A Masterclass in Soul and Heartbreak
Released in 2006, Back to Black is the title track of Amy Winehouse's second and final studio album. Co-written with Mark Ronson, the song is a tribute to the "Wall of Sound" girl groups of the 1960s, but delivered with the raw, gritty edge of modern London.
Unlike pop songs that rely on high belts and acrobatics, this track is all about tone, texture, and timing. Amy’s contralto voice sits heavy and low, making this an excellent song for singers who want to develop their chest voice and emotional delivery.
AI Coach Tip: "Backphrasing"
Amy rarely sings exactly on the beat. She uses a technique called backphrasing, where she delays her entry slightly to create a lazy, relaxed feel. Our pitch tracker monitors this delay—don't rush!
Phase 1: The Low Verse (0:00 - 0:45)
The song opens in D Minor with the line "He left no time to regret." The melody here dips down to G3. For many Sopranos, this can feel weak or breathy. To get Amy's power, keep your larynx relaxed and neutral.
The Trap: Do not push your chin down to hit low notes; this cuts off your air supply. Keep your head level and think of the sound vibrating in your chest, not your throat.
Phase 2: The Heavy Chorus (0:45 - 1:28)
The chorus ("We only said goodbye with words...") lifts the energy but stays firmly in chest voice. The word "Black" is the anchor of the phrase. It requires a dark, rounded vowel sound—think "Blah-ck" rather than a bright "Black."
- Volume: Increase your breath pressure here, but don't scream. It's about weight, not just volume.
- Vowel Modification: Amy modifies her vowels significantly. "Words" sounds more like "Wuh-rds" to maintain that retro soul tone.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Outro (2:30 - End)
The bridge is repetitive ("Black, black, black..."), which means you need to vary your dynamics. Start softer and build intensity. This is where you can add slight vocal fry at the beginning of phrases to convey the pain of the lyrics.
The song fades out, but live versions often feature ad-libs. Use the Singing Coach AI app to practice improvising around the D minor pentatonic scale during the outro.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lowest sung note in the studio recording is a G3, though Amy often went lower in live performances.
Yes, but the low verses might be quiet. You can focus on strengthening your lower chest register, or transpose the song up +2 semitones in the app to make it shine in your range.
Amy had a natural rasp, but you can mimic the style by adding air to your tone (breathiness) rather than grinding your cords together, which causes damage.
