Adele’s new album is titled “25,” a confusing title for her new album considering she is really 27 years old. Adele may tell the public that she started writing the songs for the album when she was 25, but is she is hiding a secret? Is she afraid of joining the “27 Club”?

I first learned of the 27 Club when Amy Winehouse passed away in 2011 at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning. Apparently, a large number of successful musicians have died at 27 from alcohol or drug abuse. People first started thinking about the “curse” more than 40 years ago when popular musicians like Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison all died at the age of 27 between 1969 and 1971. Then in 1994, Kurt Cobain, the singer for the band Nirvana, shot himself at the age of 27. He was suffering from depression and heroin addiction. Pete Wentz–a member from one of my favorite bands, Fall Out Boy–wrote a song a couple of years ago entitled “27” about his dangerous lifestyle as a rock star and its similarity to the lifestyles of the members of the Club. Luckily, he was able to overcome his problems and remain very successful.

All these tragic musical heroes seem to have flaws that resulted in their early deaths. Are these individuals blessed with incredible talent, but cursed with alcohol and drug addiction? Or is it just a coincidence?

There’s no doubt that Adele is incredibly talented, and she does have a history of alcohol abuse.  Is she doomed to join the 27 Club?  Much like the members of the Club, Adele has suffered from many personal problems, not only with alcohol, but also with her weight and with men.  Many of her songs from her earlier albums, such as “Someone Like You,” show her sadness about men.  Is she a depressed individual letting out her emotions in songs, or just a talented musician who writes beautiful words?

While trying to find the answers to my questions, I searched for other artists who may qualify for the 27 Club in 2016.  These are famous musicians who were born in either 1988 or 1989.  1989!?!?  That’s the name of Taylor Swift’s latest album and the year that she was born.  Is Taylor doomed as well?

Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate; I don’t care, I like Taylor Swift.  Although her haters may want her to jump, jump, jump, jump, jump off a bridge, I don’t think she in danger of joining the 27 Club.  Although some may argue, I believe she is incredibly talented, but the only curse she suffers from is addiction to rotten boyfriends.  I think she’s safe.

What about Rihanna (born in 1988) and Chris Brown (born in 1989)?  Rihanna has been rumored to have alcoholism and even a cocaine addiction, but her biggest problem may be that she is associated with Chris Brown. The Wikipedia entry listing Chris Brown’s personal problems seems endless; it displays his long history of violence and drug abuse and his time in rehab.  If you believe in the curse,and are a Chris Brown fan, you should be very worried in 2016.

Another “musician” in potential danger is the DJ, Skrillex, who was born in 1988.  He is famous (though I know very little about his music), but his name frightens me.  Someone with a name that sounds like an unpleasant chemical is probably up to no good. In 2015, there have been many death hoaxes regarding Skrillex on Twitter.  The only thing that may save him from joining the 27 Club is that he isn’t really a musician.

Other musicians born in either 1988 or 1989 such as Big Sean, Joe Jonas, Jason Derulo, Jesse J, and Hayley Williams, are probably safe because either they are not famous enough or do not have enough personal problems.  Either way, I hope 2016 is a safe year for all musicians.