27

About 10 hours ago, Amy Winehouse has joined the ranks of Cobain, Morrison, Hendrix and Janis Joplin not just as a music icon and legend but as a music icon and legend dead at 27. Personally, I could not believe my eyes as my Twitter and Facebook feeds were both filling up with posts that all contained the words "RIP Amy Winehouse" in different versions. At that moment in time, it was just so surreal-even more surreal than when I had found out that Michael Jackson had passed away two years ago. As a HUGE fan of her music, it was just so sad to see her life end in such a tragic way especially since I we were all just waiting for her comeback album (if she even got started on one past all the drama and the vices). In a way, you could probably say that Wino had this one coming, and I'm sure her other fans were just waiting for the day her alcohol and drug addictions would get the best of her. So in retrospect, her death wasn't really that surprising. But despite the lack of shock that accompanied her death, I guess deep down, a little part of us was just rooting for her to get better and to continue making beautiful music.

They say it is "Better To Burn Out Rather Than Fade Away." Hey, they left helluva legacy at 27!

Today, as Amy Winehouse joins the 27 Club in their own nirvanas, and as we mourn the loss of another great artist...not surprisingly gone at this age but gone too soon nonetheless, let's just keep in mind the great music and the legacy she, along with the others have left sans all the drugs and alcohol. If you must, do it in moderation at least.

Stay off the drugs children!

xx,

Ri.