10 Songs You Didn't Realise Sample Other Songs
6. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse's stellar voice is enough to make any sampled track that much better.
Though her snarky, distressed voice takes centre stage on much of 2006's Back to Black, the funky melody that frequents the record's seventh track, Tears Dry On Their Own is immediately familiar to those who find enjoyment in Marvin Gaye's catalogue of music.
The classic tune of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's seminal tune Ain't No Mountain High Enough is one of the most beloved soul songs of all time, and still resonates with fans to this day. The iconic bass line and tickly drums are ripe for further elaboration, and Winehouse used the melody in her production of Tears Dry On Their Own with maximum effect.
Pairing the tune with a subtle, jazz flavour through the verses makes it fit Winehouse's wheelhouse perfectly. Rather than altering the formula, she refines the well-known tune, adding its own flourishes, and in turn it becomes something that is unequivocally hers.
There's so much going on in Tears Dry On Their Own that it's hard to even recognise the sample after a few listens. The song is the rare occasion where it improves upon a sampled track rather that relies on it.