Today's Pick

Nas, a rap powerhouse who has a reputation for rapping with intellect, and keeps it classy and cool vibe in his recently released visual for his posthumous duet with Amy Winehouse, "Cherry Wine," from "Life is Good," which lends itself to a narrative starring Nas as a bartender at a dimly lit bar. He wins over the lady's affections and we're graced with some footage of Winehouse performing live.
Life truly is good to Nas right now. After the 39-year-old rapper's critically-acclaimed 2012 album, "Life Is Good" debuted at No.1 back in July. "It's a bittersweet feeling to do something with her now that she's not here," the Queensbridge native spoke about his friendship with the late soulstress. "I'm happy and the sweet part is that we do have the music, fans have new music from her. The bitter part is that she's no longer here to really give it to us and to really live her music and for us to see her smile and hear her voice."
The song was titled after Winehouse's guitar, which she called "cherry," is the second duet for the duo, following the release of "Like Smoke" on Winehouse's own posthumous album "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" last year. "Cherry Wine" gallops along on a smooth and melancholic melody, as Nas laments his lack of love and how he wants someone who will be there for him even at rock bottom with his smooth rhymes run the soulful arrangement, while Winehouse's brassy vocals haunting the dimly-lit space with a narrative between ill-fated lovers. Work together flawlessly to convey the longing and sadness infused in this song that is only surreptitiously about an alcoholic drink. It's really rather beautiful.
Directed by Jay Martin, the handsomely-mounted video features Nas as a snazzy-looking bartender with eyes for a beautiful patron who is seduced by a married man. While she notices him noticing her, she plays him in order to get chosen by a baller. As the narrative progresses, the old footage of the spectral Winehouse are projected in black-and-white onto a brick wall in a swanky nightclub. And in the end, the beauty actually leaves the bar with Nas. Not the most intricate of plots, it still has the underdog winning the prize.

The Amy Winehouse's tribute video for "Our Day Will Come," the lead single for the late singer's upcoming first posthumous compilation album "Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures," lands with a heavy heart, will be released on December 5 and features 12 tracks, including three covers and a number of previously unreleased tracks, that listening to the record had reminded those who were close to the late singer how "gifted and talented she was."
The song is a cover of Ruby & The Romantics' 1963 hit single of the same name which was written by Bob Hilliard and Mort Garson, and was originally recorded by Winehouse in 2002, but has not been previously released. It's erected on a reggae groove and it's less smoky and bluesy than fans are used to hearing from her. Her voice is soft and uber-femme, like those dresses she favors. It offers a hint of Winehouse's expansive range as an artist.
The 'Rehab' hitmaker is remembered in this newly-released video which features a montage of clips spanning Winehouse's career and featuring the British soul diva in the concert, and various other archival footage, including some of her live performances and candid backstage moments, to celebrate the life and legacy of the Grammy-winning musician. Her unique style is clearly evident as the video flashes through images of her, reminds us of the talent we lost way too soon. It's a great tribute to Winehouse's style and attitude.
The video vacillates between color and black and white, and presents a panoramic view of Winehouse. It straddles the line between celebration and sadness, since we get to enjoy some of her lasting legacy via the song and to share snapshots of her career. However, once the last shot fades out, you'll feel a wash of sadness, since this is all we have left of her. Posthumous videos are always eerie to watch, and "Our Day Will Come" clip is sure to produce a lump in the throats of all of her diehard fans.

Nearly two months after her shocking death on July 23, the final video and song recorded by late British soul revivalist Amy Winehouse dropped on Wednesday, her 28th birthday, and it shows off her overwhelming talent in fine form. The duet with jazz icon Tony Bennett on the standard "Body and Soul" video features the footage of her last recording session this March at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London.
The pop-jazz standard song, features the unlikely pair in a tender and often playful mood in the studio, will appear on Bennett's "Duets II" project, which is due out on next Tuesday, and Proceeds from the track's sales will go toward the Amy Winehouse Foundation, and the charity will benefit children. In the video she's clearly nervous, shuffling about but gazing admiringly at Bennett, and her voice is still a thing of wonder when it arrives for the second verse, the jazzy inflection pulling at the melody and working as the perfect counterpoint to Bennett's velvet croon.
In an interview with MTV, Bennettt said, "We had a beautiful time recording together in the studio, and I knew that Amy was very happy with how she performed that day, I thought she was absolutely brilliant." The jazz legend also praised Winehouse, saying she was "someone who knows how to intuitively improvise and make it believable and sing with humanity and soul and honesty, no compromising. Amy had that gift. She was the only one of all of the contemporary artists that I've met through the years. She's the only one that was able to do it."
The stripped-down clip opens with Bennett taking the lead as Winehouse looks on coquettishly, and then it's Winehouse's turn, as the singer known for her often shambolic live performances is seen on her best behavior. The video footage of the two singing together is bittersweet, with Winehouse looking healthy and alert, twirling her hair flirtatiously as she matches Bennett note for note on the standard. Throughout the clip, Winehouse flashes bedroom eyes at the 85-year-old crooner and patiently awaits her verses, with both singers reading their lines expertly off the sheet music. When the two vocalists embrace at the end, it's both heartwarming and bittersweet.