A year after the sudden passing of Amy Winehouse, Q Magazine dedicated an issue to looking back at her life and music. They accompanied their tribute with a collection of covers from Winehouse’s Grammy-winning sophomore album Back to Black. Bands like The Cribs, The Temper Trap, and Dry the River contributed to the album, as did London’s Saint Etienne, who chose to cover “Just Friends.”
The electronic trio have been performing together since 1990, and their experience shows in their polished take on Winehouse’s track. Sarah Cracknell’s smooth vocals traipse over a version of “Just Friends” that exchanges the old-school soul horns of the original in favor of futuristic keyboard. What made Amy Winehouse remarkable, however, was the depth and nuance that her voice held, and the cover feels somewhat insubstantial when compared to her recording. Listen below.
Hear more from Saint Etienne at their website or Myspace.
