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Curse of 27

Learn Adverbs

Date: Aug 29 2011

Grammar: Adverbs

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Intro

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The singer Amy Winehouse was the most recent musician to die young, at the age of 27, but she wasn’t the first. In fact, so many famous rockers have mysteriously died at 27 that some believe the number 27 is cursed. Other famous musicians who have died at that age include Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.

Whether or not the curse is real, it’s true that a lot of rockers live hard and, unfortunately, die young. Amy Winehouse was known as a heavy drinker and drug user. For many other famous musicians, dangerous and self-destructive behavior is all a part of living a rock n’ roll lifestyle. Hear more about musicians who die young from Amy and Jason.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amy

Jason

Amy: Can you believe another rock star is dead at 27?

Jason: No. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and now, Amy Winehouse.

Amy: It’s pretty wild. I mean, I don’t know if I believe in there being some weird, supernatural thing about the age 27. But it is remarkable how many rock stars have died young, in their twenties.

Jason: Yeah. Well, actually, I forgot that Amy Winehouse was that young, because she’s looked so bad for so long.

Amy: Yeah, I guess even her mom said she wasn’t even really surprised, which is pretty awful.

Jason: Man. That is really sad that the whole world could see that this person was a mess and could do nothing, or didn’t do anything, to stop it.

Amy: Right. I mean, in a way it was part of her fame, you know, that she was a mess. And in a way, that’s true of a lot of rock stars, like they have a reputation for having this wild life. And then sometimes it ends really tragically.

Jason: But sometimes it just goes on forever! Like look at Keith Richards. I don’t know what the difference is, why some burn out and some keep going.

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Discussion

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Amy and Jason were shocked to hear that another famous musician had died at the age of 27. But they were less surprised to hear that the singer Amy Winehouse had died. Before her death, it was well known that she was living a dangerous and unhealthy lifestyle. Jason says thinks it is sad that nobody was able to help her get better.

Amy thinks that a lot of musicians have self-destructive lifestyles. But Jason points out that many of them are still able to live a long life. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones is one example. At 67 years old, he’s been living hard for a long time.
Do you believe in the Curse of 27? Why do you think so many rock stars have died young?

Comments

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irnaaa

Indonesia

helloo all, i am a beginner, i really want to make friends from all over the world. I am Indonesian, and what about you ? where do you come from ? let’s introduce each otheeer :D see and add my facebook please, or just search Irna Irhamna Putri. Thaanks :)

Bruce_zhou

China

As for me ,i don’t belive the curse at all,even though we met many strange things around us,but you know actually there have some exact reason we just don’t know,such as ,careless ,overuse and bad habit and bad lifestyle and so on ,actually it’s definitly lead them to death,just the time,so i think just ourselfe can keep our safe and happy,don’t get hope from fortune,that’s my point ,anybody have different point ,just following me as well.thanks

Maria del Alba

Spain

I think many rock stars die young because of their heavy lifestyle. They don’t take care about their health, they take drugs, they drink so much, and a lot of party and the skin is not oxygenated.

anas.alrez

Syrian Arab Republic

there is a theory about age sum=9

2+7=9

the theory tell us that something (tragically or major) will be happen at age sum=9 like (9 (months,09,18,27,36,45,54,63,72,81.90)

so you born after 9 months and you get you ID at 18 and you will find you soulmate at 27 and became a (father or mom) at 36 and may will be rich at 45or54 and many pepole die with heart attack at this ages (45-54) and became a grand at 63 and often die lonly at 72 to 90.

—-—-—-—-—-~~-The End~~-—-—-—-—-—-

florentinian83

Italy

13 is considered a lucky number in my country, 17 is the unlucky one. Abroad, especially in Anglo-Saxon countries, 13 is actually seen as a bad number. Often these popular beliefs have religious origin. 13 persons took part at the Last Supper the night before Jesus died (that is Jesus and his 12 apostles, including the traitor Jude). Moreover, on Friday 13th October 1307 the Knights Templar were shut down by king Philip IV of France. That was an unhappy day too.

Back to the question, I don’t believe in the curse of 27, but it’s true that many famous artists died young, not only in modern times, but also in the past. Think of Amadeus Mozart, for example, who died in 1791 at the age of 35. He was a genius and a celebrity, but also a heavy drinker who lived a fucked up life, just like Amy Winehouse.

I think that fame and money are powerful forms of energy and once you’are invested by them, you can be swept away very easily if you are not strong and mature enough to handle them properly.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English,and friends.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English,and friends.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English,and friends.

xuchang12016

China

i need a English,and friends.

mostafa_mf

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i have 27 years old, i so happy that i am not rock stars

i don’t believe in the course of 27.

wwongsapun

Thailand

No, I don’t believe this. For my country are believe in the Curse of 25 When we reached to the age of 25 years should to do merit with the Buddhism. By the way we should to think of good and also do good thing.:)

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

i’m sad for that young no any one help her.

marlene86

Ukraine

I’ve been waiting for the lesson about Amy since i heard about her death, it’s a big loss for me, and I was sure EnglishBaby would commemorate this singer. And all the musicians mentioned here are so dear to me whatever their life was, I mean, some call them junkies, but there’s some much more behind their personalities and their music! If there’s a curse of 27, well first it’s a curse of talent, and it breaks my heart to confirm it. what sounds more realistic is that fame, money and the show business surroundings contribute much to chaotic lifestyle and people can lose their will and all this brings them down physically and emotionally.

Long life to Keith Richards and let the talent of those gifted people who died young be remembered forever!

ana1maria

Romania

myself=me,i agree with you too. as for jim’s morrison case,i didn’t know the details you wrote about him.And yes,it doesn’t matter how old are you,it matters how you treat yourself and how you consider your health something fragile,that needs taking care of as much as possible:)

koxa

Ukraine

I don’t even see anything mysterious in death of those musicians and the age of 27, taking drugs at young ages leads to tragical consequences especially with lifetime when you don’t have much time even to rest as Amy had. An example of Keith Richards it’s just an exception.