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BY NOE GANDILLOT
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN


You're watching multisource entertainment video news analysis from Newsy.


For the first time since Amy Winehouse’s death, fans get to hear a new song of the late British singer.

The duet, a cover of the jazz standard "Body and Soul", was recorded in London in March with legendary crooner Tony Bennett:

The track and video were released on what would have been Winehouse's 28th birthday. In a recent interview with the Guardian, Tony Bennett speaks about his experience with the soul singer.

“You know Amy Winehouse was my favourite artist to record with on the whole album. … Everybody said ‘Oh, I don’t how you’re gonna handle her.’ But I felt completely different, I said ‘Boy, she really loved to perform.’”

The Telegraph’s Neil McCormick was in the studio when Winehouse and Bennett recorded Body And Soul. He remembers :

“The saddest thing about this video is just how good Winehouse looks. When I saw her in March in the studio, it really struck me how healthy she appeared. … I remember thinking how great it was to have Amy Winehouse back, happy and healthy and ready to share her gifts with the world again.”


The Guardian says Winehouse sounded great...


...And the Arizona Republic writes that it was "as classy as the words 'duet with Tony Bennett' would imply".


And MTV’s Buzzworthy Blog believes the song will contribute to Winehouse’s legend :


“It's only 46 seconds, but the preview of Amy Winehouse's duet with Tony Bennett is enough to make all the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. … Though "Body & Soul" inevitably reminds us of Amy's tragic passing, it also shows us just how gifted Amy really was.”


New York Magazine, though, is somewhat disappointed with the result :

“‘Body and Soul’ isn't as energetic or emotional a song as we came to expect from Winehouse, but it does make room for Amy to show off her still-undeniable vocal chops. … That ‘Body and Soul’ was her last opportunity to do so is part of a larger tragedy, but it's at least heartening to see her back in form, as Winehouse the Musician rather than Winehouse the Tabloid Star. Her talent deserves as much.”


The profits from the single will benefit Winehouse’s father’s drug addiction charity. 


Transcript by Newsy.