In the night's most emotional moment, Bruno Mars, Russell Brand and Tony Bennett paid tribute to Amy Winehouse with an poignant eulogy and two powerful performances during the VMAs. Brand, Winehouse's longtime friend, repeated many of the points he wrote in his stirring tribute to the deceased singer, recounting his first meeting with Winehouse in London and calling her a "peculiar unknowable talent" and an "ordinary girl with extraordinary hair."
Comparing Winehouse to classic jazz vocalists Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Brand told the crowd about hearing her sing for the first time at a Paul Weller concert before discussing the singer's influence on a generation of female vocalists, including Lady Gaga, Adele and "the Mrs." Katy Perry. Brand also discussed finding a solution to the "disease of alcoholism and drug abuse."
Revered singer Tony Bennett, who recently recorded a cover of the jazz standard "Body and Soul" with Winehouse, recalled meeting the singer and recording with her in London's Abbey Studios. "Of all the young artists I've ever met in the last 20 years, she was a pure jazz artist... she had the gift," said Bennett, before showing video footage of the pair in the studio.
The tribute ended with a rousing performance of Bruno Mars covering Winehouse's version of The Zutons' "Valerie." Dressed in a throwback 1960s suit reminiscent of classic Motown singers, Mars retained the funk-laden vibe of Winehouse's version, ad-libbing a "We'll miss you baby" at the end of the track. Few in the crowd would disagree.
+ Watch Bruno Mars' performance of "Valerie" at the 2011 VMAs.