You know that feeling when a song is so tied to one person that you actually forget they didn’t write it? That is exactly what happened with Valerie, the track that basically defined 2007. Most people honestly think it’s an original Amy Winehouse song. It isn’t.
It’s a cover.
Specifically, it was a 2006 indie track by a Liverpool band called The Zutons. But when Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse got their hands on it for Ronson’s album Version, they didn't just cover it. They essentially kidnapped it, gave it a Motown makeover, and turned it into a global anthem that still plays at every wedding and house party nearly twenty years later.
The Real Valerie and the $30,000 Legal Mess
So, who is she? Valerie isn't some metaphor for a drug or a ghost. She’s a real person. Specifically, Valerie Star, a celebrity makeup artist from Florida.
Dave McCabe, the lead singer of The Zutons, met her while on tour in the U.S. and they started dating. The song is basically a musical postcard. Dave was back in the UK, and Valerie was stuck in Florida because she’d racked up a massive amount of legal trouble—specifically, seven felony driving charges for driving on a suspended license.
She couldn't move to Liverpool to be with him because she was stuck dealing with the courts and spent every cent she had on lawyers. That’s where the line "Do you need a good lawyer-er-er?" comes from. It wasn't just a catchy hook; it was a genuine question about her mounting legal fees.
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Dave reportedly wrote the lyrics in about 20 minutes while sitting in the back of a taxi on his way to his mom's house. It was a simple, jangly indie-rock tune. It did well, hitting number 9 in the UK, but it didn't have that "lightning in a bottle" energy yet.
How Mark Ronson Tricked Amy Into the Studio
By 2007, Amy Winehouse was a superstar. Back to Black was everywhere. Mark Ronson was working on a project of his own—an album of soul-infused covers of guitar-based songs. He wanted Amy on it.
The problem? Amy was notoriously picky. Ronson has said in interviews that she basically only listened to music made before 1967. She wasn't exactly keeping up with the UK indie charts.
When Ronson asked her what she wanted to cover, she surprised him by suggesting Valerie. She’d been humming it, likely because she’d heard the original on the radio. Ronson admitted he hadn’t even heard the song before she mentioned it.
The Happy Accident of the "Motown" Beat
The version we all know—the one with the snapping fingers and the high-energy beat—was actually a last-minute fluke.
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Initially, they recorded a slower, more soulful version. It was more in line with a Curtis Mayfield vibe. They did eight takes of this slow version, and the session was basically over. The band was literally packing up their guitars and heading for the door.
At the very last second, Ronson had a "what if" moment. He asked the band to try it one more time but using the beat from "You Can't Hurry Love" or The Jam’s "A Town Called Malice."
They did one take.
That was it. That single, spontaneous take is the version that sold millions. You can hear the pure joy in Amy’s voice because they were just having fun with it at the end of a long day.
Why the Song Became a Cultural Phenomenon
It’s rare for a cover to completely overshadow the original, but Valerie by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson managed it. Part of it was the timing. Amy’s voice was at its peak—raspy, emotive, and full of that "old soul" character.
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There was also a bit of a "queer twist" that fans loved. Since Amy kept the original lyrics, she was singing a love song to a woman. While Amy was open about her bisexuality, she never made a big deal out of changing the pronouns; she just sang the song as it was written, which added a layer of modern cool to the retro sound.
The Bittersweet Legacy for the Zutons
You’d think Dave McCabe might be salty about his song being more famous for someone else’s voice. Honestly? He’s the opposite. He’s gone on record calling Amy’s version a "gift from god."
The royalties from the Winehouse cover reportedly bought him a house. There’s a famous story about a TV presenter telling him that Amy Winehouse paid for his new kitchen, to which he snapped back that he paid for it by writing the song in the first place.
But beyond the money, there’s a sadness to it. The music video for the Ronson version doesn't even feature Amy. By the time it was being filmed, her struggles with addiction were so severe she couldn't make the shoot. Instead, the video features a group of Winehouse lookalikes lip-syncing her parts.
The Different Versions You Need to Hear
If you only know the radio edit, you're missing out on the nuance of the track.
- The Ronson/Winehouse Official Version: The high-energy, Motown-pastiche dance floor filler.
- The 68 Version: A slower, jazzier take found on the "Back to Black" deluxe editions.
- The Live Lounge Acoustic: This is just Amy and a guitar. It’s haunting and shows how much the song actually meant to her.
- The Zutons Original: Worth a listen for the gritty, 2000s Liverpool indie-rock vibe.
Actionable Insights for Music Fans
If you're a fan of this era or a musician looking to capture this magic, there are a few things to take away from the story of Valerie:
- Don't overthink the first draft. Dave McCabe wrote a career-defining hit in a 20-minute cab ride. Sometimes the most honest lyrics come when you aren't trying to be "poetic."
- Capture the "End of Session" energy. Often, the best recording happens after the "serious" work is done and everyone relaxes. If you're recording, always do one "fun" take at the end.
- Pay attention to the beat. Changing the percussion from a standard rock beat to a Motown-style "four on the floor" completely changed the genre and commercial viability of the song.
Whether you prefer the indie grit of the original or the soul-pop perfection of the cover, there's no denying that the collaboration between Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse created something that will probably be played for another fifty years.