Do you think Janis Joplin ever once contemplated the possibility that 53 years after her death people like me would be writing about her and millions more would be listening to her music? It seems highly unlikely to me yet here we are.
Janis was a loner, a misfit who marched to the beat of her own drum. As a teenager, she befriended a group of outcasts, one of whom had albums by blues artists Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Lead Belly which she later credited with influencing her decision to become a singer.
In 1966, Joplin’s bluesy vocal style attracted the attention of the San Francisco-based psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company which had gained some renown among the hippie community of Haight Ashbury; she was recruited to join the group.
And the rest is history.
I was fortunate to see Janis Joplin perform in person several times; it’s difficult to compare her to any other performer I’ve ever seen; she was two different people when on stage. She had a powerful and commanding voice. She was focused and uninhibited. She was a dynamic force to be reckoned with. But when her song was over she was transformed into a little girl who was surprised and delighted that people liked her and her songs. For a few seconds “Pearl” was gone … the nickname Joplin gave herself for the hard-talking, ballsy barfly image she so often took on as her protective strategy against feeling vulnerable … and Janis was back.
As many of us are now going through the dog days of Summer, I thought it would be appropriate to play Janis Joplin’s well-known interpretation of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess”. Let’s listen.
Another lost soul searching for answers. As always, I’m happy to read your comments so please share your thoughts.
Thanks for spending this dog day afternoon of summer with me getting your groove on. I look forward to catching up with you next week. Until then, let’s just call it a wrap.
Peace out. ✌🏼
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 
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The blues never sounded so good.
Mama Cass in the audience ❤︎
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What a gift, to be able to sing like, have a presence like that. She sang me through many of the the breaking pieces of my heart.
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I love that, D. This is for you:
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That’s the one! Thank you my friend! 💔
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Mi piacere, cara! That one brought back a lot of memories for me, too. Glad you enjoyed it, D ❤️🩹
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💕
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I think you had to be there. Her music is so intertwined with that era, I think that unless you witnessed it, you don’t get the full impact of her voice. Jimi Hendrix was another.
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We’re on the same wavelength, Pete! I wrote my reply to Nick before reading your comment. What you say is true. It’s definitely a generational thing. But, take my sons. They’re into their own music AND my music because they were exposed to it while growing up. They’re younger than you and have vast collections of music from the 70s. It’s very likely they are into groups you may not be familiar with. And as a result my grandchildren are now listening to The Beatles, Stones, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and even Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Music will always live on.
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They might well listen to them but musicians like Janis Joplin were synonymous with the events and culture at the time. I maintain that to get the most out of Janis Joplin you need to have first-hand knowledge of things going on at that time. It’s quite a unique time in that respect, because there was so much going on.
A lot of music is enhanced by knowing the historical backdrop. For example The Clash and the early Eighties in the UK.
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To paraphrase Rod Stewart “Every generation tells a story, don’t it?”
All good points, Pete.
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With features as this one, Nancy, you make it extremely hard to remain secluded in my private paradise by the sea!
Soul searching… the surprise when those artists are met with adoration from their audience, as they come out of the on-stage-induced-trance.
You touched meaningfully every single one of these facets… empathy, attention is required.
And of course, it helps a lot to be as blessed as to have been able to watch live performances of those mega-liths of artists.
Summertime it is… and a certain Janis is smiling.
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Beautiful statement, as always, Nick. There are times when I feel like I was born in the wrong era. Then I think about all the great music I’ve been exposed to and groups I’ve had the opportunity to see and I realize my generation truly is the greatest and the most fortunate.
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Just like a lazy snakey breeze going through your hair. Great song choice, Nancy.
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Excellent comment, Misky! That’s exactly what it was. Buon giorno, cara mia!
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Buon pomeriggio, cara!
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