Winehouse Irony
Feb 11,2008 00:00 by Jake

Amy Winehouse, a troubled girl if ever there were, captured five Grammy awards, including song and record of the year for "Rehab." How ironic for her. Talented for sure, but disturbed as well. What is it with young female singers - think Britney Spears - and their acting out in public. No one ever say Doris Day drunk in public or flashing her bare crotch. But then again who would want to?

Amy Winehouse went ahead and sang "Rehab." From the looks of things, she still isn't crazy about being there.

While the retro-soul singer never addressed her problems during a two-song Grammy performance via satellite Sunday night, some knowing smiles crept across her face during her signature hit. And as it wound to a close, she sang, "They're trying to make me go to rehab, but I ... " and gave a dismissive gesture with her arms as she backed away from the microphone.

Winehouse was stuck in London, where she performed at nearly 4 a.m. before a small audience gathered at the Riverside Studios in London — and watched as an armload of awards were set aside in her honor.

Winehouse won five Grammys in all: She took best new artist and female pop vocal performance; "Rehab" was named song and record of the year; and "Back to Black" won pop vocal album. She came up one short — album of the year — of cashing in on all six nominations.

The bizarre circumstances of her absence seemed weirdly appropriate: how could the year get any wilder for the 24-year-old singer? The soulful stylings of her album "Back to Black" were embraced just as her life was falling apart in public. Her near residency in British tabloids was capped when she was sent to a rehabilitation center for substance abuse.

Winehouse also performed "You Know I'm No Good." She was dressed in a black cocktail dress that displayed her tattoos, her once-again black hair piled high on her head.