Amy Winehouse and Karen Carpenter

[Youshouldbestrongerthanme]

Both absolute legends.
AIBU to wish I followed the same path?
At 45 I'm past it.

Do you mean you want to make music? Go for it - nothing stopping you. Seasick Steve was older when hr first became vaguely known.
Do you mean you wish you died young?
Definitely dont go for it

@Robertplantgoddess I'd love to make music and I'm musical, but absolutely not to the same level of talent as these two women. At 45 dying young is simply not possible. I admire these two profoundly.

Do you mean early death?

You're still quite young.

@likelysuspect 45 isn't young- it's well past my best before / usefulness date!

People do seem to obsess over those sorts of reckless, controversial lifestyles. Jim Morrison and Sid Vicious, too. I guess people wonder what it's like to go completely off the rails and have no boundaries, whilst also being loved and admired by groupies for their uniqueness and authentisity?

The dying part is important because you never get boring.. like say, Axl Rose or Pete Doherty.

If you have a set of pipes like either of them then you need to be making music!
If you can write lyrics like Amy (no idea if Karen C wrote lyrics for the Carpenters) then do the same

If you just want to enjoy music then why not join a local pop choir? Or do piano lessons

To me 45 is young! Seriously embrace what you want to do - if something comes of it then fantastic. Is it likely to lead to world fame like Amy Winehouse or Christmas specials like Karen carpenter. Probably not but if you enjoy it then that's hopefully enough in itself.
Better to regret trying than regret not trying. What's the worst that can happen?

Im going to say this and say no more

Amy Winehouse was overrated.

Do you need a welfare check, op?

Youre too old to join the 27 club anyway so let's ditch that idea, if its what youre thinking of xx

@Muffsies I see them as brave. They were clever women - they knew what they were doing. I guess what I find sad is that they both were so valuable and had so much talent which ended all too soon. Most people don't have that.

@mumofoneAloneandwell I've left it too late, haven't I? That's probably why I admire them. At their prime ❤️

I have no talent. If I did I'd be loaded!!!

Yes, I agree, their voices were exquisite. I too admire their immense talent and wonder what music they would have made in later life, if they'd been fortunate to live ling enough to make old bones.

Karen Carpenter started out as a drummer! Very talented, and she had the voice of an angel.

most of Amy Winehouse footage I've seen she been stoned out of her mind, so I don't think she ever made her true potential which is tragic.

Op

I don't know you or your life story. Are you alone?

I've been to the bottom in terms of my own mental health but after some time and seeking support, I'm doing better.

Tell us about yourself, it might help this feeling pass

They were talented, but neither of them were happy were they?

Don't waste time wishing you were like them if you're not. Focus on what you can do to make yourself feel happy and fulfilled.

@LetGoLetThem1234 Incredibly talented. And beautiful. And rich.
I don't see fortune in living longer but I do wonder where their lives would have taken them.

My mum became a professional classical singer in her 50s. She'd previously only sung in the church choir and amateur choral societies. She got proper voice training and was good enough to be hired for productions.

Yes but you're alive. Karen and Amy both died.

@PinkyFlamingo Did they choose that? I don't know.

I think I know what you mean op (as long as you didn't want to die young). I would love to have a talent that puts you at the top. Any talent, something that I am really, really good at. I'm pretty good at a lot of things but don't excel at anything. Singing is perfect because you don't need any instruments, nothing but yourself. To just open your mouth and a perfect pitch comes out effortlessly must be amazing.

It's a bit much to romanticise them like this. They were wonderfully talented, made beautiful music and left incredible legacies. Anyone would want their talent. But their actual lives were troubled and unhappy, why would you aspire to that.

Envying two people who were very seriously mentally ill and very drug addicted for most of their adult life respectively feels a bit tasteless to me.

Both hugely talented and both died far too young. I will include Whitney Houston as well. Very sad to lose them but their legacy lives on x.

@TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot Nothing. I'm a skint nobody.

It's never too late.