert when she was still alive.
Her tragic death at only 27 back in 2011 remains a shock to the system and yet she remains in the public consciousness due to the enduring strength of her music and the continued pushing out of various posthumous projects carrying her name. While I’m usually for the release of unreleased material from late artists (like Michael Jackson and Prince), the latest Amy Winehouse project has me a little uneasy.
That’s because her father Mitch Winehouse has just announced that the singer will be going on a world tour in 2019 in hologram form.
Our family is delighted to be teaming up with @BASEhologram to continue celebrating the life and work of Amy, with all proceeds of the tour, starting in late 2019, going to Amy’s Foundation to help even more young people in her name. https://t.co/F9M5V9Z8Qn
— mitch winehouse (@mitchwinehouse) October 11, 2018
The show won’t be one of those Tupac-esque onstage cameo appearances either.
According to Reuters, the planned tour will last for around three years with each concert lasting anywhere between 75 to 110 minutes, complete with audience interaction from the Amy hologram, “digitally remastered” versions of her songs, and a live backing band. At the moment, no dates have been announced yet.
For those who think this is just a shameless cash grab, well, it kinda does feel like it but all proceeds will be going to The Amy Winehouse Foundation, which was established after her death to help young people struggling with substance abuse and various challenges in their life, which is actually a pretty good thing to do.
Amy Winehouse's hologram will tour the world on stage for three years, says production company https://t.co/f40vPph0ED pic.twitter.com/hlDEXszsuO
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 12, 2018
But having said all that, I’m having mixed feelings about this whole hologram schtick. On one hand, it’s an opportunity to sort of see Amy live, But on the other hand, the singer’s last ever concerts and her powerful posthumous documentary Amy definitely didn’t paint the picture of someone who wanted to tour, making this gimmick feel kind of exploitative and ridiculous.
Her fans are also split on this hologram tour with some excited for it while others are vehemently against it.
Ok so I think Amy Winehouse was great, & I bet her live show was ?. But this is a hologram. I can't help but wonder what she'd think about this. I would be furious.
Instead of a hologram, we could, ya know, put living artists on the road & cultivate actual live music. https://t.co/wcIuNGiZ1D
— audrey (@dj_ewi) October 12, 2018
There’s an Amy Winehouse hologram about to go on tour ? I’ve literally wanted this for YEARS.
— Ju (@ju_liagulia) October 12, 2018
A hologram of Amy Winehouse will be touring the world next year… and I seriously don’t know what to say. Part of me thinks it’s good that we (the ones who were too young when she toured) get the chance to experience her legacy, but another part says no… Rest in peace❤️?
— Revolution Radio⚡️ (@_pvnkrocker_) October 11, 2018
Listen to her fans. She’d hate this.
She was exhausted. Hated touring.
Cried for REST ????♀️ this makes no sense.Let her memory be just that ~ a memory.
The money involved to bring this to the stage ~ is probably ridiculous. Save it.
We can watch her on YouTube ?
— Orphaned Annie (@orphaned_annie) October 12, 2018
Amy defiantly said “no no no” to rehab, but I have a feeling that she’s definitely say “no no no” to this hologram tour from wherever she is right now.