The history of pop music is litered with cases of drug abuse.  Class A drugs such as cocaine and heroin, as well alcohol has proved fatal for many pop stars.  But as much as Amy Winehouse’s addictions are a real and serious threat to her life, there is also concern over her lack of productivity.

It has been reported that Winehouse hasn’t completed a single track since the release of her chart-topping second album, Back To Black, which was released in 2006.

Winehouse had started to work on a new album six months ago, but the recording sessions have allegedly produced just two songs which currently remain unfinished.

Back To Black was the biggest selling album of 2007 in the UK. Amy Winehouse also received five Grammy trophies for her work on the disc earlier this year.

The Sun newspaper reported a close source to the singer as saying: “With all the problems surrounding her personal issues and addictions we are really concerned it will never get finished. If six months produces two half-baked tracks how long will an album take? Unless she sorts herself out and gets some focus it might never happen.”

However true a quote this statement is, I do feel that Winehouse is on a very scary one way ticket to Palookaville which could result in her fatality, if she isn’t careful.

Let’s hope she receives the help from those around her, that she is so seriuosly in need of.

The opportunity to sing the theme song seems to have become something of a poison chalice, as it has already been linked with artists such as Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and more recently Leona Lewis.

Modern day Bond themes are generally forgettable affairs and may even be considered as the kiss of death by today’s current artist. The memorable tunes for me are ancient now, Shirley Bassey of course made the genre her own in the sixties with Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever.

Other notable Bond theme tunes include Live And Let Die by Wings, Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon from The Spy Who Loved Me and Nancy Sinatra’s You Only Live Twice.

It will be interesting to see if Duffy takes up the challenge.

In contrast Sweet About Me is top of the charts in Cilmi’s native Australia for the second week. Her debut album Lessons To Be Learned has been in both the UK and Australian top ten.

Not bad start for a sixteen year old who’s vocals have been compared to Amy Winehouse and co. Its a sweet voice with a rasping depth, jazz and bluesy but also pop and does compare favourably to the very best female singers.

She has also followed in the great tradition of appearing on BBC’s excellent Later with Jools Holland, as an unknown in the UK.

I am mystified as to why it is such a slow burner in the UK. Incidentally the song is written by Xenomania the songwriting collective behind Girls Aloud, as is the album.

Here is her video. Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me